Important information for students - Richmond, The American International University in London

Jump to:
Prospective January 2021 students ➤
New Students Fall 2020 ➤
Current/Returning students ➤

Important Information

We would like to wish a warm welcome to new and returning students to the University for Fall 2020. We thought it would be useful to provide you with an update on what steps are being taken at Richmond for 2020/2021 to best meet the challenges of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in line with the latest government advice and guidance.

Whilst the situation on Coronavirus is continually evolving, we are guaranteeing that all prospective and current students will study this semester with a blended combination of online and on-campus teaching.

Fall 2020 students started their degree programme at Richmond at the end of September 2020, current students started the new semester on 7 September. See below for details.

Social Distancing Measures

In light of COVID-19, for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, we will concentrate all London-based undergraduate teaching and student accommodation on the Richmond campus. We will work to minimise any disruption and will keep our University community fully updated on these arrangements.

The University constantly considers and reviews sector advice, government requirements and Public Health England initiatives, and takes all necessary and appropriate steps to deliver on our health and safety requirements. The health, safety and wellbeing of all of our community members is the University’s number one priority. We are posting regular updates and changes to guidance on our website here.

Travel to the UK and quarantine

If students do need to quarantine for the January 2021 semester and they have booked accommodation with the University, we will provide free accommodation and food service during the quarantine period for students in accommodation which is catered, but you must arrive between 2-4 January to take part. Any prospective students who need to quarantine will be able to participate in orientation online. If students are living in self-catered University accommodation during quarantine, we can assist with food delivery.

Our quarantine arrangements will be dependent on guidance from the UK Government at the time, but ensuring the health, safety and welfare of our students and staff is our top priority.

There are some countries where it is not necessary for students to quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days; the full list of exempted countries is on the GOV.UK website. Be aware that this list may change regularly so check before you fly. Please make sure you read the guidance on the website for full information.

Most importantly, do please stay home if you do not feel well. We can help with advice and guidance on reporting symptoms, getting a Covid-19 test and quarantining/self-isolating, so please contact us at studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk if we can help.

Arrival on campus

When you arrive for the start of term, you will go through a brief health check with a member of staff and your temperature will be taken. You’ll be asked to use the identified entrance and exit of each building on campus and use the hand sanitising gel available on site. Where social distancing of 2 metres is not possible (in corridors and communal areas) you will be required to wear a face covering. All classrooms and offices will have posted capacities. Please follow the guidance and do not enter a room if it is at capacity.

On Campus

Each of us has a responsibility to keep ourselves and others as safe as we can. For our part, the steps we are taking to ensure our students and staff are safe include:

In all of our campus buildings:

We will be operating a one-way system where possible to ensure all community members maintain proper social distancing
We will be cleaning more regularly especially high touch areas, toilets and bathrooms and at entrances and exits to buildings
We will provide sanitising hand gel at entrances and exits to encourage good hygiene
We will review the use of face masks in areas where social distancing rules are hard to maintain

In our classrooms:

We may reduce the numbers of students in our classrooms to comply with health and safety advice and will implement a blended approach of in-class and online teaching to safeguard this
We may be changing the usual class timetable slots to ensure that classrooms can be used throughout the teaching day to help further with distancing and campus travel
We will ensure that classrooms are thoroughly cleaned daily to protect all of our students and staff
We are removing chairs from our classrooms and study areas to ensure you can study comfortably at a distance from others

In our dining facilities:

We will review our food offer to ensure appropriate distancing in our dining areas and offer ‘grab and go’ options for those who prefer take-away meals
We will offer seating and opening hours that accommodates social distancing in our dining hall and cafes where possible
We are removing chairs from the dining hall areas to ensure you can sit and eat comfortably at a distance from others
We will ensure thorough and regular cleaning of all of our dining facilities

In our residence halls:

If students are travelling from abroad from areas of concern, we will arrange for options for them to self-isolate for the 2-week travel quarantine wherever possible
Following on from UK Government guidance, where practicable, we will be putting residential ‘bubbles’ in place to limit the health risks of students sharing toilets and showers in our residential areas
Thorough cleaning of toilets, showers, common space and highly trafficked residential areas will take place daily

We have single occupancy rooms available at our Richmond campus.

