UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / February 22, 2021 / The UK’s leading student accommodation platform, UniHomes, has given their advice on what students need to know about today’s announcement from the government on our lockdown exit strategy.

Today, Boris Johnson laid out the escape plan that detailed several stages for easing lockdown restrictions. While students will have to wait until at least the 17th of May before they can get back inside pubs and clubs, the good news (sort of) is that some university students can get back to business from the 8th of March!

The full guidelines can be found here.

Who can return to uni?

Those that need to attend university to complete a degree due to practical requirements or assessments will be able to do so from the 8th March. However, check with your university first to make sure this applies to you and that the seminars or workshops are actually on before travelling unnecessarily to campus.

Along with students who returned to in-person teaching and learning in January, providers can resume in-person teaching and learning for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying practical or practice-based (including creative arts) subjects and require specialist equipment and facilities from 8th March.

By exception only, a very limited number of additional courses which require Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) assessments and/or other PRSB mandatory activity which is scheduled for the Spring term and which cannot be rescheduled can return to in-person teaching.

When can remaining students return?

The government will review current restrictions by the end of the Easter holidays and update us then on timings for returning students.

Students will be given a week’s notice at this point and should not return to university before then.

Until then the following advice should be followed by all students.

• Do not return if your course can be reasonably continued online and your university should not ask you to do so.

• If you’re travelling back to university, you should have a Covid test done where possible before visiting the campus.

• Once at university, adhere to all other lockdown restrictions where mixing households and leaving the house are concerned.

• Don’t travel home to see your family unless you have a legally permitted reason.

• DO NOT ATTEND HOUSE PARTIES - You could be fined £800 for attending which could climb to £6,400 for repeat offences.

Co-Founder of UniHomes, Phil Greaves, commented: 

“While there will no doubt be a little disappointment from the national student body that pubs, clubs and restaurants won’t fully reopen until mid-May at the earliest, the prioritisation of returning normality to the education sector as a whole will no doubt be warmly welcomed.

However, it’s important not to get carried away as restrictions remain in place and should be adhered to for the safety of yourself, the wider student population and those going the extra mile to deliver this further education.

If your course doesn’t require practical learning or assessment, you should maintain remote studying conditions. You should also refrain from moving back and forth between your university and home town and adhere to guidelines on mixing households.

It’s been an incredibly tough time for all of us, students included, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel and student life as we know it is within reaching distance. In the meantime, we need to make sure we do our part to keep the nation on track so that there is no need for backwards steps and delays.

If you’re not sure what the latest announcement means for you, seek information and guidance from official government sources and don’t be afraid to contact your university. They will be able to give you the best advice on your specific course and what you can and can’t do as we enter each phase of easing.”