UCL suspends all face to face teaching until 22nd of February

Today UCL announced that they had suspended all face to face activity on campus until the 22nd of February. Provost Professor Michael Arthur and incoming Provost Dr Michael Spence announced that all teaching and in-person activities would move online because of the extreme rise in cases that are taking place in the capital.

They have implored all students to remain where they are until reading week and not to return to London if they can.

They have also announced that they have made provisions for those students who remained in London and have listed any exemptions from their current guidelines.

The statement has advised that all students other than those on exempt courses should not travel or return to university and that they should avoid coming on to campus except for where essential. They have said that everything will be going ahead online and that whilst students might be disappointed this is the safest option to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

The courses that are exempt include and will be returning from the 4th of January.

• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy
• Teacher Training
• And a small number of other courses

All other practical based subjects have been advised to wait for instruction and guidance from their departments, which may not come until after the Government’s announcement on the 18th of January.

The statement highlighted that London hospitals are being overwhelmed and this move to online is in everyone’s best interests so as to prevent the spread and to save the hospitals.

They have also warned that students may not be able to return to campus until the end of February, perhaps the end of March at the latest depending on the R rate and vaccinations.

UCL has said that they will confirm their plans for the second half of term 2 at the beginning of February, and we will confirm those details as soon as they are available.

Libraries and other study spaces will be open but on a reduced service. They have also advised that the accommodation offices will be in touch regarding arrangements for students staying in UCL accomodations.

For further information on UCL’s changes to teaching for Term 2 you can find Michael Arthur and Michael Spence’s statement here.