Prospective January 2021 students

Based on advice from the UK Government, ensuring the welfare of our students and staff is our absolute priority. Dependent on the outcome of social distancing measures, we plan to continue a blended approach to learning with both online and on-campus teaching for undergraduates at Richmond in Spring 2021, postgraduates will be taught similarly with a combination of online learning and teaching at our Kensington facility, with the key dates as follows:

12-15 January – Move in, orientation and registration for new students
18 January – First day of classes
1-5 March – Mid-term assessment
8-12 March – Spring Break/Tutorial Week
2 April – Good Friday
5 April – Easter Monday
28-30 April – Exams
3 May – Bank holiday
4-5 May – Exams

Accelerate the first year of your degree

This is your opportunity to complete your first year in 2020/2021

Everyone assumes you start university in September and if you miss the opportunity for whatever reason, then that’s it until the following year. But now it is possible to start in January doing a programme you love and graduate at the same time as everyone else.

Take advantage of this new route to studying in London with a specially designed, accelerated first year of your degree programme, starting in January 2021.

The health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our top priority. Dependent on UK Government guidance and social distancing measures, we plan to deliver undergraduate teaching at our campus in beautiful Richmond, London, with a blended combination of online and face to face learning.

How it works

Accept your offer and enrol by 18 December 2020. You will be automatically registered on this ‘rescheduled January’ degree which accelerates the first year.

12 January 2021 Spring 2021 Orientation starts at our campus in Richmond
18 January 2021 Spring 2021 classes start
Early May 2021 You will have completed five courses (students typically take 10 per academic year)
May/June 2021 Stay for our ‘summer semester’ and take a further three courses*
2 July 2021 Finish the first year of your degree programme

*By 2 July 2021, you will have completed eight courses and you will then have the freedom to choose when you want to take the additional two courses needed for your first year. For instance, if you maintain a GPA of 3.400 or above you can choose to take six courses rather than five in two semesters. You may instead choose to take an internship in the summer break before you graduate, subject to the required GPA, or just take two courses the next summer. The choice is yours and you will work with your Academic Advisor to plan this.

You then start year two in September 2021 and will be at the same stage as all your classmates who started in September 2020!

All January 2021 applicants will be automatically registered on this ‘rescheduled January’ option.

Financially beneficial for EU students

As long as you arrive in the UK by 31 December 2020, EU students can save up to £2,000 on the cost of a Visa and health protection. We advise that you arrive no later than 28 December to ensure that your applications have been processed.

All UK and EU students must aim to complete their SFE application and have it approved before term starts on 18 January 2021.

Please ensure that your SFE application states ‘Rescheduled January’ to take advantage of this opportunity.

Important updates

International students now entitled to up to two years’ work in the UK
If you are an international student, you will be interested to know that the UK Government has recently announced a change to the new immigration Graduate route. International students who are in the UK before 6 April 2021 will still be able to work in the UK for two years after graduation, even if you begin your course online before travelling to the UK in person. More information about the Graduate route is available here.

EU Settlement Scheme
If you are an EU citizen living in the UK, you can apply for EU settlement.

Settled status in the UK offers a number of advantages:

you can work without restrictions
you can access the National Health Service freely
you can access funding for your education through Student Finance England
you can access general public funding
you have no travel restriction on moving throughout the UK or EU
you may be able to bring family members with you to the UK

The EU settlement scheme is being offered until 30 June 2021, but you MUST arrive in the UK no later than 30 December 2020 in order to qualify.

You can apply online once you have arrived in the UK.

See here for more details.

New UK immigration system
The UK Government’s new points-based immigration system, will come into force on 1 January 2021.

The Student route, which is part of the UK’s new points-based immigration system, opened for applications on 5 October. This route replaces the existing Tier 4 student route.

From 5 October, all prospective international students, including those from Europe coming to study in the UK after the end of the transition period (31 December 2020), will need to apply through the Student route before coming to UK. Further guidance for EEA students can be found on GOV.UK

Fees & Funding

If you wish to seek funding for Spring 2021, we would encourage you to continue with your application to the relevant funding bodies as normal. For further details, please see our Fees and funding website page. We also have a range of great scholarships on offer to make your university education more affordable, see our website for details.

We will contact all prospective students if anything changes, as soon as we have more information.

If you would like more information or have any questions, our Admissions and Recruitment team would be happy to help. Please email our team on enquiries@richmond.ac.uk. If you are in the US, please email usadmissions@richmond.ac.uk.

