Information for students

What can I do to protect myself from contracting coronavirus?

Read the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice on protecting yourself.

Read more about signs and symptoms from the WHO, from Public Health England and the NHS.

University of Leicester Professor Mike Barer, Professor of Clinical Microbiology – who is leading pioneering work on virus detection – has shared his top tips to stay healthy:

1. Wash your hands. If you touch a contaminated surface your hand picks up the virus. Even then you can eliminate the risk of infection if you wash your hands properly. Do this frequently, particularly before eating or after hands may have been contaminated; the Government advice to repeat ‘happy birthday’ twice is a good way to wash for long enough;
2. Alcohol based hand-rubs can substitute when hand washing is not available. Infected people may cough, sneeze or breathe out the virus that can contaminate exposed surfaces and be moved around on our hands;
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. These areas are most vulnerable to infection. As far as we know, infections are only transmitted when the virus contacts the mouth nose or eyes, or is breathed in;
4. When phones are exposed, they can be contaminated. Wiping down any phone you use with an alcohol-based wipe will help eliminate contamination;
5. What about handshakes and masks? As cases of coronavirus grow, avoiding handshakes will reduce your risk – stick to fist or elbow bumps instead. Masks can stop you touching your nose and mouth but have little effect on breathing in virus unless specially designed.

What should I do if I think I may have contracted coronavirus?

Stay at home for seven days if you have either:

• a high temperature - you feel hot to touch on your chest or back;
• a new, continuous cough - this means you've started coughing repeatedly.

Please complete the NHS questionnaire. If you have a pre-existing health condition, please contact your GP by phone for advice.

If you wish to notify us of concerns or self-isolation (retrospectively or current) please use this link to let us know.

If I have to self-isolate or can’t travel to the University, what should I do?

If you wish to notify us of concerns or self-isolation (retrospectively or current) please use this link to let us know.

If you wish to get in touch with our student support services, please email welfare@le.ac.uk.

If I choose to self-isolate, but haven’t been advised to do so, is that OK?

We advise that you should only self-isolate if required to in line with current Public Health England (PHE) advice or as directed by medical professionals. 

If you choose to self-isolate when you're not advised to, please email welfare@leicester.ac.uk to let them know.

If you do not meet the criteria for self-isolation, your absence will be marked as unauthorised.

I have a pre-existing health condition that I need medication for, and I am self-isolating.

Please contact your GP for advice, but they are likely to suggest:

• repeat prescriptions can be ordered online if they are already set up. Speak directly with your GP practice for advice;
• acute medications not on repeat prescriptions would need to be discussed with a medical professional so please call to speak with your GP;
• your local GP should be able to advise on how to pick your medication up at your pharmacy, following government guidance and pharmacy guidance. 

What should I do if I need urgent help while on campus? 

As campus is now closed, students should not be on main campus. For students still in University-managed accommodation, we courage you to download SafeZone, the safety app which allows you to alert University Security via your mobile phone if you need urgent assistance, first aid, or if you have an emergency while on campus.

The system is privacy-protected, so will never share your location unless you summon assistance or if you use the check-in function. SafeZone uses high-speed push messaging to allow Security to send you important notifications in the case of an emergency or critical incidents on campus.

The check-in function also allows you to let Security know where you are (it does not track your location - you only become visible on the system once you have raised an alert or checked in).

I am worried about the situation, can I talk to someone?

If you are concerned about how coronavirus affects or might affect you, please contact our Student Support Team via welfare@leicester.ac.uk or 0116 223 1185.

What support can students access from the Careers Service?

The Careers Development Service remains operational, but with all services operating remotely as follows:

• 1-2-1 Appointments: Students can continue to book these online on MyCareers or by emailing the Student Service Centre. All appointments will now be conducted over Skype or by telephone and we are able to offer our full range of appointment support through these mediums (support with application processes, career coaching and mock interviews/assessments). More information;        
• Workshops: All of our workshops are advertised on MyCareers which students can continue to book onto on MyCareers or by emailing the Student Service Centre. All workshops will now be run virtually; students will be sent a Panopto recording of the session alongside any accompanying resources. Full details about our workshop provision, which covers all stages of a recruitment process;
• Searching for placements, internships or graduate jobs: MyCareers is the University’s online job shop where students and graduates can search for job opportunities, whether that be placements, internships or graduate roles. Our team in the Career Development Service are continuing to add job opportunities with employers that are continuing to recruit students and graduates.

Are Support Services still operating?

Student Support Services continues to be operational to students and staff, but with alterations to our delivery. From 23 March, services will be available Monday-Friday 9am until 5pm for remote and digital support. Additionally there will be a face-to-face pop-up service available at fixed times on the Oadby and Nixon Court sites for students who remain in residence in the city.

How can I contact Student Support Services?

The team will be able to access all inboxes: concerned@leicester.ac.uk, accessable@leicester.ac.uk and wellbeing@leicester.ac.uk.

