Higher education providers: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance for higher education providers.

Published 3 June 2020
Last updated 20 May 2021 + show all updates

1. 20 May 2021

   Guidance converted to HTML to make it easier to read. There are no changes to any of the guidance from the update on 10 May.

2. 10 May 2021

   We have withdrawn ‘Students returning to, and starting, higher education during spring and summer 2021’ and updated ‘Higher education coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance’ with information on Step 3 of the Roadmap, outbreak plans, face coverings, testing asymptomatic students and staff using lateral flow device tests (LFDs), new and returning students travelling from overseas, educational visits and field trips, and staff and student wellbeing.

3. 13 April 2021

   Updated the ‘Students returning to, and starting, higher education in the spring term’ guidance with information on when students can return to campus, educational visits and field trips, the opening of, and access to facilities, testing students and staff, transparent face coverings and face visors, shielding, travelling to the devolved administrations via a connecting flight in England and international students and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination.

4. 10 March 2021

   Updated section on ‘Face coverings’ to include providers’ duty to make reasonable adjustments. Both documents have been updated.

5. 8 March 2021

   Updated the guidance on ‘students returning to, and starting, higher education in the spring term’ to include advice on students travelling home for their Easter break and updated guidance for new and returning students travelling from overseas.

6. 2 March 2021

   Updated ‘Higher education: operational guidance’ throughout.

7. 24 February 2021

   Removed the ‘Higher Education coronavirus (COVID19) NHS Test and Trace handbook’.

8. 22 February 2021

   Updated ‘Students returning to, and starting, higher education in the spring term’ to reflect the Prime Minister’s announcement on 22 February 2021.

9. 11 February 2021

   Updates made to ‘Higher education: reopening buildings and campuses’ including renaming it ‘Higher education: operational guidance’ to reflect that it is no longer about the start of the 2020/21 academic year and ensure that it is consistent with other published guidance.

10. 9 February 2021

    Removed ‘Student movement and plans for the end of term’ HTML document – this guidance no longer applies as the winter break has now ended.

11. 3 February 2021

    Updated ‘Students returning to, and starting higher education in spring term 2021’ with changes to when students can return to campus, updates on testing asymptomatic students and international students, and added information about Erasmus+.
12. 7 January 2021

    Replaced ‘Students returning to higher education for spring term’ with new guidance which reflects the national lockdown restrictions announced 5 January 2021.

13. 23 December 2020

    Updated ‘Higher education: reopening buildings and campuses’ with information relating to ‘Local restriction tiers’.

14. 14 December 2020

    Updated isolation information.

15. 2 December 2020

    Added ‘Students returning to higher education for January 2021’.

16. 2 December 2020

    Removed ‘Higher education: new national restrictions guidance’.

17. 24 November 2020

    Added guidance for healthcare and other students on placements returning home and updates on the testing availability to the student movement and plans for the end of term guidance.

18. 13 November 2020

    Updated the ‘International students’ section of the Higher education: new national restrictions guidance.

19. 11 November 2020

    Added guidance on student movement and plans for the end of term.

20. 4 November 2020

    Updated the information on sports and activities.

21. 3 November 2020

    Added ‘Higher education: new national restrictions guidance’.

22. 15 October 2020

    Updated higher education guidance with reference to new 3 tiers of COVID-19 (coronavirus) measures.

23. 30 September 2020

    Updated the travel and transport section.

24. 10 September 2020

    Updated HE provider guidance and added Higher Education coronavirus (COVID19) NHS Test and Trace handbook.

25. 17 July 2020

    Performing arts, transport and international students and self-isolation sections updated.

26. 2 July 2020

    Updates on social distancing, demographic, library, social gathering, performing arts and student accommodation guidance.

27. 10 June 2020

    Updated ‘Staff and student wellbeing’ section.

28. 3 June 2020

    First published.