COVID-19 - FAQs

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The health, safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors is always our primary concern.

Message from Vice-Chancellor

These are unprecedented times. In my lifetime I have never experienced anything like this. The most important thing from my perspective is that you know that we are doing all that we can to keep our University community safe while continuing the work of the University in a different, remote way.

We have moved the University from being a predominantly face-to-face organisation to one that works in the digital space. My colleagues are working round the clock to enable our students to continue to achieve their learning outcomes and to progress. We are confident that we can achieve this.

We are here to support our students, as they transition to studying remotely for the next period. We will be as flexible and adaptable as we can to enable each of our students to progress in their studies; for example, we have put in place flexibility around your assessments and coursework.

We will continue to update the FAQs below. If these do not cover your particular question, please contact either your Academic Support Tutor or our dedicated Action Line which is open Monday to Thursday 8.45 am - 5.30 pm, and 8.45 am - 4.30 pm on a Friday on 01482 464020 or actionline@hull.ac.uk.

I would like personally to thank you for your patience, understanding and adaptability at this time, and for the support that you give to each other.  

With my best wishes,
Susan
Professor Susan Lea

 

Key updates

  • Learning and assessments are being delivered online, until the end of Trimester 2 (around 7 June). Research student activity will also transition in the same way.
  • Most University functions and services remain operational with many being delivered remotely to support staff, students and other partners.
  • For those of you remain on campus, we will continue to support you, which includes accommodation, a catering delivery service and dedicated rooms for any students needing to self-isolate (details in Accommodation and Campus services section).
  • For anyone still on campus, we ask that you adhere to the Government’s social distancing guidance, and make sure you stay two metres apart from others at all times.
  • Our Student Services team is open and committed to providing students with their full support, Contact details in the Student section below.
  • Library resources will continue to be available to you online. Details in the Students section.
  • Other events and campus-based activities are suspended until at least 7 June. Digital experiences are being planned, where possible, particularly for Applicant Experience Days.
  • We are altering our normal examination practices to ensure that you have every opportunity to complete your work by the end of the summer period. More information is available here.

Frequently asked questions

New advice for students living on or around campus - stay where you are

On 26 March we received advice and guidance from Government that students remaining at university in England should now stay where they are and not attempt to travel.

If any student is living in halls, or private rented accommodation, they should remain there and stay indoors while current restrictions are in force.

As the Prime Minister said, staying put and remaining indoors are now crucial to slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19, to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed, and save lives.

We are committed to providing the most suitable and safe support in terms of access to accommodation services, catering, facilities and security and maintenance.

We will also look to be flexible in meeting any particular needs. For example, this may include extensions on accommodation contracts for students who cannot return home due to travel restrictions. Please do get in touch via rooms@hull.ac.uk if we can help in any way.

We also continue to have rooms available for any students needing to self-isolate together with a full support package.

For those of you remain on campus, we will continue to support you, and plans are in place for your continued support. Specifically:

  • On-campus accommodation remains open and will continue to be supported facilities and security, accommodation and maintenance teams
  • Dedicated and separate rooms are available for any students needing to self-isolate and specific support is available if needed.
  • Catered residents: for those remaining catered residents, an evening meal will be delivered to your shared kitchen between 4 - 5 pm. If catered residents wish to purchase a breakfast and/or packed lunch, they may do so by contacting hospitality@hull.ac.uk. The charge for this service will be £2 breakfast and £3 lunch.
  • Self-catered residents and residents currently self-isolating: for those remaining self-catered residents that wish to purchase a breakfast, packed lunch and/or evening meal, they may do so by contacting hospitality@hull.ac.uk. The charge for this service will be £2 breakfast, £3 lunch and £3 evening meal. As with catered residents, all meals will be delivered to their shared kitchen facility at a pre-defined time.
  • For anyone still on campus, we ask that you adhere to the Government’s social distancing guidance, and make sure you stay two metres apart from others at all times.
  • Student Services are open. Our Student Services team remains committed to providing students with their full support, which includes mental health support, support relating to academic issues, financial support, immigration and visa compliance, learning support, disability inclusion and our careers service.

    You can contact Student Services Monday to Friday 9 - 5 pm, call 01482 462222 or Visit MyHull Portal to raise an enquiry or speak directly to one of our advisors through Live Chat.

Out of hours contact

If you need to support out of hours, please contact our campus security team in the first instance.

Emergency: 01482 465555
Non-emergency: 01482 466868

 

I live in University campus accommodation, how do I get my third term accommodation fees waivered?

