Student FAQ COVID-19 - University of Huddersfield

Table of contents
The start of the new academic year in September 2020
Frequently Asked Questions
Student updates
Accessing Services and Support when away from campus

Update 9 June 2020 - Teaching in September

Dear Student,

At the University of Huddersfield our aim is to deliver excellent teaching and learning, underpinned by world class research, in an environment which is safe and secure for all our students and staff. Since March this has meant moving our classes into a virtual environment, where our dedicated and inventive staff have found interesting and engaging ways of teaching, and where our wonderfully resilient students have adapted to learning online.

We should also recognise that many of our students on our nursing and health-related programmes have been working for the NHS throughout this period, and we are incredibly proud of them, they have certainly begun their careers in earnest.

Over the past few months we have been working hard to ensure that we can reopen our Huddersfield campus for our students and we look forward to welcoming you here again in September. I am writing to you to set out how we will be operating in the Autumn term in what are unprecedented times.

Our new academic year will start in September as usual. We aim to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as possible, supported by online teaching where necessary. Please be assured that we will continue to follow the Government’s advice and not put you, our students or our staff, at risk. We will continue to deliver our gold-rated courses effectively through this combination of methods and look forward to seeing you in Huddersfield soon. We will be in touch with you to advise you of your personal timetable nearer the start of term.

All academic and technology staff are currently engaging in further developments to support our new approaches to teaching, and some of your classes and tutorials will be delivered online, where you will be able to chat with staff and students using virtual meeting spaces. You will also be timetabled on campus as much as is safe to do so, so that you will be able to come along and enjoy meeting people you study with and access our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, such as our science and technology laboratories, TV studios, design studios and healthcare clinics.

To make sure it is safe for everyone on campus, our classes will run with smaller group sizes than usual, with hygiene protocols in place which all staff and students will be asked to observe. You will be given details of these before coming on to campus, but for example you might be directed to sit in specific or designated places, or to wear a face covering.

Our library and social spaces have measures in place so that you can access them safely and you will be asked to follow directional signage around campus so that you comply with social distancing guidance.

Our accommodation partners have been putting in extra measures to ensure that you have somewhere safe to stay whilst studying at the University of Huddersfield. We suggest that you carefully consider your accommodation choice and look in detail at the terms and conditions of any contract that you may be considering taking out with an accommodation provider.

Rest assured, we are looking forward to seeing you in September, we are working hard to make sure that you experience excellent teaching and learning in a safe and secure environment.

Stay safe and we will see you soon!

Yours sincerely

Professor Bob Cryan
Vice-Chancellor

Student Wellbeing

I am isolated and lonely - how should I take care of my mental health?

It is important to maintain some routine and structure, where possible build in activity such as online learning, exercise, a daily walk (self-isolation guidance permitting), reading or other such activities.

Depending on your School there may be virtual groups you can join – contact your school based support and guidance teams for information on these.

Further information on managing isolation can be found through the links below.

NHS

Corona virus and your wellbeing (MIND)

Student Minds

True Student

Save the Student

Other support options can be found here

Big White Wall

SHOUT

Staying Safe (suicidal thought planner, help making a safety plan)

Hub of Hope

Bullying or Abuse Related to COVID-19 Virus

All students can access support quickly via Student Wellbeing. The University does not tolerate abuse of any kind within our community. Please report this directly to the police.

How do I stay healthy?

Good Hygiene Routines

The University is currently undertaking extra cleaning in all areas of the campus but please do remember the NHS advice about handwashing and hygiene, hand washing facilities are available in key areas and we encourage students to use these regularly.

Accessing Health Advice

Individuals requiring health care and advice are being asked to make contact with the NHS via the 111 phone line and 111 online service. The University Health Centre, during this period, will be using telephone appointments and triage for initial contact. If you are registered with a GP please start your enquiry via phone.

Will I still receive my maintenance payments?

Students who return home or whose rent circumstances change will continue to receive maintenance loan payments.

