FAQs for current students

We have worked hard to make sure our campuses are safe spaces that make it easy for staff and students to respect physical distancing and to follow Government guidance on cleanliness. Some of the solutions we have put in place are:

• Staff and students are required to wear face coverings in all seminar and lecture settings (including when seated), and in all indoor spaces.
• One-way systems operating inside some buildings and around our campuses, with signage to help you see where you are meant to go
• Timetabled session will start 10 minutes past the hour (or scheduled start time) and finish five minutes before the hour (or scheduled finish time)
• Screens have been installed in places where they are needed, for example at reception areas
• Hand sanitiser will be available at the entrance to every building
• All our buildings will have enhanced cleaning every day, and we are providing cleaning stations so that staff and students can clean the spaces they use before and after doing so
• We are doing all we can to ensure that all rooms are well ventilated, exceeding required levels, with CO₂ levels monitored regularly.

There is further information available about the Covid-19 safety measures which have been introduced to our student accommodation.

A more detailed BU Covid-19 risk assessment is also available which identifies all aspects of a return to campus and offers an overview of the controls in place to minimise the risk of Covid-19 to the wider BU community. The Latest information about exact Covid-19 cases at BU can be found on our website.

 View a PDF version of the above infographic (pdf 630kb)

Before coming to campus, you need to be regularly testing yourself for Covid-19, twice a week, using home test kits, as this will help to keep our community safe.

We require the wearing of face coverings in all seminar and lecture settings (including when seated), and in all indoor spaces. This is a mandatory requirement unless you have an exemption, are seated at a desk or workstation, or are eating or drinking. We appreciate this is additional to the current government guidance, but this is an important safety measure so that we can reduce the risk of infection with no physical distancing, protect our staff and avoid disruption to your studies.

Find out why you need to wear a face covering on campus in this short video.

Yes, it is mandatory to wear a face covering in all indoor settings including lectures and seminars and other teaching spaces, unless you are exempt. We understand that this might be a little uncomfortable, but it is an important measure you can take to help keep yourself, your fellow students and our staff safe. In rooms where there is a comfortable and appropriate distance between you and your lecturer, you may see them without a face covering while they are teaching, but where distance can’t be maintained, staff will also be wearing a face covering in all indoor settings.

The term ‘teaching spaces’ refers to all lecture halls, seminar rooms or practical spaces such as PC labs and studios, i.e. wherever any taught or practical session is taking place.

If you are studying at a workstation and are a comfortable and appropriate distance from another student, then you can remove your face covering, if you prefer. However, when you get up from your workstation and move around the room, you should put your face covering on. This applies to all spaces across campus, including the libraries and open access centre.

If you are working alone in a room, then you don’t need to wear a face covering unless you wish to do so.

If you don’t follow the rules about face coverings, you may be asked by our staff to leave the building or teaching session. Please respect other students and our staff and wear a face covering in all indoor settings, unless exempt.

All students have been told that they must wear a face covering in all indoor settings, including when seated in lectures and seminars and other teaching spaces, unless exempt. This rule also applies to staff, unless they are teaching and are at a comfortable and appropriate distance from the students. If you see someone not wearing a face covering where we require them to do so, you should feel able to ask them respectfully to wear one.

There is no legal requirement for people who are exempt from wearing a face covering to declare it or to carry something which identities them as such. However, if you wish, there are templates which you can use for this purpose.

If you see someone not wearing a face covering where we require them to do so, you should feel able to ask them respectfully to wear one. Please equally respect anyone who is exempt.

In line with government guidelines, there is no longer a requirement to physically distance yourself from others, however we would suggest that you continue to do so where possible, especially where you are mixing with new people. If you would like others to know that you would prefer to physically distance you can collect a lanyard from the reception in either the Bournemouth Gateway Building or Poole House to signify that you would prefer to keep physical space from others as much as possible.

Please make use of the hand sanitisers around campus, continue to wash your hands often and respect the one-way flows where they are issued around campus. Please also be considerate of anyone who you see wearing one of the lanyards around campus.

While physical distancing is no longer required as a result of the government roadmap and subsequent Higher Education Institution guidance, we continue to encourage it wherever possible. For any staff member or student who would like to show that you are continuing to keep your distance from others, you can collect a lanyard from Poole House reception on Talbot Campus and Bournemouth Gateway Building reception on Lansdowne Campus. This will show that you wish to keep distance as much as possible. The lanyards are yellow with the wording “I’d like to keep some space between us” printed on them.