For those students who have returned home and who previously lived in University campus accommodation (Westfield Court, The Courtyard and Taylor Court) who do not want to, or are unable to, return in the third term, will not be required to pay further accommodation fees:

  • If you do not plan to live in your University student accommodation at any point from Monday 20 April, the University will not charge further Licence Fees from this date.
  • In order to confirm the above, you must let us know by emailing rooms@hull.ac.ukas soon as possible and no later than 5pm on Thursday 9 April 2020. As part of this communication, you will need to confirm the following details:
    • Name:
    • Current accommodation building:
    • Current accommodation block:
    • Current room number:
    • Have you fully vacated your room?
    • Have any contents been left in your room or your shared facilities?
    • Student ID Number:
    • Preferred e-mail address:
    • Preferred contact telephone number:
    • Do you plan on returning to the University to collect personal belongings or do you wish for these to be disposed of by the University?
  • If you have already left your University campus accommodation but still have belongings in your room, this will not affect the University’s offer of waiving the Licence Fee from Monday 20 April.
  • As the Government is asking people to stay indoors and only leave the house for essential travel, it is not possible for you to remove your belongings from your room. These will be locked into your room and will remain safe and secure until such time that you can retrieve them.
  • You should let us know if you have left any items in your room via rooms@hull.ac.ukand we will be in touch with further information in due course.
  • If we do not hear anything from you by 5pm on Thursday 9 April 2020, we will assume you wish to remain in your accommodation and continue to pay the Licence Fee.

What will happen to the payment due to leave my bank account?

In order to ensure you are eligible for the waiver of the Licence Fee payment you must let us know by e-mailing rooms@hull.ac.uk as soon as possible and certainly no later than Thursday 9 April 2020. The payment will then be cancelled.

Will I get my accommodation deposit back?

You will have paid a deposit of £250 to cover any breakages, damage, etc. On the basis of there being no damage, the full deposit will be returned to you. This will be done when the room has been fully vacated and an associated room check has been undertaken.

How do I return my key?

Keys can be returned either by recorded post to The Accommodation Office, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, or in person (as and when you leave the room/collect your personal effects).

Can I return to my University campus accommodation when it is safe to do so?

There will be no face to face teaching activity on campus until at least 7 June. All teaching and assessments will be done remotely. In line with the Government’s most recent advice, you should not return to campus until such time that the University advises it is safe to do so.

However, If you have left campus and plan on returning when the Government and University say it is safe to do so and wish to recommence use of your accommodation, please let us know by emailing rooms@hull.ac.uk as soon as possible and no later than 5pm on Thursday 9 April 2020. In this instance we will work with you to develop new accommodation arrangements upon your return.

If we do not hear anything from you by 5pm on Thursday 9 April 2020 we will assume you wish to remain in your accommodation and continue to pay the Licence Fee. 

I have left my accommodation but do not want to claim a waiver on the Licence Fee as I might return prior to the end of my contract date

You do not need to do anything. If we do not hear from you we will assume you will return to your accommodation when the Government and University say it is safe to do so and continue to pay the Licence Fee.

How are you helping students paying privately rented accommodation fees?

We understand that many of you are living off campus in private accommodation. This is not something the University controls but we are contacting private landlords to ask that they are understanding and flexible in this unprecedented situation.

In addition, the University has launched a new fund, the Exceptional Circumstances Grant, which is aimed at those students who have lost an income stream on which they rely and cannot be obtained from any other source, for example as a result of the loss of employment or a reduction in hours and hence income.

This grant offers a one-off payment of up to £200 for students without dependents, and up to £400 for those with dependents.

The grant is primarily aimed at contributions towards food and essential items. 

You can apply here.

This grant is not aimed at supporting wider living costs – our financial support (in particular the hardship fund) remains open for those students who are experiencing financial hardship irrespective of the coronavirus outbreak.

Accessing University catering delivery service
  • Canham Turner has now moved to a delivery-only food service, following the Prime Minister’s briefing on March 23.
  • Catered residents for those remaining catered residents, an evening meal will be delivered to their shared kitchen between 4 - 5 pm. If catered residents wish to purchase a breakfast and/or packed lunch, they may do so by contacting hospitality@hull.ac.uk. The charge for this service will be £2 breakfast and £3 lunch.
  • Self-catered residents and residents currently self-isolating for those remaining self-catered residents that wish to purchase a breakfast, packed lunch and/or evening meal, they may do so by contacting hospitality@hull.ac.uk. The charge for this service will be £2 breakfast, £3 lunch and £3 evening meal. As with catered residents, all meals will be delivered to their shared kitchen facility at a pre-defined time.

The SPAR shop and other catering outlets in the Students Central are closed

Is the Multi Faith Facility and Chapel closed?

The Multi Faith Facility and Chapel closed on 17 March. Students and staff are being redirected to alternative community facilities. The Muslim Council of Britain has asked all congregational activities at UK Mosques and Islamic centres to be suspended. The Hull Mosque & Islamic Centre are asking that people join the WhatsApp group by clicking the link on their Facebook page to receive updates from the Mosque management. The Church of England has asked that Churches stay open but that public worship is suspended until further notice.

Is the Hull Sport Park and Allam Sport Centre open?

If you pay membership fees on a monthly basis we will suspend future payments from the very next opportunity (1 April 2020).  We will be in touch in relation to all other membership types.

Please direct any questions to sport@hull.ac.uk

Accessing ICT Services at home

You can now find a tile on the Support Portal home page called “Coronavirus – Using ICT Services at Home” where you can find key service information and the most common knowledge items to help you stay connected whilst studying away from campus.

