This research studied the needs of university students receiving distance and hybrid education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's main objective was to analyse the university students' expectations and needs in the Andalusia (Spain) region during the COVID-19 health emergency, to provide guidelines for post-COVID online and hybrid educational continuity. A qualitative interpretative study was carried out on the survey responses of 641 undergraduate and postgraduate students in nine Andalusian universities. Six themes related to the students' needs and expectations came from the findings. The needs and expectations of students during a health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic depend on university management developing and implementing a clear plan of action, continually communicating with students, training teachers in the virtual and hybrid modalities, and building and maintaining empathetic relationships in the university community.