Stay safe and well.

Q&As

1. What is happening at Richmond for the next academic year?

If you have an offer to study with us – congratulations! For those students who haven’t yet applied and wish to do so, applications for January 2021 remain open and we encourage you to apply as planned. Your application is very important to us.

We appreciate that the current situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the implications for starting university may be a concern for you.

Based on advice from the UK Government, the University is implementing health and safety measures to control the spread of Coronavirus which have been approved by our local health authority. Ensuring the welfare of our students and staff is our absolute priority and that’s why we are taking a range of measures to help keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. See here for more details.

The January 2021 semester will consist of a blended combination of online and on-campus teaching for all of our students. Undergraduates will be taught at our campus in Richmond, postgraduates at our Kensington facility.

Undergraduates commencing their programmes in January 2021 will be able to complete their first year with a specially designed, accelerated route, finishing their first year by 2 July 2021. See Q&A5 for more details.

2. When will new students start their programmes?

Move in, orientation and registration for new students will take place from 12-15 January, with the first day of classes happening on 18 January.

3. Are these dates the same for undergraduates and postgraduates?

Orientation for postgraduates will take place later in the week, Friday 15 January. Undergraduates will be taught at our Richmond campus, postgraduates at our Kensington facility.

4. What are the quarantine arrangements if I need to self-isolate?

Our quarantine arrangements will be dependent on guidance from the UK Government at the time, but ensuring the health, safety and welfare of our students and staff is our top priority.

If students do need to quarantine and they have booked accommodation with the University, we will provide free accommodation and food service during the quarantine period for students in accommodation which is catered, but you must arrive between 2-4 January to take part. Any students who need to quarantine will be able to participate in orientation online.

If students are living in self-catered University accommodation during quarantine, we can assist with food delivery.

5. I’ve seen that you offer an ‘Accelerated’ first year, what does that mean?

Take advantage of this new route to studying in London with a specially designed, accelerated first year of your degree programme, starting in January 2021.

How it works

Accept your offer and enrol by 18 December 2020. You will be automatically registered on this ‘rescheduled January’ degree which accelerates the first year.

12 January 2021 Spring 2021 Orientation starts at our campus in Richmond

18 January 2021 Spring 2021 classes start

Early May 2021 You will have completed five courses (students typically take 10 per academic year)

May/June 2021 Stay for our ‘summer semester’ and take a further three courses*

2 July 2021 Finish the first year of your degree programme

You then start year two in September 2021 and will be at the same stage as all your classmates who started in September 2020!

All January 2021 applicants will be automatically registered on this ‘rescheduled January’ option.

6. Can I book housing now?

Yes, you can book your housing requirements now, based on arriving at the campus by Tuesday 12 January for the start of orientation.

7. I’m an EU student, do I qualify for UK fees?

If you are an EU citizen and have been resident in the EEA for the last three years then you are eligible for ‘home fee status’, which means you will be charged the same tuition fees as UK students.

EU nationals have access to loans and grants from the UK government to help cover their fees. See here for details.

EU students starting university in 2020/21 academic year will have guaranteed home fee status and financial support for the duration of courses in England.

University Scholarships are also available at Richmond for January 2021 start date.

8. Can you tell me about the EU Settlement Scheme?

If you are an EU citizen living in the UK, you can apply for EU settlement.

Settled status in the UK offers a number of advantages:

you can work without restrictions
you can access the National Health Service freely
you can access funding for your education through Student Finance England
you can access general public funding
you have no travel restriction on moving throughout the UK or EU
you may be able to bring family members with you to the UK

The EU settlement scheme is being offered until 30 June 2021, but you MUST arrive in the UK no later than 30 December 2020 in order to qualify.

You can apply online once you have arrived in the UK.

In your initial application, you can qualify for either:

Settled status(5 years continuous residency in the UK) or
Pre-Settled status(less than 5 years residency in the UK). If you gain pre-settled status, you will need to apply for settled status when you reach 5 years of residency.

In January 2021, the UK will operate a new immigration system in which EU citizens will have to apply for visas in order to live, work and study in the UK. Applying now for the EU settlement scheme will mean that you will not have to go through a new process and will maintain all of the rights to work, study, health care and funding that EU citizens currently have in the UK.