The quickest way to receive help or advice from ICT is to use the search bar at the top of the Support Portal to find the information you require.

If you cannot find what you are looking for using the search bar, go to the service page that your issue or request relates to and complete the relevant attached form. This will mean your call is automatically directed to the appropriate specialist team rather than sitting in a queue waiting to be allocated manually, resulting in a faster response. 

You can also go to the "Can't find an answer?" tile on the home page, where you will find links to contact various departments.

For more information on using the Support Portal go to the “Using the support portal and logging calls” tile on the home page.

Protect yourself from coronavirus phishing scams

We are currently seeing a number of phishing scams targeting from fraudsters claiming to be from companies offering information about the coronavirus.

Please be vigilant. If you are not sure if an email is genuine, do not click on any links or open any attachments as a single click can compromise your account or device. All you have to do is forward the email to phishing@hull.ac.uk and then delete it.

For more advice on spotting a phishing scam, please visit the Support Portal and search “phishing”.

What is the University doing to ensure the campus is clean?

In line with recently issued government advice, cleaning has been re-prioritised to focus on touchpoints – such as door handles to building entrances and WC facilities, hand rails and lift buttons – and high footfall areas.

Cleaning teams are also ensuring kitchens, bathrooms and communal areas of our student accommodation is cleaned daily.

Colleagues and students are reminded that handwashing is still the most effective way of reducing risk and are urged to follow government guidelines and information posters that have been distributed around campus.

Our Estates and Facilities Team is working hard to ensure that soap is kept fully stocked and working across campus, but if you spot any empty soap dispensers please email estateshelpdesk@hull.ac.uk or call on 01482 465084 Monday to Thursday 8 am – 5 pm and 8 am – 4.30 pm on a Friday. Hand sanitiser is available at the entry/exit points of all main buildings. 

You can reduce the risk of passing and receiving infections by practising good personal hygiene to protect against infection:

Do

  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
  • stay 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people, if you need to go outside

Don’t

  • Don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

650_virus_2

Stay at home to stop Coronavirus spreading

Everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of Coronavirus, the Government announced on March 23.

This includes people of all ages – even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions.

You can only leave your home:

  • to shop for basic essentials – only when you really need to
  • to do one form of exercise a day – such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with
  • for any medical need – for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person
  • to travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary
What to do if you have symptoms

Please refer to the NHS guidance for the latest Stay at Home guidance. Please be aware this information changes regularly you should actively check for the latest updates. 

If you need medical help

If you need medical help please refer to www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

How can I avoid catching or spreading diseases like Coronavirus, including social distancing

Everyone should do what they can to stop coronavirus spreading.
It is particularly important for people who:

  • have had an organ transplant
  • are having certain types of cancer treatment
  • have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
  • have a severe lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma
  • have a condition that makes you much more likely to get infections
  • are taking medicine that weakens your immune system
  • are pregnant and have a serious heart condition

Do

  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
  • stay 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people, if you need to go outside for any of the reasons outlined by Government.

Don’t

  • Don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

650_virus_2

The following advice is also in place:

  • If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll need to stay at home for 7 days
  • If you live with someone who has symptoms, you'll need to stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person in the home started having symptoms
  • If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.
  • If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.

Please continue to check the NHS website for most up to date guidance.

Someone in my household has a suspected/confirmed case of Coronavirus. Should I stay away from the University?

Please follow Government stay at home guidance for households with possible Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

What happens if there is a confirmed case of Coronavirus at the University – either a member of staff or student?

Please be assured that the University will follow guidance from Public Health England on any actions that need to be taken to reduce any risk to colleagues and students on campus.

Both staff and students who are required to self-isolate will be fully supported, which includes the provision of food and temporary accommodation for students.

I have a weakened immune system or underlying health condition and am worried about the coronavirus. Who can I speak to?

If you have any specific cause for concern due to an underlying health condition which you feel puts you at additional risk please initially contact your GP for advice. Colleagues should discuss their concern with their line manager, and students should raise their concern with to the student services team. Please raise your concern via the University Action Line on 01482 464020 or actionline@hull.ac.uk.

Non-academic support services

New fund to support students impacted by Coronavirus

The University has launched a new fund to support students who are feeling the strain financially due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Exceptional Circumstances Grant is aimed at those students who have lost an income stream on which they rely and cannot be obtained from any other source, for example as a result of the loss of employment or a reduction in hours and hence income.

This grant offers a one-off payment of up to £200 for students without dependents, and up to £400 for those with dependents.

The grant is primarily aimed at contributions towards food and essential items. 

You can apply here.

This grant is not aimed at supporting wider living costs – our financial support (in particular the hardship fund) remains open for those students who are experiencing financial hardship irrespective of the coronavirus outbreak.

How do I access student services?

Our Student Services team remains committed to providing you with their full support.

You can contact Student Services Monday to Friday 9 - 5 pm, call 01482 462222, or Visit myHull Portal to raise an enquiry or speak directly to one of our advisors through live chat.

