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OUR IMPACT ON STUDENTS

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all The Team was inundated with applications
in many ways and at the RVC the effect on from students from all years and all courses,
students was particularly concerning in both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of
relation to the impact on their finances study. Even applications to the regular Student
and the immense stress this can cause. Support Fund doubled compared to pre-
pandemic. We would particularly like to thank
Shelley Revell, Student Money Adviser and Deputy RVC alumni who have given so generously to
Head of the Advice Centre commented, “Students support current students. It is also important to
had raised concerns about the financial pressure enable promising students to pursue their career
they have encountered due to their studies moving to dreams from studying as an undergraduate at
remote and then blended learning in the pandemic. the RVC to specialist educational opportunities
Many of our students relied on the computers on like research and travel scholarships. RVC
campus to complete their work up until the pandemic. student Sanna Eriksson Titus was awarded a
The move to online exams in autumn term of 2020/21 Wild Animal Research scholarship to investigate Another student was supported this year through the
academic year meant a renewed call from students the transmission of elephant endotheliotropic ACT Community Scholarship, which was created
for support with the costs of equipment like laptops, herpesvirus (EEHV) between and within herds. to provide living and study support for a promising
headsets and improved broadband connections.” The Aitchison-Tait Trust generously funded this RVC undergraduate student who might otherwise
struggle to support themselves through the course.
As well as these additional costs, the closing of much scholarship, which enabled her to carry out her George Dowling was awarded the scholarship
of the hospitality industry meant many students who research project during the pandemic. Sanna’s in 2020 and said, “I was able to use some of the
had relied on part-time jobs to support themselves project was supervised by a partnership of scholarship money to pay for the transportation, food
were left without a vital income stream. International supervisors from the Zoological Society of and PPE costs I incurred during my recent AHEMS
students found themselves having to pay for multiple London and the Royal Veterinary College. lambing placement in Yorkshire. This placement
commercial COVID-19 tests and occasionally Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus is the was incredibly rewarding and reinvigorated me,
hotel quarantine as they travelled to and from biggest challenge facing the management of reminding me of my passion for farming and practical
campus from their home countries. The additional captive elephants in European zoos, and there is problem solving.”
financial pressures caused by the pandemic were now research taking place to investigate whether
multiple and varied. this problem also extends to wild populations. The current shortage of veterinary professionals in
the UK means that it is more important than ever to
The RVC received some additional funds from the This disease can cause swift and traumatic ensure that there are future generations of veterinary
government to support students’ digital needs but death, which is why this research is so valuable professionals. The RVC Animal Care Trust is very
whilst this support was very welcome, demand far in gaining a greater understanding of disease grateful to its wonderful supporters for helping
exceeded supply. The Animal Care Trust, therefore control. The work that Sanna has done has students with hardship grants, scholarships and
created a new Emergency COVID-19 Fund which immediate applications to the way in which bursaries to continue to provide financial assistance
has been managed by the Student Support Team. zoos manage this species. to RVC students in need.

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