Studying at university from September 2020: FAQs

We will make sure that our on-site delivery conforms to social distancing guidelines. To minimise movement around campus, cohorts and small groups will be timetabled in several adjacent rooms and your lecturer will move between each room to help you.

In the event of a future lockdown, we will follow guidance from the Department for Education shortly and our local public health authorities, and keep you updated on arrangements.

We understand that coming onto campus might not be possible for everyone. Therefore, if you wish to do so, or your circumstances do not allow you to join us on campus, you'll be able to complete Trimester 2 (January–May 2021) online.

Regardless of whether you're studying online or taking part in a socially distanced classroom activity, our teaching staff will always ensure that you are learning in a partnership between them and the students on your modules or course. Canvas will be closely monitored by staff and emails will be responded to within five working days.

Your course is designed to actively engage you and your peers in stimulating and challenging learning experiences. We want you to create lifelong memories of your course and we believe that working with peers, discovering your potential together, is key to this. And we expect the relationships and supportive spirit to carry from the classroom into the other experiences you have here at ARU – and vice versa.

Yes – the Students’ Union will be running both face-to-face (when permitted) and online services. Our independent, confidential advice service will be available to all students, regardless of where you are, to help you through any questions or challenges you might have. Student-run societies will continue to hold events and activities, from guest speakers or crafting to cook-alongs or meet ups, all students are welcome and there'll be something for everyone. The Students’ Union spaces in Peter Taylor House (Cambridge) and Tindal (Chelmsford) will be open for you to use in a way that complies with socially distant health and safety guidelines.

All level 3 students will be studying their first year with ARU College. These FAQs apply to ARU College level 3 students with the additional specific requirements below:

• students will use Moodle, ARU College’s Learning Management platform to access teaching resources
• ARU College will communicate with students via Zoom, ARU College website, email, telephone and face to face by appointment.

No; we'll do our very best to ensure that you are on campus for a continuous block of teaching at a time and we will consolidate your learning so that you don’t have to travel to campus every day.

Our timetabling team is working to make sure we can safely observe social distancing across our campuses, in all of our classrooms and in specialist teaching spaces. It's likely that you'll be taught in much smaller groups and or in larger spaces.

This is unlikely as the face-to-face teaching and online teaching will, wherever possible, take place at the same time. You will of course be able to access teaching resources via Canvas, our learning management system, and your course leader will support you if you ask for help.

You may, at certain points during the year, be able to swap from face-to-face teaching to online learning, but should only do this in full consultation with your course leader as permission will be needed from your faculty.

You may, at certain points during the year, be able to swap from online learning to face-to-face teaching, but should only do this in full consultation with your course leader as permission will be needed from your faculty. You must wait for the change to be approved before arriving on campus so we can manage social distancing measures

Staff are working hard across our University to share best practice for online learning. We're confident that, if you're learning fully online, you'll receive the same level of learning and support opportunities as those learning face-to-face.

All students will be engaged and supported equally and, as far as is possible, we will do our utmost to make sure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy and succeed in their academic experience. This reflects our Student Charter where we share expectations of each other for ambition and responsibility.

At ARU we're committed to creating an active and inclusive learning experience. Working with, alongside and learning from other students is important in our teaching approach. It provides greater insight to the problems and ideas that are discussed on your course and helps you to develop skills that will serve you well in your future career.

Because of our ‘active curriculum’ and the expertise our staff have in using our online learning environment, your lecturers have many ways to offer what we call ‘unified active learning’. What this means is we value and know how to engage all of our students – wherever you are. For example, we often take a team-based approach to activities in which student groups can be formed of students on and off-campus. Some activities involve different roles, and we always value different perspectives. This means all of our students will be actively engaged to meet the same learning outcomes.

Our students will have access to a variety of curriculum software off-campus with no additional licence requirements.

Please see our COVID-19 Response Education Policy and No Detriment for details.

Wherever possible your assessments will remain the same or will be slightly adapted so that they can be completed online. However, we decided not to hold formal examinations at the end of Trimester 1 (December 2020); they were replaced by alternative assessment tasks. If you have practical assessments that can only be done on campus, we will do everything required to ensure your safety.

Set deadlines will largely remain unaffected. We know that it is important for you to finish your course on time wherever possible and so we aim to keep to current assessment deadlines. We do however recognise the challenges that COVID-19 is presenting, so if you need an extension or have to re-sit an assessment, we'll support you to do this.

You will be able to access at least some of your specialist skills sessions online. However, if your Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) specifies that certain specialist skills need to be acquired in face-to-face teaching we will bring you onto campus for skills teaching and provide a safe environment in which to learn and practise your skills. If you're worried about this, talk to your Course Leader or Personal Development Tutor/Personal Tutor in the first instance. We're working closely with PSRBs to agree our approach, and make sure that our students are properly supported.

