Cambridge University may cut workload as students bemoan toll on mental health

Cambridge University is considering reducing undergraduates’ workload after students complained about the toll on their mental health. The university has commissioned a teaching review after the student union demanded a reading week in the middle of term, with campaigners citing “mental health problems” associated with “week five blues”. Tara Choudhury, a former campaigner for the Cambridge Student Union’s reading week proposal, told Varsity, the student newspaper, that the announcement of a teaching review was “smoke and mirrors”. She said: “Do they seriously believe something as non-committal and vague as a ‘review’ is fooling anyone that they’re at last going to start addressing the mental health crisis affecting this community with the seriousness and urgency it requires?” Fergus Kirman, undergraduate president of the Student Union, said the review of teaching must be “focused on tangible and substantial improvements” for students when it comes to workload and wellbeing. Caredig ap Tomos, the SU’s undergraduate participation Officer, told Varsity: “We recognise that many in the university have challenged the viability of the most recent proposals, but – until they hear a more compelling alternative – this is the change that students want.” A University spokesman said: “Cambridge’s supervision system remains a distinctive, and valued, element of educational provision and is not under threat.” “The teaching review is concerned primarily with two areas: student workload, and the future resourcing of supervisions.