However, our primary point of contact will be welfare@leicester.ac.uk. All inboxes will be monitored and replies sent during our normal working hours. Please follow this link for any student COVID-19-related queries/reports.

How do I study more effectively online?

The Academic Skills Centre website provides information about the resources and services designed to help you manage studying online more effectively – from finding the digital resources you need, to getting the most from recorded lectures, to managing your time and priorities. 

The site is being updated regularly in response to your needs as online learners. We are also advertising online workshops and drop-in sessions.

What happens if I have an existing appointment?

All appointments for students will be converted to remote methods: zoom or email. This will enable ‘face-to-face’ and audio contact with students to be maintained, and business as usual activities to be delivered. Please bear with us though as we convert to this way of working.

Can I still use Report and Support during this period?

Report and Support will still be functioning and monitored by the Standing Together team.

Please contact us with any concerns you have about students for COVID-19-related issues, and concerned@leicester.ac.uk for risk-related concerns.

Are other external student support services operating?

All external services provided to students on campus: the Chaplaincy, Choices, Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) and Headspace have been updated about the changes to service delivery and university campus closure.

The chaplaincy will continue to offer a level of service - this may change - so we advise you to contact them directly . Choices, ISVA and Headspace and have suspended their services on campus, but continue to deliver within the wider community at present.

Where can I ask for help with my finances?

The University operates a range of financial hardship funds, and these have been extended to provide more support to students during this time. Funds are available to UK, EU and International students. If you are in need of emergency financial support during these times, please contact welfare@le.ac.uk.

I need help with my assessments

Refer first to the information provided by your School, your tutors and in your Blackboard course sites.

Also note that the Academic Skills Centre is still offering a full appointment service remotely at this time. We will continue to offer the same kind of support as usual through Blackboard Collaborate, email or phone. This includes topics such as; Maths and Statistics help, Academic writing including reports, essays etc., Dissertations, projects and assignments, Study skills and preparing for assessment, Referencing and finding information.

I want someone to talk to about my academic studies now I am no longer on campus

Academic Skills Centre staff are available to chat about some of the specific challenges you may be facing as a result of remote working, including; accessing resources and learning materials at home, using remote learning tools such as Blackboard Collaborate, writing, studying and revising in your home environment, Planning your time around disruptions to your usual schedule. This is a great way to get one to one support and talk to someone about how your studies are going at a time when you may have fewer opportunities for interaction. Appointments can be booked at this link.

What do I do if I am living with someone who has developed coronavirus?

If you are living in a shared flat or shared house student accommodation, and someone else in your flat or house develops coronavirus, then you should self-isolate within the flat or house. All students within the shared accommodation should self-isolate for 14 days.

What do I need to do if you are self-isolating and you live in University managed accommodation?

Please contact the accommodation team on 0116 252 2428 or accommodation@le.ac.uk with your name, student ID number and room details, to let us know if you or your flat are self-isolating. The accommodation team will provide more information on what to do when living in halls.

University-managed accommodation includes:

• OSV;
• Nixon Court;
• Opal Court;
• Brookland Road.

Can I stay in University-managed accommodation?

University-managed accommodation will remain open. 
Some of you may choose to return home, but we know that some of you will not be able to do so, and others may prefer not to at this time.

If you need to remain in our accommodation, we will support you in doing so. However, we may ask you to move into a different hall so that we can best support your wellbeing, enable social distancing and support staff who will remain on campus to ensure the safe running of our accommodation. If you are asked to move to a different location, we will move you to a room which is at least the equivalent of your current room, if not better, and there will be no additional cost to you.

Will I pay for my third term accommodation?

If you do return home and you are currently based in University-managed student accommodation, you will not be charged for the third term if you leave your accommodation by 5 April 2020.

If you are unable to fully check out and clear your room you must notify us by emailing the Accommodation Team on accommodation@le.ac.uk and provide them with the details of your situation, together with your name, student number, your hall of residence and room number.

What if I have already paid for my third term accommodation?

If you have already paid for your third term accommodation and you notify us that you will be checking out. We will provide a refund to the original account the fees were paid from. Please bear with us as this may take some time due to the current disruption caused by the Covid-19 situation.

I have already left University of Leicester-managed accommodation and can’t return to collect my belongings before the deadline – do I still have to pay for the third term?

Any student who left University-managed accommodation before 20 March and is genuinely unable (due to current travel restrictions), to return to collect their belongings before the deadline will not be charged for the third term. You must have contacted us by 5 April to confirm that you are unable to return. Let us know by emailing the Accommodation Team and providing us with the details of your situation, together with your name, student number, your hall of residence and room number. Someone will then be in touch to discuss.

Unfortunately we do not have any capacity to store belongings until the start of the new academic year. Therefore if you are able to return to collect your belongings but choose not to, or do not contact us, you will be liable for the third term fees until the end of the contract.

What do I need to do if I plan on vacating my room by 5 April?

Make sure you remove all your belongings, tidy your room, close the windows, lock the door, and return your room key/fob to your hall reception.  Please don’t leave the accommodation without returning your key/fob.

