We are committed to ensuring that you are still able to continue your learning.
This means:
University of Roehampton Centres and Middlesex University Centres
For students who are currently mid-semester lectures and seminars will remain live online to avoid any interruptions to your studies. However, you will still have the opportunity to access campus facilities for learning activities and support services, which will continue to be offered both on-campus and online – these can be booked online.
London Metropolitan University – students starting a semester in August
Students who are starting or re-enrolling in July/August 2021 your semester will be taught through a blended approach combining online and on-campus learning. You will have the opportunity to use the campus facilities and our support services, including on your non-timetabled days.
London Metropolitan University – students not starting a new semester in August
For students who are currently mid-semester lectures and seminars will remain live online to avoid any interruptions to your studies. However, you will still have the opportunity to access campus facilities for learning activities and support services, which will continue to be offered both on-campus and online – these can be booked online.
All students: Accessing facilities and support services
All students will have the opportunity to access campus facilities for learning activities and support services, which will continue to be offered both on-campus and online – these must be booked online.
This includes:
If you would like to come into campus – including on your non-timetabled days – you must book ahead and check in on arrival to help us continue to manage capacity in our buildings as we gradually phase our return.
If you are planning on coming into campus, please continue to follow our requirements as well as the Government’s and any local travel requirements.
Please continue to check your university emails.
Your mode of study (day time or evening/weekend) will remain the same for your semester. As soon as autumn timetables are available to they will be communicated to you.
Yes, you will be able to borrow textbooks. Please note you will need to book a visit. You can find more information on the library portal here.
As part of our response to the Coronavirus pandemic, we have introduced a number of measures to ensure your continued access to learning as you progress on your journey to graduation.
These alternative teaching, assessment and support arrangements have been designed to enable you to achieve the same learning outcomes you would normally, ensuring the value and quality of your award remain unchanged.
We are working with each of our university partners to make any necessary adjustments to the ways you are assessed that may be required as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. For example, below are some of the adjustments that have been introduced (please note that specific assessment adjustments will depend on your course):
Please continue to check your university email and attend your teaching sessions. Your Module Leaders will keep you informed should there be any adjustments to assessment methods for your programme of study.
If you have concerns or require additional support, please do contact your Module Leader or one of our support teams who will be able to provide guidance and recommend any available resources for you to make use of.
Recognising that some of your study will be online you will need to access the University’s resources via internet.
As such you should have:
Our online sessions can be accessed via smartphone, but it is recommended that you have access to a laptop or a PC for ease of use, joining class discussions and completing assessments. If you have any queries or concerns around the equipment you plan to use, please do not hesitate to contact our very helpful ACE Team for advice via email at: ACELDN@qa.com.
You will be given access to Microsoft Office 365 once you are registered on your programme, free of charge.
We understand that this can be a challenging time for everyone and some of you may need some extra support during your studies. We’re here to reassure you that wherever you are learning from, our teams are on hand to make sure you have access to all the support available to help you progress through your studies with us.
For full information please refer to the Student Handbook we have created for you with advice and guidance on accessing and interacting with all your support services while learning remotely.
Support with your studies: The Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) team support you with your academic development and provide guidance on subjects such as how to write in an academic style, how to read smarter rather than longer, how to reference accurately as well as computing and mathematics. You can make a one-to-one tutorial, attend our online workshops as well as read our resources and watch our videos on your virtual learning environment (VLE). You can find more details about the support available here.
Online learning support: If you’re experiencing technical issues accessing your online studies, we have a dedicated online learning support team available to help you. You can contact them using the below details:
Access to learning resources: Our Library Team have you covered if you need help accessing premium learning and research resources for your course and assignments. The Team are also available to provide any support, advice on guidance on how to best use the resources and study skills.
Your wellbeing and mental health: Your wellbeing is very important to us, and our Student Welfare Team are always on hand to support you with any queries or personal matters that you may come across during your studies. Our friendly team are here to help, so do not be afraid to ask for their support and advice, no matter how big or small you think your issue is. The Team can also recommend any additional resources that are available to you.
You can also find links to additional guides and resources from our Student Welfare Team here.
Access to hardship funding: If you are in need of financial support, please contact our Student Welfare Team to apply for access to hardship funding.
You will be aware that we may have had to make a number of changes to the way that your course operates as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. This includes moving to a blended model where some teaching is delivered on campus and some is delivered online, providing alternative assessments and changes to other aspects of the student experience such as the social spaces that will be open. We are aiming to offer a learning experience that is equivalent to the experience we offered before the pandemic.
When you come to enrol/re-enrol for your next academic year, we will ask you to confirm that you understand the changes that have been communicated to you by us . We will also ask you to accept the changes as changes to your contract with the University. If you are not happy to accept the changes in this way, you have the option of cancelling or withdrawing from the University, transferring to another institution or deferring your studies to the following academic year. If you would like to discuss any of these options in more detail, please contact your Programme Leader.