No, your course leaders are working hard to ensure that online session and face-to-face sessions provide you with the same knowledge and skills. If a session can only be delivered face-to-face and you can’t or don’t want to attend on campus, your course leaders will arrange opportunities for you to catch-up at a late date.

You will be able to book time in labs, workshops and studios for self-directed study, when these rooms are not in use for timetabled teaching.

We will support you to do lab- or field-based research whenever and wherever it is safe to do so. You should talk to your supervisor in the first instance to find out what is possible and, after this conversation, you might look to make changes to your research proposal so that you can continue to progress and finish your studies on time.

Our faculties are working closely with PSRBs to find ways of ensuring you progress on time and achieve your professional accreditation. A small number of courses may need to have some additional face-to-face sessions so that you can get the skills you need to achieve your accreditation or go on placement. Your course teams will be in touch if you are affected.

We have a Student Engagement Dashboard that provides information on your overall engagement with your studies.

Your course team and Personal Tutor/Personal Development Tutor will support you. You will be able to book tutorials with them online and meet them virtually via our online meeting facility. Please make your Personal Tutor/Personal Development Tutor aware as soon as possible so that we can put support in place to help you.

Whether you're studying entirely online or through a blend of face-to-face and online learning, you'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course. Before starting the course, we recommend that you check our technical requirements for online learning.

If you're studying an art, design or creative course, you'll be working with software applications that need a higher specification of computer than we would ordinarily recommend. You may also need some specialist equipment and materials. These are detailed on our Technical requirements for online learning page. We don't expect you to buy software for the academic year 2020/21; it will be provided for you.

If you have a computer, you will need to have a bandwidth capacity that enables you to take part in live-streaming events. This isn’t usually a problem if you have a reasonably good internet connection. We are working to select a single IT supplier to ensure everyone without access to a computer has an opportunity to secure one at a reasonable market price. We'll post more details of arrangements as soon as they are made.

If you're studying an art, design or creative course, you'll be working with software applications that need a higher specification of computer than we would ordinarily recommend. You may also need some specialist equipment and materials. These are detailed on our Technical requirements for online learning page. We don't expect you to buy software for the academic year 2020/21; it will be provided for you. Students in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will also have access to Adobe Creative Cloud.

Yes, although social distancing guidelines will need to be followed in line with Government advice. This is likely to mean that room capacities – including library and open-access computer areas – will be lower than usual, and we may have to limit the number of people using these facilities during busy periods. We are likely to introduce a booking system for the use of facilities so that you can organise your time on campus well.

You can access all support teams online and over the phone; there will also be a limited number of face-to-face sessions. The teams are Counselling and Wellbeing, iCentre, Academic and Money Advice, Study Skills Plus, Disability and Dyslexia Support, the Employability Service, Team ARU and the University Chaplains. Find out how to contact these teams.

The iCentre is open if you need to collect ID cards or biometric residence permits (BPS). Social distancing measures are in place.

For any other queries, you can contact the team on email: icentre@aru.ac.uk.

We have launched two support funds for students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.

If you'd like some general advice and guidance on finances, our Money Advice Service can help; email the team on moneyadvice@anglia.ac.uk.

If you pay your tuition fees in instalments and have concerns about making payments, please email our Credit Control Team: creditcontrol@anglia.ac.uk.

Our Counselling and Wellbeing service offers one-to-one counselling or mental health advising for ARU students. You can register and find guidance on booking a consultation at https://angliaruskin.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/counselling-and-wellbeing-register.

If one-to-one support isn’t what you need right now, we also have a variety of online resources and bookable workshops.

You can talk in confidence to a professional counsellor, a mental health adviser or a wellbeing adviser about any personal or university-related issues that are worrying you. This could be anything from minor concerns to major issues including grief, relationship difficulties, panic attacks, exam anxieties, stress and more.

We are monitoring Government advice and working closely with relevant bodies in sport to see what will be possible. We are also in regular contact with other universities to ensure that we all take a similar approach where appropriate. We're committed to providing as full a sports programme as possible. Our campus gyms are open when national or local lockdown rules allow, offering a range of facilities and fitness classes.

We are not currently running our usual range of workshops due to the general demand on classroom space at the University. We've produced a range of ‘bitesize’ narrated presentations that cover the main points from our workshop series. These can be found on Canvas, our learning management system (student login required). Take a look, then book a one-to-one appointment where we can help apply the content to your specific assignment guidance.

All appointments can be booked online, and you should receive a confirmation email once you've booked.

In the first instance, we strongly recommend that you seek advice from your medical practitioner before deciding to study on campus or live in student accommodation. We have taken a number of steps to reduce the risk of viral transmission on our campuses. These include ensuring staff and students can socially distance around campus buildings and implementing hand/surface hygiene protocols. We also ask staff, students and visitors to wear a face covering in most indoor settings on campus.

