New COVID-19 Guidance for international students living in the UK and Europe

Before you travel to the UK (including England, Scotland and Wales)

All international travellers to the UK are required to have had a negative test for COVID-19 up to 72 hours before travel.

From Monday 15 February 2021, you will also need to book two additional tests, to be carried out 2 and 8 days after you arrive in the UK. All these tests must be booked before you travel using the UK Government booking service here.

You will need to provide your journey and contact details 48 hours before you arrive in the UK. You must do this by completing the online passenger locator form.

If you are travelling to Scotland or from one of the ‘red list’ countries

From Monday 15 February 2021, you will need to quarantine in a government approved ‘quarantine hotel’ once you arrive in the UK if you have travelled to England or Wales from any of the countries on the ‘red list’ of countries;

Or

you are travelling to Scotland from any country in the world.

You must pre-book and pay for your hotel quarantine before travelling. The booking site is here. The charge for this is £1,750 for transport to the hotel, accommodation including meals, and COVID-19 testing.

This rule applies if you have been in a ‘red list’ country in the past ten days before arriving into the UK.

You can see the full UK Government advice on entering the UK here.

Once you arrive in the UK

You will need to self-isolate (stay in your accommodation) for ten days.

You can only end self-isolation early if you pay for a private COVID-19 test through the ‘Test to Release’ scheme. You will still have to take the 2 and 8 day tests even if you have a Test to Release result that is negative. If you test positive for COVID-19 at any time you must start a further 10-day isolation period.

Once you leave self-isolation, there are a number of rules everyone must follow to help avoid COVID-19.

These vary depending on which part of the United Kingdom you are in. Please check the relevant guidance using the links below:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales

Fraudsters and scammers

Finally, always be alert for fraudsters and scammers offering COVID-19 tests

In order to come and study with us in the UK, you now have to show a valid negative test result for COVID-19 obtained before you travel.

Unfortunately, and sadly, we have heard that some people are taking advantage of this by offering fake COVID-19 tests to international students. Please make sure you obtain your COVID-19 tests from a valid provider.

Things to check when arranging your COVID-19 test:

• Check with your national public health website for approved test sites;
• Consult your family doctor or local government approved clinic for advice;
• Pay for the test at the medical facility directly and make sure you get a receipt;
• Find out how much government approved clinics are charging for testing. If you receive offers of testing for a discounted rate, the chances are it’s a scam;
• Do not respond to unsolicited emails/SMS meetings offering COVID-19 vaccinations or testing. Unless you are certain these come from official public health sources these are scams.

This college is subject to England lockdown restrictions, please follow all the guidelines found at the top of the page.

Further information on status of college opening will be shared as soon as possible.

This college is subject to England lockdown restrictions, please follow all the guidelines found at the top of the page.

Further information on status of college opening will be shared as soon as possible.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

This centre is subject to guidelines found at top of page.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

From Midnight, 4 January 2021 until end of January 2021, new restrictions as per below will be introduced.

Please note that these changes do not directly affect Universities in Scotland, which remain open until further notice.

• People will only be allowed to leave home for essential purposes, such as essential shopping, exercise and caring responsibilities
• No limit is to be put on how many times people can go out to exercise, but outdoor meetings are to be limited to a maximum of two people from two households (excluding children under 12)
• Schools are to remain closed to the majority of pupils until at least February
• Everyone who can work from home will be required to, and people in the "shielding" category are advised not to go in to work at all
• Places of worship are to close, the number of people who can attend weddings is to be cut to five, and funeral wakes will no longer be allowed

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

From Midnight, 4 January 2021 until end of January 2021, new restrictions as per below will be introduced.

Please note that these changes do not directly affect Universities in Scotland, which remain open until further notice.

• People will only be allowed to leave home for essential purposes, such as essential shopping, exercise and caring responsibilities
• No limit is to be put on how many times people can go out to exercise, but outdoor meetings are to be limited to a maximum of two people from two households (excluding children under 12)
• Schools are to remain closed to the majority of pupils until at least February
• Everyone who can work from home will be required to, and people in the "shielding" category are advised not to go in to work at all
• Places of worship are to close, the number of people who can attend weddings is to be cut to five, and funeral wakes will no longer be allowed

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

From 20 December 2020, all of Wales is at Alert Level 4.

• You must stay at home
• Not meet with anyone indoors or outdoors other than those you live with
• Avoid travel including international travel
• Non-essential retail is closed including gyms, leisure centres and hospitality
• You are permitted to mix with up to two other households on Christmas Day only (25 December 2020).

Visit our website for more information about studying here.