I'm suffering financial hardship as a result of this situation.

The University has opened an emergency support fund for students in serious financial difficulty as a direct result of Coronavirus. This may include loss of job or paid placement. Find out more on the Access to Learning Fund Pages.

I am self-isolating and struggling to get essential items such and food and medicine

The wellbeing service can talk to you about local community support. You can contact the wellbeing service through email on studentwellbeing@hud.ac.uk

Kirklees, the local Council, are working alongside and local citizens and organisations to make sure that together we can all support our neighbours and communities over the coming weeks. They have set up a website and forms where you can both request and offer support.

COVID-19 FAQs - International Students

If you are experiencing serious financial difficulty as a direct result of COVID-19, our emergency support fund may be able to help. The fund is open to applications from international students (including EU) situated in the UK and on a current course. It is important to note that this is a one-off payment to provide temporary relief that is directly related to the current COVID-19 situation and does not include funding for outstanding tuition fees or accommodation rent for example.

Submitting an application is not a guarantee that a payment will be made, and all applications are subject to providing relevant evidence which is assessed at the discretion of the University. Failure to provide evidence will result in your application being rejected.

To apply for the fund, please complete the online Emergency Support Application Form, providing full details of your situation. You MUST provide evidence to support your application (such as bank statements, job loss confirmation etc).

Applications to the fund are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and the University’s decision is final.

If you have any queries regarding emergency financial support, please contact international.office@hud.ac.uk.

My visa is expiring soon – what do I do?

If you are in the UK and your visa is due to expire soon, or has already expired, and you are unable to leave the UK due to the Covid-19 related travel restrictions or self-isolation, You must request an extension by updating your records with the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT).

The Coronavirus Immigration Team will be in touch with you when your visa has been extended.

If you have already had your visa extended until 31 May 2020, you don’t need to follow the above process again as you visa will be extended automatically to 31 July 2020.

For detail, see the Home Office's Coronavirus update of 24 March 2020 as well as the UKCISA advice.

If you are in this position and have emailed the Home Office’s Coronavirus Immigration Team, please also email the University’s Immigration & Compliance team on immigration@hud.ac.uk to let us know and we will update our records.

I have already applied for my Tier 4 visa extension but the UKVCAS centre is closed

Due to the ongoing situation, Sopra Steria UKVCAS have closed various centres across the country - see UKVCAS website for the full list. If you are affected by a centre closure then please be advised that Sopra Steria will automatically rebook your biometric appointments at the same locations in 6 weeks’ time. This of course means that there will be a long delay in the processing of your visa application decision but it will not affect your visa status in the UK.

I am on a Tier 4 visa. Can I now study via distance learning?

Due to the current exceptional circumstances, the Home Office will not consider it a breach of visa or sponsor duties if Tier 4 students undertake distance learning whether they are in the UK or another country.

Sponsors do not need to withdraw sponsorship in these circumstances.

I am an International Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD Student

What will happen if I leave the UK?

The University is operating a revised service and you will be able to complete your studies here through on-line learning and assessment.

However, if you feel that you must return home, we will continue to support you in your studies remotely through on-line learning and assessment for the remainder of the academic year, until you can return. Full details of this are part of the student FAQs.

Whom should I inform if I choose to leave the UK?

In accordance with your Visa conditions, you must inform immigration@hud.ac.uk and send us a copy of your boarding card and/or flight booking.

We can then confirm your location and can enrol you onto our on-line learning and assessment programmes and you can complete your studies remotely. Our intention is that all students will be able to complete their studies and progress and/or receive their final degree outcome.

The Home Office requires the University to be aware of your study location. If you do not let us know you are returning home this may cause issues in the future if you need to extend your visa or apply for a new one.

If you do leave the UK, you will also need to remember that you are responsible for any contracts that you may have signed, for example accommodation contracts, and inform the relevant parties.

If I am studying on-line in the UK do I still need to have my attendance at University verified.

