Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for students in higher education
Guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) to help students in higher education.
Information for higher education students
To support the safe return for everyone, it is important that students continue to keep themselves and others safe. And, to continue to follow the public health advice of:
- social distancing
- good hand and respiratory hygiene
- wearing a face covering
- being alert to the symptoms of COVID-19
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you must self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test.
Measures in place
There are still a number safety measures in place to promote a safe learning environment for all.
Students can find out about plans for the new academic year from their higher education provider.
Information on the position can be found at the following page:
Testing
To help support the safe return of all students home for Christmas and on their return to campus again in January, universities and higher education (HE) providers are continuing to offer clinically validated swab antigen test (lateral flow devices - LFDs) to returning students. These do not need laboratory processing and can turn around results quickly.
Students should continue twice-weekly routine asymptomatic testing on the week before their journey home and take a rapid lateral flow device test (LFD) the day before they go.
Students should resume routine asymptomatic testing the week travelling back to university in January and take a LFD test the day before they travel.
When in Northern Ireland, in line with current guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive, students are asked to take regular COVID-19 lateral flow tests, particularly if planning to mix with other people. This will be a crucial element in a package of measures that will help to stop transmission of the virus in the community.
Under the current guidance, anyone who is meeting friends or family, or attending an event or social gathering should take a test before they go. It is particularly important to test before visiting someone who is older or more vulnerable. Regular twice-weekly testing is also encouraged.
Lateral flow device (LFD) tests can be ordered online or from an LFD Collect sites:
Following return to university for the new term in January 2022, testing should continue to be done twice-weekly (three to four days apart). All universities and HE providers will issue local communications and guidance to their students advising how and where to avail of testing.
Students must only come forward for a LFD test if they are asymptomatic (that is, they do not have any symptoms of COVID). If students are symptomatic they must book a PCR test in the normal way.
More information on how to book a PCR test for those that have symptoms on the or those who are identified as a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19, on the following page:
Remember to report the result of your LFD test through the following link:
Reporting your result is important as it helps our Public Health services monitor virus activity.
Anyone who gets a positive LFD result should self-isolate and book a confirmatory PCR test immediately. PCR tests in Northern Ireland can be booked online at:
Or you book a test by phoning119.
Self-isolation
Information and guidance on when self-isolation is needed is available on the following page:
Vaccination
Students are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Find out how to get a vaccination at:
Information on vaccine safety can be found on the following page:
Student travel
Testing before travel
Students should continue twice-weekly routine asymptomatic testing the week of travel and should take a test the day before they travel home for the Christmas break, using home test kits provided by their university, or at an on-site facility, where available.
Students should resume routine asymptomatic testing the week of travelling back to university and should take a test the day before they travel back to their term-time accommodation in January, using test kits issued by their university before the Christmas break, ordered online, or collected from their local pharmacy.
Students should take a sensible approach and be mindful of the risks of spreading the virus by travel - particularly to others who may be more vulnerable because of their age or underlying health condition.
If you intend to travel you should make sure that you do so safely.
You should not travel if you are have coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating.
Travelling from England, Scotland, Wales or the Republic of Ireland for university
The latest guidance for travelling to Northern Ireland from within the Common Travel Area is available on the following page:
Travelling from outside of the UK or Ireland
Information for arrivals into Northern Ireland can be found at the following page:
Travelling to study elsewhere from Northern Ireland
Students from Northern Ireland studying at higher education institutions in England, Scotland, Wales or the Republic of Ireland should follow any guidance issued by their HE institution - and the relevant government.
Student support
Mental Health
Institutions have a range of effective processes and procedures to care for the wellbeing of learners. They also offer support wherever possible.
Students who are experiencing anxiety and stress may wish to contact their student welfare services at their provider. Or, their student union can signpost them to relevant support.
More support is also available from Lifeline.
Financial support
Students who are having financial problems should make sure that they have applied for all the financial support to which they may be entitled:
Students who continue to face financial problems should contact the student services team in their university or college. They'll be able to offer information on what support is available. This may include student hardship funds.