To support staff and students who need to use the lifts for health or medical reasons or if they are carrying heavy or bulky loads, please use the stairs wherever possible. If you do need to use the lifts, you must be wearing a face covering (unless you are exempt).

We have shared details of our planned approach from September 2021 which involves face-to-face teaching on campus for all students and we remain committed to providing you with the best experience.

You must stay at home and get tested as soon as possible. At no point should you come to campus or attend your GP surgery in person without an appointment. You should also inform all other students living in your house/flat, so they can take appropriate action as required. You can view more information about when you must isolate in our ‘Managing Covid-19 FAQs’

When you get tested, please let them know that you are a student at BU. You can find out more information about what you need to do if you receive a positive test on the BU website.

All students over the age of 16 can receive both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine free of charge. This includes any international students in the country, who are eligible for their first (if they haven’t already had one) or second doses in line with relevant guidance. The NHS has put together a helpful set of vaccination FAQs for students in Higher Education Institutions which you may find useful. 

We would encourage you to register with a GP to book your vaccinations, to ensure that records with your GP remain up to date. However, this is not essential and you can also book your Covid-19 vaccination by visiting the NHS website.

Previous overseas vaccination: If a person has received a first dose overseas that is also available in the UK, they should receive the same vaccine for their second dose provided they meet UK eligibility criteria (as per the JCVI guidance). If the first dose is not available in the UK, the most similar alternative should be offered.

You can find out more about Covid-19 vaccinations on the relevant FAQ page on the BU website.

We strongly encourage you to take up the offer of vaccination and get both your jabs, if you haven’t already done so. 

Due to travel restrictions because of coronavirus some people may have queries about the expiry date of their current visa or leave to remain in the United Kingdom. The Home Office has provided further guidance around this, which you can read on the gov.uk website.

If you are a student and have any further concerns about your visa please contact the Immigration Compliance and Advice Team via AskBU.

If you are on a Student visa:

• The Home Office understand that these are exceptional times and have provided some guidance. BU students who are unable to engage with their studies online for over 60 days due to Covid-19, will not be reported.
• The guidance also allows students with a Student visa to engage with their studies online either from their home country or within the UK (including if they need to self-isolate but have no symptoms). These students also do not need to be reported to the Home Office.

In both these situations, your Student visa status will not be affected.

The pandemic has brought about changes in the way that many companies are working at the moment, but you will still be gaining vital, and even unique, experience throughout your placement. The placement team in your faculty is here to support you, so do get in touch if you have any questions. You can also take a look at the placement information and FAQs on our website.

Before you travel to the UK, you must submit this form 48 hours before you travel. Please make sure you are aware of the travel restrictions in place both in the UK and from your departure country before you travel, and any Covid-19 test you may need before travelling.

If you are travelling from, or your flight route takes you through a country on the UK’s banned travel list (sometimes called the ‘red list’) in the last 10 days, you will need to quarantine (self-isolate) in a government quarantine hotel for 10 days. You need to book your hotel before you travel and book two Covid-19 tests to take during your quarantine period at your own expense. Further information on travelling from a country on the ‘red list’ is available on the gov.uk website. The Department for Education has also collected helpful information for students travelling from red list countries. 

If you are travelling from a country that is not on the banned travel list, there are different rules in place depending on the country you are travelling from and your vaccination status. Please review the information on the gov.uk website and make sure you follow the advice relevant for your circumstances. You can find out more about support available to you if you need to quarantine in our Frequently Asked Questions.

All international arrivals must complete a passenger locator form on arrival in the UK and must take a Covid-19 test and get a negative result during the three days before you travel. More information about testing before you travel to England is available on the gov.uk website. 

Please ensure that you adhere to both the UK regulations and the regulations of your home country before you travel. 

There are further details about how BU will support you on our website. If you need support while self-isolating, please contact AskBU for assistance.

Thank you for helping to keep the BU community safe.

The Government has confirmed that providing you meet the other requirements of the route, students who commenced a one-year Master’s programme in September 2020 or January 2021 will remain eligible for the Graduate Immigration Route, even if you are studying remotely, provided you enter the UK before your visa ends or by 27 September 2021, whichever date is sooner. If you are sponsored for a course lasting longer than 12 months, you will not be prevented from being eligible for the Graduate Immigration Route as a result of any distance learning that took place either in the UK or overseas between the period of 24 January 2020 and 27 September 2021.

For new arriving students, more information on the Graduate Immigration Route can be found on our Graduate Route FAQs page. 

Please see our specific FAQ for Postgraduate Research students which details many of our policies and procedures around undertaking research at the current time.