FAQs for Brighton students

We’re taking all necessary steps in line with Government, public health and sector guidance, to ensure that our campuses are safe places to study, live and work. This includes requiring face coverings to be worn in some areas, implementing social distancing measures, track and trace protocols, installing hand sanitiser stations and managing the numbers of students needing to be on campus and using facilities at any one time.

All students should continue to follow official guidance on maintaining social distancing, regular hand washing and the wearing of face coverings.

Students will be asked to arrive at the exact start time of their timetabled session to avoid over-crowding in University buildings.

You will need to make sure that you follow the directional signage, as some areas will have one-way systems in place. You will also need to be aware that some lifts will have limited access and so you may need to use the designated staircase to access higher level floors.

Once in your session, the room has been designed to be COVID-secure so please do not move chairs or furniture as this will impact on the social distancing requirements that are in place. (please also note that chairs should not be moved in communal spaces or catering outlets for the same reason).

Once your academic session has ended you will be asked to quickly vacate the area to allow others to enter the vicinity without causing over-crowding. Note, your way out may be a different route to the one you used to get to the room, as a result of our one-way systems.

Please remember at all times to respect social distancing requirements.

No. The university is following national guidelines on testing, is linked into national and regional test and trace arrangements and is working closely with its local health and public authorities and is part of the South-East University COVID Partnership group. We will have Track & Trace procedures in place in areas where these are specifically required such as libraries, catering outlets and places of worship.

To comply with our responsibilities around test and trace and the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 we have made some changes to the way we process your data, please see the Privacy Notices for more detail.

Everyone will be required to wear a face covering when moving around communal internal spaces on campus, including in libraries and catering outlets (when not eating), and will be permitted to wear a face covering in teaching spaces if they choose to do so.

There may be some specific teaching activities that require the wearing of a face covering where effective social distancing cannot be maintained. These activities will be risk assessed and you will be advised of any additional precautions as part of your course and safety induction process.

There are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering. Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances, noting that some people are less able to wear face coverings, and that the reasons for this may not be visible to others.

You are under no obligation to take any action relating to informing others or seeking approval. However, should you wish to consider an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign then you will be supported by the University to do so. Badges are available via Student Information Desks and Brighton Students’ Union. A Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard could also be used where appropriate and are available to students and staff via our Disability and Dyslexia Team or Equality and Diversity Team.

We have no current plans to do so and there is no requirement for temperature testing to be carried out.

You must self-isolate and refer yourself for a test via self-referral.test-forcoronavirus.service.gov.uk/.

Inform your flatmates – as anyone living with you is classed as your household and they must self-isolate until you’ve been tested and received your result.

Contact the University Emergency Helpdesk on 01273 642222 to provide information on the areas you have been studying in.

If you are living in halls, then you must also inform the Residential Life team – so they can support you and your flatmates with self-isolation.

If you test positive you must self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started. Anyone you live with must self-isolate for 14 days from when your symptoms started. You will be contacted by NHS Test & Trace to ask where you have been recently and who you have been in close contact with. They will do all further contact tracing and advising.

You must also to inform them of your positive test via the My Brighton app. Please be aware that the university is required to share this information with the local Health Protection Team.

We are monitoring the situation and are in close contact with the local health and public authorities. We will follow all official guidance depending on the severity of the outbreak and act accordingly.

We will follow all official advice and act accordingly. We have all the necessary arrangements in place to support students in a return to remote learning during any local lockdown period should this be required.

Government guidance states that public transport can be used where necessary if all appropriate precautions are taken, but those who have COVID-19 symptoms or who are self-isolating should avoid doing so. We already encourage students to walk or cycle to and from campus wherever possible. You can find out more about travel options.

We encourage all students expecting to travel to Brighton or Eastbourne in the coming weeks, to ensure that they consider any local guidance or restrictions in place before they travel. Where students may be facing travel restrictions, we will endeavour to make the appropriate arrangements to enable them to begin or continue their course remotely. The University expects all students and staff that are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms, that have recently tested positive for COVID-19, or that have a member of their household in either position, to stay at home and self-isolate for the appropriate period.

We have bookable quarantine arrangements in place which include free accommodation, with a small charge for food and cleaning and a programme of comprehensive support during the mandatory 14-day isolation period.

All our campuses are being fully risk-assessed and are having the necessary social distancing and other arrangements put in place so that they are COVID-secure. Any students with underlying health conditions or any health concerns should contact their Student Support and Guidance Tutor before returning to campus.

You should advise them to go home and self-isolate and, if necessary, to book a test via self-referral.test-forcoronavirus.service.gov.uk/. If you continue to have concerns, then you should discuss these with the tutor or your Student Support and Guidance Tutor.

Everyone on campus has a responsibility to act sensibly and to follow all relevant guidance. Draw their attention to the signage in the area which will make clear what is required, and if necessary, speak to the tutor. Please be aware that some people are exempt from wearing a face covering.

We are committed to maintaining a safe, supportive and respectful environment for everyone and have a zero-tolerance approach to bullying in any circumstances. Any incidents can be reported via our online disclosure form and appropriate support will be provided.

We recognise that meeting people and making friends is a big part of your student experience and will be doing everything possible to ensure that this is possible in ways that help to keep everyone safe. Please note that the government’s current rules on meeting with others (the ‘rule of six’) are mandatory and apply to everyone, including students living in private accommodation.

Our catering outlets will be open and will provide a COVID-secure environment including track and trace. Student societies will run remotely and there will controlled access to sport and fitness facilities although there will be no sports trials or competitive team fixtures this term.

