Universities
Universities will continue to provide a combination of in person teaching and blended learning. This will minimise the need to travel and will allow students to work from home as well as attend essential in person teaching and learning sessions.
While incidents of COVID-19 have risen in the student population, evidence shows this is taking place outside the teaching and learning environment. Universities are operating COVID-secure campuses and adhering to strict social distancing. Coronavirus cases amongst staff remain low.
- Universities UK: Information on university closures
- UCAS, for the latest Covid-19 information and advice for prospective students
- Student Finance Wales: information and advice on making student finance applications
- National Union of Students: COVID-19 Hub (students need to register with NUS to access)
- Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA): independent body set up to review student complaints about higher education providers in England and Wales
- Welsh Government: Further and higher education: coronavirus
For information on visit the Welsh Government's website.
Student movement plans for the end of term
Both the Welsh and UK Government have been working closely with Universities to allow students to return home safely for Christmas.
To ensure that students can be home at the end of the winter term but also reduce any transmission risk, the government is asking that students return home once the national restrictions have been lifted, in a student travel window lasting from 3 to 9 December. This should be in line with specific arrangements put in place by their HE provider.
The government expect providers to stagger the end of face to face provision between 3 to 9 December between faculties. A provider can end face to face provision before 3 December if they wish. Students should contact their University for their specific procedure.
The 9th December cut off date has been chosen so that students who are contacted by NHS Test and Trace on that day can still be with their family for Christmas after their period of self-isolation.
Students studying in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland should follow the guidance from their institutions before returning home to Wales. Once they return to Wales, they should follow Welsh guidance for their home area
Asymptomatic testing and self-isolation
The Government is providing lateral - flow tests, where a test result can be given within an hour to HE institutions. HE providers should communicate with students how to get these tests.
If students test negative, they should return home as soon as possible after receiving their result. If they test negative but are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive, they can return home but must continue self-isolation at home for a period of 14 days, using private transport wherever possible. If they have no other option than to use public transport they should strictly observe social distancing measures, wear a face covering and wash hands thoroughly and regularly during the journey. If a student tests positive, they must self-isolate at university for a period of 10 days.
The full details details of the government's plan can be found HERE.
For further guidance visit:
UK Government Welsh Government
Work based leaning and apprenticeships
- Welsh Government, Work-based learning and apprenticeships: coronavirus