No, we will monitor your engagement with your course through your Brightspace usage.

If I leave the UK before the end of this academic year what will happen to my visa?

We are not sure at the moment, we are awaiting new guidance from UKVI, but we hope that they will be understanding. Your visa will not be cancelled for at least the next two months.

However, you must inform us by emailing immigration@hud.ac.uk with copies of your boarding card/flight booking. The Home Office requires the University to be aware of your study location.

If you do not let us know you are returning home this may cause issues in the future if you need to extend your visa or apply for a new one.

If I am not in University, can I work longer hours in my part-time job?

No, it is still term-time and as such you are only allowed to work to a maximum of 20 hours per week. You should not work longer than this or it may result in you being deported from the UK.

I am a student in the International Study Centre

To help you prepare for your new course at the University of Huddersfield the International Office will be hosting online talks for you throughout August, please email the International Study Centre isc@hud.ac.ukfor these dates.

Please refer to the guidance issued by Study Group on your Brightspace portal, and make sure you are checking your university email.

If you are studying on an International Year One programme and wish to return to your home country, you must inform us by emailing immigration@hud.ac.uk. with copies of your boarding card/flight booking.

The Home Office requires the University/or International Study Centre to be aware of your study location. If you do not let us know you are returning home this may cause issues in the future if you need to extend your visa or apply for a new one.

Drop-In Sessions

If you need more information we will be running weekly general advice drop-in sessions and immigration drop-in sessions via Zoom.

Immigration Team Drop-In Sessions

Wednesday 10.00am-12.00pm (UK time)

How to join?

Join the drop-in during the times above or use Zoom Meeting ID: 949 762 438 (no password is required).

International Student Support Drop-in sessions

Tuesday 9.00am – 10.00am (UK time)

Friday 2.00pm – 3.00pm (UK time)

How to join?

Join the drop-in during the above times or use Zoom Meeting ID: 959-642-421 (no password required).

What to expect:

Sessions will be on a 1-1 basis and you will automatically enter the queue. Please do not close the holding window or you will lose your place and have to re-join.
We will alert you when the session is about to end. If you have not been seen during the session and your query is urgent, please email the relevant team on immigration@hud.ac.uk for Immigration and visa advice or international.office@hud.ac.uk for general email advice.
When your session is over, please click ‘leave the meeting’ on Zoom, alternately, we can put you into the waiting room if you may need to speak to us again

If I am not in University, can I work longer hours in my part-time job?

No, it is still term-time and as such you are only allowed to work to a maximum of 20 hours per week. You should not work longer than this or it may result in you being deported from the UK.

Only Tier 4 students who are employed by the NHS as a doctor, nurse or paramedic are permitted to work without unlimited hours during the Covid-19 crisis.

If you are not employed in any of the above roles, then the working conditions of your Tier 4 visa have not changed. You are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time and full time during official vacation periods. Please note that if you are a Masters student working on your dissertation over the Summer, this is classed as term-time and you will be only permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week.

How do I re-enrol?

From 3 August you will receive an email from the Student Records Team with instructions on how to register using MyHud. Your school office will be in contact with you near to the start of term to update you on your studies and your timetable. Please contact your School Student Support Office.

When do I need to pay my tuition fees?

50% must be paid by 30 September and the remaining 50% by 31 January.

What to expect in campus?

We would like to reassure you that we are making the University as safe as possible for our students and staff in accordance with UK government guidelines so you will have a safe place to study. Keep checking these pages for regular updates so you already for the start of term.

Continuing studies

What is the University Doing to ensure that students are not disadvantaged in terms of student outcomes as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic?

At the heart of the University’s philosophy is the ongoing principle that no student should be disadvantaged in achieving their potential and that position has been very strongly maintained throughout the emerging Covid-19 disruption.