Our Residential Life team will also be available to provide support and will deliver a range of community activities to help you meet new people, build friendships and develop networks.

Our on-campus catering outlets will be available with extended opening hours. They will offer a range of services including a new click and collect service. Social distancing and track and trace arrangements will be in place.

All our usual student support services will be available and accessible remotely. Any circumstances requiring face-to-face contact will be carried out in a COVID-safe environment.

We’re working closely with Brighton Students’ Union to ensure that there is a full Welcome and online freshers' programme that complies with all current guidance.

We are creating ‘household bubbles’ in all of our halls, and these will be expected to adhere to all relevant Government guidance. Support will be available 24/7 from our Residential Life team.

We require all our registered landlords to manage their properties in line with official guidance and expect all our students to behave responsibly and respect their housemates’ safety.

Most students have a range of travel options . We encourage walking or cycling wherever possible in line with current government guidance and there are a range of discounts available. The free hourly UB1 shuttle bus will operate between our Brighton campuses during term time. Timetabling will be managed to minimise the numbers of students needing to be on campus at any one time and to reduce pressure on local public transport at peak commuting periods.

You’ll be able to access our libraries both in person and online, as well as other learning facilities by booking in advance. Group study will not be possible, but bookable individual quiet study spaces and open access computers will be available. Books will be disinfected and ‘quarantined’ before being made available to other users.

Please contact your course leader or Student Support and Guidance Tutor ideally before the start of term to discuss your concerns. If you have a legitimate need to continue to study remotely during the first term, you’ll be supported to do so where the requirements of your course allow.

Our blended learning approach is designed to support students to be able demonstrate all the learning outcomes required by each of the individual modules that make up their course and the course overall. It does so through a combination of on-campus and remote learning that is flexed to meet the requirements of the course as is appropriate to different subject disciplines.

You’ll receive your personal timetable at the start of term. The mix of on-campus and remote learning will differ from course to course. Whilst large-group teaching, such as lectures, will be delivered online, all students will have some timetabled teaching on campus. Priority will be given to those students whose learning needs to be undertaken in a laboratory, workshop or studio or clinical skills space as part of their course.

You’ll be able to keep in regular contact with your tutors both on campus and online via our digital learning platforms and be able to interact with them and receive feedback.

All our libraries will be open by the start of term and will offer a full range of online and in-person services. You’ll need to book a time to visit and use the library facilities due to the need to manage the numbers of users at any one time. Group study will not be possible, but bookable individual quiet study spaces and open access computers will be available.

The Print Services counter at Moulsecoomb will be open to all students and we are currently looking at whether a booking system can operate at Grand Parade.

Students who need to access these spaces as part of their course will be able to do so in a managed way. However, in addition to the usual health and safety requirements there will also be COVID-specific measures in place which all users will be required to follow to ensure everyone’s safety.

As well as your course tutors, you’ll be able to review your progress and discuss all aspects of your studies with your Personal Academic Tutor. You’ll also be able to contact your Student Support and Guidance Tutor to discuss any personal issues on a confidential basis and be signposted to a wide range of internal and external support services.

All UK-based work placements are subject to a risk assessment and these will continue to reflect official guidance. If your course (eg in Health Sciences) requires you to complete a work placement as a condition of professional registration, you’ll be provided with specific advice via your school. However, if the UK sees a second spike in COVID-19 cases or local lockdowns are implemented, some UK placements may not be possible.

Due to the continuing global pandemic, it is unlikely that international placements will be possible during 2020-21. We are therefore advising all students to seek placements in the UK as these are much more likely to be possible. Please speak to colleagues in our Placement teams to discuss these.

You should not arrange any placement activity independently as this will not be counted towards your award and you will not be covered by the University’s insurance.

UK-based field trips should be able to go ahead, but these will be risk assessed in the context of the changing position in with regards to local lockdowns. International field trips are not currently being permitted due to the ever-changing situation.

There will be no on campus in-person invigilated examinations during semester one and the majority of assessments will be delivered online.

Our ‘no detriment’ policy, which was introduced in the final term of the last academic year, is designed to ensure that no students are unfairly impacted in terms of grades as a direct result of COVID-19 and to enable them to progress and graduate. This is being kept under constant review to ensure our regulatory frameworks continue to support our commitment to no detriment.

The UK Government relaxed it’s shielding guidance as from 1 August 2020. If you have a legitimate need to continue to study remotely during the first term, you’ll be supported to do so where the requirements of your course allow. You should contact your course tutor or Student Support and Guidance Tutor to discuss your circumstances before the start of term.

We have put in place a Digital Access Fund to support those students who, due to their personal circumstances, don’t have access to their own computer and who can demonstrate genuine need.

If you have a disability, mental health issue or long-term illness, you may be eligible to receive a laptop and other equipment tailored to your needs through the Disabled Students Allowance. Once you apply for the loan scheme, you'll receive further details about eligibility and the full terms and conditions.

All volunteering opportunities will be subject to individual risk assessments and will need to be undertaken in ways that comply with all current guidance.

Students who need to work whilst studying will continue to be supported to do so.

Our Careers team will continue to support students to find work and to develop their employability

All UK-based work placements are subject to a risk assessment and these will continue to reflect official guidance. If your course (eg in Health Sciences) requires you to complete a work placement as a condition of professional registration, you’ll be provided with specific advice via your School. However, if the UK sees a second spike in COVID-19 cases or local lockdowns are implemented, some UK placements may not be possible.