UCD has confirmed that it will continue to operate with the majority of classes online for the remainder of the academic year.
Students who are studying online will be permitted to complete this academic year online, even if in person classes can resume at a later stage.
The students union has welcomed clarity on the news, and says while students want to be back on campus, the announcement now gives them certainty.
The union says international students can return home if they wish, and students here can stop paying high rents in Dublin.
Certainty
Conor Anderson, President, UCD Students' Union says: "We welcome the announcement that classes will remain online for the remainder of the academic year. Not because students want to learn online. We want to be back on campus and to have full access to University facilities and to the social aspects of college life as soon as possible.
"Unfortunately, we know the likelihood of it being safe to do so in the next six months is not realistic."
"This announcement means certainty for students. We can stop waiting in hope that in person classes will resume. We can stop paying high rents in Dublin with the worry that we would not secure housing easily if classes were to resume.
"International students can return home to be with their families and stop paying high rent in Ireland. We can look forward and make informed financial decisions about where we will live and how we will study."
