Cambridge becomes first of UK's universities to move all lectures for next academic year online

The PhD student accused the university of fostering a 'suffocating and intellectually degraded environment'. (Picture: PA)

The University of Cambridge has moved all "face-to-face" lectures online for the next academic year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

It is the first UK university to set out such plans for the 2020/2021 year, with Cambridge adding that it is "likely" that social distancing will be needed until next summer.

It may be possible for in-person teaching in smaller groups to continue next year, the university added - provided teachers and students can keep to social distancing guidelines.

A spokesman for the university said: “The University is constantly adapting to changing advice as it emerges during this pandemic.

Students punting at Cambridge (Getty Images)

“Given that it is likely that social distancing will continue to be required, the university has decided there will be no face-to-face lectures during the next academic year.

“Lectures will continue to be made available online and it may be possible to host smaller teaching groups in person, as long as this conforms to social-distancing requirements.

“This decision has been taken now to facilitate planning, but as ever, will be reviewed should there be changes to official advice on coronavirus.”

Teaching went online for all British universities after the Government ordered Brits to stay at home in March to slow the spread of the virus.

Some universities had already stopped in-person teaching, but the Government said that closures "could do more harm than good” - just 11 days before the entire UK went into lockdown.

But no university had announced plans to maintain distance learning before Tuesday.

Cambridge's announcement comes after higher education regulator the Office for Students (Ofs) told universities that they shouldn't promise students that everything would return to normal in the next academic year if this wasn't the case.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive at the OfS, told the Education Select Committee on Monday that students should be told what kind of experience they will receive before they accept offers.

The vast majority of Cambridge students due to start their degree in autumn 2021 will have already accepted a place.