We continue to be guided by Government and sector advice in all our planning and are undertaking risk assessments of each of our teaching locations.
Our priorities remain to ensure the health, wellbeing and safety of our students, staff and communities, and to ensure access to learning so you are able to continue your journey to graduation and your future career goals.
If we identify an increased risk to our community or have to make a change to the way we operate, we will let you know.
We have set up a number of task groups to help develop and manage our response to Covid-19. These groups are meeting on a frequent basis to discuss developments, monitor our response and implement further precautionary and preventative measures as necessary.
Our focus is on making sure we can provide a safe and welcoming environment in our teaching centres. As such, we are implementing a number of measures in our buildings for when they reopen for you. We are planning:
We also continue to work closely with our partner universities on any actions or responses required for our students and staff based on main campuses, as well as planning teaching delivery.
You can read our Return to Campus Guide here with important information on checking in and out of our buildings, cleaning regimes and testing. If you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree with us in London or Birmingham, you can book a place on campus here.
Please note, learners who are studying degree apprenticeships with us will be communicated directly regarding any details or updates to your teaching.
Students will be given the opportunity to attend virtual sessions on a variety of topics, The new normal, Health and Safety sessions and also general Q&As. We will be hosting 2 weeks of taster session/tours around campus/student relations activities on campus to help build an integrated and cohesive student community. The Welfare team will be available in their drop-in for both face to face and virtual appointments.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our campuses, and it’s important that we maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy.
Therefore, we ask that you use our booking system depending on whether you are looking to book a study space or make an appointment with one of our support teams.
You can find all booking links here.
Once you are booked, you will receive a confirmation email.
Please make sure you read through our Return to Campus Guide before booking, for information about what to expect on your arrival.
You can also check our online Learning and Support Handbook for all the information on how to contact our support services throughout your studies, whether remotely, by phone, or on-campus.
Yes! When you arrive, there are banners with QA Higher Education dedicated QR codes for you to scan with your smartphone. More information on this process can be found in the Return to Campus guide.
If you have any problems with the QR code, there are also website addresses on the banners that you can use as an alternative to scanning the QR code.
It is important that you check-in when you arrive (and out when you leave) to help us with any contact tracing requests from NHS Test and Trace, and to manage the capacity within the campuses.
You will also find NHS Test and Trace QR codes in the campus for those who have the NHS COVID-19 app.
For all Student Finance England funded students:
Will tuition fee and maintenance loans be processed and paid as normal?
Generally yes. The Student Loan Company are continuing to pay maintenance and tuition fee loans in the amounts students expected, based on their previous assessment. Student Finance England however reserve the right to request further evidence to support claims for funding at any time.
Will my tuition fee allocation change as a result in my programme moving to online learning?
Tuition fee payments will not alter as a result of changes in delivery, as the course is deemed to be completed based on the original course intention.
We have been informed by Student Finance England that applications for students progressing from one academic year to the next are still being assessed. Please submit your application online as soon as possible as during this period Student Finance England will experience delays to assessing applications.
If you are having difficulty in contacting Student Finance England and you have questions regarding your application please contact the University Finance Team on 0207 656 8450 or email us on QAHEfinancesupport@qa.com
If you are travelling into campus, please continue to follow the Coronavirus safer travel guidance for passengers.
Remember:
There are currently rules in place for those arriving in England, for both residents and visitors, which includes self-isolation on arrival for those travelling from overseas. Further details regarding self-isolation rules, requirements for arrival in the UK, and guidance on how to travel safely from the airport, are available at: www.gov.uk/uk-border-control
We recommend that you check this regularly as the guidance is subject to change.
If you are travelling to the UK to join us, please complete our online form with details of your travel plans as this will allow us the opportunity to provide any additional advice, guidance and support before and upon your arrival to the UK.
If you are travelling from the EU, please also make sure that you have consulted the relevant guidance regarding the UK and EU transition. You can check our FAQs regarding Brexit here.
It is important that you follow the Government’s guidance when travelling into the UK, especially if you are travelling from or through a country that is on the red list. The UK has red listed countries that pose a high risk to spreading the Covid-19 virus and its new variants. Please check the Government guidance here for the full list of ‘red list’ countries with detailed information on the requirements you need to meet on arrival in the UK.
If you have travelled through or been in any of the countries on the red list in the last 10 days, you will not be permitted to enter the UK – unless you are:
Please note: you cannot use the Test to Release scheme if you have been in or through a red list country.
It is critical that you follow the Government’s guidance on what you must do before you travel:
Please continue to check the guidance as it is subject to change.
We understand travelling can be stressful at the best of times and we want to ensure you are supported during this challenging time. Please complete the QA Higher Education travel notification form and let us know your circumstances. We will support you as you follow any necessary procedures to enter the UK.
