Kent students have expressed their anger over plans to extend online learning into the next academic year - even if Covid restrictions are eased.

Students at the University of Kent (UKC) have penned an open letter, branding it "unfair and unjust" for online online teaching to continue after pandemic restrictions have eased, and calling on the university to rethink its decision.

The letter, penned by second-year politics student Rhian Shillabeer in a bid to "open communications between students and staff", has been signed by more than 260 students.

Online learning has been rolled out across universities and schools during the pandemic.

But UKC students argue face-to-face teaching should resume once social restrictions ease, adding: "It is grossly unfair to expect students to pay the full amount of tuition for remote learning".

The University of Kent says most lectures will remain online throughout the autumn term, which runs from late September until Christmas.

An update published on its website on May 13 says this is so it "can timetable as many small-group teaching sessions (eg. seminars, lab classes and studio sessions) for face-to-face delivery as possible".

The university - which has campuses in Canterbury and Medway - continued: "These are the sessions in which you can most effectively share and discuss ideas directly with our staff and your fellow students."

Exams will also remain online for the entirety of 2021 and 2022, with a "small number of exceptions".

"Planning in this way means we will be able to adapt our plans quickly as and when government guidelines give us more flexibility," added UKC.

But Miss Shillabeer points out that students will be allowed to socialise in large groups once social distancing measures are lifted - which is set to happen on June 21, if the government's roadmap out of lockdown goes to plan.

She wrote: "Large scale events such as concerts, football matches and festivals are also set to go ahead. By autumn of 2021, there are to be no restrictions on gatherings indoor or outdoors.

"Online learning has impacted many students' mental health and has left them feeling isolated..."

"In addition, it is expected that everyone of university age will have been offered a first vaccine dose by the end of June, with many being able to receive two doses before the academic year begins in September.

"With this information and guidance in mind, the decision to postpone in-person lectures for the foreseeable future is unacceptable and undesired by many.

"It is grossly unfair to expect students to pay the full amount of tuition for remote learning that is not well received, subpar and frankly not needed for safety measures in the given time frame of autumn 2021."

Miss Shillabeer says the decision to extend online teaching will "elongate the transition back to normality".

"We acknowledge that some people may choose to stay online, and for international students this may be a more convenient method, but online learning should not be made compulsory for all," she continued.

"This last year has been challenging for students and staff alike. Online learning has impacted many students' mental health and has left them feeling isolated.

"Students - and we are sure staff - are excited to get back into lecture halls, to deny them of this is incredibly unfair and inadequate.

"We urge you to reconsider your decision regarding online learning, and ask you to listen to the frustration of your students."

The University of Kent's Prof Richard Reece, deputy vice-chancellor for education and student experience, said: "While we expect our campuses will be fully open next academic year and are looking forward to welcoming our students back, it is widely anticipated that social distancing in some form will still be in place for universities across the country next autumn.

"With that in mind, we've focussed our planning on freeing up as much space as possible for face-to-face teaching such as seminars or lab sessions.

"This will be supported by large group lectures remaining online initially, although we hope to be able to relax this in early 2022.

"The safety of our students and staff has remained our top priority in preparing for the autumn, as we build on what we've learnt over the last year to make sure we give students the best possible chance of success.

"Feedback from our students is a key part of this, and as well as replying directly to the open letter, we have also discussed our plans for next year with them in more detail via a recent webchat."

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