Our services include:

  • Mental Health Support - more information about the support available, how you can access some useful resources, and advice on dealing with the current situation is available here. 
  • The Student Life team are offering support and advice relating to academic issues, including assessment and engagement. They can also help with any worries and concerns regarding your University accommodation (for external private landlords, please see the HUU Advice Centre, or your landlord) and can support you if you are worried or concerned about the current situation.
  • Learning Support helps students with specific learning differences, such as dyslexia and dyspraxia.
  • Disability Inclusion support students with a disability and physical health concerns, both temporary and permanent.
  • The Financial Support team provide guidance to students who may find themselves in financial hardship.
  • The Immigration and Visa Compliance team support study-related immigration and Tier 4 sponsorship queries.
  • Careers and Employability support students to decide what to do next after University and help you to develop and fulfil your career potential. More information about the support available can be found here.
  • We have specialist staff available to support you with using our Assistive Technology equipment.
  • The Occupational Health team can be contacted for students support on occupationalhealth@hull.ac.uk or 01482 466010.

Urgent and 24 Hour Support

If you require urgent support around any of the issues below, please utilise your local emergency and NHS contacts. We are asking you to do this, as our priority is to make sure that you are safe and receive the most appropriate support quickly.

  • If you live in Hull or the East Riding and have an urgent mental health need, please contact NHS – Mental Health Response Team 01482 301701, in the first instance. For those not currently residing in the Hull/East Riding area, your GP can help direct you to your local equivalent service
  • For any urgent support with regards to sexual violence, please contact the police (999 in an emergency or 101, if there is no immediate danger) and Blue Door can also help 
  • For urgent support with regards to domestic abuse, please contact the police and Women’s Aid
  • If you have been a victim of crime please contact the police
  • There are some additional specialist services, such as Samaritans and shout who you can reach out to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which can be found here.

If you need Student Services support out of hours, please contact our campus Security team in the first instance.

Emergency: 01482 465555
Non-emergency: 01482 466868

Accessing Students’ Union services
  • HUU Advice Centre limiting any non-essential face-to-face contact.
  • However, the Advice Centre will continue to support students and are looking to transition their services online. More information is available here.
  • The Student President Team will continue to represent students on all issues, but with limited face to face contact and the Part-Time Officer Elections will continue online, contacted over email or arrange a telephone call. Contact details can be found here.
How do I access library resources?

You can use the digital library resources and access support through online channels. These include the resources you need to study, academic skills and advice. 

  • Most materials will continue to be accessible electronically and further information is available here.
  • Skills workshops, webinars and personal appointments are continuing, but being delivered online. The Skills Team will continues to help you develop academic and digital skills to support and enhance your studies and research. The team cover study, writing, referencing, resource discovery, analysis, presentation and ICT skills. All of this can be accessed through this Skills website.

New skills guide to help you learn remotely

The Academic Library Services Skills Team has developed a new SkillsGuide to help you to learn remotely. It includes learning through live-streamed lectures and seminars, structuring your time, using your online library, technology and working with other students online. You can access it here.

 

There is also a new tool available on Canvas designed to support your learning and enhance the accessibility of Hull Online learning resources. Microsoft Immersive Reader is switched on and ready for you to use. The tool can: 

  • read text aloud
  • translate into different languages
  • highlight specific lines of text 
  • visualise word meanings through illustrations

It is a great tool that can help you access the material in the course in a smart and efficient way. 

We’re sorry that students can no longer use the Library spaces for study.  Our primary concern continues to be the health, wellbeing and safety of all our staff and students. We thank you for your understanding at this most challenging time.

Accessing ICT Services at home

You can now find a tile on the Support Portal home page called “Coronavirus – Using ICT Services at Home” where you can find key service information and the most common knowledge items to help you stay connected whilst studying away from campus.

The quickest way to receive help or advice from ICT is to use the search bar at the top of the Support Portal to find the information you require.

If you cannot find what you are looking for using the search bar, go to the service page that your issue or request relates to and complete the relevant attached form. This will mean your call is automatically directed to the appropriate specialist team rather than sitting in a queue waiting to be allocated manually, resulting in a faster response. 

You can also go to the "Can't find an answer?" tile on the home page, where you will find links to contact various departments.

For more information on using the Support Portal go to the “Using the support portal and logging calls” tile on the home page.

Protect yourself from coronavirus phishing scams

We are currently seeing a number of phishing scams targeting from fraudsters claiming to be from companies offering information about the coronavirus.

Please be vigilant. If you are not sure if an email is genuine, do not click on any links or open any attachments as a single click can compromise your account or device. All you have to do is forward the email to phishing@hull.ac.uk and then delete it.

For more advice on spotting a phishing scam, please visit the Support Portal and search “phishing”.

Tuition fee and Maintenance Loan payments

Government has reassured students that the Student Loans Company is planning to make Term 3 tuition fee payments as scheduled and that you will continue to receive Maintenance Loan payments on the scheduled dates.

The Student Loans Company has issued guidance for current students and answers to common questions related to the COVID-19 outbreak here.