I do not live in University-managed accommodation.

If you are not living within University-managed accommodation, you may still contact the University accommodation office, for support and advice.

Should I come home?

We are continuing to follow travel advice issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and also advise you to comply with any COVID-19 control measures put in place by your host nation. Should you wish to return home now, students will not be penalised academically.

What will happen to my Erasmus grant?

You will not have to pay back any of the Erasmus grant for the time you have been abroad, but we are still waiting to find out whether you will be required to pay back the grant covering the period after you terminate your time abroad (if you choose to do so and are not able to study remotely).

What are the academic implications if I choose to return home now?

Students on an optional and additional year abroad:
Students who have passed the first semester will be able to graduate ‘with a semester abroad.’ Full details will be developed in the coming days and weeks. Should you wish to come home, we advise you to study remotely if your host university is facilitating this option, pending further advice.

Students on a compulsory and/or integrated year/semester abroad:
The University is working on contingency measures for students who wish to return home. Students will not be put at a disadvantage academically should they return home, and details on this will follow as soon as they are available. Should you wish to come home, we advise you to study remotely if your host university is facilitating this option, pending further advice.

Can the University help me with the costs of flying home?

The University can purchase a ticket for you on a loan basis. We will then conduct a means-based assessment to determine whether students will be required to repay the loan. Please liaise with the Study Abroad Unit if you wish to discuss this.

For students currently abroad, please liaise with your departmental Study Abroad coordinator.

Will my year abroad still be going ahead in 2020/2021?

At this stage it is difficult to predict what the exact position will be later on in the year. We are currently encouraging students to continue with the necessary application processes but not to make any bookings that will require payment at this time (for example accommodation/flights). We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and update you when we have new information.

Will research activities continue?

Please see the Research and Enterprise page for more information.

What is the University advice to PGR students if they feel unwell?

Students can get in touch with student support services by using this link. This is available for all students.

Can I continue to study off-campus?

If you are currently undertaking or planning to return to your home country for a period of off-campus study, you should follow the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidance to make an informed decision on whether or not to travel.

What will happen to my Stipend? 

Any stipend administered by the University will continue to be paid to students during a University closure. If you fall ill, you can take a medical suspension and the stipend will continue to be paid for up to 13 weeks.

Will I still submit my thesis?

If you are due to submit your thesis for examination during the University’s full closure, we will accept a PDF version of your thesis. This should be submitted to pgresearch@le.ac.uk. We understand that you may encounter difficulties in completing your thesis due to the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 situation and the Dean of the Doctoral College will give reasonable consideration to requests for extensions to registration.

If you are submitting your thesis following the completion of amendments as confirmed by your internal examiner, this should be sent as a PDF to ethesis@le.ac.uk or follow the file sending instructions here. The David Wilson Library will not be able to accept hardbound copies of your thesis until the University reopens.

Will research activities continue?

Research that does not require on-campus facilities can carry on as normal and you are encouraged to carry out any work that you can at home. If you are unable to continue research at home or to make progress towards the completion of your degree, you may wish to consider a suspension of registration. For more information on suspension of registration see the guidance here or contact pgresearch@leicester.ac.uk

What will happen to my supervisory meetings?

Supervisory meetings must take place remotely, via video conference wherever possible, and arrangements should be agreed with your supervisor.

What will happen to my probation review meetings?

Probation review meetings will take place remotely and arrangements should be agreed with your school.

What if I am a Tier 4 Sponsored Student?

If you are an international student studying on a Tier 4 visa and wish to return home you may choose to do so, and the University will continue to offer support. This will also be the case if your government requires you to return to your home country. If, due to the nature of your research, you are able to engage with your studies from home, the University can continue to sponsor you as long as you continue to have remote supervision sessions with your supervisor. If you have any queries about your visa, please contact visas@le.ac.uk.

Will my viva examination go ahead?

If you are due to have a viva examination, this can go ahead and will be conducted remotely. All arrangements should be with the agreement of yourself and your examiners. Your School Office can make arrangements for it to take place remotely.

Can I still access the dissecting room for one-to-one or small group teaching sessions?

No. All student access to the dissecting room has now been suspended until further notice. 

Should I travel home now?

You may return home if you wish and continue your studies remotely.

I am a Year 1 or Year 2 international Medical student, should I return home?

If you are in Year 1 or Year 2, given that we do not expect you back on the course until the start of the next academic year, it would seem very reasonable for you to return home at this time. Nevertheless, this is a personal decision, and you also need to bear in mind that we cannot know whether there will be any travel restrictions in place when re-entering the UK at the time of your intended return. You should also be cognisant of any potential visa-related issues and take advice from our international office, as needed.

I am a Year 3 or Year 4 international Medical student, should I return home?

If you are in Year 3 or Year 4, we are not in a position to give you certainty as to your placement re-start dates at this point, as we cannot accurately predict pressures on the NHS or on the UK in May. Indeed, whilst we very much hope to restart years 3 and 4 in May, this will be subject to ongoing review. 