If you have questions about the EU settlement scheme, please contact us at enquiries@richmond.ac.uk

9. I’ve heard there will be a new immigration system from January 2021, can you tell me what’s happening?

The UK Government’s new points-based immigration system, will come into force on 1 January 2021.

The Student route, which is part of the UK’s new points-based immigration system, opened for applications on 5 October. This route replaces the existing Tier 4 student route.

EEA students resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 do not need to apply through the route. They, and their family, are eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme and have until 30 June 2021 to do so. More information on the EU Settlement Scheme can be found here.

The Student Route is open to EU/EEA and Swiss students as well as international students, but EU/EEA and Swiss students resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 should not apply through the route. These students, and their family members, are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Those resident here by 31 December 2020 have until 30 June 2021 to do so. You can apply online once you have arrived in the UK.

EU/EEA and Swiss students coming to the UK on or after 1 January 2021 will need to apply through the Student route, ahead of arriving in the UK. This includes those who begin their course remotely in autumn 2020.

Any EU student who doesn’t arrive before 31 December will need to apply via the Student route. Please note you cannot apply for the Student route from within the UK – you must apply from your home country. Our Admissions team will need to know if EU students plan to travel in advance (and therefore qualify for the settlement route), or if they plan to physically arrive in the UK in January. If the latter, our Admissions team will need to start working on visa applications with them from November 2020 at the latest.

EEA and Swiss students can continue to visit the UK for up to 6 months, without applying for a visa and may participate in short term study.

All students applying through the new Student route will need to demonstrate they meet the required 70 points. They will achieve the required points if they can demonstrate that they have an offer from an approved educational institution, speak English and are able to support themselves during their studies in the UK.

A Student visa will cost £348 if applied for outside the UK and students will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of their application, which gives migrants access to the UK’s National Health Service on generally the same basis as a UK permanent resident. Students will receive a 25% discount on the Immigration Health Surcharge. The cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge is due to increase later this year. Find out more on GOV.UK

10. I’m an international student, do I need to get a Tier 4 visa?

The Student route, which is part of the UK’s new points-based immigration system, opened for applications on 5 October. This route replaces the existing Tier 4 student route.

The UK Government’s new points-based immigration system will come into force on 1 January 2021.

11. Can you tell me more about the Graduate route?

The launch of the Graduate route in Summer 2021 will make it easier for the best international graduates to secure skilled jobs in the UK. The Graduate route will allow international students who have completed undergraduate and master’s degrees in the UK to stay for two years.

The Graduate Route will be available to international students who have a valid student visa at the time of application and have successfully completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance.
Successful applicants on this route will be able to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for a maximum period of two years if they have successfully completed an undergraduate or master’s degree. Graduates will be able to switch into skilled work once they have found a suitable job.
The new route will be launched in the summer of 2021, meaning that any eligible student who graduates in the summer of 2021 or after will be able to apply for the route. This includes students who have already started their courses.
Please note: only students who graduate AFTER April 2021 can apply. If you are completing your degree in December 2020, this route is NOT on offer for you.
The Graduate Route will require a new visa application.
It will include the payment of a visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. The exact fee will be set out in due course.
Those who graduate and whose leave expires before the route is introduced will not be eligible, however, most of these students will have had no expectation of benefitting from such a route when they applied to study in the UK.

12. What is happening regarding funding for January 2021?

If you wish to seek funding, we would encourage you to continue with your application to the relevant funding bodies as normal. For further details, please see our Fees and funding website page. We also have a range of great scholarships on offer to make your university education more affordable, see our website for details.

13. I can’t take an English language test at the moment because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is there any alternative?

We recognise that because of the difficult circumstances created by COVID-19 that English language testing may not be able to take place in a test centre as normal currently.

In line with other UK universities, we have extended the range of tests that we will accept as evidence of English language proficiency. Please visit our Admissions Page for further details.

IELTS test centres are now open in many countries and territories, where it is permitted and deemed safe, with additional precautions in place to help protect the health of test takers and staff.

14. Who do I contact for more information?

Please contact our friendly Admissions team for more details on enquiries@richmond.ac.uk.

New Students Fall 2020

Based on advice from the UK Government, ensuring the welfare of our students and staff is our absolute priority. That’s why we have taken the decision to commence the semester with a blended combination of online and on-campus teaching for all new students in the Fall.

Our virtual orientations started on Monday 21 September, with the online course beginning on Monday 28 September with supported learning for all new students.

