Coronavirus (COVID-19)

University advice and guidance
Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We are constantly monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact. We planned carefully for the University's re-opening with a stringent safety-first approach to ensure our campuses are ‘covid-secure’ for our staff, students, local community and visitors, in accordance with government guidance.

We hope our entire local community can return to lowest risk levels as soon as possible.

Keep up to date

The information here is to help our website visitors understand the University's latest activity in response to COVID-19. A comprehensive set of support material for staff and students is available via login on the University's intranet. All links to further information are given below.

COVID-19 information, advice and support

Students Students
 We're proud of our students' resilience at this difficult time. We're here to help with clear advice and support on the student portal around self-isolation, COVID-19 symptoms, testing, study, and ultimately the safety and wellbeing of every student.

Parents and supporters Parents and supporters
 We know that parents and supporters of students may be worried about what life is like at University during a pandemic, but we want to reassure you that safety is our highest priority.

Staff Staff
 Our staff have access to information about our COVID-19 response – an archive of staff communications, advice about working from home or safely on site – and can learn about how to help our students, and much more, through the staff portal.

Applicants Applicants
 We very much hope we can welcome you to campus soon. We currently host all open day and on-demand content for you online, designed for you to get to know Plymouth, connect with passionate staff, and feel confident with your course choice.

Local community Local community
 The University of Plymouth fully understands its civic role. We ask any member of our local community to report concerns through official channels – the emergency services, Plymouth City Council or the University via our online contact form.

Placement and apprenticeship employers Placement and apprenticeship employers
 We would like to reassure our employer partners that it is our priority to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and associated disruption and together we support placement students and apprentices through these extraordinary and difficult times.

How we’re keeping our campus safe

We planned carefully for the re-opening of our campuses with a stringent safety-first approach.

  • We all share a collective responsibility to minimise risks to others and ourselves.
  • We are all expected to behave sensibly and responsibly, being kind, patient and respectful to others on campus and the local community.
  • We all need to act quickly and decisively if there is a need to self-isolate, symptoms are experienced, or if anyone tests positive for COVID-19.
  • We should all maintain a flexible and adaptable approach as the situation continues to evolve.


Social distancing

We have implemented a wide range of social distancing measures across campus. This includes the introduction of one-way systems around parts of campus and buildings, health and safety signage, new capacity limits and seating restrictions for teaching spaces, labs and lecture theatres.


Face coverings

Face coverings should be worn as an additional risk mitigation measure by students, staff and visitors, in all University learning environments, providing the use of a face covering does not impact teaching and learning. Detailed guidance on face coverings for students is available on the student portal (see students section above). Anyone exempt from wearing face coverings can identify themselves discreetly, by wearing a Sunflower lanyard.


Hygiene

We have introduced additional cleaning routines and new hand-sanitiser stations have been installed at building entrances across the campus. We are following Government guidance to help control infections rates: Hands. Face. Space.


Test and Trace

The NHS Test and Trace system is an important part of keeping our community safe. We are asking all staff, students and visitors at the University to use this whenever they are on campus.


COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolation and test results

As part of our guidance to those working and studying on campus, we ask students to tell us if they are self-isolating for any reason, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive or negative for COVID-19. They will need to self-isolate if: they have COVID-19 symptoms; they’ve tested positive for COVID-19; they live with someone who has symptoms or tested positive; someone in their support bubble has symptoms or tested positive; they’re told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app, or they arrive in the UK from a country with a high COVID-19 risk (quarantine).


Student support and wellbeing

Wellbeing is always a priority for us and we know there are extra challenges to manage at this time. Our Student Hub is the one-stop-shop for all non-programme specific student support and wellbeing information. Through extra steps taken to adapt our services, such as our virtual queuing system, our student support services are accessible, no matter where those in need may be. In addition to our advice and guidance, our Covid Advice Team can provide support should anyone need to self-isolate, experience symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19.


We’re supporting the national effort

  • Graduates are helping the NHS
  • Staff returning to the front line
  • Supporting research into vaccination
  • Delivering training to NHS staff
  • Supplying equipment to the NHS and staff in the city
  • Creatively supporting homeschooling during lockdown

Find out more about our response