Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice & Guidance
We make every effort to provide all of our students with any updated information, the advice below is subject to change on the basis of UK Government policy.
If you are a Richmond staff or faculty member, click here to visit the dedicated portal.
Updated: 23 August 2022
Latest UK Government advice
Travelling to the UK?
All remaining Covid travel restrictions have now been lifted for passengers entering the UK.
As of 18 March, all travellers to the UK no longer need to complete a passenger locator form and unvaccinated travellers do not need to test for Covid before and after arrival in the UK.
Tested positive?
- People with Covid are no longer legally required to self-isolate
- Guidance remains in place for those who test positive to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days
You can find more UK Government approved information here.
For more information on travelling to the UK visit our Important Information for Students webpage.
Please do not enter University buildings if you feel unwell or have Covid symptoms.
Safety first, wellbeing assured
We appreciate that the COVID-19 situation has made studying at university more challenging and we are continuing to monitor the situation closely, listening carefully to the questions and concerns we receive from students. The health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our top priority.
When it comes to managing COVID-19 at the University, we’ve had very low numbers of students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Plus we have very high vaccination levels among students and staff – 98% of those students who returned to campus as residents in September 2021 were double vaccinated (this figure was 85% of the wider off-campus student population), as were 88% of staff and faculty.
Vaccination levels are also high in the UK generally –with nine in 10 (91%) of those aged 12 or over in the UK having had a single jab and eight in 10 (84%) having had a second vaccination. More than 37 million boosters, or third doses, have been given so far.
This means the UK has one of the highest vaccination levels in the world – comparative figures for the US are 212 million people have been double vaccinated, that’s 64% of the US population; in France 53 million people have been double vaccinated, 78% of the population.
(All figures current as of 1 February 2022)
Confirmed cases among staff and students
Our University’s priority is the safety of staff and students. To ensure we are being as transparent as possible, we are publishing regular updates on known confirmed cases among staff and students.
- We have been informed of 57 employees who have tested positive for Coronavirus
- We have been informed of 133 students who have tested positive for Coronavirus
These are cumulative figures for positive tests among employees and students since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Update on campus services
- In-person Student Affairs support will be available at the Chiswick Park campus and at 37 High Street Kensington when both open
- Registry Services will be available at the Chiswick Park campus, Monday – Friday 9am-5pm, Kensington is by appointment only
- Please refer to the Library calendar for details of online support and staffed opening hours at both Chiswick Park and 37 High Street Kensington
- Finance Department is available to contact via email studentfinance@richmond.ac.uk or via telephone Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm on +44 (0) 20 8332 8334. Request student refunds and refund queries via email refunds@richmond.ac.uk. Details on how to pay can be found here.
- Other offices and departments will be available both in-person and online
We would like to thank all of our students for their persistence during the Covid-19 pandemic. The education of our students and their safety remain our top priorities.
If you have any questions on what steps are being taken at the University to keep everyone safe, please contact studentaffairs@Richmond.ac.uk or our Recruitment team on enquiries@richmond.ac.uk.
Vaccinations
We are encouraging people to get vaccinated. This is free and available by appointment through your local doctor’s surgery if you are registered with the NHS or through a walk in clinic for anyone 18+ years of age.
See here for more details.
Testing
The rules for Covid testing have changed in England.
It is now only possible to qualify for a free Covid test if:
- you are eligible for Covid-19 treatment as recommended by your GP
- you are being admitted to the hospital
- you work for the NHS or in adult social care
- your GP has asked you to get a test
If you do not fit any of the categories above, you can still order and pay for tests online or visit a clinic. You can find a list of walk-in and bookable clinic appointments, pharmacies and other retailers by location using the NHS Track and Trace search function HERE.
Travel in the UK
Face coverings are no longer required to be worn on Transport for London services including buses and trains in London.
Trains, trams, buses and stations are cleaned with hospital-grade cleaning substances that kill viruses and bacteria on contact and provide ongoing protection.
Independent testing by Imperial College London, which has been carried out monthly since September 2020, taking swabs of touch points in stations, buses and air samples in ticket halls, found no trace of coronavirus on the public transport network.
If you have any questions about travel in London and the UK, please email studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk.
Richmond awarded independent certificate of assurance for COVID-19
We are delighted to announce that Sodexo, who are responsible for facilities management at the University, have been awarded a Certificate of Assurance from Bureau Veritas for implementing appropriate measures, policies and procedures, in accordance with local and national guidelines and WHO guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
These high standards help to minimise the risk posed by COVID-19 at the University. The Sodexo team manages the cleaning, security, catering, reception, maintenance and energy procurement at Richmond.