We have strengthened this stance through the development of additional policies and processes over recent weeks, which take as their starting point a recognition that our students may be impacted by Covid-19 in a number of direct and indirect ways, and our students are understandably anxious about how this may affect their degree outcomes. We know that many students have family responsibilities, they may have varying degrees of access to IT, and that they, or family members may be key workers, or may indeed be unwell at the moment. We have made, and are continuing to make, adjustments to how we deliver and assess our programmes to take account of this.

Our concern has been to introduce methods of assessment that enable our students to continue their studies appropriately, and to the standards they and their future employers would expect despite the current situation. This ensures that students and employers can be confident in the quality and integrity of the final marks that a student achieves compared to marks from previous and future cohorts of students.

Equally importantly, we are ensuring that our assessments allow our students to demonstrate that they meet the competency requirements of the many professional bodies that we work with – in many instances such competences simply cannot be estimated on past performance and so it is essential that students complete the alternative assessments and they will have our full support in doing so.

In addition to adjustments to our extension and Extenuating Circumstances processes, one key component in our approach is that we are introducing a “safety net” for our final year students to ensure that where they have completed and passed their final year assignments, their degree award will at least match the classification indicated by second year grades. This means that if your marks in the second year indicated an Upper Second Class degree, then your final degree outcome will be an Upper Second Class degree, or better if your final year marks improve on this when the normal degree outcome calculation is applied. Also, second year students who have completed and passed this year’s assessments can receive final degree outcomes based on final year marks only, if this is to their benefit. The safety net applies to all undergraduate bachelor level programmes which have assessment due in this academic cycle that counts towards final degree classifications, dependent on

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body agreements. This 'safety net' approach is a model that has also been adopted by Cambridge University. We have also made provision under the same general principle for integrated masters and non-standard provision which takes place over more than one academic year.

The emergency regulations to cover this can be found on the Registry pages.

Our student support and wellbeing staff have prepared additional measures to deal with individual circumstances and we would encourage any student with concerns to contact wellbeing or their personal academic tutor. Please be assured we are working to support final year students to continue their studies, so they can complete their degrees and not be disadvantaged in the workplace once things stabilise and we return to more normal times.

University Rules and Regulations

The University has approved a range of adjustments to enable students to complete their studies and assessments during this emergency situation. Your School and course leaders will be contacting you with specific arrangements. The regulations and procedures are accessible via the Registry pages.

I’m ill, what happens about my studies?

The University will do its best to support you during your illness and as material is online you should be able to catch up once you have recovered. Where this impacts on assessments, students should in the first instance apply for an extension. It may be that you need to apply for Extenuating Circumstances should you need a longer period of time to catch up. We recognise that it may not be possible to produce evidence in the usual format and this will be taken into account when considering extension and EC claims.

Will I be able to graduate on time?

There are two things that happen when a student graduates. Students receive a certificate of confirmation of their award, and there is also a celebratory graduation ceremony. You will be receiving your certificate through the post, which is the normal practice anyway. However, we will not be able to hold the graduation ceremonies in July, though hope to be able to reschedule these when circumstances permit.

What will appear on my degree certificate and transcript this year?

As in previous years, your transcript will set out the final actual assessment grades from all of the modules you have taken at the University on your course. The certificate and the transcript will also state your degree outcome, which may be based on actual marks awarded, or, may be based on the outcome of our "safety net" process.

Extension and extenuating circumstances

We acknowledge that the current situation is difficult and appreciate that engagement with your studies may be disrupted. If you are unable to complete assessment to deadline because you are ill, caring for a family member who is ill, are a key worker or are unable to access appropriate IT, you should in the first instance apply for an extension through the normal route from https://my.hud.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx.

We are encouraging, wherever appropriate, the use of extensions which will be longer than in normal circumstances. We hope this helps most of you to complete your assessments in time for them to be considered by the relevant Course Assessment Boards, normally in June. Some of you may require longer than we can offer through the extension, in which case you should apply for Extenuating Circumstances. This will allow us, if necessary, to consider your marks at a later Course Assessment Board although this will mean that your final outcomes will be released slightly later.