If you have further individual concerns, our advisers in the Disability and Dyslexia Support team would be happy to talk these through with you. Please email disability@anglia.ac.uk to arrange an appointment.

Yes. As a university committed to inclusive practice, we recognise that some staff and students will be unable to wear a face covering, or may require others to remove a face covering in order to communicate effectively. This message will be re-iterated to staff, students and visitors. We also support schemes such as the sunflower lanyard and the government assets for digital or printable exemption cards should you wish to use these.

If you have a disability or a specific learning difference, our Disability and Dyslexia Support Service can support you in a range of ways.

We can help you develop your independent learning skills such as organisation or academic writing, and provide advice and guidance on applying for Disabled Students' Allowance.

We will also work with you to create a set of reasonable adjustments that inform your teachers and other key staff members of your needs. We will liaise with academic schools and other departments to ensure these adjustments are appropriately met.

We understand obtaining evidence is difficult at the moment. If you are unable to get evidence before your course starts please let us know; we'll put your reasonable adjustments in place on a temporary basis, usually until the end of the first trimester. We'll review the situation with you before the start of the next trimester.

Please email disability@anglia.ac.uk and we will arrange for you to have an initial consultation with one of our advisers.

If we feel that it is likely that you are dyslexic, we will start working to support you though one-to-one appointments immediately.

We will also refer you to a full diagnostic assessment for dyslexia should you wish. If the diagnosis is confirmed, we will create a Summary of Reasonable Adjustment to provide you with things like extra time in exams.

There are social distancing and other safety measures in place in our accommodation, along with guidance on how to stay safe while on campus. This will change and evolve as Government advice changes.

Take a look at our accommodation pages and, if you'd like to reserve accommodation, book online. Accommodation will, as in previous years, be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The Government has stipulated that all universities restrict the number of students who have face to face teaching.

Courses which resumed face to face teaching in January included medicine, subjects allied to medicine and health care, education (initial teacher training), social work, and a very small number of courses with specific Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) requirements. If you are one of these students, you are able to travel to university. You can also travel to any clinical placements you may be undertaking.

All other students must learn online until at least 8 March 2021. You can live in university accommodation during this time.

When national restrictions are not in place, you can usually continue to travel to attend university, unless local rules state otherwise. We are a COVID-19 secure environment.

Our Employability Service can help with that – contact us onemployability@aru.ac.uk between 9am–5pm Monday–Thursday and 9am–4.30pm Friday during term time, where an Adviser will be on hand to answer your questions. Take a look at the ARU Temps website for temporary work and AREA for business start-up support. You can also see our upcoming events and further FAQs on the Career Centre.

Of course! Many of ARU’s courses offer a placement year option, and for those that do not or for students who aren’t eligible we're happy to support you to secure short-term placements and internships. Contact the Placements and Employer Engagement team via email placements@aru.ac.uk and we will do our best to help you. We are available 9am-5pm Monday-Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday during term time.

For placements on health and social care courses, we are working closely with all our placement partners to work out when and how you can safely experience your placement. We may change the order of your modules slightly so that you do more of your theory modules first if it is not safe for you to go on placement. Your Faculty will be in touch with further information about placements.

We're committed to providing an outstanding educational experience and excellent support for all our apprentices. Following close consultation with employers, professional bodies and the Students' Union, we are planning for the majority of ARU apprentices to learn off campus from September to December.

The exceptions will be Town Planner, Chartered Surveyor and Bioinformatician. For these programmes, employers will be able to choose if their apprentices study online or via a blend of campus and online learning. If you are learning on campus, you should receive confirmation of your learning timetable in early September 2020 so that you and your employer can plan your work schedule.

As you will be aware, travel abroad is being discouraged by the UK Government at the moment. Until international travel resumes and is safe, it is not going to be possible for you to study abroad. As circumstances change we will keep you updated.

Yes, although please note that a national lockdown is currently in place. Unless you have already made your travel arrangements, we encourage you not to travel to the UK until face to face teaching on your course begins, in line with Government advice.

We will let you know when face to face teaching can resume.

As soon as you receive your CAS you should apply for your student visa so that you are ready to travel to the UK when face to face teaching resumes.

Yes, you must take a COVID-19 test and have a negative result in the three days before you travel to the UK. The Gov.UK website has full details.

From 15 February 2021, you will need to self-isolate (quarantine) on arrival in the UK and take two COVID-19 tests. The first test is taken on day 2 of quarantine, the second on day 8 of quarantine. You can book a travel testing package on the UK Government website costing £210 before you travel.

When you book a testing package, you will be asked to supply the address in the UK where you will be quarantining. You will also receive instructions on how to take the tests and a reference number to include on your passenger locator form.

