If you begin to experience COVID-19 symptoms, please self-isolate and contact our Rapid Response Hub.

The Rapid Response Hub can provide a COVID-19 test for you, but only if you have COVID-19 symptoms (ie a new persistent cough, a high temperature, loss of taste and smell). This applies even if you are only displaying mild symptoms.

The team at the Hub will advise you on how to get a free test and, if your test comes back with a positive result, will work with you to give you the support you need so that you can safely self-isolate. The Hub will use information you’ve given about when and where you have worked on campus, so that other colleagues or students who were in the same place, at the same time, will be able to take appropriate action if they begin to show COVID-19 symptoms.

Further information on the Rapid Response Hub is available online. Please be assured we will fully support you during any periods of self-isolation, and in the event you are unwell.

If you have previously had coronavirus but recovered, the NHS Guidance on what to do if you get coronavirus symptoms for a second time is as follows:

If you get symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) again, you must self-isolate immediately and ask for a test. The symptoms are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. If someone you live with (or someone in your support bubble) gets symptoms again, you must also self-isolate immediately. You must self-isolate again even if you've had a positive test result for coronavirus before. You probably have some immunity to coronavirus but it's not clear how long it will last.

You can request a test for coronavirus via the Rapid Response Hub.

If you need to self-isolate, please see our 'information for students who are self-isolating' webpage for frequently asked questions and information.

Please do not be worried, the support teams and your College will be on hand to make sure this does not affect your studies and University experience.

We have published full information on the steps you will need to complete and the support available for periods of self-isolation, including academic support, staying connected and accessing supplies during self-isolation, on our webpages. 

The health and wellbeing of our students is our overriding priority.

We want to ensure we can support you to feel safe when you are on campus and to support this, we would suggest you complete a COVID-19 age Individual Vulnerability Risk Assessment if you are concerned. The risk assessment will help to identify a COVID-19 age vulnerability level and where this is identified as High or Very high further information on who to contact and what support is available is included within the results of the assessment.

If you fall into this category, can we ask that you also reach out to the Rapid Response Hub to enable the University to ensure we fully understand your circumstances and in particular any impact the changing risk profile may have on you. The Team in the Rapid Response Hub will be able to assist you in identifying which services within the University can support you including contacting the Accommodation Team, Wellbeing and your College to ensure your specific needs are understood from both an education and residential perspective.

The Government has published guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people in England. This guidance provides practical steps to help keep you safe, while reducing some of the potentially harmful impacts on mental and social wellbeing that were associated with previous strict shielding. This guidance applies to individuals only. Others living in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable are not advised to follow this guidance.

If you feeling unwell or are concerned about COVID symptoms please contact your GP surgery or NHS 111 to access clinical advice and assessment.

If you wish to discuss studying remotely, you can contact remotestudy@exeter.ac.uk to explore this. To temporarily move to online study only, for example for a period of self-isolation, you should fill out the self-declaration form. This form is also available on all of your ELE module pages. You only need to do this once. Also on ELE module pages will be information on how you access alternative provision instead of coming on to campus for your teaching and learning.

For students with a disability or a mental health concern - our AccessAbility team is available for you to discuss any concerns you may have. You can find information on contacting the team on our website.

Students

Your wellbeing is extremely important to us and we would like to highlight the resources that are available to support you, if needed. This includes our self-help tool, SilverCloud and our Wellbeing Services at both our Exeter and Cornwall campuses. Also see our COVID-19 welfare webpages. Nightline is available from 8pm-8am to talk or instant message.

Staff

There are a number of support services available to staff during this period. Our self-help tool, Spectrum Life, can be used to access 24/7 telephone counselling via our online portal, as well as a range of well-being resources and guides. You can also talk to your line manager if you have any queries. Also see our COVID-19 welfare webpages.

The University, in partnership with its alumni community, has set up the Success For All Fund to help students experiencing unexpected financial difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak. All registered undergraduate and postgraduate University of Exeter students facing financial difficulty because of the crisis are eligible to apply, irrespective of fee-status.