We are unable to offer extensions for some assignments, such as open book examinations, in which case you will need to apply for Extenuating Circumstances to be considered if you are unable to complete these assessments on the date set. In some cases, our Professional Regulatory and Standards Bodies set the rules around extension requests, and in these cases we have to follow their guidance.

Please be reassured that we recognise that it may not be possible to produce evidence in the usual format and this will be taken into account when considering Extension requests and Extenuating Circumstances claims.

Returning Library books or laptops

There will be no penalties for the late return of library resources.

Due to school closures I have additional childcare responsibilities. This will impact on my ability to complete assessed work.

There are a number of things you can do. Request an extension to give you more time to complete your assessments in the first instance. If you require a long term extension, apply for Extenuating Circumstances.

What should I do if lecturers are not responding to my emails?

Please be patient. Responding to individual enquiries does take a little longer in an online environment. We also have a number of members of staff who are ill or caring for dependents who are ill, and they need a little longer to be able to get back to you. Your query might be answered through our FAQ pages, so please check there. If your email is urgent and you haven’t had a response to your email in two working days, please email your course leader or School admin office who might be able to help.

Guidance on working from home

Our library team has put together information which you will find useful in working from home.

What is happening with my exams?

Under the current circumstances you will not be asked to come into University to sit exams. We have put in place alternative assessment arrangements and these vary, dependent on your course. You have received an email from your School about these arrangements and how they apply to you and more detail will be provided by module leaders.

The changes involve using online delivery methodologies as set out below:

1. Coursework assessments which you would normally submit to Brightspace will largely continue unchanged.

2. Any type of examination which would normally require you to be on campus is being substituted for an assessment which can take place in an online environment. Assessments affected include presentations, performances, interviews and of course traditional exams which you would normally “sit” on campus.

3. We ask for your patience as in some cases we need the approval of professional accreditation bodies before making any changes to assessments, for example on programmes which carry professional recognition such as in pharmacy, nursing, accountancy and law. We are working closely with professional bodies to ensure that any substitute assessment is fair and accessible for our students.

Your tutors and module leaders will provide the detail about approved alternative assessment.

4. There are a number of alternative arrangements we will be putting in place and this depends on your year of study and adherence to professional body requirements.

a) Some exams will be substituted for written assessment such as essays, and you will be given appropriate time in which do to this.

b) Some exams will move to an “open book” exam system where you will attempt the paper on-line. You will be given at least 24 hours in which to complete this “exam” (this may be different for students who have to work to professional body requirements). Please note that the amount of work you will be expected to do will be the same as for the usual 2 or 3 hour exam, we are opening the 24 hour window to allow students to pick the best time for them to complete the work and to allow international students to work within their time zones. You will submit the work through Turnitin and it will go through the usual plagiarism checks to ensure that your work does not breach our academic integrity policy. We may also select students at random to undertake a viva after the examination (online or on the telephone) as part of the quality assurance process, but again you will be given plenty of notice about this.

c) Some first and second year exams will be cancelled altogether and your module grade will be calculated from the remaining assignments.

5. If you have additional requirements as part of a Personal Learning Support Plan we will ensure that appropriate adjustments are made to take account of these. Disability services will be touch regarding arrangements for students who require access to specialist services. No students will be disadvantaged by the new arrangements for on-line assessment compared to the usual examination procedures.

Please be assured we are here to support you, and if you have any concerns about the alternative assessment arrangements which apply to you, please contact your Module Leader in the first instance. We will give you plenty of notice about these changes to assessment to give you the opportunity to seek help where you need it.

Please keep a careful eye on Brightspace for information about alternative assessments.

Disabled Students

I have extra time allocated to exams to accommodate my disability. How will this be reflected in any new modes of assessment?

