Confirmed: Soton Uni is welcoming back students from 8th March

The University of Southampton has confirmed to that those on programmes with a practical component are being contacted to explain how they can “return to in-person face-to-face study at the university from 8th March.”

They are “hopeful” that remaining students will be welcomed back to campus from 12th April, as per their original announcement but acknowledged that this was “subject to government guidance and our own ongoing monitoring of infection rates and risk.”

Some departments have already contacted students regarding this decision, saying that the university confirmed it on Wednesday afternoon.

Any student that has questions or concerns are encouraged to talk to their personal tutor or the Student Support Hub at: [email protected].

An email from the ECS department said that students should take an NHS coronavirus test at home “if it’s possible”, or to isolate for 10 days before travelling to Southampton. Students must then also receive a negative result from the saliva testing programme in Southampton before returning to campus, or isolate for 10 days.

The email also stated that attendance is “expected” after the 12th April, “unless you have special circumstances that prevent this.”

The full comment from a university spokesperson to the Soton Tab is:

“We are pleased to confirm that, in line with government guidance, students on programmes with a practical component are being contacted with details of how they can return to in-person face-to-face study at the university from 8^th March.

“The health and safety of our staff and students continues to be our priority and anyone returning will be invited to regularly test as part of our saliva based testing programme and will be expected to operate within strict guidelines which includes social distancing and the wearing of face coverings.

“We are hopeful that our remaining students who are not studying on programmes with a practical component will be invited back to campus from 12^th April but this is subject to government guidance and our own ongoing monitoring of infection rates and risk.

“If any student has a question or concern we would advise them to contact their Personal Tutor or the Student Support Hub at: [email protected]”

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