Teaching

Should I come on campus for my lectures?

No, all face to face teaching is suspended. This includes lectures, classroom, laboratory, skills, seminar, tutorial and one-to-one teaching. Teaching and supervision is being delivered online until the end of Trimester 2 (around 7 June 2020).

New tools to help you learn remotely

The Academic Library Services Skills Team has developed a new SkillsGuide to help you to learn remotely. It includes learning through live-streamed lectures and seminars, structuring your time, using your online library, technology and working with other students online. You can access it here.

There is also a new tool available on Canvas designed to support your learning and enhance the accessibility of Hull Online learning resources. Microsoft Immersive Reader is switched on and ready for you to use. The tool can: 

  • read text aloud
  • translate into different languages
  • highlight specific lines of text 
  • visualise word meanings through illustrations

It is a great tool that can help you access the material in the course in a smart and efficient way. We do hope that you find it useful.

Update for all students on assessments

We are altering our normal examination practices to ensure that you have every opportunity to complete your work by the end of the summer period.

More detailed information is available here.

I have assessments, including my dissertation, due for submission, what should I do?

We recognise that the steps the University has taken in light of the rapidly-evolving Coronavirus situation – such as suspending face-to-face teaching – will have an impact on our students.  We are transitioning to online teaching and are doing all that we can to facilitate your progression and achievement.  For that reason, we have changed some of our practices to be more flexible.  

Where possible you should submit your remaining assessments by the deadlines that have been communicated to you through your module canvas sites. Where it has been necessary, new or revised assessment deadlines will be published on your module canvas sites.

If you are unable to submit by the deadline on Canvas, there will be an automatic extension of 14 calendar days.  You can submit at any time during this 14-day period and late penalties will not be applied. You do not need to apply for this extension, it will be applied automatically.

If you are still unable to submit the assessment by the extended deadline, you will automatically be granted ‘mitigating circumstances’ which means that you will be contacted and given another opportunity to be assessed at a later date without a late submission penalty. If possible, in terms of our formal exam boards, you could be granted a further extension, but that may not be possible in all cases. You do not need to apply for mitigating circumstances, they will be applied automatically.

If you are a final year student and are expecting to graduate in July, where possible we will put in place further opportunities for submission of your work within a timescale that will allow you to graduate. In this situation, we will contact you about this.

To reiterate, please do try to meet published deadlines if you are well and able to do so. This will help you to manage your workload and help your tutors to manage theirs.

What does this mean?

For assessments with submission dates from Monday 16 March 2020 until the end of trimester 2, the following process applies:

If you have been able to submit by the original deadline on Canvas

The last version that you submit before the original deadline will be marked.  This is the same as the normal process. 

If you have been unable to submit by the original deadline on Canvas

You are given an automatic extension of up to 14 calendar days.  If you are submitting during this extended timeframe, you must make sure that this submission is the final version as any later submissions will not be marked.

In light of this, please give yourself time to double check before submitting any assessments. If you have any specific questions about a piece of assessment, please contact your Module Leader, Academic Support Tutor (AST) or Programme Director.

What if my assessment deadline was before 16 March 2020?

If you have not submitted or you believe your submission has been adversely affected by the situation, you will need to apply for mitigating circumstances.  You can find the mitigating circumstances form via the MyHull Portal where you can also submit, using the talk to us option.

Why is the University still asking foundation stage and first year students to complete assessments?

Many of you are enrolled on degree programmes that do not include foundation stage and first year marks in your final degree classification. So, you may reasonably ask, why are we still asking you to complete assessments?

Well, we are doing this for several reasons:

  • An assessment isn’t just something to enable you progress to the next stage, it’s a crucial part of your learning. Tutors use assessments to ensure you have developed the skills and knowledge that will be essential for you in the rest of your study and beyond.
  • Assessment provides a useful focal point at this time to help you structure your learning and engage with the course material.  We understand that there may be barriers to studying in the current situation and therefore we have taken steps to adjust assessments, deadlines and the processes we have in place to support you to enable you to hand in work later.
  • Assessment will take some of the pressure off you next year. Success in your assessments will assure you that you have mastered your subject at that level, building the foundation for your progression, enabling you to start your next year of study with added confidence.
  • The completion of assessment tasks will make it easier for you to maintain a relationship with your class-mates and tutors through group-work, planning together and feedback conversations. Maintaining strong learning communities is an important way that we can support one another at this difficult time.

Taking all of this into account we have decided to continue to assess foundation stage and first year modules, delivering your education online instead of face-to-face. Mindful of the pressures that many of you currently face, we are asking Module Leaders to adjust assessment tasks to make sure that you are only asked to do what we believe to be absolutely necessary. 

What support is available for Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) students?

Like the rest of your educational experience at the moment, the SpLD Team are still providing tutorial support, but now it will be offered by telephone or on Skype/Zoom online platforms.

If you already have a tutorial booked in with us but are not sure how the tutorial will proceed, don’t worry, the Central Hub Team will be contacting you by telephone, to arrange a telephone appointment with your SpLD Tutor. Then as part of the tutorial, we can discuss the advantages of moving to an online platform for a more effective tutorial - e.g. viewing and sharing documents, etc.