Therefore your decision to return home has to be a personal one, weighing up the pros and cons. Certainly, were you to travel, which we would very much understand, and then find it difficult to return, we will work with you to find a way for you to catch up on any missed placement time. We will carefully consider each student’s situation on a case by case basis depending how much time is missed.

Therefore, in certain circumstances, students may be advised to repeat their current year (3 or 4) of study. In those circumstances, we will work with the University to try where possible to mitigate any additional fees that students may incur. 

You will be aware that the timing and format of Year 3 and Year 4 summative assessment are now under careful consideration. Until we have more clarity regarding the impact of COVID-19 on course progression it is not possible to make a definite statement regarding dates for these examinations.

It is expected that mitigating circumstances regulations will be applied and will take into account the broad range of individual circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are sorry that we cannot be any clearer at this time. Whatever you decide, please do let PSU know via email or telephone, and we continue to be very happy to support you.

I am a Year 5 international Medical student, should I return home?

If you are in Year 5, given the proximity of Finals in late April and the uncertainty around international travel restrictions we find this genuinely very difficult to provide you with the best advice. We do understand many of you would prefer to be at home with your family at this time.

Equally, we cannot be certain how easy or hard it will be to travel back from overseas to Leicester for Finals. Therefore your decision to return home has to be a personal one, weighing up the pros and cons. We will carefully consider each student’s situation on a case by case basis. It is expected that mitigating circumstances regulations will be applied and will take into account the broad range of individual circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Am I expected to work for the NHS during this time?

No. We do not mandate that any year group must respond to an NHS request for support. Clearly, some of you will have been trained as healthcare workers (e.g. HCAs etc.) and you would be very welcome to volunteer, but that is entirely at your discretion.

Would I get paid for any work I perform if I do work for the NHS during this time? 

At this point, without knowing what it is the NHS/Trusts would be requesting of you we cannot be certain, but it is likely certain roles will be paid. Those decisions would be made by the NHS/individual Trusts, not the University. 

Can I volunteer my services in the community?

Absolutely – but this is entirely your decision.

I am a Year 1 Medical student, which events have been postponed or cancelled?

The following events have been postponed or cancelled:

• Year 1 Formative OSCEs (Monday 23 – Thursday 26 March);
• Occupational health appointments (scheduled week commencing 23 March);
• CHDD Presentations (27 April 2020);
• Professionalism test (18 May 2020);
• Patient Safety (19 May – 22 May 2020);
• VECE week 2 (26 May – 29 May 2020);
• Professional Practice Simulation (aka Sims and SBAR; 1 June – 5 June 2020).

Once the current COVID-19 situation has been resolved, your formative OSCE will be rescheduled and we will update you on this in due course.

I am a Year 2 Medical student, which events have been postponed or cancelled?

The following events have been postponed or cancelled:

• Formative IUPA examination (25 - 27 March);
• CHDD OSCE Practice (runs through 27 April 2020);
• Revision sessions (runs through 27 April 2020);
• Professionalism test (18 May 2020);
• Professional Practice Simulation (akaSims; 18 – 29 May 2020);
• Surgical Hand Washing Mop up (18 May 2020).

I am a Year 2 Medical student, do I still need to submit my CHDD reflective essay?

Yes. The Year 2 CHDD reflective essay with a submission deadline of 27 March remains unchanged and students are still expected to submit.

I am a Year 3 Medical student, should I continue my Block 3 placement?

No. Your Block 3 placement has been cancelled with immediate effect and for seven weeks. We will review the situation in three to four weeks’ time and will update you then. If the current situation has stabilised, we will look to re-start this current block week commencing 11 May.

I am a Year 3 Medical student, what should I be doing during this time?

We would strongly advise you to spend this time consolidating all of your learning to date so that you will feel more confident in returning to clinical placements and are as well prepared for your year 3 examinations as you can be.

Who can I speak to about my Block 3 placement?

If you have queries with regards to placements, please contact phase2@leicester.ac.uk. As we are sure you will appreciate, we will not be able to answer any assessment related queries for the time being. We would also ask that you bear with us with regards to definitive plans around the remainder of your third block.  

I am a Year 4 Medical student, should I continue with my placement?

Yes. Please continue with your placement this week as long as your provider remains happy for you to do so. The end of block formative exams will continue to take place this week as planned.  Should you feel that you are at risk on your specific placement, or your health situation is such that you would no longer wish to be on placement, you may end your placement now, but please inform your placement of that decision. In that situation, we would encourage you, nevertheless, to sit your end of block assessment, but that is your decision.

I am a Year 4 Medical student, will my Block 5 placement still be going ahead?

No. We have taken the decision to cancel your Block 5 placement with immediate effect and in its entirety (23 March to 15 May). As you can imagine this was a difficult decision to take, but we feel this is in your best interests at this time.

I am a Year 4 Medical student, will by Block 6 placement still be going ahead?

