How UK Universities are Preparing for September 2020 Entry

UK universities are currently hard at work ensuring that international students will receive the same high quality of learning and unmatched student experience ahead of September 2020 entry, as thousands of international students prepare to begin or return to study in the UK.

Universities in the UK have been at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus over the course of the calendar year and have put in place a series of measures to ensure a safe return of both staff and students on campus from September 2020 onwards.

Learn more about how UK universities are preparing for a safe return to campus study in September 2020 below and book a free consultation with SI-UK Sri Lanka today to get free application support and guidance on studying in the UK.

Five Ways UK Universities Will Ensure Student Safety

1. Flexibility

Universities in the UK are planning to offer greater flexibility to international students with regards to optional start of academic sessions. In order to deliver a high quality learning experience, many UK universities are offering postgraduate course flexibility, options for late arrival and Dual Start for a number of programmes to benefit students who may not be able to reach the UK in September due to travel restrictions. 

The University of Glasgow for example is offering around 30 programmes with dual starts both in September and January, whilst Queen Mary University of London has launched accelerated, intensive postgraduate programmes for students starting in January to help them stay on their original career plan. The University of Liverpool meanwhile is offering flexible start dates in October, November and January for its postgraduate taught programmes.

2. Blended Learning

The majority of UK universities are providing blended learning options for the best possible experience of remote and on-campus learning with an optimum combination of both methods. Universities will be using the latest technologies and software to ensure that students get the best possible student experience, and are also able to enjoy the campus life they expect and deserve.

Online teaching methodology used will be tailored and customised for an unmatched virtual learning experience, whilst seminars, tutorials, lab classes and small group lectures will be delivered face-to-face with implementation of social distancing measures throughout the first semester. Enhanced learning materials will be provided for creating a resourceful virtual learning environment with access libraries and other virtual learning resources.

3. Safe Accommodation

Once international students arrive on campus, universities are preparing to accommodate them in safety bubbles or protective bubbles where they will live and learn together. Students on the same course or arriving from the same country could be allocated to the same accommodation groups to minimise contact and mixing for the first semester.

Liz Barnes, vice-chancellor, University of Staffordshire, said, “We are allocating students from the same courses into accommodation in groups and we are looking at block timetabling so that students in a year group come in together and we minimise movement around campus, so when we describe the bubble that’s what we mean”.

4. Campus Safety

Safety measures include proper distance between workstations, one-way systems and optimised timetables to avoid too many students gathering on the campus at the same time.

Institutions such as the University of Arts London are digitising welcome packs and events and taking the required measures to ensure international students take taxis from the airport to the campus. Measures are also put in place to supply meal kits, safety packs, masks, sanitisers to all students.

5. Safe Transportation

Safe transportation and travel plans by the universities will ensure student safety upon arrival and during their stay. Other than making provisions for airport pick-up as per safety guidelines, some universities are also arranging chartered flights for international students. According to reports, the University of Bolton has made plans to fly in students from India, China and before the new semester starts in September.

Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of the University of Exeter, said, “We are looking at chartering planes in the autumn to bring students from other parts of the world, Because if they can’t travel on commercial flights, if that is the case then TNE will be more of an interesting option for us”.

Universities are also preparing for student arrival on campus with safety by arranging dedicated coaches and quarantine support such as that organised by the University of Bolton from Manchester Airport. Queen’s University Belfast will be flying existing international students from some countries to Northern Ireland to resume their studies.

Study in the UK

UK universities are planning to resume teaching activities on-campus with maximum safety and flexibility to provide an exceptional student experience. If you wish to study in the UK, book a free consultation with SI-UK Sri Lanka today.