Hundreds of university closures have left students stuck in limbo and with no idea their degrees will continue, if at all.

Back in February, Goldsmiths in Lewisham felt the virus spreading closer. A woman went to Lewisham Hospital A&E in an Uber and was quickly diagnosed with coronavirus.

In early March, the university had its first official encounter with the Covid-19 virus when a visitor to one of the student accommodations, Chesterman House, was diagnosed with the virus.

Students received an email from, Helen Watson, the college’s registrar and secretary, informing the student population of around 9,000 that the university would stay open.

Jenny, a student from Chesterman House, said: “I got goose bumps and was freaking out. I started to cry because I did not know what to do. Everyone was shaken up by this. I stayed at my friends flat who lives in another accommodation because I was scared to go back to Chesterman.”

The only thing different that I saw when I went back was hand sanitizer at reception”.

On March 16, all students were asked to leave the university after it was announced all face-to-face teaching would be suspended immediately. All facilities, including editing suites, music rooms and the library have closed.

One journalism student said: “I’m worried about this month, we were supposed to have many classes. I know I will have my graduation but I’m worried that they want to push us doing stuff during this uncertainty.”

Political communications student, Georgia, said it is “the best decision considering the situation both to ensure the safety of students and staff.”

However, many students relocated to London to study their degrees. Georgia said her masters has been “accompanied by a very expensive rent and living costs. Now not to be attending university and having to leave London because of the coronavirus is really disappointing”

The students had already gone through two episodes of university workers and lecturers striking and were in the midst of a strike during the announcement of the suspension of teaching. Georgia added: “On top of the strike this means I have missed a lot of university. I have spent very little time during my masters actually being taught…"