We will make the decision with regards to the 6th and final placement block within the next four to five weeks and will communicate this to you at that time. In light of this change to your Block 5, and if we are able to run Block 6 as hoped, this will be run as a seven week block as originally planned, and there will be no revision week at the end. 

I am a Year 4 Medical student, what should I be doing during this time?

We would strongly advise you to spend this time consolidating all of your learning to date so that you will feel more confident in returning to clinical placements and are as well prepared for your year 4 examinations as you can be.

I am a Year 5 Medical student, should I continue my placement?

All 5th year clinical placements should end by Wednesday 18 March.

The only exception to this advice is where you have outstanding DOPS. Completion of DOPS is mandatory to allow graduation. You may continue to attend your current placement to complete sign-offs, avoiding clinically busy areas and areas where there are suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and importantly where aerosol generating procedures (AGP) are being carried out.

You should complete these as soon as practical given that access to any placement may be closed by that provider at short notice, given the rapidly changing environment.  Because of current ED pressure in many sites, we would ask for you not to seek sign off in ED, unless this is your current placement. Any queries you have with DOPs should be directed to Lucy Cutler or Fiona Miall.

I am a Year 5 Medical student, is teaching still taking place?

All teaching is cancelled with immediate effect. The eALS will still go ahead for those that have yet to do it and we are hoping that we can also deliver the end of block OSCE for EM. We will update you next week.

I am a Year 5 Medical student, can I still undertake my elective?

If your elective is still viable (abroad or within the UK), please do not try to change plans at the moment.

If your elective has already been cancelled and you have no alternative plans in place, or if you hear that your elective is cancelled in the next days or few weeks, please refrain from making any further arrangements, but simply inform electives@le.ac.uk that your elective has been cancelled.

We do not want this cancellation to cause you any further worry or disruption, so you can concentrate on preparation for your Final Examinations. If the situation has stabilised, we currently plan to work with you to find a UK based elective within our partner hospitals/academies.

If it hasn’t then we will with you to make appropriate decisions on your behalf.

I am a Year 5 Medical student, will I graduate early to respond to this crisis?

At this point in time we plan to undertake Finals at the end of April.

We could, if required, graduate you as quickly after that as we can safely turn-around your results. We currently have no plans to do this, but will keep you fully informed if this changes, guided by national consensus from the Medical Schools Council and the GMC.

What would happen if there was a confirmed case on campus?

There are no confirmed cases amongst our students and staff. If someone on campus is diagnosed with coronavirus, we would work with public health authorities to ensure that the person that is unwell receives the best care.

We would work with the partner agencies to understand if anyone that comes into close contact with the unwell person would need medical attention, and to make sure that they are seen to.

We will continue to issue advice to our students and staff via our web pages, our social media accounts, and via email in the first instance.

I'm a parent and my child's school is closed – what should I do? 

Please contact your University School to let them know. We will be working with Schools to facilitate as much learning as possible if you're unable to attend campus for any reason.

It's not easy to study with little ones underfoot, but keep up with online teaching materials where possible. If you are not able to submit any assessments as the result of unforeseeable childcare commitments, please submit a mitigating circumstances claim – you will not be required to provide evidence of school closures.

I have a dependent who has been advised to self-isolate.

If you have a dependent (eg your child, or an adult who you care for) who needs to self-isolate please use this link to let us know. If you wish to get in touch with our student support services, please email welfare@le.ac.uk.

Is the University closed?

The university has now closed for Easter vacation, a week early on Friday 20 March. All online teaching has now finished for the break. Our staff continue to work at home, remotely. If you are able to go home, then please make preparations now. Please do not worry if you are unable to return home, we will continue to look after and support you during this period. The accommodation team and Student Support Services will continue to operate. 

Will you stop lectures on campus?

From Monday 16 March, until the end of term, lectures were replaced with online delivery. Content will be made available on Blackboard as soon as possible after the scheduled event. From Friday 20 March, Easter vacation will begin so any online teaching will end. 

This decision is designed to reduce the immediate risk of infection to you and the wider community. 

We understand that this situation may affect our students in different ways and you may need practical help, emotional support or expert advice. Help and support is available through Student Support Services via welfare@leicester.ac.uk or 0116 223 1185.

Can I study remotely?

You may return home if you wish and continue your studies remotely. 

Will smaller teaching groups be stopped?

Small group teaching and seminars will be delivered using Blackboard.

Will you stop field trips?

Yes, all student field trips planned until the end of May will no longer take place.

What if I have an appointment with Student Support?

If you have a face-to-face appointment booked with counselling, careers, welfare, AccessAbility or visa, you will be contacted via email, by the relevant service to arrange remote means of engagement. Please see the 'Student support' section on this page for more information.

What should I do about any assessments that are due?

All academic schools are now considering adjustments to published deadlines for assessments due between now and the start of the summer term to take account of the range of circumstances in which students now find themselves.

