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.

Students will therefore need to be in Newcastle for the start of the academic year in September and no later than four weeks after the start of teaching.

If travel or government restrictions prevent students from accessing campus, we will do what we can to support you so that you can commence your studies online until such time as you can travel to campus.

The support available will depend on your programme of study.

Your academic school will have contacted you about arrangements for your programme and the requirements for on-campus study. This includes those studying on programmes with specific types of in-person teaching, for example, lab-based, clinical, studio-based or fieldwork. You should contact your school directly if you have any further questions.

Keeping you safe

To keep you safe and to enable us to deliver in-person teaching in September, we will:

• strongly encourage participation in testing programmes
• the University’s expectation is that face coverings will be worn in teaching and laboratory settings and when moving around inside buildings.
• strongly encourage all students to receive both vaccinations prior to the start of the academic year

But 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 a 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 head into 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. 

We are updating our Outbreak Response Plan that will 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 year. You can be confident all programmes fairly assess the knowledge, skills and abilities learned during your degree.

Examinations

It’s expected that in 2021-2022, we will return to using invigilated summative examinations as one of the ways we assess. The volume and frequency of these kind of assessment may be reduced, compared to a pre-Covid academic year, to include more non-examination and online assessments.

Key review points

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

How we will decide on changes to teaching and assessment

We also know that the Covid-19 situation has changed quickly in the past.

We are updating our Outbreak Response Plan that will help 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.

Students will need to be on campus no later than four weeks after the start of teaching.

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.

Your academic school will have contacted you about arrangements for your programme and the requirements for on-campus study. This includes those studying on programmes with specific types of in-person teaching, for example lab-based, clinical, studio-based or fieldwork. You should contact your school directly if you have any further questions.

You should keep up to date with guidance on latest travel and government restrictions.

Support for international students

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

Induction and start of teaching

There will be a one-week induction on the week commencing 20 September 2021. Teaching on most programmes will start on 27 September 2021.

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 for the start of the 2021-22 academic year.

Please make sure you fill in our Arrival Information form to let us know when you will be arriving in Newcastle. 

Red-list countries

The cost of quarantine for those travelling from red-list countries increased from £1,750 to £2,285, as of 4am on Thursday 12th August. Newcastle University will cover the increased costs for students undertaking quarantine from this date. You're eligible if you're a:

• new international student travelling to Newcastle for the first time from a home address in a red-list country, for the start of the academic year in September
• continuing international student arriving in Newcastle from a home address in a red-list country for the start of the academic year in September, providing you have not travelled from Newcastle to return to your home country after 18 June

You must retain any information and receipts related to your quarantine booking. Further details about how you will be reimbursed are available here. The deadline for applying for reimbursements is 30th November 2021. 

This does not include:

• anyone else travelling with you
• incoming non-degree students, including incoming exchange, apprenticeships, CPD

Please note that as of 4am on Monday 1 November there are currently no countries or territories on the red list for travel to England. This is subject to further change if the UK government makes updates to travel policy and costs.

For further information on travel from red-list countries, please check the latest UK government guidelines.

Guidance for travelling to England

The UK government guidelines for travelling to England changed from 4am BST on Monday 11th October. This includes significant changes to countries on the red list and important changes to vaccine recognition from different countries.

Please read the 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

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

• an enhanced arrival package of 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 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 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 prior to the start of the academic year, 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

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.

You can find information about our accommodation and how to apply on our accommodation pages. If you are applying after 31 July and are not covered by our guarantee don’t worry. We will be able to place most students, but rest assured if we are unable to help with our own accommodation, we will support you with advice and guidance to find alternative accommodation in the city.

University-owned/allocated accommodation

We know students are worried about finance. Once you have your student accommodation you can be reassured that if there is another national lockdown that means you cannot return to your University-allocated room, we will make sure that we offer fair rebates (conditions apply). This is the case for all university-owned and partner accommodation.

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

Please note we are unable to facilitate the quarantine of family members who may be travelling with you. Accommodation is solely for the use of students studying at Newcastle University. If your family is travelling with you, they will need to source their own accommodation where they can complete the required isolation period.

Students living in University accommodation who have been unable to travel to Newcastle for the start of term will not be charged rent until they arrive on campus. Rooms will be reserved until 25 October to allow for late arrival, after which time the allocation will be removed if arrival is not imminent. 

Our partners are offering flexibility around their own contract terms and conditions:

• Unite Students - please contact Wellington St Plaza directly to discuss this.
• Abodus Students – the same terms will apply as per University for arrivals up to 25 October.
• Downing Students – if you arrive later than your tenancy start date and by 25 October, you will be allowed an extension at the end of your contract for the delayed days at no additional cost.

To see the different types of accommodation we offer, refer to our website. Further details about the accommodation arrival pages are available here. 

Private landlords

We encourage all private landlords to treat students fairly during national lockdown situations. But we can’t control how privately-owned flats and properties handle refunds to students.

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 and, subject to government restrictions, will be open in September. 

Find out more about our facilities.

Frequently asked questions

We have frequently asked questions (FAQs). These answer the questions our students have:

• about Covid-19
• how it affects them and their studies
• what the University is doing to keep them safe

Enquiry telephone line

If you have a Covid-19 related enquiry, you can also contact the Covid Enquiry Line on 0191 222 5101 (open 10am – 4pm Monday, Tuesday, Friday and 12 noon-6pm Wednesday, Thursday).

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