For more information and how to apply, please visit the webpages.

It has also been noted that should a student’s financial situation change, they may be eligible for a reassessment from the Student Loans Company. Contact the Student Loans Company to find out more. 

The Department of Health and Social Care (Test and Trace) have consulted the British Islamic Medical Association, who have advised the following:

’Our position is that PCR and LFD tests do not invalidate the fast, which is the opinion of the vast majority of Islamic scholars.'

We therefore expect you to continue to complete twice weekly regular tests for COVID-19 if you have returned to your term-time accommodation. 

Staff and students will be contacted by the NHS when it is time for them to take their vaccination. You can find details of the Government vaccination programme on the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination website.

The UK Minister for Universities, Michelle Donelan, has confirmed that international students studying in the UK will be eligible for the vaccine while in the country, in the same way as they can access other health services. 

The UK’s NHS (National Health Service) is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccination to people most at risk from coronavirus. The vaccine will be offered more widely as soon as possible, to people in order of age and risk.

International students who live in the UK and are registered with a GP (general practitioner) will be able to access the COVID-19 vaccination in the UK, just as they are currently able to access healthcare. This means that older international students or those with underlying medical conditions will fall into priority categories, in the same way as anyone else in the UK.

Students do not need to do anything and will be contacted when it is time for their vaccine. Find out more on the British Council's COVID-19 FAQs.

No. The Lateral Flow Device test used in the University mass testing programme detects a different protein of the virus than the one encoded in the vaccine. The HALO PCR tests used for testing symptomatic cases detect different genes of the virus than the one included in the vaccine. There is no possibility that the vaccine will cause you to test positive for COVID-19 if you have not contracted the virus.

Households

In self-catered accommodation your standard or ensuite flat will be considered a household. One studio flat will also be considered its own household.

In catered residences, individual rooms on a floor with other bedrooms which share a communal facility such as a utility area, will be made into a household. There will be signage in place which will detail the size of your household.

For students in Exeter based Halls of Residence, to check who is classed as being in your household contact CAREteam@exeter.ac.uk.

For students in Cornwall based Halls of Residence, your household will usually be your flat of 6 or 7 individuals sharing a communal kitchen. Contact Halls.help@fxplus.ac.uk with any queries.

If you live alone, for example in a studio, you can form a support bubble with one other household of any size. Households in a support bubble can visit each other, stay overnight and visit outdoor public places together.

You won’t need to keep the 2m social distance when you are within your household or support bubble. However you will need to socially distance when you go out. This includes social and communal space within the building you live in where students from other households are present.

It’s really important to continue to practise good hygiene, such as regular hand washing. Hand sanitiser units will be available across the site at entrances and exits to most buildings, including residences.

We will provide guidance on which bathrooms and/or utility spaces and kitchens are available to your household.

If someone in your household develops symptoms of COVID-19, the whole household must isolate whilst a test is undertaken. You must let us know by contacting the Rapid Response Hub. This will ensure that we can provide the support you need during your isolation. You will still be able to socialise within your household.

Support Bubbles

A support bubble is a support network which links 2 households. There are eligibility rules that have to be met in order to form a support bubble which means that not everyone will be able to form a support bubble. You can read the full Government guidance on making a support bubble with another household for more information. Once you’re in a support bubble with someone else, you effectively count as one ‘household’.

Under current Government guidance, you can form a support bubble with another household of any size if:

• you live by yourself – even if carers visit you to provide support
• you are the only adult in your household who does not need continuous care as a result of a disability
• your household includes a child who is under the age of one or was under that age on 2 December 2020
• your household includes a child with a disability who requires continuous care and is under the age of 5, or was under that age on 2 December 2020
• you are aged 16 or 17 living with others of the same age and without any adults
• you are a single adult living with one or more children who are under the age of 18 or were under that age on 12 June 2020

If you are considering forming a support bubble with another household, you must first decide if you meet any of the eligibility criteria above.