Schools will either implement deadline extensions of 1-2 weeks or inform students that, where you are unable to submit on time, there will be no penalty for late submissions for a specified period.

All students should continue to submit work as soon as you they are ready. Our overriding concern is to be as flexible as possible for students, whilst still permitting us to calculate end-of-year outcomes and graduate our final year students. You will be provided with further details by your academic school in the coming days.

What should I do about any assessments that are due?

All academic schools are now considering adjustments to published deadlines for assessments due between now and the start of the summer term to take account of the range of circumstances in which students now find themselves. 

Schools will either implement deadline extensions of 1-2 weeks or inform students that, where you are unable to submit on time, there will be no penalty for late submissions for a specified period.

All students should continue to submit work as soon as you they are ready. Our overriding concern is to be as flexible as possible for students, whilst still permitting us to calculate end-of-year outcomes and graduate our final year students. You will be provided with further details by your academic school in the coming days.

Will graduation be cancelled?

Graduation is an important part of the UK university experience, and all students will be given the opportunity to graduate. We are monitoring the situation closely, and working in line with the PHE guidance. We will follow expert advice, and in the event that we are advised against holding gatherings such as Graduation, students will be given the opportunity to attend ceremonies at a later date.

I am a final year student – will I be able to obtain my degree this summer?

The University is actively exploring means for how students may be able to complete their studies and not delay the awarding of their degrees if at all possible, in the event of greater disruption to teaching or assessment.

What if I am concerned about the impact of the measures to combat COVID-19 may have on my outcome at the end of the academic year?

We are committed to ensuring you receive the highest quality education, and are working hard to avoid disruption to your studies.

We will provide you with as much support as possible in the forthcoming weeks to mitigate any negative effects.

In terms of effect on students’ outcomes at the end of the academic year, please be assured the University is planning for a range of scenarios. In each case we are seeking to ensure any impact upon students is minimised, and that account is taken of the impact of any measures such as assessment changes.

Is the gym open?

Both University Sports Centres closed as of Wednesday 18 March.

Are catering outlets open?

Catering outlets closed as of Friday 20 March.

Is the library still open?

The David Wilson Library building  has now closed, as of Friday 20 March. 

Students and staff will be able to access all online materials, including ebooks, journals and databases and the Library’s enquiry service will remain open. If you need any help, please email library@le.ac.uk or visit http://libraryhelp.le.ac.uk. 

Do I need to return my books?

All loans will continue to renew automatically. You may receive a recall email but this can be ignored. There will be no fines during this period.

If you’ve any questions please email library@le.ac.uk

How can I access online material?

Use Library Search on the Library Homepage to search and access digital library resources. You will need to use your IT username and password. If you have any problems please email library@le.ac.uk

Can I still place holds on physical items?

Continue to place your requests and we will try to find an electronic version which we will supply to you.

Can I still make inter-library loan requests?

Continue to place your requests and we will try to fulfil them electronically where we can obtain them.

How can I get help from library staff?

Our Enquiry Service remains open at this time. Please email library@le.ac.uk or visit http://libraryhelp.le.ac.uk

Can I visit and use other university libraries for my studies/research?

Please check the visiting university’s website for details of their access arrangements.

Can I still borrow a laptop?

Unfortunately our student laptop loan service has been temporarily suspended. We are currently changing our operations and implementing a remote study and work plan. This means the laptops will be required to support the delivery of learning and teaching and other essential IT support services.

How can I access my University email off campus?

You can access your University email from any modern web browser. Go to webmail.le.ac.uk and enter your full University email address (username@leicester.ac.uk)

How can I hold an online meeting?

You can hold online meetings in Microsoft Teams app. You can also install the app on your mobile phone or laptop or desktop computer. For teaching activities you can use Reflect lecture capture.

How can I edit files off campus?

All of Office 365, including online versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint can be accessed from office365.le.ac.uk. Your Personal Z: drive is available through MyFiles. You can store files using OneDrive or using a Team Collaboration Space.

I have a summer placement arranged abroad - will this be cancelled/should I still go?

Placements that were due to be undertaken as part of modules have been largely cancelled as part of the actions to restrict the potential spread of COVID-19. You should contact your academic school for confirmation of action taken with regard to any placements you were due to undertake as a formal part of your studies, and what alternatives will be in place for these modules. Where placements have been organised with third parties and are separate to your studies you should check with the placement provider as to whether it can go ahead. Given the impact of the current outbreak and associated restrictions on some organisations it may be that placements are not possible.

I am currently studying abroad and my host university has been closed - what should I do now? What will happen if I return early from my year abroad?

Please follow the local advice provided by your host institution and check the FCO and World Health Organization (WHO) for any public health announcements in your location. Please also stay in regular contact with your personal tutor in Leicester.

If you wish to remain overseas you should seek to continue to study if your host University offers the opportunity to do so remotely.

If you wish to return to the UK you should feel free to do so. Please ensure that you inform your host University of your decision and if you are able to continue to study remotely with your host institution you should do so. If you do return to the UK early and cannot continue with your studies we will ensure that your overall degree is not negatively impacted.

