Cambridge is the first top university to make a decision about this. Most other institutions officially do not look beyond the first semester of the new academic year.

The British university expects that social distancing will likely continue to be required, which it why it wants to provide its students with clarity about this. It might be possible for smaller teaching groups to take place.

Last week, British higher education regulator Office for Students said that students should be provided with clarity about education during next academic year. They warned universities not to make any false promises about student life on campus.