This message is ONLY for St George's registered students.
Dear students,
Following last night’s announcement, it is tough facing another national lockdown which places significant restrictions on the daily lives of us all. I am optimistic that the position will feel different by the spring, but I recognise that the months ahead look long and that everyone will face challenges in this next phase.
I urge you to think seriously about steps you can take to maintain your mental health and wellbeing. I encourage you to connect with others, whether via screen or phone, and find ways to keep active. A reminder of the support available to you is below.
To follow are key points about the impact of the national lockdown on St George’s, based on the guidance published last night.
Undergraduate programmes
The majority of our undergraduate programmes will continue as planned and as communicated to you in December.
Exceptions are:
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Biomedical Science (**)
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Clinical Pharmacology
In our message to you on New Year’s Day, we said that most students** on these programmes will not be required to attend sessions on site until at least 25 January. That timeframe has changed in accordance with the government directive, meaning that no in-person teaching will take place for students on Biomedical Science and Clinical Pharmacology programmes** until at least mid-February. Course teams will be in touch with further information.
** BSc BMS final year Clinical Bioscience pathway students and those undertaking wet lab research projects can return as planned this week, along with final year MSci Biomedical Science students undertaking on-campus research projects.
Postgraduate programmes
Postgraduate Taught programmes involving clinical placements (e.g. Physician Associate, Physiotherapy) can continue as planned. MRes students can work on site if they are undertaking a wet lab project.
For students on other taught postgraduate programmes, there will be adjustments needed to teaching schedules. There will be no on-site teaching until at least mid-February for any programmes that do not involve clinical placements or wet-lab research. Your course teams will be in touch with details. Postgraduate Research students should continue their research as planned. You can undertake work on site which cannot be done at home.
For students returning to site: requirement to be tested or self-isolate
Previously we have offered strong encouragement that, if you are returning to site, you should undertake coronavirus testing. We expect this to become mandatory, set out within the requirements of the national lockdown, from tomorrow.
You should take two tests three days apart if possible. The first test should be taken as soon as possible following your return to the St George’s site, then another three days later.
Between the tests you can access teaching and study spaces if:
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Your first test was negative
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You maintain strict social distancing, wear a mask or face covering and follow good infection control practices
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You limit your social contact to your household bubble only, in line with the national lockdown restrictions
If you are on a clinical placement at the start of term and you can access testing via your provider, please do so, but you are welcome to have testing at our centre if needed.
If you choose not to undertake testing on your return, you must self-isolate for 10 days before returning to the university site.
While we do our best to accommodate those arriving for a test without a booking, it does cause pressures on the testing team and we may have to turn people without a booking away if we are working at capacity. Please do book a test.
Book your test here When clicking on the booking link, you will see at the top the list of dates when testing is available. Once you have selected your option, please scroll down and click on the date when you wish to book a test in the calendar view. Please then select one of the times which will appear to the right before adding your details below to make your booking.
Further guidance for students returning to site
You should not move back and forward between your permanent home and student home during term time.
For those students who are eligible for face-to-face teaching, you can meet in groups of more than your household as part of your formal education or training, where necessary. You must follow the national lockdown requirements to stay at home except where necessary.
For students not yet resuming on-site teaching
We are aware that some students have remained in the area local to St George’s over the break. Whether you are in the local area or at your vacation address, you should remain where you are wherever possible and start the term online. You must follow the national lockdown requirements to stay at home except where necessary.
Before the break, we issued course specific advice about recommended testing dates. Where course teams now need to postpone plans for face-to-face teaching, the recommended testing dates will need to change. However, even if you are on one of the affected courses, but will be based in the area local to St George’s from the start of January, you are encouraged to book a test or attend a test already booked. Testing will help you to protect those you live with and others in the local community.
In her communications to us over the New Year, the Minister for Universities recognised that there may be reasons why you need to return to site sooner. For example, you may not have appropriate study spaces or facilities in your vacation accommodation. We are awaiting further guidance to clarify whether those exemptions still stand in the context of the national lockdown. We understand that essential campus services and support can remain open.
Questions about vaccinations
We have received questions about whether students on clinical courses can access vaccinations. The December 2020 update of the Greenbook (Vaccination Advice, Chapter 14 COVID - page 11) lists students working with patients among the frontline healthcare staff who are considered to be in priority group 2 of the vaccine rollout programme. Only NHS providers currently have access to the vaccine. NHS Providers have been prioritising access based on those who would be at higher risk from Covid through the environment where they work or factors such as age, but will be rolling this out to students as well as soon as possible, starting with those placed in the highest risk areas. As a university, we have no control over the process but we expect it to take at least several weeks before all NHS staff and students will be offered the vaccine, given the numbers in priority groups 1 and 2.
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:
The national picture is evolving quickly and we anticipate further guidance from the government for higher education providers to be published soon. We will be in touch again with further information if required.
I know that you may have questions and, as happened last term, we hope to hold an open forum for students soon. Details will follow.
I send you my warmest wishes,
Professor Jenny Higham
Principal