Supporting you through self-isolation

Our campuses are all open but, in the event that members of our University community are asked to self-isolate, we're ready to support you.

You might need to self-isolate because:

• you're experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive
• you're contacted by NHS Test and Trace
• you've travelled to the UK from a country that is on the red or amber list
• we contact you to let you know you're a close contact of a positive case.

From 16 August, you will not be required to self-isolate if you are notified you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and any of the following apply:

• you are fully vaccinated – fully vaccinated means that you have received an MHRA approved COVID-19 vaccine in the UK, and at least 14 days have passed since you received the recommended dose of that vaccine
• you are below the age of 18 years 6 months
• you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons.

You’ll still need to take a PCR test and if it’s positive you will need to self-isolate. If you are fully vaccinated and are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you will not need to isolate when waiting for the results of your PCR test.

If you have only received one dose of the vaccine, if you’re not vaccinated, or you received your COVID-19 vaccine outside of the UK, you are required to self-isolate if you come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

International students
International students who have not yet been vaccinated can get their vaccine in the UK, free of charge via the National Health Service (NHS).

We strongly encourage all our students to register with the NHS via your local medical centre or doctors (general practitioner) surgery. Once registered with the NHS, you will be invited to attend a vaccination appointment. Alternatively, any international students that have not been vaccinated can go to a walk-in vaccination centres.

If you have received any vaccinations (one dose or more) outside the UK, you must contact your doctor/GP surgery and provide details of the vaccination(s) so that you can receive the correct medical advice.

You can find information on how to register with the NHS on our International Student Advice Service pages.

The information on this page applies to anyone who is self-isolating – whatever the reason.

If you need to self-isolate

Follow these three simple steps:

1. Return to your term-time home address
2. Let us know if you're self-isolating
3. Call your loved ones to let them know you're self-isolating.

How we support you

For all students who need to self-isolate, we'll check in with you to make sure you're doing OK. We'll invite you to join a closed Facebook group and you can join a range of social and wellbeing events online.

You'll be able to continue your studies online while you self-isolate, as long as you're well enough to do so. Our student support services will also be there if you need them, including the Counselling and Wellbeing Service.

If you're living in University accommodation and are asked to self-isolate, please don't worry about getting hold of food or other essential goods. We're here to support you all the way, and we'll take care of the basics.

What to do next

You must stay at home (or in your University room) for at least ten days. We'll support you throughout this time.

If you experience symptoms yourself:

• continue to self-isolate at home (or in your University room)
• let us know that you've started to display symptoms. You can do this by completing the online form at arul.ink/myhealth
• if you live in a halls of residence, please also let our Residential Service team know. Our catering team will deliver food parcels to nomination halls
• book to visit a PCR test site at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test (if you can't get to a test site, you can order a free home test kit instead). Let us know the test result as soon as you have it
• try not to worry. For most people coronavirus will be a mild illness, but it's still important to get tested and self-isolate.

Latest COVID-19 data from ARU

Every Monday, we publish newly confirmed positive COVID-19 cases reported to the University in the previous week. You can see the latest figures here.

The number of positive cases at ARU is currently low, and we thank our community for following safety guidelines and helping to keep us all safe and well.