If you would like to book an SpLD Tutorial, as usual, please telephone the Central Hub on 01482 462222.

We also still offering our short 15-minute appointments throughout the week, for any general SpLD inquiries you have that are not tuition related.

Graduation

Will this affect plans for Graduation ceremonies?

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have taken the decision to postpone the summer graduation ceremonies until later in 2020 or early 2021. Professor Becky Huxley-Binns, Pro-Vice- Chancellor for Education explains why here.

The primary reason is so that final year students can progress and graduate this academic year.

We made a commitment to be as flexible and adaptable as we can with assessment deadlines given the current situation.

To achieve that, we changed some of our practices, introducing automatic extensions and mitigating circumstances.

As a result, it became clear that it would be challenging for all our final year students to have met their Programme Learning Outcomes, have their work marked, moderated and hold the Exam Boards before the July graduation ceremonies date, w/c 20 July.

Of course, there is the added uncertainty as to whether it is even going to be safe or appropriate to hold a large public gathering at that time.

It is important to note that there is a difference between graduating (that is being awarded your degree) and the graduation ceremony (the celebration event).

You will still graduate when the Board of Examiners awards your degree, satisfied that you have met the Programme Learning Outcomes, and we expect the majority of students to graduate over the summer period. We will be able to issue degree certificates. 

We know that your graduation ceremony is an important celebration of your achievements, marking the pinnacle of your degree and it is a highlight in our calendar too.  Therefore, we are rescheduling it.

Travel

What are the travel restrictions for staff and students?

As of 26 March, Government have advised that students remaining at university in England should now stay where they are and not attempt to travel. This includes student is living in halls, or private rented accommodation, and they should remain there and stay indoors while current restrictions are in force.

The Government announced on March 23 that everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.

This includes people of all ages – even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions.

You can only leave your home:

  • to shop for basic essentials – only when you really need to
  • to do one form of exercise a day – such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with
  • for any medical need – for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person
  • to travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary

As of 11 March, all overseas University travel is suspended until at least 30 April 2020 for both colleagues and students. This situation will be kept under review as it may become necessary to extend the suspension. This suspension includes any overseas travel for conferences, field trips, placements, study abroad programs or any other related activities. 

Staff and student personal travel

As countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel and border restrictions, the FCO advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice. If you live in the UK and are currently travelling abroad, you are strongly advised to return now, where and while there are still commercial routes available. Many airlines are suspending flights and many airports are closing, preventing flights from leaving.

For the latest Government travel guidance, please visit gov.uk/coronavirus.

I’m returning to the UK from overseas, what should I do?

If you live in the UK and are currently abroad you are strongly advised to return now. Please refer to Government guidance, in particular, the ‘How to return’ section.

If you are returning to the UK (either on University business or personal travel), from any country please do NOT return to the campus, even if you have no symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), until it has been 7 days since you returned to the UK.  

Additional advice for colleagues

All staff who can work from home should be doing so now and should not be returning to campus unless it is essential. If you feel that this poses exceptional challenges for you, please speak to your line manager, Dean or Director.

Additional advice for students

Students should not be returning to campus. If you feel this poses an exceptional challenge for you, please contact the University Action Line on 01482 464020 or actionline@hull.ac.uk.

Immigration advice

Some of our international students or staff under a visa (applies to Tier 4 students and Tier 2/5 employees)  may be prevented from attending their studies or employment due to illness, the need to serve a period of quarantine or the inability to travel due to travel restrictions caused by Coronavirus

In this situation, the University does not need to report student or employee absences related to Coronavirus to the Home Office.

 The Home Office recognises the current situation is exceptional and will not take any compliance action against students or employees who are unable to attend their studies/work due to the Coronavirus outbreak, or against sponsors (i.e. the University) who authorise absences.

 Sponsors (i.e. the University) also do not need to withdraw sponsorship if they consider there are exceptional circumstances when:

  • A student will be unable to attend for more than 60 days
  • An employee is absent from work without pay for four weeks or more

The Home Office will keep this under review, especially if the length of absences means a potential repeat of period of studies becomes necessary.

If you have any other immigration queries related to Coronavirus, including questions about urgent, compelling and compassionate cases, you can also contact the coronavirus immigration helpline.

Government immigration advice

Immigration advice has been published by the Government for individuals affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) immigration helpline can be contacted in the following ways:

On campus Visa support 

  • If students have any questions relating to visa restrictions, please contact vct@hull.ac.uk
Can I travel overseas during Easter break?

The University has suspended University-related overseas travel.

If colleagues or students want to travel overseas for personal reasons, the FCO advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice.

For the latest Government travel guidance, please visit gov.uk/coronavirus.

In order to protect our campus community, restrictions are in place that require any colleague or student who has returned from a country outside of the UK to not return to the campus, even if they have no symptoms of Coronavirus, until it has been 7 days since they returned to the UK.

I am due to welcome visitors from overseas, can they come on campus?

