First-year university students say they feel 'robbed' of the fresher experience by coronavirus - and claim being back home with their parents has 'left them in a bad place mentally'

First-year students have told how they feel 'robbed' of their university experience by coronavirus - with some claiming being back living with their parents has 'left them in a bad place mentally'. 

Many students across the country made the decision to move home when lockdown was put in place on March 23, leaving halls across the UK standing empty.  

University is often described as a 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity - and many freshers feel they have been denied the chance to meet new people and seize opportunities. 

Sean Carragher, a first year student at the University of Salford in Greater Manchester, revealed how, despite knowing the virus would inevitably disrupt normal life, it came as a shock when his campus emptied within days. 

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Sean Carragher, a first year student at the University of Salford in Greater Manchester (left) and first-year student at the University of York, Eloise Turner, 19 (right) have both had their university experiences impacted by coronavirus

Speaking in a video for the BBC, he said: 'It just felt like it hit out of nowhere and within a week everyone was just gone. Everyone was at home.' 

He described how the prospect of having to move back home - where he felt like he never really 'fit in' - for five months was 'demoralising' after a period of 'really enjoying' his university experience. 

He added that while it's 'great' to spend time with his family where he grew up, being stuck at home during lockdown has had an impact on his mental health.

Eloise Turner, 19, a first-year student at the University of York, revealed how exploring a new city and 'being able to find the little hidden gems' was one of her favourite parts about university. 

However, following the coronavirus restrictions, Eloise moved back to her home in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, which she described as 'very upsetting' after forming a close bond with her 12 flatmates. 

She said: 'We all do feel we've had that first year experience taken away from us.' 

And Josh Pawaar, a first year mature student at the University of Essex, from Luton, spoke of how university gave him the opportunity to be his 'most confident self' rather than struggle with what people thought of him. 

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Josh Pawaar, a first-year mature student at the University of Essex, from Luton, spoke of how university gave him the opportunity to be his 'most confident self'

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Eloise revealed how moving back home after living with 12 other people at university was 'very upsetting' 

The student representative, who recently was awarded for his efforts, spoke of the detrimental effect that moving back home can have on students' mental health. 

He said: 'There is a lot of time to think, and I think sometimes you can get into a bad place mentally.'  

Josh added how the 'momentum' can diminish while living at home, where there are not the same opportunities and abundance of people to meet and learn from.