The Government defines a household as a group of people living at the same address and who share cooking facilities, bathrooms or toilets and/or living areas. This includes students in halls of residence who share such facilities. Bearing this in mind, please note that:

• If you live in a house/flat with other students (for example sharing a corridor), even though you have your own room, you would not be classified as living alone and would not in that case be eligible.
• If you live in a studio, you would qualify as living alone and would be eligible to join another household as a support bubble.
• If you live in a shared house/flat, but you are currently the only person living in this household, you would qualify as living alone and would be eligible to join another household as a support bubble.

It is important to note these are the only rules which allow mixing of households.

No. Once you have formed a bubble with an individual person (under the eligibility criteria), no other members of your household can form another bubble with anyone else. If several people in your household would like to form support bubbles with others living alone, only 1 person is eligible to do so. You should consider this carefully and discuss with your housemates before forming your bubble.

If you live in a house of multiple occupancy, unless you are all under 18 or you have childcare support needs, you and your housemates don’t qualify to join a support bubble with another household. Someone living alone would be eligible to form a support bubble.

This means someone living alone would be eligible to join your household and form a support bubble, however, once you have formed a bubble with this person, no other members of your household can form another bubble with anyone else. If several people in your household would like to form support bubbles with others living alone, only 1 person is eligible to do so. You should consider this carefully and discuss with your housemates before forming your bubble.

Where possible, you should avoid changing your support bubble, however, you may form a new support bubble provided that:

• your household, or the one you intend to form a new support bubble with, meets at least one of the eligibility rules
• the other household is not already part of a support bubble which they intend to remain a part of

If you decide to change your support bubble, you should treat your previous bubble as a separate household for 10 days before forming a new bubble. This means leaving 10 days between one bubble ending and forming another bubble. This is to ensure that no one who was part of the household until now can have passed the virus on either before they left the bubble or anyone new brings it with them when they join it.

If someone in your previous support bubble develops symptoms or tests positive for coronavirus up to 48 hours after members of the bubble last met, all members of the bubble must self-isolate for 10 days. You must not form a new bubble until you have completed your self-isolation.

Yes. If anyone in your support bubble develops symptoms or tests positive for coronavirus, follow the stay at home guidance. This is critical to controlling the virus, as it will help to stop it spreading across multiple households. Likewise, if anyone is your support bubble in contacted by the NHS Test and Trace system you should also follow their guidance regarding self-isolation.

The Government have created a ‘travel window’ to allow students to travel away from university and back to their term-time accommodation once during their Easter break. At the University of Exeter the Easter break is from the end of the Spring Term on Friday 26 March until the beginning of the Summer Term on Monday 26 April. In order to minimise transmission, and because travel restrictions could change whilst students are overseas, making it harder for students to get back into England, we would strongly advise students not to travel, and to remain in their term-time accommodation.

We have posted full information on our international travel advice pages.

UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) has released guidance on the immigration implications caused by the coronavirus outbreak - please see this webpage for the latest advice. 

If you need advice on whether you are eligible to apply for a new visa in the UK, please contact visaadvice@exeter.ac.uk.

Please note that during the period of national restrictions in England from Tuesday 5 January 2021, you can only travel internationally – or within the UK – where you first have a legally permitted reason to leave home. In addition, you should consider the public health advice in the country you are visiting.

For staff and postgraduate research students

The impact of the pandemic on international travel is unpredictable and fast moving. The government has made clear that travel for study, research or teaching may currently go ahead where it is essential. The government has advised that the following additional measures should be considered when planning to travel outside of the UK:

• Increased police enforcement: There will be an increased police presence at ports and airports, fining those in breach of the ‘Stay at Home’ regulations. Anyone without valid reason for travel will be directed to return home and may face a fine.
• Reviewing travel exemptions: The list of travel exemptions will be urgently reviewed so that only the most important and exceptional reasons are included.

