As you may be aware, the UK Government announced this week that, from next week, England can progress to Step 3 of the roadmap which will see a further easing of restrictions on indoor mixing and social contact, and importantly for universities, all students will be permitted to return to some in-person teaching from 17 May.
You can read the full update in this letter from Michelle Donelan MP, Minister of State for Universities.
For undergraduate programmes this latest announcement will have little impact because our teaching schedule will already have concluded by this point, and as previously communicated, the upcoming summer assessments and resits will take place mainly online (except for some specific practical sessions). We have put a number of assessment support measures in place and these are now available to view on our examination webpages.
Students on clinical programmes who have received face-to-face teaching throughout recent months will continue to do so for the remainder of the academic year, alongside those identified non-clinical practical and practice-based subjects which require specialist equipment and facilities.
All postgraduate taught and research students with scheduled teaching and project supervision after 17 May should have received an email outlining what this latest update means for them, so please check your University email.
Safety on campus
We have come a long way over the last year, in no small part thanks to the role of scientific research in combatting this extraordinary crisis, but also thanks to the roles we are all playing in keeping our community safe.
Our campus safety measures are being regularly reviewed in light of the latest guidance and we are confident that the measures in place will serve to protect our students and staff who have already returned, or who will be returning, over the next few weeks and months. Please continue to adhere to current public health measures to keep yourself and everyone safe, including wearing a face covering inside campus buildings, as well as outdoors on campus wherever maintaining a 2-metre distance may not be possible.
If you are returning to campus, it’s also important to get tested both before and after travelling, and thereafter twice weekly. Our on-site testing centre in the Sports Centre remains open for you to access asymptomatic tests. Please remember, if you develop any symptoms of COVID-19 you must self-isolate and book a test at our ‘with symptoms’ test centre.
You can find out more about all the measures in place on our Campus Safety Hub.
Support available
Please remember that regardless of where you are currently studying, we have a range of support services in place, all fully accessible via our digital channels. This includes support with your studies through KnowHow, online access to our library services, help identifying and pursuing your chosen career, access to advice and guidance on everything from mental health to money issues, and a range of activities to help keep you occupied away from your studies.