Learning through a blended approach

All students studying on an on-campus programme will receive in-person teaching. The blended approach means that we plan to deliver lectures and small group learning, teaching, and assessment through a combination of on-campus, in-person, and online methods.

If travel or government restrictions prevent students from accessing campus we aim, where possible, to support you so that you can study effectively until such time as you can travel to campus. 

The support available will depend on your programme of study.

Keeping you safe

To keep you safe and to enable us to deliver in-person teaching: 

• we strongly encourage participation in testing programmes 
• it is mandatory to wear a face covering (unless you are exempt) when moving around our campus indoors, in teaching situations and in situations where reasonable distancing cannot be maintained 
• we strongly encourage all students to receive both vaccinations and booster vaccinations, when eligible  
  

Our 2021 modules are also built with flexibility in mind if we are required to reduce or suspend the on-campus and in-person teaching. This would be in the case of government or local authority changes in regulations or significant restrictions on the ability of both UK and international students to travel to Newcastle.

Ensuring a fulfilling university experience

We want you to get the most out of your teaching and learning and will do everything we can to support you. As we move through the next academic year, we know how quickly things can change. We have the steps in place to ensure you have a fulfilling university experience - whatever the circumstances.

So, although we are planning for a blended approach to learning, including in-person and online teaching, should Covid-19 restrictions need to tighten again we can reduce on-campus, in-person elements of our teaching and increase the use of new approaches to online learning, teaching, and assessment. 

You can view our approach in our Outbreak Response Plan to help you to understand how we will adapt our offer in line with public health guidance. This means you can engage with learning in ways that are most suited to the situation as it changes.

Planning for in-person and online learning

We are planning for present in-person delivery of our lectures. But they have been designed so they can be delivered as online lectures should this be required.

We are timetabling seminars and other small group teaching with relevant safety measures in place. Sessions will be delivered online if the public health situation prevents small-group teaching.

Arrangements for lab, practical and clinical teaching

Laboratories, practicals, workshops and clinical teaching are being timetabled as normal. If further physical distancing measures are needed, we’re focusing on delivery of essential sessions in person, rather than the full schedule of such sessions.

Fairly assessing knowledge, skills and abilities

We are drawing on our experience from the last two years. You can be confident all programmes fairly assess the knowledge, skills and abilities learned during your degree.

Examinations

We have taken the decision not to run invigilated in-person exams on campus for students in January and to move to alternative assessments for students for the January 2022 assessment period (such as 24-hour timed assessments, Canvas tests, online assessments, take home papers). 

We recognise that there will be some subject areas where alternative assessment is not possible, for example as a result of the requirements of external professional bodies. More information will be available from your School. 

Teaching will continue on campus as planned for Semester 2, in line with government guidance. 

Key review points

We are monitoring the situation around travel to the UK and the impact on students who may be affected by restrictions. See the section on Support for new and continuing international students travelling to Newcastle.

How we will decide on changes to teaching and assessment

We also know that the Covid-19 situation has changed quickly in the past. Our Outbreak Response Plan helps us assess any necessary changes to teaching.

Our aim is to deliver an in-person, on-campus experience as far as possible. We will only move to online delivery as a last option and, any changes will be triggered only after consultation with the regional Director of Public Health. Your School will contact students immediately to make sure you’re kept informed of any changes.

Support for international students

See the section on Support for new and continuing international students travelling to Newcastle for details of the support packages we have in place.

Induction and start of teaching

The teaching this year is made up of two 12-week semesters. Each semester will have 11 teaching weeks. There will be:

• an enrichment week which supports and enhances your student experience and skills in Semester 1
• a revision week in Semester 2

Semester 1 has a two-week assessment period and Semester 2 has a three-week assessment period.

Term dates

Semester dates

Postgraduate students

The end of the academic year for postgraduate taught students is Friday 23 September 2022. All other term and semester dates are as indicated above.

Non-standard study periods

Some programmes offered at our campuses in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as some delivered at Newcastle, have term dates that differ from those given above. In these cases, students will be notified of term dates separately.

Make sure you read the pre-arrival and registration information on our website. We will take you through:

• the steps you need to take before arriving in Newcastle. Please note that some steps are for all students, but some are only for international students
• how to register as a student

We are monitoring the situation around travel to the UK and will communicate regularly with offer holders and continuing students who may be impacted by restrictions.

We have the following support in place for international students travelling to Newcastle during the 2021-22 academic year.