The University is constantly reviewing its provision on travel in alignment to contemporary guidance. To ensure that travellers are insured, and that we are able to locate and support impacted travellers should an incident occur, the below processes must be followed for UK and international travel:

The University position on the type of travel considered essential is set out within the essential travel principles, including guidance on the trip approval pathways. There can be differences between the type of travel that the UK Government classes as essential, and the type of travel that the receiving destination classes as essential. You must check the London Embassy and FCDO guidance for your destination country as a minimum to limit the risk of arriving and being denied entry. There will be no insurance cover in place for a forced return due to non-compliance with a public available entry policy, and any associated unrecoverable costs will fall to the travellers budget. This check must be documented in your risk assessment, and reviewed regularly up to your departure date. Note that travel is not permitted until the approval processes have been completed, and for international travel, where insurance has been confirmed. Our insurer has made this a condition of cover being provided.

Bookings must not be made until cover has been confirmed to you.

All travel bookings should be made via the University travel partners, Click Travel or Key Travel. This provides the following benefits:

• A central data store of trips based on accurate data, allowing fast location and support of individuals impacted by an incident
• Reporting on carbon footprint without the traveller having to take any additional action
• Provision of travel alert data with a direct impact on travellers to the University and to the traveller

Note: If you are unable to book via the travel partners, due to the loss of the reporting capability detailed above, you will be required to provide the full detail of your trip for central recording within your college or service. This includes (not exhaustive) travel dates, locations, and travel method and class.

Note that the essential travel principles will remain in place post COVID-19, and have been developed to support the University’s Green Recovery commitments. An International Travel Coronavirus Risk Assessment must be completed and approved. Note that an In-Country version also exists for travel within the country that you are based in (including the UK): In-Country Risk Assessment

For staff responsible for authorising travel

Please check to ensure that the trip is aligned to the University essential travel principles. This also defines the level of approval required. The risk assessment should be reviewed for assurance that the mitigations identified manage the risk to a reasonable and acceptable level. Note that if the destination location is not within the FCDO exempt countries list, Director level approval will be required regardless of other current restrictions. Confirmation of whether the booking is to be made via Click Travel or Key travel should be included within the approval process. If the booking is to be made via an alternative provider, you must ensure that a central record is held within your college or service, based on accurate trip data and travel method and class. This information may be called upon in the event of an incident, to identify and support impacted travellers.

All approvals should include a statement from the approver confirming they agree that: (a) the travel is essential and can’t be deferred without serious detriment, and (b) the controls within the risk assessment are considered to be appropriate. Note that this should include the risk of unrecoverable costs due to refusal of entry to a destination location due to publicly available restrictions of the Government of that location.

For international travel only, the relevant approval and completed and fully approved risk assessment should be sent to insurance@exeter.ac.uk. This is the final stage of the approval process, where confirmation is sought that insurance cover can be placed. No bookings should be made until this confirmation has been provided.
For UK/In Country travel, the insurance step is not required, and booking can be made based on the risk assessment and approval only.

For undergraduate and postgraduate taught students

Fieldtrips and Undergraduate Study and Work Abroad placements may only go ahead where they are deemed to be essential. Those organising or supporting this activity must be aware of current restrictions. It is important that students understand that there will be no insurance cover for cancellation or curtailment if this is caused by Government (local, national or international) imposed travel restrictions. Therefore we strongly advise purchase of flexible ticket options to limit financial losses.

