When can I return to campus? This is what Britain's universities are doing to re-open

Following Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown, university students will be wondering when a flicker of normality might return to campus, and institutions are drawing up plans.

Weeks more of online classes lie ahead. Even when the long-fabled wider return to campus happens, strict protocols on testing, face coverings and hygiene will be in force, with most students towards the back of the vaccine queue. 

The Telegraph contacted leading universities across the UK to find out how they are opening up, how long remote teaching will remain and what students can expect post-lockdown campus to be like. 

What does the Government say? 

The Government’s plan for England says those on “practical” courses, or requiring specialist facilities, can resume in-person learning from March 8. 

Other students will remain online, urged to stay away from campus until at least the end of term, pending a review by the end of the Easter holidays. 

The approach is broadly similar in the three devolved nations - teaching is either entirely virtual or “blended” with limited in-person provision over the coming weeks. In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon plans for more university students to return from March 15. 

What are individual universities doing? 

University of Oxford

Most teaching and assessment is taking place virtually until the end of Hilary term, except for courses where this is impossible. The “majority” of Trinity term exams will take place online. Students are told to stay away from campus, except for limited exemptions, though a phased return may begin later this term. Research students may return to campus. A small number of Bodleian Libraries are open for university members. 

The university says: “We anticipate that we will be able to welcome students back to Oxford in Trinity term, and are currently exploring the options for teaching and wider student life next term.”

University of Cambridge

Cambridge announced last year that lectures would move online for the entire 2020-21 academic year, and has since said “no students should expect in-person teaching” during Lent term, except for some medical, veterinary and PGCE students, and those lacking adequate study space at home. 

Most undergraduate and postgraduate students are told to stay off campus, and colleges are not charging rent for vacant rooms during the third lockdown. In line with most universities, students are told not to expect any tuition fee refunds. All in-person graduation ceremonies have been cancelled, with an aim to resume some later in the year. 

University of Warwick

While most teaching remains online for this term, Warwick said: “We are really looking forward to being able to welcome all students back to campus and face-to-face teaching and learning, and safe extra-curricular and Warwick Presents activity, for term 3,” beginning on April 26. Teaching is expected to be blended at this point. 

University of Bristol 

Bristol says “it is expected that blended learning will not restart for the majority of programmes until after the spring vacation (19 April)”, and this will “likely see a staggered return”, with most courses online in the meantime. Student facilities such as sports facilities, catering, study spaces and additional library spaces could start re-opening in the summer term. 

University of Edinburgh 

Following the Scottish Government’s roadmap, the university said teaching and assessment would be digital for the remainder of the semester, bar some exceptions, with students told to avoid their term-time address until on-campus activities resume. 

Asymptomatic Covid-19 testing is being offered to the small number of students on campus, but they must notify the university when returning. Those who arrive on campus are asked to voluntarily “restrict their social interactions” for 10 days either side of this date. All summer and winter graduation ceremonies in 2021 have been cancelled, with virtual celebrations offered. 

Durham University 

The “vast majority” of courses and campus services will remain online for term two, and students not currently in Durham should not return to the city before the start of third term “at the earliest”. College accommodation charges are waived for those not in their residences this term. All 2020/21 examinations will take place online, with a “safety net” policy in place to protect grades. Library services are online, but pre-booked spaces are available on campus for essential use. 

London School of Economics (LSE)

LSE said: “For the remainder of the 2020/21 academic year, all compulsory teaching, learning and assessments, including those taking place in Summer Term 2021, will be delivered online.” A limited number of campus buildings are open, but negative tests within the previous four days are required to enter and tests are required twice a week. 

University of Manchester

Unless you are on an exempt course, such as medical and healthcare subjects, or you have specific personal circumstances, the university says you “should not return” to campus. Rent for halls was cut by 30 per cent last term and can be waived until the end of the current lockdown restrictions. 

Campus has changed, including clearly marked entry and exit points in buildings, sanitising or hand-washing immediately on entry, markings on floors, stairwells and doors to maintain social distancing and mandatory downloading of the NHS Covid-19 app to check-in at locations around campus. 

St Andrews University 

Students have been told classroom teaching will not resume until at least September, with a small number of exceptions. Vice-chancellor Sally Mapstone said in an email that even as lockdown is eased, “we do not believe it will be to a degree sufficient to allow us to bring large numbers of students back to St Andrews and provide comprehensive in-person education”. 

University of Leeds

Like most universities, almost all teaching is online and students are told to stay away from campus until March 8 at the earliest. The university adds: “Regardless of when you return, you must be tested for Covid-19 – and found negative – before you can interact with others or use facilities on campus.” 

University of Exeter

While most provision is online, campus has had a covid makeover including one-way systems, increased ventilation, reduced room capacity, enhanced cleaning and hand sanitiser at building entrances and exits. Face coverings are required inside all university buildings and teaching spaces, and three-layered masks are being offered to students. Student societies have moved online to facilitate a social life. 

University of Nottingham

Students are told to wait for their department to confirm when in-person teaching will resume, mostly after the Government’s Easter review. Once back on campus, an initial test is required followed by a weekly asymptomatic test. Face coverings are required in all university buildings, including lecture halls, seminar rooms and libraries. Across campus handwashing stations, “passing places” and signage has been installed, and students should clean worktops before use and not share stationary. 

Queen’s University Belfast 

Almost 40,000 students in Northern Ireland have been offered a £500 support payment to account for coronavirus disruption. At Queen’s, most teaching is remote until at least March but research facilities, residences, study spaces and catering outlets are open on campus.