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Update on Semester 2

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Before the Christmas break we said that we would provide a further update this week on plans for Semester 2 and January assessments.

As you know, we have informed all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students that we expect you to study on campus for Semester 2. This includes those who had been learning remotely in Semester 1 as a pandemic transition.

Throughout the pandemic we have adhered to advice from the UK government and public health experts. The advice for Higher Education providers from the Department for Education is that we should continue with in-person teaching.

However we are aware that there may be exceptional circumstances for a small number of students (particularly in relation to travel restrictions and those with pre-existing medical conditions) that may make that return to campus especially challenging, given the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

In these exceptional cases, students on a small number of programmes in the Faculty of Humanities will be able to apply for an arrangement to continue remote study (for Semester 2 only). Read on to find out more.

When do I have to return to campus?

As a reminder, if you have on-campus examinations or assessments in January, you should return for these as scheduled. Other students should return in time for the start of Semester 2 teaching on Monday 7 February.

However if you are returning from remote study and need extra time to arrange travel or accommodation, please let your School know – and if any change is required to your CAS please also email visa@manchester.ac.uk.

Why do I have to return to campus?

Our programmes are designed for you to learn in-person on-campus – we believe that, for the majority of students, this gives you the best possible experience.

Students on many of our programmes have been studying on campus since September 2021. It’s a pleasure to see thousands of you already thriving here, enjoying not just your teaching but the whole campus and Manchester experience.

We continue to have everything we can in place to make our campus as safe as possible. The vast majority of our students and staff are now vaccinated (including booster vaccines), free COVID testing kits are readily available to everyone, and face coverings remain mandatory on campus at present. We continually review our safety guidelines, following guidance from the UK government and local public health experts.

We understand that you may have concerns or questions about returning, particularly if you are travelling from outside the UK. We have read all your correspondence and compiled further information to answer your queries:

What if I cannot return to campus?

We recognise that concerns have been heightened by the COVID-19 Omicron variant and the impact it is having around the world. As you would expect, we are constantly monitoring the situation in Manchester, the UK and internationally. We are also listening to the concerns raised by some students and continue to adapt our approach where possible. We know that exceptional circumstances may prevent a small number of students from returning to campus, due to particular travel restrictions or pre-existing medical conditions.

Programme and Faculty teams have considered carefully whether we can assure that academic standards and intended learning outcomes could be maintained with continued remote study. Accreditation requirements, good outcomes for all students, and positive learning and student experiences have also been taken into account.

On this basis, it is not possible for us to offer remote study for Semester 2 for any programmes of study in the Faculties of Science and Engineering, or Biology, Medicine and Health. Students in these Faculties who are unable to return should use our established mitigating circumstances procedure, as appropriate.

However, students in the Faculty of Humanities who are able to demonstrate mitigating circumstances can apply for remote study on a small number of programmes. You can find a complete list of Humanities programmes which have initially been identified as eligible for continued remote study here.

How do I apply for continued remote study?

To be considered for continued remote study, you will need to submit a mitigating circumstances application with evidence.

Applications will open to Humanities students on eligible programmes on Monday 10 January at 12 noon GMT. Your programme team will email you with further information on Monday, explaining the options and how to apply. The deadline to apply will be Monday 17 January 5pm GMT.

Your programme team will carefully consider each application and let you know the outcome no later than Monday 24 January 5pm GMT.

Whether your application is successful will depend on a number of factors. These include your individual circumstances, but also whether (given the number and nature of applications) we can maintain academic standards, a positive learning and student experience and good outcomes for all students on your programme.

For those students who successfully apply to study remotely, you will be expected to do so for the whole of Semester 2. There will be no option to swap to on-campus study later in the semester.

You can, of course, always apply to interrupt and recommence your studies in-person in 2022/23.

Further information

We understand that the current situation may be making some students feel anxious. We are always here to support you and would encourage you to reach out to our support and wellbeing services, should you need to.

If there are any significant changes to UK government guidance or our approach to teaching, we will update you again as we have throughout the pandemic. For the meantime, we’re excited to have you back soon and are ready to welcome you to campus.

Professor April McMahon
Vice-President Teaching, Learning and Students

Why is remote study not possible for students in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, or Science and Engineering?

Academic staff in our Faculties and Schools considered each programme individually to decide if we could continue to offer remote study.

We have to ensure that we always maintain academic standards and that we deliver and assess the ‘Intended Learning Outcomes’ (skills and competencies) required to successfully complete each year of the programme. We also have to make sure that we maintain the accreditation status of your degree, and that all students on your programme have positive learning experiences and good outcomes.

For students on many programmes, this requires access to specialist on-campus facilities, in-person assessment, placements or other activities that cannot be delivered remotely.

Why is my Humanities programme not eligible for remote study?

Academic staff in the Faculty of Humanities considered each programme individually to decide if we could continue to offer remote study.

We have to ensure that we always maintain academic standards and that we deliver and assess the ‘Intended Learning Outcomes’ (skills and competencies) required to successfully complete each year of the programme. We also have to make sure that all students on your programme have positive learning experiences and good outcomes.

For some Humanities programmes, we determined that it would be possible to maintain academic standards and good experiences for all students while continuing to offer remote study. For other programmes, this would not be possible. This is due to the different learning outcomes, accreditations, teaching methods and assessments on each programme.

How do I apply for continued remote study, and when can do this?

To apply, you must be studying on an eligible Humanities programme and you will need to submit a mitigating circumstances application with evidence.

Applications for remote study can be made from 12 noon (GMT) on Monday 10 January. Students who are studying remotely on eligible programmes will receive further information from their programme teams on Monday, explaining the application process and options in more detail.

Once we have your application, our staff in the Faculty of Humanities will review it as quickly as possible. We have to consider each application carefully, but we will let you know the outcome as soon as possible so you can make the necessary plans.

The latest date you will hear the outcome of your application is 5pm GMT on Monday 24 January, but we hope to be in contact with you before that.

If I apply, will I definitely be able to study remotely in Semester 2?

Every application will be considered, but there is no guarantee that your application will be successful.

Whether your application is successful will depend on a number of factors. These include your individual circumstances, but also whether (given the number and nature of applications) we can maintain academic standards, a positive learning and student experience and good outcomes for all students on your programme.

My programme is not eligible for continued remote study, what should I do?

If your programme is not eligible for continued remote study, you should make plans to return to on-campus study.

If you have on-campus examinations or assessments in January, you should return for these as scheduled. Other students should return in time for the start of Semester 2 teaching on Monday 7 February.

If you need extra time to arrange travel or accommodation, please let your School know – and if any change is required to your CAS please also email visa@manchester.ac.uk.

We understand that you may have concerns or questions about returning, particularly if you are travelling from outside the UK. We have compiled further information to help you in planning your return:

I have exceptional circumstances that mean I can’t return to campus, but my programme is not eligible for continued remote study – what should I do?

If you’re unable to return, you can apply to interrupt your studies to return at a later date. To discuss the best next step for you, contact your Faculty:

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