The Department for Education has issued the below advice for students due to start overseas placements:

• Before starting a placement, participants should consult with their provider to confirm details and check the Living in guide and travel advice for the country they will be visiting, being conscious that their placement may not be able to continue as originally planned.
• There may be opportunities for it to start at a later date if the situation changes and this is feasible.
• Participants should be ready to comply with local isolation, testing or quarantine requirements, and will need to rely on the local health system.
• If participants need to return early from their placement, they should contact their provider to let them know of their plans.
• We suggest anyone whose international educational mobility is affected discuss their placement with their provider, being conscious that their placement may not be able to continue as originally planned, but there may be opportunities for it to start at a later date if the situation changes and this is feasible.
• UK participants who need emergency help from the UK government while overseas as the country they are in will not allow them to travel back to the UK, or there are no commercial travel options available, can contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London on 0207 008 1500 for help or advice 24/7.

If you started a Masters programme in October and were studying remotely in the autumn or spring term, and will be graduating in summer 2021, you will need to arrive in the UK by 21st June to be eligible to apply to the Graduate Route. This deadline does not apply if you are a final year undergraduate student, but you will need to arrive in the UK and apply for your visa before your current visa expires.

You can find more information on this scheme within our International Student Support pages.

At the University of Exeter we take the wellbeing of our students very seriously. Please inform us if you are unable to attend your lectures for any reason. We have a number of different reporting mechanisms so please follow the process that best fits your situation:

If you are reporting illness or absence due to a non COVID-19 reason: Report via iExeter

If you have COVID-19 symptoms and need to self-isolate: First contact the Rapid Response Hub to request a test. Then ensure your module convenors are aware by completing our COVID-19 Online Study Declaration Form. This form is also available on all ELE pages. You only need to fill in the form once in order to notify all of your module convenors.

If you have been requested by Public Health England to self-isolate: Let us know by using the COVID-19 Online Study Declaration Form. You will also find the link on all of your module pages in ELE. You only need to report once in order to inform your college.

For students on Medicine, Nursing and Medical Imaging programmes needing to self-isolate: Please complete the COVID-19 Online Study Declaration Form and then also follow the absence reporting advice for your specific programme (such as ARC reporting).

STUDENTS ON A UNIVERSITY OF EXETER PROGRAMME (OUTBOUND)

Where it is safe and practicable we will support your decision to attend an in-country placement whether that be for study or work abroad. We have published the answers to a range of frequently asked questions on our Go Abroad webpages. Please review the information available on these webpages as we continue to provide further updates and guidance.

INBOUND STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS

We are monitoring updates on coronavirus closely and will continue to provide as much advice, care and support as we can to our University community, in advance of you arriving to campus.

For any queries concerning your exchange, please contact inbound@exeter.ac.uk.

If you need IT support, including during a period of self-isolation, contact SID by logging an enquiry online. If your enquiry is urgent, you can talk to one of our IT support analysts by telephoning SID on:

0300 555 0444 (UK)
+441392 724724 (International)

VIRTUAL DESKTOP PLATFORM NOW AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS

We have launched a new virtual desktop service which lets you access a huge range of learning resources remotely that you may need for your course.

With an internet connection and suitable device (including Windows, Mac and Chromebook) you can access:

1. A software directory with download links for you to install software on your own devices.
2. Windows Virtual Desktop, providing secure access to a suite of applications to support your study.*

*The software available remotely will depend on the college in which you are studying.

To find out more visit the virtual desktops webpage. If you need more detailed guidance the Digital Hub can help.

If you encounter issues please contact SID or email virtualdesktop@exeter.ac.uk.

If you usually live locally to University in Exeter or Penryn, you can commute to University during lockdown to undertake training and study for the subject areas that have been approved by the Government for face-to-face learning.

You should still get tested before coming to campus for the first time. Book two tests, three days apart, before coming onto campus or attending your placement. Visit our Testing Pages for details. Local students who do not study one of the subject areas with in-person teaching taking place should continue to study online from home during the period of national lockdown.

We offer free, rapid and regular ongoing twice-weekly testing for all students who are studying on campus. We recommend that you book two tests, every week – this will help us protect our University community and allow us to manage any infection and subsequent transmission.

Tests are the Government approved Innova Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests using a nose and throat swab. Find out more on our dedicated testing webpages. 

