Campus management
We welcome the Government’s guidance on how students at English universities can travel home safely for Christmas.
We’re aware that many of our students want to travel home for the winter break, while others will choose to, or will need to, remain in Durham. All of our students will have our full support and we will continue to update students and staff on arrangements for the end of term and the beginning of Term 2.
We urge members of our university community to keep themselves and others safe by continuing to follow current national restrictions, in place until Wednesday 2 December, and to follow Government and University guidance.
Blended learning
Our current blended model of face-to-face and online teaching will continue until Friday 4 December, most Departments will teach online during the final week of term. Laboratory-based teaching and practicals will continue in our Covid-secure teaching environments during the week commencing Monday 7 December.
In line with Government guidance, we will be teaching online only from Thursday 10 December.
Academic departments will communicate programme specific information to students.
FAQs for students are available on our Covid-19 Teaching and learning page.
Term 2
Term 2 will commence on Monday 11 January 2021 and we intend to resume a blended model of face-to-face and online teaching.
FAQs for students are available on our Teaching and learning page.
We will continue to update students in the coming weeks.
Preferred student travel window
Everyone should continue to follow the national restrictions in place from 5 November until 2 December 2020.
Between Thursday 3 and Wednesday 9 December, the Government is supportive of students travelling home once they have:
- Observed the current national restrictions (in place until Wednesday 2 December)
- Had access to Covid-19 testing (even for students with no symptoms).
Read our recent Sway update on Planning safe travel.
Staying in Durham
We recognise that some students will choose or will need to remain in Durham over the vacation period. If you are staying in Durham, you will have our full support.
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The Bill Bryson Library and the Sports and Wellbeing Park will continue to operate, in varying forms, throughout most of the vacation period.
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A range of wider student experience activities will continue.
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Cleaning in Colleges will continue.
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Students will have access to catering, either via a pantry or self-catered kitchen or, dependent on viability, a central College catering facility where meals could be purchased.
Further communications to students will follow shortly.