Yorkshire university among first in country to announce it will open campus in September

Universities across the UK sent students home in March and moved lectures, classes, exams and graduation ceremonies online. While many students assumed they would be returning to campus in September, whether that will happen is not yet known.

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The University of Cambridge is holding all lectures online for the 2020-21 academic year while Manchester University said it will move lectures online for the autumn semester.

However Sheffield Hallam will welcome new and returning students for a mixture of face-to-face campus-based and online teaching, with provision adjusted to be in-line with the latest Government advice.

Some lectures and assessments will be delivered online, alongside socially distanced small-group teaching, laboratory work, access to arts studios and specialist teaching facilities, libraries and social spaces.

There will also be access on campus for students to meet with friends where food and drink outlets will be available.

Professor Sir Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University, said "Our campus will be open, and safe, for the 2020-21 academic year this Autumn - in time to provide an excellent teaching and campus experience for all our students on their return.

"New measures will be in place to ensure safe practices for getting around campus and we will be guided by the latest Government regulations on public gatherings and social distancing, with the safety of students and staff remaining our top priority.

He added further information will be provided as soon as final details are confirmed, but term dates and teaching will begin in line with our already published calendar.

For most students that means term will begin on 28 September 2020.

A Sheffield Hallam University spokesman added: "We will of course be guided by government regulations and advice about restrictions, public gatherings and social distancing – the safety of students and staff will remain our top priority.

"We will have measures in place to ensure safe practices for getting around campus and in accordance with all guidance. Students and staff can be assured of our commitment to health and safety at all times."

Following on from this announcement the University of Sheffield and the University of York have also come forward and confirmed to The Yorkshire Post today and confirmed they will also open its campuses in September.

A spokesperson from the University of Sheffield, said: "As we look to the next term, we are placing the safety and the needs of our students at the heart of all our plans.

"Staff are working incredibly hard to make sure that we will deliver an outstanding student and learning experience and in September we expect that to be via a mix of face-to-face teaching in small groups, to allow for social distancing, supported by digital delivery for bigger lecturers, something our current students are already engaging positively with.

"Like all organisations, we are looking at how the pandemic has affected our work and our finances, but it is important that students know that we are committed to their education, development and graduate opportunities and that will not change, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic."

A spokesperson for the University of York added: "We have confirmed that we will go ahead with the start of the next academic year as usual on 28 September 2020. We are working on a number of different scenarios including a combination of on-campus and online."

In the UK, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Bolton have also announced they will open campuses in September.

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