In line with the expectations of government, Universities UK (UUK), and the Office for Students, the University’s position remains that we will not be offering refunds or compensation for tuition fees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We know that this period has been exceptionally challenging for students and staff alike, and the impacts of the pandemic have varied according to the individual circumstances in which students are engaging with their education. At Exeter, we have invested significant time and resource into preparing for and teaching in the current academic year, in order that we can ensure that our students can engage in the same high quality of teaching and associated support that we have always provided, whilst also responding to the continually-evolving circumstances of a global pandemic. You can read the Education Information above this FAQ for more information on steps we have taken to ensure quality of education is maintained and you can read about changes we have made to keep people safe on campus on our Coming to Campus webpages.

As demonstrated by this significant investment in ensuring the delivery of courses, The University is committed to fulfilling its contractual obligations to our students and financial compensation will only normally be considered once all other avenues have been exhausted. If you are not satisfied and would like to make a complaint, see the FAQ below: ‘I am not satisfied with my experience and would like to make a complaint. How can I do so?’

If you have concerns about your course or educational experience, please contact your personal tutor in the first instance to discuss what can be done. If you have discussed the matter informally and are still not satisfied that the University has been able to maintain our high standards in education and support, then you may choose to make a complaint. Information on the complaints procedure is online here: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/policies/calendar/part1/otherregs/complaints/.

You will need to have adhered to the procedure and ensured that they have raised any concerns first informally with those responsible before proceeding to outline and submit a formal complaint. The University is absolutely committed to fulfilling its contractual obligations to our students, and financial compensation is only applicable once all other avenues have been exhausted. It is our view that, until all of the measures above have been completed, it is difficult to determine whether or not any detriment has been suffered. On this basis, we would suggest that you wait until the end of the academic year to submit a formal complaint.

Support regarding completing a formal complaint can be provided by the Hub teams, if required. The Students' Guild and Union Advice Units can offer independent, confidential and impartial information, advice and support to students involved in a University procedures.

The University acknowledges that students are being impacted as a result of the pandemic and this cannot simply be addressed through minimising any academic disadvantage i.e. by ensuring no material impact has been suffered to the ultimate outcome of degree results. As has been noted by the Office for Students and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator it is also important to ensure that we have mitigated impact of the pandemic through identifying ways to make up for lost learning opportunities such as placements, field trips, missed lab time, or contact hours generally.

Throughout the pandemic, the University is focussing its attention on identifying the impact of the pandemic and taking action to putting in place appropriate mitigation to ensure this impact is minimised. Whilst we acknowledge students may seek an immediate response, it is important we fully assess and address the impact of the pandemic on students’ ability to achieve their Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs).

Any specific complaints we receive in relation to the pandemic, or which look to seek compensation, will be held until the end of the academic year after the Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committees (APACs) have met when the impact of the pandemic can be fully assessed, unless the subject matter of the complaint is an issue which we judge can immediately be corrected. It is important to note that each student, their course and their learning will be assessed individually and we will look to understand the impact of the pandemic on that individual student. Additionally it is also important to note the position adopted by the OIA which stated that the tuition fee does not simply relate to the missed hours but that a significant element of the tuition fee takes account of the cost of providing buildings, facilities, IT, library services, wellbeing, and student support and administration, and cannot simply be broken down to a missed lecture or seminar equalling a fixed price.

The University has taken extensive action and invested heavily to ensure that we can offer a quality educational experience in spite of the challenges posed by the global pandemic. We continue to review the Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) for all programmes in light of the national lockdown to ensure these are delivered within this academic year. Our actions during this academic year have included:

• Redesigning all of our modules for blended and online delivery in response to the disruption faced this year, in order to enable all students to continue to study, progress and graduate. This includes ensuring high-quality live teaching and online assessments, alongside digital resources created specifically for this year, to enable achievement of intended learning outcomes whether live teaching is online or in-person. We are keeping the situation under review and considering a number of potential ways we can ensure the ILOs are delivered, within the current national lockdown environment

