All university students who have not yet returned to campus and
in-person teaching will be able to do so from 17 May, at the
earliest, the Government has confirmed today (Tuesday 13 April).
The timing aligns with Step 3 of the Government’s roadmap, where
restrictions on social contact and indoor mixing will be further
eased, and aims to limit potential public health risks associated
with student populations moving across the country.
Progression to Step 3 of the roadmap will be dependent on a
review of the latest data and the impact of Step 2 on the four
key tests.
Creative and practical students started returning from the 8
March, with an estimated 49 per cent of students already eligible
to return to in-person teaching, subject to decisions by their
institutions, and remaining students have received online
provision throughout the term.
Upon return, all students and staff are encouraged to take three
supervised tests (3 to 5 days apart) at an asymptomatic testing
site on campus, where this is available.
After this, students will also have access to home testing kits
throughout the summer term through both the Government’s offer of
free rapid LFD tests twice weekly to everyone in England, and
‘University Collect’ services, under which universities will
distribute tests from communal locations on campus, such as
libraries. This is in addition to the onsite testing already
offered.
All tests will be free, and all students and staff who test
positive from an LFD test will need to self-isolate for 10 days,
unless they receive a negative PCR test within two days.
The Government has made available an additional £15 million in
hardship funding to support those students most in need, such as
those struggling to pay accommodation costs due to the pandemic.
International and postgraduate students will be eligible for this
funding along with domestic undergraduates.
