Edi Uni campus will be open in September, Vice-President confirms

Amidst COVID-19 uncertainties, Edinburgh University will be open for studies in September says an email from Vice-Principal Colm Harmon.

The email stresses that the university will provide the best possible education for all students, regardless of where they are in the world.

Harmon wrote in the email: “Everyone can start their studies at the start of the academic year on 21st September 2020, despite any travel restrictions affecting you, wherever you are in the world. Our campuses will be open – subject to government restrictions – and we look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible back to Edinburgh in September.”

Edinburgh will use a “hybrid-approach,” which will be a mix of online and face-t0-face teaching depending on where students are in the world and the nature of their degree.

Additionally, due to social distancing rules, the university cannot facilitate large-scale learning environments such as lectures or laboratories.

The university says: “We will be taking measures such as recording large lectures to a high quality, typically in advance of the Semester, for all students, and finding innovative ways of delivering laboratory and studio teaching where necessary.”

To accommodate this change, they “will probably have to reduce the number of courses that are on offer next year,” and “changes will vary by degree.”

With regards to university accommodation, the email states: “Our accommodation will be open, incorporating whatever changes are required to keep everyone safe.”

Finally, other aspects of university life are still up in the air at this time, and the university  is “still working through some of the trickier areas at the moment, such as sports and social activities.”

Amidst concerns surrounding post-university life, Harmon told students: “Our graduates are amongst the most highly sought after in the UK and globally and we are fully committed to making sure that it stays that way for next year and beyond, to ensuring that you as our returning students can push forward and progress towards your goals for this year.”

The email assures students that despite these new uncertain challenges, university life will continue to move forward.

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