Dependent on the outcome of lockdown and social distancing measures, we plan to commence on-campus teaching at Richmond on Monday 2 November, with students being able to move into their campus accommodation from Monday 26 October and on-campus orientation taking place from 26-30 October. We are closely monitoring the situation and planning for all eventualities.

Important updates

Change to course structure to include summer semester
All Fall 2020 undergraduate students will take three courses in Fall 2020, five in Spring 2021 as normal and the later start than normal for the 2020/21 academic year means that they will need to take two courses during the summer semester (24 May-5 July) at Richmond in addition.

International students now entitled to up to two years’ work in the UK
If you are an international student, you will be interested to know that the UK Government has recently announced a change to the new immigration Graduate route. International students who are in the UK before 6 April 2021 will still be able to work in the UK for two years after graduation, even if you begin your course online before travelling to the UK in person. More information about the Graduate route is available here.

Tier 4 visa applications now easier to access
As far as visa applications are concerned, despite some COVID-19 disruptions to visa processes, the Home Office is advising all students to start their application now. Some Visa Application Centres have reopened, with more to follow over the coming weeks. As local restrictions lift, and application centres begin to reopen, the UK Government is looking to process applications as quickly as possible.

If you wish to seek funding for September 2020, we would encourage you to continue with your application to the relevant funding bodies as normal. For further details, please see our Fees and funding website page. We also have a range of great scholarships on offer to make your university education more affordable, see our website for details.

We will contact all prospective students if anything changes, as soon as we have more information.

Stay safe and well.

Q&As

1. What is happening at Richmond for the next academic year?

We appreciate that the current situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the implications for starting university may be a concern for you.

Based on advice from the UK Government, ensuring the welfare of our students and staff is our absolute priority and that’s why we are taking a range of safety measures to help keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. See here for details.

Dependent on the outcome of lockdown and social distancing measures, we plan to provide a blended combination of online and on-campus teaching for all of our students. On-campus teaching will commence on Monday 2 November, with students being able to move into their campus accommodation from Monday 26 October and on-campus orientation taking place from 26-30 October.

Undergraduates will be taught at our campus in Richmond, postgraduates at our Kensington facility.

2. What happens if I need to quarantine before coming to the UK?

Students arriving from outside the UK will need to quarantine (self-isolate in the place you are staying) for the first 14 days. There are some countries where this requirement is not necessary; the full list of exempted countries is on the GOV.UK website. Be aware that this list may change regularly so check before you fly. Please make sure you read the guidance on the website for full information.

If students do need to quarantine and they have booked accommodation with the University, we will provide free accommodation and food service during the quarantine period for students in accommodation which is catered, but you must arrive between 10-12 October to take part. If students are living in self-catered University accommodation during quarantine, we can assist with food delivery.

3. How many courses will I be studying in Fall 2020?

We have been teaching one course online for three weeks (from Monday 28 September to Friday 16 October) for both undergraduates and postgraduates. This means that students’ programmes have been able to get underway before on-campus teaching commences in November, providing that lockdown restrictions are removed. The remainder of the courses will be taught once on-campus teaching is available.

4. I’m an undergraduate, will I still be able to complete my first year in two semesters?

All new undergraduate students will take three courses in Fall 2020, five in Spring 2021 as normal and the later start than normal for the 2020/21 academic year means that they will need to take two courses during the summer semester at Richmond in addition.

5. I’m a postgraduate, will I still be able to complete my course in one year?

All full-time postgraduates will complete their course in one year. The first semester is condensed teaching with more contact hours across nine weeks rather than 14.

6. Who do I contact for more information?

Please contact our Student Affairs team for any help, studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk

See our Q&As below for Current Students for more information.

Current and Returning students

We appreciate that the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak may leave people feeling anxious about student life, and the impact this will have on your studies, family, friends and community.

As a University, the wellbeing of our students and staff is always of utmost importance. We are monitoring the situation closely, following the latest UK Government advice and you can find updates on our webpage.

There is no doubt that life at university will be different for everyone in 2020-21 and our priority is to make sure that, for all of our students, your experience is enriching, exciting and above all, safe.

To do what we can to keep everyone safe and ensure you can commence your studies in Fall 2020, introduced a blended system of online and on-campus learning, with the new semester commencing on 7 September.

