Angry students have forced university bosses to rethink plans to replace its traditional graduation ceremony with a virtual event.

The proposal had been branded an insult by Canterbury Christ Church University graduates, who said they would be "heartbroken" if they could not celebrate the culmination of their degree studies with their friends and family.

University bosses initially planned to move the graduation ceremony from Canterbury Cathedral to an online Zoom meeting in May, due to potential ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

It offered the former students a drinks reception where they can meet fellow graduates and staff, once it is safe to do so.

But the announcement was met with fury by graduates and a petition calling for the event to be postponed until it is safe to gather quickly gained more than 525 supporters.

And now the university has apologised and offered the graduates the choice of a virtual event or a proper ceremony, when circumstances allow.

The change of heart was sparked by the petition started by Bethany Swarbrick, who said: "After overcoming all the challenges that we had to face and completing our degree during a global pandemic, to be told our graduation would be via Zoom is frankly an insult.

"Our university experience ended on a random day in March. We, as a class, deserve to say goodbye, not only to our friends and lecturers but also to the city and university that we dedicated three years of our lives."

Among the students appalled by the idea of a virtual ceremony was Olivia Grigg, who described the decision, which was made without consultation, as "heartbreaking".

She said: "To be told our ceremony - our last chance to say goodbye and close an important chapter in our lives - would be a Zoom call leaves us wondering if the university considered our thoughts, experience, time, and blood, sweat and tears poured into our degrees.

"We deserve to be treated with better consideration and to be provided the chance to at least voice our preference."

Another student, Jessica Turner, who gained a BA Honours in events management, added: "It may seem trivial to some but it is a massive thing for me and a lot of my friends who worked so hard for the honour of getting handed our diplomas with a cap and gown in front of our families.

"It is our rite of passage and we pay enough money for the university to postpone until we can have one. This was literally the only thing I had left to look forward to as this virus has already taken everything from us."

But today, Christ Church spokesman Melissa Cleary said the university recognised that graduation is a special event for students, family and friends.

"Unfortunately, the pandemic and national government guidance has impacted every university’s ability to host graduations in person during 2020, " she said.

"We have been looking at alternative options that would enable former students, family and friends, to celebrate this milestone safely.

"We had planned to write to students later this week outlining our plans for virtual celebration events in May, with a promise of a reception on campus once it is safe to do so.

"However, over the weekend the plans were inadvertently shared on our website before our former students received their email. This has understandably caused distress for which we apologise.

"We’ve listened to feedback over the weekend and have written to our former students today to offer the virtual ceremony in May or a physical event at some point in the future when guidance and venue availability allows."

Miss Turner said: "We are delighted and relieved the university has listened to us and is prepared to hold a proper event when the circumstances allow."

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