Guidance for travelling to England

Please read the UK government guidelines carefully. They include information for students who are fully vaccinated (as recognised by the UK government); not vaccinated; and fully vaccinated or not vaccinated from red list countries.

Also read our blog which outlines the important steps to take before you travel and once you arrive in the UK.

All new and continuing international students arriving for the start of Semester 2

To support our new and continuing international students, we will offer you:

• support for those who may need to self-isolate after travel. This includes access to food and essentials on arrival for those in University-owned accommodation and targeted support from our Student Services team.
• step-by-step information you need for your travel to Newcastle. Please note that the Meet and Greet service has now closed but you can find all the information you need here.
• further support and guidance around testing and vaccination.

If you have any queries regarding your University accommodation, you can view details online or call our student helpline on +44 191 208 3333.  

Please continue to check this page, and our frequently asked questions (FAQs) which are updated regularly. You should keep up to date with guidance on latest travel and government restrictions.

The UK’s vaccine roll-out has been hugely successful. Anybody aged 18 or over in the UK is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.

To help us to keep you safe, we strongly encourage you to get both vaccines and the booster vaccine, when eligible, prior to your arrival, where it is possible for you to do so.

Nobody in England has to pay for the Covid-19 vaccination. It is easy to get the vaccination, too. Once you have registered for free with a GP surgery, you can book your vaccination online. Even if you don’t register straight away, you can still ask for the vaccination through a local medical centre.

Overseas work and study placements

Currently, we are planning for semester-long and full-year overseas work placements or study exchanges to go ahead in 2021-2022.

If international work or study placements are affected by Covid-19 restrictions, we’ll work with partner institutions and placement hosts to do all we can to support you.

However, both mandatory and optional overseas placements will be subject to:

• country-by-country risk assessments and sign off
• the current situation within the UK and in host countries

Anyone who is currently abroad and planning to travel over the Winter break should keep up to date with the latest travel advice and consider the impact that any short-term changes may have on their travel plans. 

Other types of optional placements

The availability of other types of shorter placements may depend on the public health situation. If any can not go ahead due to Covid restrictions, we will look at alternatives for all placement, field trips and international mobility activity.

Please continue to check this page, and our frequently asked questions (FAQs) which are updated regularly. 

Student Services

Our Student Services are available now, online and in person. They enable you to get the best out of your studies even when Covid-19 restrictions apply.

In the event of a worsening public health situation in England, we will continue to deliver our student services in a way that aligns with government guidance, either via blended delivery, or entirely online. Where students have taken out sports membership and are unable to use our facilities, membership fees for students will be suspended until such time as students are able to return to campus.

On-campus facilities

All our on-campus facilities including the Library, Student Health and Wellbeing, Careers Service and Sports Centre are open and operating, subject to government restrictions. 

Find out more about our facilities.

Frequently asked questions

Most Covid questions can be answered by our Frequently Asked Questions – please look here if you have any questions. 

Please be aware, however, that the FAQs will not be updated between 24 December 2021 – 3 January 2022 so you should also consult the UK government's webpages for the latest Covid updates, particularly in relation to international travel. 

Enquiry telephone line

If you have a Covid-19 related enquiry, you can also contact the student helpline on 0191 208 3333 (open 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 10am – 4.30pm Wednesday). Please note that this line will not be open between 24 December 2021 – 3 January 2022.

Winter break support

Details of the support that is available during the closure period (24 December 2021 – 3 January 2022) can be found on our Winter Break Support webpages. 

Urgent help

If you are self-isolating and struggling to obtain food/shopping or have an urgent wellbeing need, please contact University Security on 0191 208 6817 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). 

If your health deteriorates please contact the NHS Covid helpline on 119 and follow their advice.  

Emergency services

For emergencies on campus, you should call 999. If you are worried about your own safety or the safety of a fellow student you can call University Security on 0191 208 6817 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). 

Student health and wellbeing

We have launched a new free student support network called TalkCampus. It’s a free-to-download app where you can talk with other students from around the world. 

Covid support team

If you would like to be contacted by the Covid Support Team, please email covidsupport@ncl.ac.uk and a member of the team will respond as soon as possible once the University reopens on Tuesday 4 January. 

Terms and conditions and student complaints

We will keep you informed of any changes as soon as we can. Key updates to this page will be linked to going forward.

We also have terms and conditions, which offer a:

• positive environment for learning and academic achievement
• clear complaints process

This means you can check you are happy with the terms ahead of applying or joining us, as part of your decision-making process. So, make sure you take a look at them too:

• Terms and conditions
• Student complaints