• Investing significantly in our on-campus teaching spaces to ensure that they are COVID secure, and facilitating extensive COVID-19 testing and associated support for students who have tested positive summarised on our information for self-isolating students website

• The University has worked with the Student’s Guild and the Students’ Union in Cornwall to offer a programme of support and entertainment for students where possible, with significantly extended online activities

• Providing additional support and resources focusing on academic and study skills, and support for student wellbeing. A summary of wellbeing support available this year can be found on our wellbeing pages

• Providing financial assistance where this has been required by students, including to provide any necessary IT equipment, through our Success for All Fund

All of these efforts, both in terms of academic and wider support, have taken place in accordance with the UK Government’s overarching guidance and legislation, which states that “we expect providers to ensure that they can continue to deliver courses which are fit for purpose and help students progress with their qualifications. Where universities wish to charge maximum fees, we expect the quality, quantity and accessibility of provision to be maintained.” The Success for All Fund exists to provide support to can support students who have faced particular accessibility of financial challenges owing to the pandemic. You can also find advice, resources, and support for managing during the pandemic on our wellbeing pages.

As Universities UK has made clear to the Government, providing this blended learning offering, as well as the complexities of student support in the context of the pandemic, is at least as costly, and in most cases more expensive, than in a ‘normal’ year, largely due to the actions and provision summarised above.

The University is as disappointed as all of our students that the most recent national lockdown has resulted in the majority of our face-to-face teaching being suspended, and we recognise that some students may not have received the blended learning in the manner they had hoped at the start of this term. We are working very hard to ensure the Intended Learning Outcomes for all courses are delivered within the academic year.

If there are specific concerns which you do not feel have been addressed, please contact your personal tutor in the first instance to discuss what can be done. If you are encountering specific barriers or problems because of the national lockdown, you may also find it useful to review our mitigation procedures. Wherever possible, the University will be happy to work with you to address issues and support you to successfully complete your degree.

Students in private accommodation are outside of the University’s control and students should discuss the matter with their landlords in the first instance. If your accommodation provider is planning to charge you rent when you are not using your room during the national lockdown, there is financial support available to you. Please reach out for support and apply to the ‘Success for All’ Hardship Fund to request support to cover your rent for the period you are not living to your accommodation.

Placements are being reviewed and approved for the next academic year (2021/22) on a case-by-case basis bearing in mind UK Government and University guidance, and any changes to the placement module requirements. We aim to approve all placements and will work with you and your placement employer to approve them, in rare cases we may not be able to but will discuss these with you if this happens and to discuss next steps.

If you are unsure whether the placement you have secured or one you would like to apply for is likely to be approved or have any queries about the placement e.g. wellbeing, please speak to your placement Module Lead/Programme Director or Placement team.

Leading up to your placement starting, we would recommend you do the following:

• Keep in regular contact with your placement employer so that you have the latest information regarding your placement and to ensure you are aware of the actions they are taking in relation to COVID-19 to minimise any risks to your wellbeing.
• Regularly check the UK Government website for any relevant information about working, travelling, keeping safe etc.
• Regularly check these web pages for any additional guidance around placements or global travel (if placement is abroad).
• Read any emails from your placement Module Lead/Programme Director or Placement team in case any guidance/advice/information is sent to you.
• Have a look at our pre-placement programme of training modules on My Career Zone Digital to help you develop or improve your workplace skills. This will help your transition into the workplace and better prepare you to start your role.

It’s important to ask for your employer’s guidance related to COVID-19 and home working. If you are unsure of what your employer’s guidance is, ask your line manager for clarification.