Negative COVID-19 test result requirement for travel to the Republic of Ireland

The Irish Government has introduced a requirement for all travellers arriving in the Republic of Ireland to have a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test carried out no more than 72 hours prior to arrival.

If you arrive from Great Britain, the Republic of South Africa, or any country in South America, you must self isolate (stay in your room) for a period of 14 days following your arrival into Ireland. This applies even if have a negative COVID-19 test result or if you get second test once you are in the Republic of Ireland.

How the negative testing will work

The negative testing rules apply to both planes and passenger ferries. Airlines and other transport providers will be expected to enforce this rule. Passengers attempting to travel without a negative test may be potentially denied boarding.

The new rule is enforced by law; anyone attempting to enter the Republic of Ireland without a valid negative test result could face a fine of up to €2,500 or up to 6 months in prison.

The rule does not apply to passengers in transit nor to arrivals from Northern Ireland.

You can read full details on the Government website here. Please check these pages regularly as the rules may change at short notice.

‘Level 5’ COVID-19 precautions in Ireland

The Government has decided to extend the Level 5 COVID-19 restrictions until at least 5 March 2021. These measures, which are in place to protect everyone against the spread of COVID-19, affect what you are able to do while in the Republic of Ireland.

These measures mean:

• You should continue to stay at home.
• You can only exercise within 5 km of your home.
• There must be no visits to other people’s homes or gardens, including student accommodation other than your own.
• You can meet with one other household in an outdoor setting which is not a home or garden, such as a park, including for exercise.
• Most non-essential shops and hairdressers will be closed. Bars and restaurants will only be able to provide a takeaway service.
• You should only travel for essential purposes, for example to attend medical appointments or collect medicines. There will be only limited public transport available.
• You may not travel between counties.
• No amateur sports events are allowed.

When taking exercise outdoors, it is important to maintain 2 metres distance from others and wash hands on returning home. Only shop during designated hours only, wear a face covering, and avoid public transport.

There is a full list of the Level 5 restrictions here.

Negative COVID-19 test result requirements for travel to the Netherlands (Holland)

The Dutch Government has introduced a requirement for people travelling to the Netherlands by aircraft, ship, ferry, international train to present a negative COVID-19 test result if they are coming from a country not on the EU safe countries list.

For passengers from the Schengen zone countries, the negative test result requirement applies only to public transport, and not to private coaches or cars.

The test used must be a COVID-19 PCR (polymerise chain reaction) test. No other type of test will be valid. The test sample must have been made no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in the Netherlands. The test result must be written in Dutch, English, French, or Spanish. Full details of the test requirements are available here. You can see a copy of the declaration form here.

Passengers attempting to travel without a negative test may be potentially denied boarding. International train and coach passengers will be asked to provide a negative test result before boarding or before the first stop in the Netherlands.

The Government has made it very clear that a negative test result does not avoid the need for self-isolation upon arrival in the Netherlands. You should still self-quarantine for 10 days on arrival in the Netherlands even if you have a negative test result.

Lockdown in order to minimise contact between people | News item | Government.nl

The Government has extended the lockdown rules in place until at least 2 March 2021.

This means that everyone must continue to follow the rules in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

You must:

• Continue to follow the curfew rules. Everyone must stays indoors between 9 pm and 4.30am. You should only go outside during curfew hours in the event of an emergency or if you need urgent medical assistance.
• You should only go outdoors to buy essentials (such as food or medical supplies). You cannot collect food from takeaways between 8.45pm and 7am;
• Only go outside on your own, with members of your household, or with one other person;
• Only exercise outdoors, alone, or with one other person;
• Meet with visitors to your home only if it is absolutely necessary;
• Only use public transport for essential travel;
• Stay 1.5 metres away (two arms-length) from others at all times.
• Wash or sanitise your hands often.
• Face masks are obligatory in all closed spaces including airports, public transport, taxis and Uber.
• Visit no more than 1 other household per day.

You can see full details of the rules here.

A number of locations remain closed. These include:

• Shops, except those selling essentials like food. (From 10 February, non-essential shops will be allowed to offer their customers the option of collecting their order in person.)
• Essential stores, such as drug stores, will close at 8pm. Shops that sell food, such as supermarkets, will close at 8.45pm.
• Locations where contact-based professions are carried out, such as hairdressers and nail salons;
• Theatres, concert halls, cinemas, casinos, etc.;
• Zoos, amusement parks, etc.;
• Indoor sporting venues such as gyms, swimming pools, saunas, spas, etc.
• Restaurants, bars and cafés.

Hotels will be open, but hotel restaurants will be closed.

Visit our website for more information about studying here.