When you arrive in the UK take one test on day 2 and one test on day 8 as instructed. You won’t be able to leave quarantine until you have received a negative result from your day 8 test and completed quarantine for ten days. If you don’t take the tests, you may receive a fine of up to £2,000.

You will need to complete your passenger locator form within 48 hours of your arrival providing your flight and contact details, address in the UK and your ‘travel test package’ reference number.

Rules can change quickly, so we recommend checking the UK Government website for the latest information.

Yes, you will need to self-isolate (quarantine) in the place you are staying for the first ten days after you arrive. If you are staying in University owned accommodation, we will support you during this period.

If you are travelling from certain countries (sometimes called a red list), you will need to stay in a quarantine hotel on arrival. Visit the UK Gvernment website for details.

From 15 February 2021, you will also need to take two COVID-19 tests. The first test is taken on day 2 of quarantine, the second on day 8 of quarantine. You can book a travel testing package on the UK Government website costing £210 before you travel.

When you book a testing package, you will be asked to supply the address in the UK where you will be quarantining. You will also receive instructions on how to take the tests and a reference number to include on your passenger locator form.

When you arrive in the UK take one test on day 2 and one test on day 8 as instructed. You won’t be able to leave quarantine until you have received a negative result from your day 8 test and completed quarantine for ten days. If you don’t take the tests, you may receive a fine of up to £2,000.

You will need to complete your passenger locator form within 48 hours of your arrival providing your flight and contact details, address in the UK and your ‘travel test package’ reference number.

Rules can change quickly, so we recommend checking the UK Government website for the latest information.

The last date to arrive in the UK and join face to face teaching is 19 March 2021 unless circumstances change. This is in time for week 10 of teaching. We have an Easter vacation in the weeks beginning the 29 March and the 5 April. There are then two more teaching weeks in the Trimester.

Yes. We will provide food parcels for the ten days when you are quarantining.

Yes, you can choose to stay in your home country and study the whole Trimester online, then travel to the UK for the next Trimester starting in September 2021. Please email internationaladmissions@aru.ac.uk if you would prefer to study Trimester 2 online.

No, if you choose to study the whole trimester online you will not need to apply for a student visa for your first trimester starting in January 2021. However, you will still need to evidence that you meet the points-based student visa requirements so that you can apply for your visa and join us on campus from September 2021.

If you are studying online for the whole of Trimester 2, you will not receive a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) – student visa sponsorship. You will be issued one for your second trimester starting in September 2021, if you have registered for Trimester 2, have been taking part in your course online, and meet all of the CAS conditions. You will need to confirm that you want to move to face-to-face (on campus) teaching in your second trimester to receive your CAS.

We hope that you will be able to join us on campus for your second trimester, starting in September 2021. It is important that you can evidence that you meet the student visa requirements in preparation for us issuing your CAS and applying for your visa. This includes a previous visa history check and meeting the UKVI maintenance requirements.

We cannot guarantee this, as the decision is made by the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration. But we will check all your documents and immigration history before you start your course, to try and minimise the risk of refusal.

If your visa is refused, please let us know straight away. Provide a copy of your refusal letter and consent for us to contact the UKVI on your behalf.

One of our International Student Advisers will contact you to talk about your options, which may include applying for an Administrative Review. This is where the UKVI assesses the decision. If this is not possible or successful, we will consider issuing a second CAS on a case-by-case basis.

Our online option supports students who cannot travel because of the coronavirus pandemic. We will be reviewing the need to offer further semesters online as the situation around the world changes.

The UK Government has confirmed that students who start online in January 2021 and arrive in the UK by 27 September 2021 will be eligible to apply for the Graduate Visa on graduation.

Yes, you will need to pay a minimum of 60% of your year’s tuition fees to complete course registration and start your studies, then pay the balance in two further instalments.

If you join our online pre-sessional English course with IELTS 5.5 or above in all skills (or an alternative English test with scores at CEFR B2 level or above), we should be able to issue your CAS before you finish your English course.

You will first need to register on the pre-sessional course, engage with the learning, pay your degree deposit of £4,000, and meet our CAS requirements. You can then apply for your visa while you are still studying the pre-sessional course. We can issue the CAS upon successful completion of the online pre-sessional English course.

We recommend that you start preparing your CAS/visa documents as soon as possible, including your financial documents if applicable, so that we can issue your CAS without delay.

If you wish to study your whole course online, we have a range of distance learning options that may interest you.

Yes, you can download our Planning Your Arrival guide which contains a pre-departure checklist as well as information about our on-campus welcome and arrival arrangements. You will also find advice on how to register and pay your fees, apply for your visa (if you need one), book accommodation and travel to our campuses.

Yes, you can contact us by phone, email or live chat between 9am–5pm UK time (Monday–Friday). You'll find all our contact details here.