I am writing, as promised, to provide more information as to how the government’s announcement of a further national lockdown affects you and your university experience.

This communication is lengthy but includes important details on:

• Revised start dates for in-person teaching
• Testing
• Campus facilities
• International students
• Accommodation charges
• Academic ‘safety net’ measures
• Location survey
• Support

We have now had updated guidance from the Department for Education. This continues to stress that education remains a priority activity and that teaching can be carried out safely in Covid-secure environments. The University can and will remain open. However, there is a need for new restrictions because of the transmissibility of the new strain of the virus and as such the movement of people into and across the country must be reduced.

As outlined in my message earlier this week this means, for many of you, changes to the start date of your in-person teaching and the date the government is advising you return to campus, if you have not already returned.

Revised start dates

In-person teaching, placements and assessments will resume as planned for those in the government’s ‘Tranche 1’ on the following courses; Medicine; Health & Social Care including Nursing & Midwifery; Physiotherapy and Veterinary Science; Education including initial teacher training; and Social Work.

Those of you on all other courses (‘Tranche 2’) will start the term online until at least mid-February, at which point there will be a government review. Some students have online exams scheduled between January 11th and 29th. The timetable for these remains unchanged.

You should have received communication from your School/Department confirming which category you fall into and arrangements for online learning where appropriate.

The government guidance also recognises that some students have remained on campus during the break and for others there may be exceptional circumstances which mean they need to return before the start of their in-person teaching – for example because they are unable to study from home, need to sit their online exams on campus, do not have alternative accommodation or for health reasons.

Regardless of when you return, your in-person teaching, placements and assessments will not commence until the date notified to you by your School/Department.

Students are asked to avoid returning to university to collect any of their belongings which they may have left at their University accommodation over the winter break. However, you can travel back to collect any medical equipment or items required for online learning if essential. The guidance also states that students should not move back and forth between their home and term-time address once they have returned to university.

Covid-19 testing regime

All students will be able to book Covid-19 testing to align with your return to Nottingham. This can be done on the Test to Protect webpage. If your plans have changed please cancel your previous booking and make a new one.

If you have remained on campus or in Nottingham over the break you should book a test using the same link as soon as possible.

We are advising all staff and students on campus to be tested weekly. Our testing pages set out the reasons for regular testing, as well as the incentives we will be offering for those who participate in this.

The government has stressed the importance of asymptomatic testing in the fight against the virus and advised that those who do not want to be tested should isolate for 10 days before resuming any in-person activity.

Together these measures will help identify and isolate any positive cases early and help to reduce the possibility of onward transmission of the virus to fellow students, staff and the wider community.

Campus facilities

Campus facilities including libraries, study spaces and catering and retail outlets are available to support those on campus. The government has asked that students only use campus resources when they have to, in order to reduce footfall. Note that our sports provision has been curtailed in line with the national restrictions.

International students

The government advice for international students travelling from overseas for the Spring term is to consider whether you in fact need to travel to the UK at this time. Students travelling from overseas to the UK should consider delaying if travel arrangements can be rearranged without undue costs. If you return before your in-person teaching start date you should let your School/Department know so you can be supported during the lockdown period.

For those who do travel or return from overseas - and would ordinarily be subject to a 10-day quarantine period if they arrive from a country which is not on the travel exemption list – you will have the option to take an accredited Covid-19 test from a private testing provider after five days of self-isolation. A negative result will release you from the need to isolate from day six. More details can be found on the government website. Further specific information for international students, including visa advice, can be found in their guidance.

Accommodation charges

The University has aligned accommodation charges to the government’s current advice on which programmes can presently deliver in-person teaching. Where students are not studying on a programme that currently allows a return for in-person teaching AND not using their room, they will not be required to pay accommodation fees for the period from the start of term (10 January 2021) up to and including either the date they start to occupy your room or the projected restart of in-person teaching (13 February 2021), whichever is earlier.

Where students are studying on a programme that allows them to return early for in-person teaching, they will remain liable to pay their full accommodation fees, regardless of whether or not they occupy their room, with the next payment due on 18 January 2021.

This applies to students with accommodation contracts for University Halls, Dagfa, Varsity, and UPP (Broadgate Park, Albion House & Cloister House), but we are liaising with private and third party accommodation providers to see if they are able to support students in a similar manner. Read more.

Academic 'Safety net' and extenuating circumstances

At Nottingham, we have a package of measures in place to support you during the new national Covid-19 restrictions. The 2021 ‘safety net’ measures ensure that your degree provides a strong foundation for your personal and professional aspirations. Read more on Current Students.

Location survey requirement

The University is asking all students to confirm your location to assist us with ensuring the right support provision is in place. This is especially important for those who have returned or are already in Nottingham, particularly in the event of an outbreak or changes to current restrictions. Please complete this short (one minute) survey. We have also issued this survey to you via SMS - you only need to complete it once.

Support

I appreciate that these are anxious times and rapidly changing government advice presents challenges to many of you.

The University may be able to offer interest free loans or non-repayable grants to students experiencing financial difficulties resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. For further information, please visit Support Funds or email financialsupport@nottingham.ac.uk.

I will continue to keep you informed with further news as we receive it, and all of us at Nottingham will continue to work hard to support every student in these difficult times. For details of the support available to students please visit our webpages and please don’t be afraid to seek help if you need it. Please ensure you check your University emails and junk folders so you do not miss any important updates.

Best wishes
Andy

Professor Andy Long, FREng
Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor
University of Nottingham