If you have specific queries please contact studyabroad@le.ac.uk.

I am currently on a year in industry and my employer is closed – what should I do now? 

Please follow your employer’s policies and procedures if they close due to a coronavirus outbreak. Also, advise your placement supervisor as soon as possible if you are working from home. 
 
If you wish to leave your placement early, you should discuss this with your employer and contact your placement supervisor who will support you with the required steps. This includes requesting authorised absence if you hold a student visa. We do not anticipate any issues for your visa, even if you chose to return home during this period provided you notify visas@le.ac.uk. 
 
If your placement is terminated or ends early due to issues associated with the coronavirus, the University will ensure that you are not negatively affected in terms of your academic studies or your degree title.

I am unwell and am unable to gain medical evidence.

If you suffer mitigating circumstances for your assessments, you should submit a claim for mitigating circumstances via MyStudentRecord. If your circumstances relate to ill-health you are not required to provide medical evidence, but you will need to highlight which assessments are affected. If you are unable to undertake assessments it may be necessary for you to take alternative assessments at a later date in place of those missed.

I am experiencing mitigating circumstances that are not health related.

For any wider mitigating circumstances affected assessments you should submit a claim for mitigating circumstances via MyStudentRecord. Depending on the nature of the circumstances you may be required to provide evidence to support your claim, but we recognise that may not be possible in all cases. You should submit your claim with any evidence that you have and your school will contact you if further information is required. 

I am unable to study or undertake assessments remotely as I do not have access to appropriate IT facilities – can I apply for mitigating circumstances?

Please inform your school if you are unable to access IT facilities remotely and we will work with you as far as possible to support you to study and take assessments.

Should I leave the UK to return to my home country?

We are continuing to follow travel advice issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. You should follow the advice of your national government, and if you choose to return to your home country and can make travel arrangements to do so, the University advises that you return home and you continue your studies remotely.

The Attendance Monitoring System (AMS) has been switched off and attendance will not be monitored during this time. If you continue to engage remotely with your studies and submit all work and assessments, we do not anticipate an issue with your visa. The Home Office recognises the current situation is exceptional and they are monitoring it closely. They will provide updated guidance to institutions which the University will follow. Please make sure you update MyStudentRecord with your current home address.

If I leave the UK to return to my home country, will I be able to complete my studies for this year? Will I be able to graduate?

From Monday 16 March, lectures have been replaced by online delivery and small group teaching and seminars are being delivered using Blackboard, so you will be able to continue your studies remotely. Schools have been asked to consider imminent assessment deadlines as a priority and assessments may need to be adjusted in the light of these and other changes. Further information about this will be shared as soon as possible by your School or Department. 

In terms of effect on students’ outcomes at the end of the academic year, please be assured that the University is actively planning for a range of scenarios.  In each case we are seeking to ensure that any impact upon students is minimised and that account is taken of the impact of any measures such as assessment changes. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

Work is currently underway to assess the feasibility of May examinations, and further information will follow soon. The University is actively exploring means for how students may be able to complete their studies and not delay the awarding of their degrees if at all possible, in the event of greater disruption to teaching or assessment. We will follow expert advice, and in the event that we are advised against holding gatherings such as graduation, students will be given the opportunity to attend ceremonies at a later date.

If I remain in the UK and it is then not possible to leave the country, what happens if my visa is due to expire? How long can I stay?

The Home Office has updated its guidance for those in the UK whose leave expires between 24 January and 31 May 2020. Your visa will be extended until 31 May 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus.

You must contact the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) to provide them with your personal details and the reason why you are unable to travel back to your home country, e.g. the border has closed. 

The Home Office will inform you when you request is received and when your visa has been extended. 

If I leave the UK to return to my home country, what happens about my visa?

If you are planning on going home you must notify the Visa team of your intention to leave the UK by emailing visas@le.ac.uk with a copy of your flight ticket/booking. Please also let your School know of your intentions to travel and make sure you update MyStudentRecord with your current home address.

If you can't return to the UK within 60 days, and provided that you continue to engage remotely with your studies and submit all work and assessments, we do not anticipate an issue with your visa.

The Home Office recognises the current situation is exceptional and will not take any action against students who are unable to attend their studies due to the coronavirus outbreak.

They are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updated guidance which the University will follow. We will inform you of any significant changes and what they mean for you.

If I remain in the UK and it is then not possible to leave the country, what happens if my visa is due to expire? How long can I stay?

If you are a Chinese national whose visa will expire between 24 January and 30 March 2020 then your visa will be automatically extended until 31 March 2020.

You will also receive an extension of leave until 31 March 2020 if you are in the UK on a long-term standard visitor visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years and you have reached the maximum stay of 180 days between 24 January and 30 March 2020.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are considering new guidance to deal with this issue for all nationalities. If you are unsure of your status the UKVI have set up a dedicated Covid-19 helpline. If you have any family or friends staying with you in the UK on visit visas who are unable to return home you should contact visas@le.ac.uk who can liaise with the UKVI on their behalf.