The situation is continuously evolving and so we have developed a set of frequently asked questions for current students and we will make sure that these are updated at regular intervals.

Here are the quick highlights for what this means for you as a student at the Richmond or Kensington campus in Fall:

Your teaching started as planned on 7 September.
The first six weeks of the semester will be taught in an asynchronistic online format, with a combination of three and six week courses running for UG students. These sessions are called Fall One, A and B.
You will complete one 6-week course (Fall One), and two 3-week courses (Fall A&B) in this online block.*~
Final assessments will be on the final day of each of the sessions.
There will then be a two-week break, which starts one week earlier than previously published.
Session Fall Two will then begin. We are currently planning for this in classrooms with social distancing in place; plans are being made to move this to a blended approach or fully online should the official advice require.
You will complete two 6-week courses Fall Two.*
Final assessments for Fall Two courses will take place the following week, as previously published.
*If you are taking Senior Seminar I or II, this course will run for the length of the semester and you will take two courses alongside it in the first online block.
*If you are taking a Communications Senior Project, this course will run for the length of the semester and you will take two courses alongside it in the first online block.
*If you are taking a Psychology or Business School Senior Project this course will run for the length of the semester and you will take two courses alongside it in the first online block and one alongside it in Fall 2.
~If you are on Academic Probation and limited to 12 credits in Fall, you will take one less course in the first online block.
No students will be permitted to overload to 18 credits in Fall 2020.

Social distancing measures
The University constantly considers and reviews sector advice, government requirements and Public Health England initiatives, and takes all necessary and appropriate steps to deliver on our health and safety requirements. The health, safety and wellbeing of all of our community members is the University’s number one priority. We are posting regular updates and changes to guidance on our website here.

Travel to the UK and quarantine
Students arriving from outside the UK will need to quarantine (self-isolate in the place you are staying) for the first 14 days. There are some countries where this requirement is not necessary; the full list of exempted countries is on the GOV.UK website. Be aware that this list may change regularly so check before you fly. Please make sure you read the guidance on the website for full information.

If students do need to quarantine and they have booked accommodation with the University, we will provide free accommodation and food service during the quarantine period for students in accommodation which is catered, but you must have arrived between 10-12 October to take part. If students are living in self-catered University accommodation during quarantine, we can assist with food delivery.

We are making a number of changes on campus to keep you safe.

Arrival on campus
When you arrive for the start of term, you will go through a brief health check with a member of staff and your temperature will be taken. You’ll be asked to use the identified entrance and exit of each building on campus and use the hand sanitising gel available on site. Where social distancing of 2 metres is not possible (in corridors and communal areas) you will be required to wear a face covering. All classrooms and offices will have posted capacities. Please follow the guidance and do not enter a room if it is at capacity.

Contact us

If you have any questions related to your timetable or courses, you can e-mail us at registryservices@richmond.ac.uk at any time.

Q&As

1. How many courses will I take in Fall 2020?

We expect the majority of students to take the standard 15 US credits, which is the equivalent to five courses. Some students will be completing six credit Senior Projects which will mean that they are taking four courses, but still 15 credits.

2. How many courses will I take online?

We expect all full-time current students to take:

One course online for six weeks in Fall One (7 September – 16 October)
One course online for three weeks in Fall A (7 September – 25 September)
One course online for three weeks in Fall B (28 September – 16 October)

This is three online courses.

The number of online courses is different for students taking Senior Seminar I or II, or a Communications, Psychology or Business School Senior Project. Please refer to the email you received from Registry Services for more information.

3. How many courses will I take in Fall Two?

We expect all full time current students to take two courses for six weeks each, one of which may be the continuation of a Psychology or Business School 6 credit Senior Project.

Those taking a Communications Senior Project, Senior Seminar I or Senior Seminar II will continue this alongside your two six week courses.

4. I don’t want to take part in the on-line classes at the start of the term, but I would like to take part in face-to-face classes starting in Fall Two. Is it possible to do one part of the term, but not the other?

Students can only take a maximum of two courses in Fall Two. This means that if you did not take online courses as well, you may be considered part time and may be ineligible for a Tier 4 Visa or US financial support. Keep in mind that a reduced course load may delay your graduation.

5. I am on Academic Probation. How many courses can I take?

We suggest that you take one online course in Fall One, one online course in Fall A OR B, and two courses in Fall B.