This will depend on the new mode of assessment and the reasonable adjustments you have specified in your PLSP (Personal Learning Support Plan). These will normally be applied to any revised mode of assessment. As and when new modes of assessment are confirmed you should check with your School that they are alert to the reasonable adjustments detailed in your PSLP. Should any revised modes of assessment not be covered or present concerns, please contact the Disability Service via disability@hud.ac.uk

I want to continue support from my Specialist Study Skills Tutor/Mentor. Can I still do this?

A number of our tutors will need to work remotely and provide sessions by video-conferencing or telephone during this period of social distancing. They will liaise directly with you to arrange this. Where staff are unable to provide remote sessions we may be able to allocate an alternative staff member and we will do our best to secure continued support.

How will my note taking support be provided for remote teaching?

If you require notes from remote teaching provision, where it is recorded and/or note takers can access the session remotely we will ensure provision of notes.

My assignment is due soon. Am I entitled to an extension to mitigate any disruption in studies?

You can continue to apply for an assignment extension in the normal way and module leaders will be seeking to ensure that any disruption to studies or access to materials is mitigated with some additional time for the entire cohort to complete coursework.

I need to apply for Extenuation Circumstances but cannot get a medical note from my GP?

We understand that this may be difficult to obtain in the current climate. Please complete the EC form giving us as much information as you can and submit without medical evidence. If you have any queries students should contact their Disability Adviser or email disability@hud.ac.uk to discuss this further.

How will my examination and assessment adjustments that accommodate my disability be applied to any revised forms of assessment?

ARAs (Alternative Reasonable Adjustments) are taken into account in the revised assessment arrangements. If you have any concerns you should contact disability@hud.ac.uk who will talk through and consider your circumstances.

Where you are normally allocated extra time in exams, we will ensure this is reflected in the time allocated to complete an alternative form of assessment which is time limited.
If you normally have access to a Reader in your exams or a Scribe you should contact your Disability Adviser or disability@hud.ac.uk. The Disability Team will endeavor to contact everyone who has previously had these adjustments to look at how this can be facilitated remotely, if still required for the revised assessment format.
If you have previously used specialist software in an examination and still require access to it to complete the designated alternative assessment, please contact the Disability Team on disability@hud.ac.uk to discuss your support requirements. You may also be able to access refresher sessions in the use of Assistive Technology through HudStudy.

Self-isolation and Stay at Home Guidance

The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:

a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above you must stay at home and arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19.

You should review current UK government guidance Stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. This guidance confirms “If you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of COVID-19, then you must stay at home for at least 7 days. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the household became ill.”

Should you or any of your friends fall ill while in your student residence, there is guidance on self-isolating in halls here. Let your halls provider know you need to self-isolate and let them know about the support you may need during this period.

If you are experiencing difficulties self-isolating in halls please contact your provider or studentwellbeing@hud.ac.uk.

What will happen about my attendance record if I need to self-isolate?

There is no need for you to notify us of your absence. Any sessions that you may miss will be disregarded in terms of attendance monitoring. Please continue to engage with sessions as appropriate via Brightspace.

What happens if my placement is affected?

Placements in the UK

Please follow national government guidance, and instructions from your placement provider. Please note that if you do not manage to complete your placement in its entirety, the University will give due consideration to these extraordinary circumstances.

Placements International

Questions relating to the COVID-19 virus in other parts of the world will be best addressed locally where you are studying/working and it is important that you follow local advice as well as remaining aware of UK government advice. If you have not already done so, please sign up for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel alerts for your host country so that you receive the most up-to-date travel and health advice from the UK government.

What should I consider regarding travel plans?

Please follow the advice being given by the UK Government.

Your safety, campus access and services

How will you ensure students and staff are safe?

The health and safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. We are taking all the necessary precautions in our buildings, spaces and operations.

All areas will be risk assessed and before reopening will be hygienically cleaned as we have introduced an enhanced cleaning regime. New measures will be put in place to help everyone social distance and move safely around campus. One-way systems in busy areas and new rules for lifts, communal areas, toilets and learning spaces are being established. Hand sanitiser will be available in all buildings and there will be facilities for hand washing across campus. Staff and students should wear a face covering when inside a building unless exempt from this Government guidance.