Anyone else would be advised to return home if they can. If this is not possible then you could make an FLR (HRO) application to remain in the UK and engage a solicitor to help you do this. Please note this is a costly application.

Can I work full-time on my tier 4 visa whilst the University is closed?

No. Whilst most University facilities may be closed, the normal term-time working conditions attached to your visa still apply.

If I remain in the UK, can I stay in University accommodation?

Yes, University accommodation will remain open as normal. If your accommodation contract is coming to an end, please contact the Accommodation Team at accommodation@le.ac.uk to get an extension to your contract.

Will food outlets in accommodation remain open?

If you are in accommodation and have a meal plan, there will continue to be meals provided at The Village – specific details will be sent to catered students if there are any changes to the service. While the University remains open, some campus food outlets will remain open. If the University closes, and during the Easter break, there will be reduced opening hours – to keep up to date with the latest catering information please visit the Leicester Services Partnership website.

Will there be support for students staying in accommodation?

Students can raise concerns relating to the coronavirus or report self-isolation via this online form. In addition, students can contact welfare@leicester.ac.uk for any support needs they have, or make contact with members of the accommodation team via accommodation@leicester.ac.uk.     

Will there be any campus teams of staff or volunteer students to support international students remaining in University accommodation, with practical needs such as obtaining food or medicines if isolating?

Staff from the accommodation team will remain on site to support students where needed, through remote methods to support social distancing. Guidance on obtaining medicines is available in the Your health and safety section of our FAQs for students.

I am going home to or am already in China, will I be able to access all the platforms the University uses so that I can continue my studies from China?

Yes, all the University platforms are accessible from China. Any students who experience any difficulties accessing University platforms should contact library@le.ac.uk.

What resources from the University Library will I be able to access from China?

All of the Library’s digital resources are accessible from China. Any students who experience any difficulties accessing University platforms should contact library@le.ac.uk.

If I need to complete timed online assessments from my home country, will they be scheduled to take account of differences in time zones?

Assessments will be adjusted in the light of the changes to teaching. Schools have been asked to consider imminent assessment deadlines as a priority. Physical examinations in May will not take place and will be replaced with alternative online assessments. For any timed online assessments, we will give consideration to differences in time zones in how we schedule these.

If I choose to return to my home country, will the University refund my accommodation fees?

The University is currently considering the position regarding accommodation fees for students who return home, and further information will follow.

If I am advised to return to my home country by my country’s government or my home university, will the University refund my accommodation fees?

The University is currently considering the position regarding accommodation fees for students who are advised to return home, and further information will follow.

I am remaining in the UK but the situation in my home country is causing me to be in financial hardship, how can I seek support?

If you are experiencing financial difficulties you will be able to access support through the University’s International Hardship Fund. You can download the form from our website.

I am currently on a year in industry, what should I do?

Please follow your employer’s policies and procedures if they close due to a coronavirus outbreak. Also, advise your placement supervisor as soon as possible if you are working from home. 
 
If you wish to leave your placement early, you should discuss this with your employer and contact your placement supervisor who will support you with the required steps. This includes requesting authorised absence if you hold a student visa. We do not anticipate any issues for your visa, even if you chose to return home during this period provided you notify visas@le.ac.uk. 
 
If your placement is terminated or ends early due to issues associated with the coronavirus, the University will ensure that you are not negatively affected in terms of your academic studies or your degree title.

Government guidance available in various languages

Government guidance about social distancing and self-isolation are available on its pages in various languages. Please share with anyone who you feel may benefit from it.

I am a Distance Learning Student.  What if I am unwell or unable to study?

If you are unable to submit an assessment you due to illness or any other reason during this period, you should submit a claim for mitigating circumstances through the standard process. We will be waiving the requirement to provide evidence to support mitigating circumstances claims during this exceptional period.

I am a Distance Learning Student: What will happen to how I study?

Both academic and professional services staff are working hard to continue to support you and hope that the delivery of flexible and distance learning courses will continue mostly unaffected. We will of course endeavour to ensure that updates are provided should any elements change. 

The Distance Learning Team is available to answer any queries that you may have. Please help us respond to your enquiry efficiently by including your name and student ID number in the email subject title:

• all distance learning courses;
• School of Business courses (specifically).

Will exams for Distance Learning students be cancelled?

Exams for Distance Learning programmes scheduled for April/May will not take place.

You will be contacted with information about how you will be assessed in your modules. Exams scheduled for June and beyond are currently expected to take place but the University is monitoring the situation and will provide further updates in due course.

What about Masterclasses, Residential and Study School events for Distance Learners?

Events are currently being reviewed, and should any changes be forthcoming, these will be clearly communicated to all the relevant students.

When will I receive my Student ID card?

We are not currently able to dispatch student ID cards to our distance learning students. Please accept our apologies, we hope to have this service up and running in due course.