Information on our return to campus

We have put in place comprehensive safety measures, in accordance with government guidelines, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff while on campus. These measures include temperature checking on entrance to campus, enhanced cleaning of communal areas, one way systems and separate entry and exits, non-contact swipes pads on exits, and numerous hand sanitiser stations.

Please take a look at the following resources which details the safety measure that have been put in place, along with other information and guidance: 

• A safety measures video
• Infographic highlighting safety measures
• Rules to follow whilst on campus
• Welcome back to campus guidance
• Key contacts for students
• Temperature screening advice

The University of Bedfordshire will be open to students in September. We will offer online learning blended with campus teaching and activities wherever possible.

For more information on how you will learn this September, please click here. 

From 7 September there will now be a single entrance point for each campus and you will not be able to enter through any other route:

Luton – B Block front, including access to the library

Atrium –Main entrance

Alexon – Main entrance

Putteridge Bury – Main entrance (campus will be fenced)

Bedford – Gateway main entrance

Aylesbury – Mary Secole Building main front entrance

Milton Keynes – Side entrance, further details when our new MK campus opens in September

On entering will be routed through campus by a one way system, with directional signage.

There are directions and restrictions on staircases and lifts. You may not be able to get to your destination through your normal route.

If there is a fire alarm you must proceed to the nearest exit ignoring the one way system.

Our university libraries will be open and our student services will be providing continued support to all our students via a remote delivery and some on campus support.

We are also making provision for some takeaway catering services to be available.

While social distancing is in place the best way to get in touch with our student support services is to email:

Student Money advice: studentmoney@beds.ac.uk

Counselling/mental health/counselling: disability@beds.ac.uk

General enquiries: student.engagement@beds.ac.uk

We are planning to re-open our catering outlets across our campuses for Welcome Week which begins on Monday 21 September.

Our catering team will be offering a good selection of freshly prepared hot and cold meals to take away. To keep our student and staff community safe, we will be reducing the amount of seating available in our restaurant and café areas.

Face coverings will be required when purchasing food, however, they will not be required in the seating areas where food and drink bought on the premises can be consumed. However, we would advise you to consume your purchases outside where possible to maintain the Governments recommended social distancing guidelines.

We are expecting that all of our sports facilities will be available once the campuses are reopened. 

All facilities and activities will be run in line with the University’s Covid secure procedure which is guided by the latest government advice and sporting governing body guidance and best practice.

We understand you may be feeling anxious about returning to campus.

Our dedicated Return to Campus Advisors will do their best to support you and answer your questions and concerns, and where appropriate refer you to specialist support teams for further advice. You can contact them on returntocampus@beds.ac.uk

Our International Office will be open to provide dedicated support to our international and EU students.

Get in touch, please click here for contact details of the International Office. 

We will not tolerate hate crime of any kind.

If you have witnessed or experienced hostility or violence that is motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person due to a particular characteristic, for example disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender identity or an alternative sub-culture hate crime, please report this via supportandreport@beds.ac.uk.  

Concerns will be viewed by senior management at the University and your concerns will be fed in to the appropriate team to respond to you. The University also offers specialist support for you and for anyone you know who may have been affected. As well as offering support, our advisors have been trained to offer support for victims with reporting an incident or crime to police and other relevant external agencies. Find out more about Support and Report at the University.

We understand that some students may feel anxious about returning to campus, and we also know that there may be some students with underlying health conditions for whom return will need to be carefully managed.

Point of contact

If there is anything that we can do to help you during this period as we transition back onto campus, please let us know and we will do our best to support you and answer your questions. Our dedicated Return to Campus Advisors can be contacted on returntocampus@beds.ac.uk

If you have any concerns about your health you should contact the free NHS 111 telephone helpline.

If you are unable to get through on the phone to NHS 111 you can find specific advice at NHS - check your symptoms.

Please also inform returntocampus@beds.ac.uk about your health concerns.

We understand this is an uncertain time and that’s why now more than ever it’s important to us that you to feel comfortable and supported when you choose to live with us. We know that plans can change too. That’s why we’ve introduced a range of measures to give you peace of mind and to ensure you feel as safe as possible during your stay.

Enhanced cleaning and hygiene

An enhanced cleaning regime has been introduced, including regular cleaning of all communal high touch points such as handrails, door handles and push buttons to ensure that we maintain hygiene within our villages.

Hand sanitiser stations are being installed at entry and exit points.

Social distancing measures

Our staff will ensure that they work in accordance with the social distancing guidelines.

The number of people allowed in lifts, our laundries and communal spaces at any one time will be restricted and there will be a one-way system throughout our villages in line with government guidance.

We are requesting all of our residents to follow the government guidance on staying alert and safe (social distancing) here.

Dedicated support if you need to self-isolate 24/7 on site support

Our friendly village teams work around the clock, every day of the year, to ensure you always have someone to speak to should you need our help or support.

We have conducted a full and in-depth risk assessment for all aspects of our accommodation and taken the necessary steps to ensure our residents and staff remain safe. New residents will move into shared flats, following the government guidance on moving house and forming new households with their new flatmates.

Social and communal spaces across these properties such as gyms, will carefully reopen, subject to the relevant government guidance.

The number of visitors allowed on site at any one time will be reduced to ensure the safety of our staff and residents. Visitors may be subject to screening and should wear PPE where necessary.

A thorough risk assessment has been carried out to ensure our properties owned by our approved partners comply with government guidance.

We’ve introduced a range of measures to give our students peace of mind about residing in our accommodation. These measures have been assessed as COVID19 compliant by external health and safety consultants. They include:

• Enhanced cleaning and hygiene practices including all communal high touch points such as handrails and door handles, and the placement of hand sanitisers around the premises
• Social distancing in place and signage throughout including signage illustrating two metre distances, two people maximum in lifts, and modifications to our reception areas including the installation of protective screens
• Staff available 24/7 and dedicated support for residents who need to self-isolate
• Students who need to self-isolate for two weeks in their accommodation before starting their studies are able to check in early
• Virtual tours and orientation videos for new residents to limit physical interactions

These measures will continue to be reviewed in accordance with future government guidance.

We are sorry that the University of Bedfordshire had to postpone the Spring and Summer graduation ceremonies as a result of the worldwide health situation.

We truly regret the inconvenience caused but, after careful consideration, we felt it was important to minimise the risk to our students and their guests. Our student community, along with friends and family, come from over all over the world.

We are very pleased to confirm our plans to hold virtual graduation celebrations for the class of 2020 from 2 to 4 September.

We want to give you the chance to celebrate your achievement safely, with friends, family, faculty, and of course, your fellow graduands.

We know many of you would like to get together to celebrate in person, and we will be planning an event for you all next year at a time when it safe to do so.

For more information about the virtual ceremonies please visit: www.beds.ac.uk/graduation