No, all events and campus-based activities are suspended until at least 7 June.

Staff on Campus
  • All staff who can work from home should be doing so now and should not be returning to campus unless it is essential. If you feel that this poses exceptional challenges for you, please speak to your line manager, Dean or Director.
  • All staff must now inform Security on 01482 466868 when they arrive and leave campus. Please understand that we need to do this for your health and safety and for fire purposes. 
  • For those colleagues who continue to work on campus, providing essential services and security, please make sure you fully adhere to the Government’s social distancing guidance, and make sure you stay two metres apart from others at all times when away from your home.
If I can't work at home will I still get paid?

We know for some colleagues, working from home may not be an option.

Like many employers, the University is investigating the new furloughing arrangements that the Government have made available to organisations. Further details will be provided once they are known.

Where you are self-isolating as a result of following University advice on Coronavirus, or as a result of medical advice, your absence will be treated as Leave of Absence under the University’s Leave Policy and will be paid.

Should you receive a formal diagnosis of Coronavirus then at that point any subsequent absence will be treated as sick leave in the normal way. 

If anyone feels uncomfortable or anxious for any reason, please speak to your line manager in the first instance.

I am worried about the impact on my workload, my team and our students if I am absent from work due to illness or self-isolation?

Many people may find this a difficult situation causing them to feel anxious about the impact of absence from work due to illness or self-isolation and disruption to planned activity.

Please be assured that our main priority is protecting the health and welfare of our students, staff and visitors to our University and will mitigate the impact as far is possible and practical in this difficult situation.

If any colleague feels uncomfortable or anxious for any reason, please speak to your line manager in the first instance to discuss options to work from home where possible and/or managing workloads.

What do I do if I have IT problems at home?

You can find more information and submit a support request online.

I am due to host an event on campus, should I cancel it?

Yes, face to face events and campus-based activities will not run and you should notify your guests. We expect this to be the position until at least early June. We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience this may cause.

Our first and primary concern is the health and safety of our University community. Like all universities, we have been following the guidance of the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England, and evolving that guidance as we believe appropriate to meet the needs of our community.

Given the continued rise of COVID-19 cases and Government announcement on 16th March to stop non-essential contact with others, we felt it important to accelerate our plans in order to a) reduce the risk mitigate an outbreak and reduce the risk of transmission of the virus on our University campus by significantly reducing face-to-face contact and b) to reduce the impact and uncertainty by clarifying arrangements to the end of the academic year.

International travel, fieldwork and archival work

The University of Hull has suspended all international travel for all its staff and students. If you are a Postgraduate Research Student who is currently overseas, you will have been contacted directly to discuss your return to the UK. Should this not be the case, please contact your supervisors and Faculty/Institute PGR support immediately.

Post-Graduate Research Students based overseas

If you are based overseas please follow the advice of authorities given nationally, regionally and locally. If you are affiliated with a local university, please follow their advice. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact your Hull Faculty/Institute PGR support or the Doctoral College at Hull.

UK travel, fieldwork and archival work

There will be no (PGR) research related travel until 7 June 2020 in the first instance unless it has been risk-assessed, is deemed research critical and has been formally signed off by the Associate Dean for Research or Institute Director. The risk assessment form can be found here.

Industry placements

All (industry) placements will be re-assessed for risks by PGR supervisors who will discuss the new risk assessment with the Departmental Director of Postgraduate Studies, Graduate Research Director or Institute Director. Post-Graduate Researchers on placements must follow the advice given locally.

Facilities on campus and affiliated sites

Access to Hull Campus facilities, services and buildings has been significantly reduced or suspended. The duration of the reduced services or suspension will be reviewed periodically, and the University community will be informed about any changes.

Faculties and Institutes are putting measures in place to safeguard facilities, equipment and – where possible – experiments. At the bottom of this document you will find a form which you and your lead supervisor need to fill in. Your lead supervisor will pass it on to the Departmental Director of Postgraduate Studies/Graduate Research Director/Institute Director for review and recording by 5pm on Wednesday 25 March 2020 the very latest.

Facility managers will inform users about any actions you may need to take and timescales pertaining to safely shutting down activities and experiments.

Any delays to PGRs’ experiments or projects caused by the reduced service provision or suspension will be taken account in the form of extensions and intercalations. 

Supervision arrangements

All supervisory meetings are held remotely using video conferencing, telephony, or team applications. If none of these are available, you may use email. All formal supervisory meetings are to be documented in the usual fashion. Information on using ICT services at home is available here. When you speak to your lead supervisor about the action plan, you should also make arrangements for remote supervision.

Impact on progress

Restrictions on travel, lab work, access to campus facilities and possibly (industry) placements may have an impact on the progress of your research. This will be taken into account in progress monitoring.

Formal progress review meetings are to go ahead via video conferencing or a conference call on the telephone. The outcomes are documented in the normal way.

Please bear in mind that there are many other activities beneficial to your progress you can undertake such as literature reviews, keeping up to date with new literature, or drafting and editing of chapters. Please ensure that you have access to library resources and data storage remotely so that you can work off campus. Your individual action plan at the bottom of the document will record what you will do while access to services and facilities on campus is reduced.