Please do speak with our Welfare Team who are always on hand to support you with any queries or personal matters you may come across. Our friendly team are here to help and can also share a variety of resources with you that you may find useful.
Before travelling into the UK, please ensure you’re checking the latest information and advice about entering the UK here.
It is vital that students arriving in the UK have followed the correct arrival procedure to avoid additional costs and any delays. This includes ensuring you have the correct travel documents to present, testing requirements before travel, self-isolating on arrival and further testing during self-isolation.
You must take a Covid-19 test before you travel to England if you either:
For detailed information on the type of test, when and where to take the test, please monitor the Government guidance as this is subject to change.
Documents required on arrival:
We recommend that you regularly check the relevant Government guidance pages as advice may change. Please also remember to follow the Government’s safer travel guidelines, and plan ahead to avoid busy times.
Yes. If you would like help finding, booking, and organising accommodation for your studies, the QA Accommodation Service is here to help. Complete your details using an online form here and one of the team will contact you to discuss your options.
If you develop any symptoms, at any point, of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new consistent cough, a change to/loss of your sense of taste/smell), you must self-isolate immediately and arrange for coronavirus test. You can find out more information on this page, including the links for booking a test.
Please notify us if you develop symptoms, test positive for coronavirus, or are instructed to self-isolate and we will make sure you have all the right support.
If you are a student studying with us or one of our partners, please notify us following the process outlined on our webpage here.
For Northumbria University London Campus students, please complete the online form following Northumbria’s Report.Record.Support process here.
More information about who needs to self-isolate is available on the NHS website.
We understand that you may be feeling worried, so we want to reassure you that our Student Welfare Team are available to make sure you feel supported and they, like all of our support services, are available via email, phone or for virtual appointments so you can still speak to them while you are self-isolating.
If you’ve been instructed to self-isolate, please notify us here so we can ensure you are supported.
You can find out more about the ways of accessing each of our support teams in the Online Learning and Support Handbook here.
If you are planning on travelling outside the UK, the FCO website has advice regarding any necessary precautions you may need to take. You can check the FCO advice regarding coronavirus.
If you are travelling from/to the EU, please also make sure that you have consulted the relevant guidance regarding the UK and EU transition. You can check our FAQs regarding Brexit here.
A support bubble is when a household with only one adult in the home (known as a single-adult household) and one other household of any size form a support network.
Once you are in a support bubble you can think of yourself as being one single household.
Once formed, you should not change who is in your bubble.
Please note a childcare bubble is separate from a support bubble. For more information and detailed guidance please visit the Gov.co.uk pages on making a support bubble and or forming a childcare bubble.
The NHS Test and Trace service has been launched to ensure that Covid-19 tests are available for those who need, and to trace close recent contacts of anyone who tests positive who may be at risk of having Covid-19 and therefore may need to self-isolate.
You can find out more about the service here.
If you test positive for Covid-19, you will be contacted by the NHS Test and Trace Service and will be asked to share details of those people you have had close contact with.
You may be alerted by NHS Test and Trace if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. This will usually be by text, email or phone call. They will give you guidance and instructions on what you need to do.
If you are a student, or a member of staff and you are asked to self-isolate – please notify us.
There is also an NHS COVID-19 app available for Apple and Android smartphones. This is free in England and Wales and includes a symptom checker, contact tracing, local area alerts and venue check-ins.
You can learn more about the app in the below video.
NHS Test and Trace will never:
Surge testing is increased Covid-19 testing – including door-to-door testing in some areas – and enhanced contract tracing in specific locations to help monitor and supress the spread of coronavirus and better understand the new variants. Surge testing is being used across various locations in England to help identify and manage variants of the Covid-19 virus and it involves testing people who do not have any Covid-19 symptoms.
If you live in one of the targeted postcode areas listed on the Government guidance page here and are in the targeted age group, you are encouraged to participate in surge testing and take a Covid-19 test.
Please note you should get a test even if:
If you live or are travelling from a location which is undergoing surge testing, different public health guidance applies, and you should ensure you get tested before travelling. If you do test positive, you must not travel. You must isolate with your household immediately and follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus infections.
As the UK rolls out the Covid-19 vaccination programme, it’s important to be aware that fraudsters are using this as an opportunity to scam people.
The NHS is currently working through a priority list to offer vaccinations to those who are most vulnerable to Covid-19. The order in which people will be offered the vaccine is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Once it’s your turn to have the vaccination, the NHS may contact you by letter, email or text message (SMS). You can check the NHS website here for more information about how they will contact you.
How to spot a fake
If you have received a suspicious email or text inviting you to have a Covid-19 vaccination, here are some things to help you check:
If you think you have been a victim of fraud or identify theft, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
The National Cyber Security Centre and Action Fraud have asked anyone who receives a suspicious email or text to report it.
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