Updated 21 July: Our campus COVID-19 testing centres will be closing from 23 July, but you can still get regular rapid lateral flow tests at multiple locations across Manchester. Visit the City Council website to find out more.
In order to reduce the risk of COVID transmission and help keep you and your family safe when you travel home for the Christmas Break, our University has made additional testing available for students up until 18 December, as part of our asymptomatic COVID testing programme.
These additional slots are particularly designed for postgraduate research students, and students on placements (including those on NHS placements who can’t get a test through their Trusts). However, we are not restricting the testing, so any student is welcome to book their slots.
In addition, in partnership with the Public Health Team at Manchester City Council, we have also been advised if you:
- can’t access a test through your Trust, or
- are on a placement outside of Greater Manchester, or
- are leaving after 15 December
You can request a PCR test using NHS Test and Trace, even if you don’t have symptoms. Simply tick the box saying: “My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms”. We recommend booking at a testing site rather than ordering a home kit, as it may be faster. This should allow you to get your test result within 24 hours of departure date.
To make sure that our slots are accessible for all students we are keeping open our testing site at University Place. The opening times will be reduced as we have reduced numbers of PGR students and UG/PGT students on placement that will still be with us from the 9 – 18 December.
As before we strongly recommend that you take at least one test, but ideally two tests, three days apart. This means you should book your first test on 15 December at the latest, ensuring your final test result is within 24 hours of departure. Getting tested means that you’re reducing the risk of onward transmission while you travel and when you’re at home.
If you’re planning international travel, your destination country may require you to take a different type of test, such as a PCR test, before you travel. You must check this before you travel. These tests aren’t provided by the University and may have an additional cost. There are many companies offering this service – among the local ones are Epistem, Pall Mall and HealthWork.
We have published updated information on assistance with travel costs for students facing severe and unanticipated hardship.
To find out more about testing and travel and make your bookings, please visit our website. There’s more information about how we are supporting people staying with us over Christmas on our website.