Our return to campus in 2020 and 2021
How we're reopening campus and what that means for your teaching and student experience
A safe home for #TeamMDX
Our London campus will be open in the autumn and we’re making plans to welcome you into the positive and supportive community here.
There will be some restrictions in place, based on government guidance and our own health and safety assessments.
Together with online teaching and support, our plans mean you’ll get opportunities to learn and connect with students and staff while staying safe.
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Our plan for reopening campus
We're currently in Stage 1 of our return to campus and we’re hoping to move onto Stage 2 by the start of term, and then eventually Stage 3.
There’s a chance that some things will look different to our plans, depending on changing government guidelines.
Initial lifting of lockdown
First stage of wider reopening
Moving toward business as usual
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Three stages of returning to campus
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What you need to know
Education
Research
Accommodation
Campus Services
Student support
STAGE 1 : INITIAL LIFTING OF LOCKDOWN
During this stage, we’ll follow Scenario 1 from the plans on your course page where teaching is fully online
All online with separate arrangements for NHS placements and some other exceptional circumstances. A small amount of funded and lab-based research on campus, including the return of some associated PGR students, with distancing in place. Limited use prioritised to support those who are unable to leave. A small numbers of essential services are open. All services delivered online with emergency on-call arrangements in place.
STAGE 2 : FIRST STAGE OF WIDER REOPENING
During this stage, we’ll start to reopen campus. Where it's possible, your course will follow Scenario 2 on the course page. In some cases we'll teach you online at first, and then you will follow Scenario 1. If you can't make it to campus, you'll also start online and follow Scenario 1.
Essential practical sessions will run on campus where possible, with safety measures in place including face coverings and 1+ metre distancing.
Online learning activities for all students with alternative sessions for those unable to travel to campus.
Lectures and other large, group teaching will be delivered online for 2020 autumn term, initially, but will be recorded and available online.As above. Halls open, with enhanced health and safety measures across accommodation.
Face coverings will be mandatory while in communal spaces, with controlled access to Halls.
Socially-distanced services resume, including takeaway food.
Sports pitches used for socially-distanced activities.
Limited meeting spaces will be bookable.
All services delivered online including virtual Welcome and induction events.
Student support delivered mainly online.
Library to open with restricted access to materials and limited, bookable study spaces.
No Students' Union evening events initially.
STAGE 3 : MOVING TOWARD BUSINESS AS USUAL
If social distancing requirements are lifted, we’ll start to safely move back towards our usual teaching arrangements with more opportunities for face to face learning. Some learning and support might stay online.Larger group sessions to resume wherever it's safe and possible to do so, following ongoing Covid-secure guidelines.
Some aspects of online learning may continue in support of students.
Return of all research activities that require on-campus facilities. Full return of accommodation without social distancing measures.
Delivery of socially-distanced services transitioning to full operations, some staff and services to remain online. Delivery of socially-distanced services transitioning to full operations, supplemented by continued online services in support of students.
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Safety measures on campus
When you have opportunities to come on campus, we're putting the following measures and guidelines in place to keep you safe.
- Controlled access to some buildings and some one way circulation
- Enhanced hygiene with more regular anti-bacterial cleaning
- In communal spaces, face coverings won't be required when two metre social distancing is in place
- In teaching and learning spaces and meeting rooms, face coverings will be required as well as remaining one metre apart at all times
- There might be additional PPE required in specialist areas like labs and workshops.
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Future plans for any return to lockdown
If a local lockdown, or further national lockdown, mean we need to put more restrictions in place then we’ll follow the following plans.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law. Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that the skills and knowledge that you gain on your course are not affected by any adjustments that we might make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
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Two stages of returning to lockdown
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What you need to know
Education
Research
Accommodation
Campus Services
Student support
INCIDENT 1
Local lockdownMove to fully online learning for affected groups for a short period, following government guidance. Laboratory work paused for the required period, with appropriate safeguards in place.
Additional requirement introduced for those required to self-isolate, with support available.
Mechanisms to identify and assist individuals and the community more widely, if people are unwell.
Possible ‘test, trace and isolate’ processes and temperature checks at key points on campus.
Move to online where required, dependent upon affected groups of staff and students.
INCIDENT 2
National lockdownAll online, with separate arrangements for NHS placements. All but essential Covid-19 related activities are suspended.
Those who cannot return home to remain in on-campus accommodation.
A small number of essential services remain open.
All services are online, with emergency on-call arrangements in place.
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Your teaching and learning experience
We’re making our teaching as flexible as possible so learning works around you and your commitments. Your course page has full details on what to expect in your weeks including:
- Interactive live lectures, seminars, tutorials, labs, demos and practice sessions
- On demand learning that you choose when and where to follow
- Personal conversations like one to ones with academics
- Student lead group learning and collaboration on projects
Student support services
We make sure that you'll have a strong support network available to you when you start with us. These services will mainly be delivered online and then when it’s safe and we can make the right arrangements, we’ll return to face to face support on campus.
Library and IT support
- Remote access to all the key resources on your reading list
- One to one and group sessions for personal learning support
- Subject specific support from librarians
- IT support with any technical problems.
Study spaces and computers
Our library will be open with spaces to study including desktop computers. We’ll also have long and short term laptop loans.
Academic support
You’ll have your own network of people to help you, including an academic tutor, other students and learning experts for support with academic skills.
Disability support
Our Disability and Dyslexia Service is here to support you with any conditions that affect how you study. Get advice now or when you start
Personal support
Student welfare advice – for any financial, practical or legal difficulties
Counselling and Mental Health Service - for help with different mental health challenges and diagnoses.
Your welcome to student life
We’ve got a mix of virtual and real life experiences planned so that that you’re prepared for your course and feel like part of our community.
- Ready for anything online talks and interactive sessions running from now to the start of term
- Your online Welcome and Freshers Week
- Events and chances to meet people and network.
