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Students have reacted in fury after Manchester University announced that online lectures are here to stay - with no cut in tuition fees that cost £9,250 per year.
At the time of writing, more than 4,000 people have signed a petition urging the Russell Group university to fully return to in-person teaching.
Despite plans to give seminars in person, lecture halls will be left empty at the university - even after the pandemic - as part of an approach to blend online and campus teaching.
Universities UK confirmed to MailOnline that Manchester University is the first to announce blended learning as a long-term fixture, and that 'a lot' of other institutions can be expected to follow suit, with decisions made on an individual basis.
The organisation added that it is 'difficult to say whether this will be forever', but refers to a timeframe 'potentially beyond the new academic year'.
It follows a host of universities, including University College London (UCL), St Andrews, Leeds, Liverpool and Edinburgh, confirming plans to continue Zoom lectures in the autumn term.
Students protest where the University of Manchester erected fencing around student accommodation blocks at