We will review our arrangements regularly, taking into account any changes in government guidance. Detailed guidance will be issued to you nearer the start of term.

Will Campus be open for the start of the new term in September?

We are making plans to safely welcome staff and students back to campus commencing in late September. We aim to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as possible, supported by online teaching where necessary. It is likely that you will have timetabled sessions both on campus and off campus in the form of online sessions with your tutors. These plans are developing in response to government guidance. We will be in touch with you to advise you of your personal timetable nearer the start of term.

Will I be able to access the teaching facilities on campus to help with my course?

We aim to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as possible, which includes providing students with access to our excellent teaching facilities including laboratories, drama studios, art and fashion studios, music facilities etc. Access will be in line with government guidelines, safety and social distancing and so your sessions in these spaces will be timetabled on that basis. We will be in touch with you to advise you of your personal timetable nearer the start of term.

Will I be able to use the library?

We are drawing up plans to open the library, computer labs and study hubs, but this will be in line with current social distancing guidelines and there will be rules about how you use the space. We will issue full guidance nearer the start of term.

Will I be able to buy food and drink on campus?

Our catering outlets will be operating a take-away service. The Students’ Union shop in Student Central will be open under the same guidelines as other shops.

Will the gym be open?

Our gym and sports hall are currently closed but we would love to have you back as a UNIGYM member soon. So register your interest now and get your name on the priority list for an incredible Re-Opening offer. Register Here.

Will faith and prayer facilities be available?

We will aim to open the Faith Centre and provide space for personal prayer and reflection at the start of term. Social distancing requirements are likely to prevent congregational prayers and worship. Guidance on safe use will be issued and in situ nearer the time.

Will the University be working with NHS Test & Trace?

The Well-being of our staff and students remains our priority. To help ensure that all members of the University community remain safe, the University may share your contact details with the NHS Test & Trace Service or the Local Authority to help with contact tracing. We will only share your data where it is necessary and lawful to do so. For more information on how the University uses your data, please see our privacy notice on our website. If you are contacted by NHS Test & Trace, please make sure you follow their guidance to help protect yourself and others.

Your Course and Timetable

How will my studies be delivered in the next academic year?

In a standard undergraduate course, you are expected to spend 35 hours/week working on your studies. This includes your independent study and all of your contact time. Contact time means tutor-mediated teaching and guidance. This includes face-to-face activities on campus as well as off-site work-based learning, placements and educational visits. Online activities that include personalised tutor input within a specified time-frame are also part of your contact time.

Current indications suggest that we can aim to safely accommodate 30-50% of the usual contact time for your course as face-to-face on campus delivery. This may include seminars, workshops, practical and clinical sessions. The rest of your contact time will be delivered online. This online component may include:

synchronous sessions, meaning that you will participate in live, online activities such as seminars and workshops at the same time as your fellow students
asynchronous activities, meaning you will access recorded sessions or participate in discussions forums, chats, blogs and wikis etc., responding to your fellow students and supported by your tutors

The remainder of your study time will, as usual, be for you to engage in independent learning using online material in Brightspace, the University’s virtual learning environment, and using the library and subject resources to complete course work and other assessments. If the social distancing and/or alert level is changed by the government then we will adapt flexibly to change the availability of facilities on campus.

How will my Timetable work?

Any face to face sessions on campus as well as any synchronous real time online sessions with your tutors will be listed in your personal timetable. This will be available to you before your studies commence and we are endeavouring to keep transport and commuting to a minimum by timetabling such that students only have to travel to campus once or twice a week. This will minimise exposure risks as many of our students use public transport to access campus.

What arrangements are in place for Postgraduate Research Students

Our new academic year will start in September as usual. We aim to enable as much PGR activity and support on campus as possible, supplemented as necessary by online alternatives. We will continue to follow the Government’s advice and not put students or staff, at risk. We will be in touch with you to advise you of your personal arrangements nearer the start of term.