If you are working from home, here are our top tips:

• Workspace – Find somewhere that you will not be distracted by the television, social media, people, pets etc. so you can concentrate on working. Try and set up a workstation in that room so you can work effectively and safely. Keep the space around you organised and check you are not straining your body in the working position you are in. If this isn’t possible then talk to your employer.
• Plan your work – Make sure you have brought home everything you need to work from home e.g. documents and IT equipment they are going to lend you. Use your outlook calendar to plan tasks and co-ordinate online meetings/calls.
• Take breaks – Keep focussed when you are working but take a 30-minute break at least every 6 hours and a 5-minute break every hour.
• Keep in contact – Keep in touch with your line manager so they know what you are working on, can help you if you are struggling and can give you more work if needed. Don’t feel isolated, keep in contact with your team/colleagues.
• Final thought – Home working can be tricky and may lead to a drop in motivation and productivity. Start the day as if you were going to the office, maybe even dress as if you were. Try imagining your manager is sitting near you to help motivate you to keep working!

There is guidance on home working available from ACAS (UK employers only) which you may find useful on this link or the HSE checklist on this link. Countries outside the UK may have different guidance for employers/employees in relation to home working so we would recommend researching them.

If you can’t work from home, in the first instance speak to your placement employer to discuss the issue as in most cases you will be able to find a reasonable resolution to the issue. If you have any further concerns, contact your placement Module Lead/Programme Director or Placement team

Employers can ask you to work at their premises as opposed to home working as long as they are adhering to current UK Government advice, have assessed the risk and taken steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. If this happens, we would recommend you request a copy of their risk assessment for COVID-19 before you go into the workplace so you can read it and understand the steps they are taking to mitigate against COVID-19.

When approving a placement we will ask you for information on how your employer is mitigating risks in the workplace against COVID-19 as part of your placement paperwork process but if you have any concerns please contact your placement Module Lead/Programme Director or Placement team. If you are in a vulnerable category as advised by the UK Government but are asked to attend the workplace then please raise this with your placement Module Lead/Programme Director or Placement team so we discuss next steps.

This can be a worrying time but don’t panic at this stage. Update your placement Module Lead/Programme Director or Placement team who can advise you on the next steps/alternatives particular to your module. If you don’t know who your placements team are please email as follows:

For Streatham and St Lukes based students: placements@exeter.ac.uk
For Penryn based students: placements-penryn@exeter.ac.uk

We anticipate there will be a lot of disruption to various industries over the coming months and this will lead to new opportunities in some sectors whilst other sectors will temporarily pause their placement schemes. This is likely to lead to more competitive recruitment processes or you may need to think about contacting employers who you would like to work for and ask for any opportunities they may have for work experience.

If you want more support, training, help or advice for placements then please use our careers service to give you the best chance of securing a placement. They offer a wide range of support including, but not limited to; 1 to 1’s, employability sessions on subjects (such as CVs, applications etc.), online resources, jobs board etc.

You can access support from the Career Zone or contact your placements team directly. Your placement Module Lead/Programme Director may also be able to provide further support and advice.

The University is supporting students who have been impacted financially by the coronavirus crisis through accommodation refunds and bursaries, however, we recognise that individual students are facing hardship because of circumstances that are unique and beyond their control. Therefore we have, with considerable assistance from our community of alumni and supporters, established an Emergency Assistance Fund to extend the University’s financial assistance to the most vulnerable students across the institution.

The Emergency Assistance Fund will provide up to £1,000 (per applicant) for students facing unanticipated financial challenges due to Covid-19. The fund is now available for all students via an online application form on the website: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/assistance-fund/

There is a lot of support available to support you in finding, competing or preparing for a placement.

The careers team are providing services online for students such as email placement support, virtual appointments, webinars etc. as well as a wide variety of online resources.

You can find out more about the services on offer by visiting My Career Zone or contacting your placement team. If you are struggling to find contact details for your placement team, please see below:

For Streatham and St Lukes based students: placements@exeter.ac.uk

For Penryn based students: placements-penryn@exeter.ac.uk

The FAQs on this page give extra detail on how the University is responding and continuing to support students. If you are currently on a placement abroad, please contact the Global Opportunities team on outbound@exeter.ac.uk