If you are not already at your term time address, we are advising you not to travel between your permanent home and term time address at this time in line with Government guidance. You should not travel unless for any of the limited reasons detailed on the Government website here.
If you are currently overseas, please continue to monitor the Government’s travel advice here too. This includes information on any self-isolation requirements, pre-flight Covid-19 testing, guidance on how to travel safely from the airport and any other actions you may be required to follow before travelling to the UK. We recommend that you check this regularly as the guidance is subject to change.
If you must travel, please continue to follow the Coronavirus safer travel guidance for passengers.
Remember:
You can check the latest Government advice and response to coronavirus on the Government’s website.
If you are currently overseas, please continue to monitor the Government’s travel advice here too. This includes information on any self-isolation requirements, pre-flight Covid-19 testing, guidance on how to travel safely from the airport and any other actions you may be required to follow before travelling to the UK. We recommend that you check this regularly as the guidance is subject to change.
If you are travelling from/to the EU, please also make sure that you have consulted the relevant Government guidance regarding the UK and EU transition. You can check our FAQs regarding Brexit here.
In line with the Government’s guidance, our campus buildings are currently closed and we will be delivering all teaching online until further notice. We will continue to review the current situation with further guidance and Government legislation expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Whilst our buildings are closed, we are committed to ensuring that you are still able to continue your learning. This means:
We will continue to review these measures and plan to re-introduce some opportunities for you to engage in some small group face-to-face learning activities on-campus as soon as it is safe for us to do so, continuing to follow Government guidance and social distancing measures as required.
Please continue to check your university emails.
Once our centres reopen, you will be able to borrow textbooks. You can find more information on the library portal here.
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 for more information including details of face covering requirements, or 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 that some of the content in the video above does not apply for our learners who are studying degree apprenticeships with us. Details regarding any updates to your teaching will be communicated directly to you.
Yes.
One of our priorities is to ensure that we are minimising any disruption to learning for our students. This includes students who are due to resume their studies.
Our team have been working hard to make sure we have all of the systems in place to support you on your return. We will continue to keep you informed of our plans and what they mean for your studies.
Our focus is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students studying with us.
As enrolment draws closer, you will receive enrolment instructions from us via email – please continue to check your emails and student portal.
Core delivery of your programme will continue online. As part of our response to Covid-19, in addition to live online learning activities we plan to offer some opportunities to engage in some small group face-to-face teaching as soon as it is safe for us to do so, continuing to follow Government advice and social distancing measures as required. We will continue to review these measures with a view to transition your course to face-to-face classroom tuition as soon as practical, following Government guidance throughout.
Alongside all online learning platforms and resources, you will also continue to have access to all of our support teams, including the ACE Team, Careers and Welfare, either online or on-campus, as you progress through your studies with us.
Please continue to check your university email for updates from us regarding re-enrolment and teaching delivery methods.
We have been working on plans to ensure you can still access as much support as possible, following social distancing rules and Government guidance.
Our plans include:
Please continue to check your emails as we will continue to send you information regarding your teaching via email.
We will continue to review these measures with a view to transition your course to face-to-face classroom tuition as soon as practical, following Government guidance throughout.
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.
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 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 the 2020/21 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 2021-22 academic year. If you would like to discuss any of these options in more detail, please contact your Programme Leader.
Recognising that some or all 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 smart phone, 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.
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.
Currently, 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.
Documents required on arrival:
Testing requirements:
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.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you in to our campuses once we reopen, 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.
For students, we recommend you read through our Return to Campus Guide before booking, for information about what to expect on your arrival.
Our Online Learning and Support Handbook has all the information on how to contact all of our support services throughout your studies, whether remotely, by phone, or on-campus.
Yes! When you arrive, there are banners with QR codes for you to scan with your smartphone.
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
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.
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.
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 complete our online notification form.
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.
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.
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 complete our notification form 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.
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:
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.
The University of South Wales has announced that it will be working in partnership with QA Higher Education to deliver an International Pathway College at its Cardiff and Pontypridd campuses.
QA Higher Education partner Northumbria University, London, joins forces with Lean-Agile Procurement Alliance to host a guest lecture on agility in procurement to over 40 Masters students.
QA Higher Education is excited to announce the launch of the new AI Data Specialist Higher Apprenticeship programme.
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