We will make available facilities you may need for your research as far as is possible within Government guidelines. This includes such spaces as laboratories, workshops, PGR study rooms and the library. There will be new hygiene protocols you will be expected to observe; you will be given full details about these before coming on campus, but for example, you might be directed to sit in specific places, or to wear a face covering. You will be asked to follow directional signage around campus so that you comply with social distancing guidance.

Will I still be able to go on placement next year?

We are committed to enabling as many students as possible to complete placements next year as planned. We are working with placement providers to understand their needs and limitations. Individual students’ circumstances will vary, as will the requirements of different employers, so we will stay as flexible as possible. Options may include starting your placement later or undertaking a placement which includes some element of remote working.

IT Resources and support

What IT resources will I have access to?

The digital applications used to enable student learning include:

Brightspace – our web based virtual learning environment provides key course information, learning activities and access to recorded lectures and other teaching sessions.
Microsoft Teams – provides a flexible environment where video conferencing, chat, file sharing and many other features will enable you to collaborate and learn.
MyHud – both an app and website, provides access a wide range of personalised information and digital services relevant to students.
Microsoft Office365 - provides online applications to support student learning. The main suite of MS applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive, Outlook, Teams) are available to students via the University without need for student to purchase their own licences.
Uni-desktop – provides access to a virtual PC providing access to a campus applications and services.
On-line library E-books, Journals and search are accessible through University library service.

All enrolled students have web access to these learning resources.

What IT equipment will I need for my studies?

To access all the support and learning technologies that are available we recommend that you have the following equipment.
A laptop or desktop PC with a camera, microphone, internet access: a laptop is recommended rather than a tablet as laptops better enable completion of assignments and engagement in the digital learning environments. Laptops also enable learning from home, on campus and during travel to and from campus. The computer you use does not usually need to be a high specification, but comfortably run IOS or Windows10. If your computer was new within the last 4-5 years, it should enable you to access the primary applications listed above.

A reasonably fast and reliable internet connection is required to participate in online tutorials and lectures. If your internet connection at home is not very good consider whether you can use an internet connection somewhere else (for example a workplace, library or friend’s house dependent on the Government’s latest guidance) when you need to study online or join an online tutorial. If you are moving into new accommodation don’t forget to ask about the availability of wifi.

A head set or earphones with a microphone. To more fully participate in online tutorials, you’ll need a headset with a microphone. You might be able to use a built-in microphone if your computer has one, but you’ll be able to hear, and be heard, more clearly with a headset.

How will you support students without access to IT facilities?

We offer a £1,000 Huddersfield Scholarship to eligible first year United Kingdom undergraduate students. If you qualify for this Scholarship you will receive notification regarding this from us. We strongly suggest that you use part of this Scholarship to purchase the required IT equipment for your studies if you do not already have access to this equipment. In addition, due to the current situation we will be introducing extra support for students who do not have access to suitable digital equipment for their studies. We will be publishing details on this over the summer. Please do look at the Covid-19 section on our website for up to date information.

We have existing arrangements for Laptop Loans and we are reviewing our Access to Learning Fund to consider students who are experiencing exceptional and extraordinary financial hardship.

We will open the Library and computer labs as soon as practically possible to ensure you can access the digital services. The Library and computer labs will operate in line with current social distancing guidelines.

Student FAQ relating to Covid-19 virus

The start of the new academic year in September 2020

Your safety, campus access and services

Your Course and Timetable

IT Resources and support

Enrolment, welcome and getting started

Student Accommodation

International Students

Students with disabilities

Frequently Asked Questions

Student Wellbeing

International students

Disabled students

Continuing studies

Self-isolation and Stay at Home Guidance

Accommodation and Halls (archived)

Update 9 June 2020

Update 11 May 2020

Archive

Accessing Services and Support when away from campus

How do I access support services whilst I am away from campus?