Universities to open to all students from 17 May

All remaining university students can return to in-person teaching from 17 May, at the earliest, the Government has confirmed.

The timing aligns with Step 3 of the Government’s roadmap, which is dependent on a review of the latest data and the impact of Step 2 on the four key tests.

Some students have already returned to campus; creative and practical students started returning from the 8 March.

Upon return, all students and staff are encouraged to take three supervised tests (3 to 5 days apart) at an asymptomatic testing site on campus, where this is available.

After this, students will also have access to home testing kits throughout the summer term through both the Government’s offer of free rapid LFD tests twice weekly to everyone in England, and ‘University Collect’ services, under which universities will distribute tests from communal locations on campus, such as libraries. This is in addition to the onsite testing already offered.