This message is ONLY for St George's registered students.
Dear students,
I am writing to share with you a letter to students we received from Michelle Donelan MP, Minister of State for Universities.
The letter can be read here.
It is encouraging to see that the government clearly acknowledges what a challenging time this is for students and staff across the sector. Much of the Minister’s letter is designed for the majority of students in the UK who have not yet been able to return to face-to-face teaching. However, at St George’s it has been a real boost to our staff and students, as well as reinforcing the importance of what we do here, that the majority of our programmes have been able to return to site this term. We are continuing to engage those who have yet to return with online activity, including postgraduate students and those completing research.
Minister Donelan raises important matters that have been at the forefront of our institutional planning for some time and are already in place at St George’s. Below we touch on the areas highlighted.
Testing to help stop the spread
We are fortunate at St George’s to have been able to operate asymptomatic testing on site and thanks go to the staff and students who have been part of that successful operation. We wrote to students on the 26 January with an update on available testing, the communication can be found here.
For the latest information on how to book testing, please also visit the University Covid-19 support hub
. This week, we have received confirmation that we can now offer twice weekly testing for our staff and students until end March 2021. We will email with further details shortly.
Access to learning fund
We very much welcome the additional funds provided by the government for student hardship and we are seeing an increase in the number of students accessing support. Our hardship funds support UK and international students of all levels.
For details on how to apply for the fund please see here
As noted in the Minister’s letter, you may reapply in an academic year if your financial circumstances change unexpectedly.
Accommodation
Minster Donelan’s letter references student accommodation rent refunds. This is a complicated issue, particularly for us given that such a small percentage of our students are based within University halls and so many of our programmes have resumed on site. We are currently considering options and will share further information with affected students when we can. In the meantime, please bear in mind that accommodation costs can be a reason to access hardship funding.
Returning to site and changes to your course
Our top priority is the safety of our students and staff, and we continue to operate in line with government guidance. As touched upon earlier, as a health science university, most of our students have now returned to site in some capacity. However, if your course has yet to return, your course team will be keeping you updated on future plans.
If you have concerns about changes to your programme please discuss these with your course team in the first instance. These can also be raised via the Students Concerns and Complaints Procedure
Support available to you
We know the uncertainties caused by the pandemic are worrying for everyone and urge you to reach out if you need help. For welfare support, please use one of the following routes:
We are listening to, and working closely, with the Students’ Union and are in regular contact with the three employee trade unions through the Joint Negotiating & Consultative Committee. We will continue to keep you updated on any changes within the University.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation, and for ensuring that St George’s is able to continue delivering the healthcare, research and medical education the nation needs in these unprecedented times.
Best wishes,
Professor Jenny Higham
Principal