Please see link for information on using ICT services at home.

Any applications for extensions will be handled by your supervisors and the Doctoral College after the end of disruptions. In cases where disruption halts progress on your research entirely you will need to apply for an intercalation immediately using the normal process. Intercalation may have an impact on funding and maintenance grants. It is therefore advisable to seek guidance from sponsors and funders before applying for an intercalation.

If you have any questions or concerns please raise them with your supervisors or Departmental Director of Postgraduate Studies/Institute Director /Graduate Research Director, the Associate Dean for Research or the Doctoral College.

Visa compliance

Although access to campus is restricted, international PGR on Tier 4 visa are advised to stay in touch with their supervisors electronically. Should international PGR on Tier 4 visa, who are overseas, become unable to travel to the UK, they should contact the Visa Compliance team as soon as possible so that their record can be updated: vct@hull.ac.uk.

PGTS modules

There may be some disruption to credited PGTS modules. The team at the Doctoral College are currently working on detailed contingency plans to facilitate more online learning & teaching. Please contact Dr Janine Hatter in the Doctoral College if you have any questions: J.Hatter@hull.ac.uk.

Submission of theses

If your thesis is already printed for submission and examination, please submit it to the Doctoral College at your earliest convenience. Submission will take place by appointment. Please email doctoralcollege@hull.ac.uk to make an appointment. If your thesis is not yet printed, please submit your thesis in electronic format. The Doctoral College team will give you advice on process.

Viva-voce exams

Viva-voce exams which are already scheduled to take place before or on 25 March 2020 may go ahead as planned if participants clearly express that they are happy with the arrangements. In such cases, a large room with good ventilation should be used. Participants are advised to keep at least two metres distance from each other at all times. No-one from a risk group or who is displaying symptoms or has been in contact with anyone who has symptoms should attend any viva-voce exam in person.

We will use video conferencing to conduct future viva-voce exams where technically feasible. Candidates joining their viva-voce exam via video conferencing need to be in the presence of an independent observer appointed by the University of Hull. This observer would normally be an employee of a local University who has no private, business or supervisory relationship with the candidate. Alternatively, a person of good standing in the community such as a teacher, local councillor or cleric may act as the independent observer. Independent observers are nominated jointly by the candidate and the supervisors using the examiner nomination form and process. On the form the nominee is marked as ‘external observer’. The University will pay independent observers a small fee.

Arrangements in Faculties and Institutes

Further detailed and discipline-specific advice is available in your Faculty or Institute. Arrangements may vary slightly from the guidance given above to address specific circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns please raise them with your Departmental Director of Postgraduate Studies/ Graduate Research Director/Institute Director, the Associate Dean for Research or the Doctoral College.

What does this mean for my application?

We would like to reassure you that there is no change to your application or offer to study with us. If you have any enquiries please do not hesitate to contact us on admissions@hull.ac.uk.

When will I get a chance to visit?

Our main priority at this point is protecting the health, welfare and safety of our University community including students, staff and visitors to our campus. 

We are creating a virtual Applicant Experience package especially for you. So you can experience what life’s like as a student in Hull until you can visit us in person. 

Right now, you can take our 360° virtual tour – take a trip around our beautiful campus, see our facilities up close, and see what the city has to offer. 

If you have any questions – about your course, your offer, your student finance or anything at all – get in touch by emailing enquiries@hull.ac.uk.

As soon as we know more about opportunities to book on to future events, we’ll let you know.

I’ve already pre-booked my travel/ accommodation will I be able to get a refund on this?

If you’ve booked the University’s free overnight stay your accommodation will have been cancelled automatically, and you don’t need to do anything else.

If you’ve booked private accommodation we would suggest speaking to your provider in the first instance and follow up with your travel insurance provider.  

My final exams look to have been cancelled. What does this mean for my offer of a place to study at Hull?

If you have an Unconditional offer from us, it still applies. If you've put Hull as your Firm choice on UCAS Track, you're still guaranteed a place to study with us here at Hull. At this time, your start date for September 2020 is as planned. But we're closely monitoring the ever developing situation. So if anything does change with your start date in the coming weeks and months, we'll contact you as soon as possible.

If you have a Conditional offer from us, it still applies. We understand this is a difficult time, and you may be feeling anxious about it all. We continue to closely monitor the situation, and when a clearer picture emerges we'll be in touch as soon as we can. We'll also continue to update our website with the latest information.

If you're waiting to have a face-to-face interview for a healthcare professional programme or teacher training programme, our colleagues are working hard to contact all individuals with interview dates to make alternative arrangements. If you've not already, you'll hear from us soon.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please get in touch with us. Our Admissions and Applicant Services team are available. You can call us on 01482 466100 or email us at admissions@hull.ac.uk.

Contact

Staff and students

Call 01482 464020
Email actionline@hull.ac.uk

Applicants

Call 01482466100
Email admissions@hull.ac.uk