6. Why is the semester now 13 weeks instead of 15 weeks?

The three and six week courses will require additional contact hours and independent study hours each week to ensure that you receive 3 US credits of teaching per course. This means that timetabled sessions in the in-classroom teaching block (Fall 2) will be slightly longer than previous classroom sessions to ensure that the equivalent of 15 weeks of teaching is covered. Students who have taken part in our summer school classes will be familiar with this intensive teaching block. The two-week break is to accommodate our students who may face travel and/or quarantine restrictions and the University’s Academic Board took the decision that teaching courses in a three and six-week block would work better for students in an online delivery.

7. Why can’t I take 18 credits in Fall?

The intensive teaching blocks will not allow enough independent study hours for you to add on an additional course. Similarly, because of the longer teaching sessions in the classroom in Fall Two, we cannot guarantee that the timetabling would allow for this.

8. Can I take less than 5 courses?

As with a regular semester, students are considered full time when they take 3-5 courses in a semester, so you can choose to take only three or four courses
(typically 9 or 12 credits) but this may delay your graduation. If you wish to take less than three courses you would be considered part-time and would be ineligible for a Tier 4 visa or financial support.

9. When will I receive my new timetable?

Registry Services aims to send this to students in early July.

10. Who can I talk to about my timetable?

You can contact your Academic Advisor and/or Registry Services to discuss your timetable but please keep in mind that we will not be able to share with you the new timetable until early July. Over the summer months staff and faculty will take annual leave but the Registry Services and Student Affairs teams are available for your questions if you are unable to speak to your Academic Advisor.

11. How do I pay for my Fall courses if the timetable is changing?

You will receive an invoice based on your current registration. You will only need a new invoice if you decide to become a part-time student.

12. Are the tuition fees changing for Fall 2020?

No, we are still providing all teaching, learning resources and support as with previous semesters, so there are no plans to change the fees.

This change in provision in the areas of teaching, learning and assessment requires just as much, if not more, involvement of staff and faculty because of the one-to-one support required.

These changes have been made to protect the health and well-being of our students, implement Government requirements and preserve the continuity of teaching, learning and assessment.

13. I haven’t registered for Fall yet, should I wait until the new timetable is ready?

It is important for our planning and scheduling and to ensure the timetable suits the needs of students for us to know which classes you want to take, so please contact Registry Services to register now, knowing that the timetable will change. The deadline for registration has already passed but the university will waive the late registration fee until 14 June 2020.

14. Does Online teaching impact my scholarship?

If you have met the GPA requirements to keep your scholarship, there will be no change to this. Please contact Jason Elliot, Associate Dean for Financial Assistance if you have further questions about this.

15. Is my visa still valid with online classes?

Yes, provided that you are registered for 6 credits in Fall Two, and at least 3 credits in Fall One, A and/or B.

16. Is my funding still valid with online classes?

Yes, provided that you are registered for 6 credits in Fall Two, and at least 3 credits in Fall One, A and/or B.

17. Can I apply for university accommodation?

You will need to have registered for the current Fall timetable to be considered for accommodation. Housing applications will be released on 1 June 2020, so please check your email. Your new proposed tenancy will be 31 October 2020- 19 December 2020 for the Fall 2020 term. Housing costs for the term will be a pro-rated amount for 7 weeks.

18. When will I be able to move in to university accommodation?

Returning students are expected to be back on campus on Saturday, 31 October 2020. Classes re-start on Monday, 2 November 2020, subject to UK guidance as revised from time to time.

19. How will the University manage social distancing in classrooms, study areas and bedrooms when students return to campus?

We aim to commence on-campus teaching on Monday 2 November. Necessary steps shall be taken to ensure that we comply with the latest government advice. The health, safety and security of our students, staff and faculty is our top priority.

20. Are you offering any other additional support to students in addition to online learning?

The University will host bookable virtual appointments for the Maths Workshop and Writing Centre. You will also have access to peer to peer tutoring and health and welfare support through the Office of Student Affairs.

Any Special Educational Needs you may have will be assessed by Student Affairs and Registry Services to ensure that we have the appropriate measures in place to support you with your online learning and assessments.

The Library team will be available to support you with finding and accessing the resources you need. Librarians can also offer 1-to-1 assistance via email, video demo or online.

21. Can I delay my return to studies to Spring 2021?

You can apply for a Leave of Absence for up to two semesters on myRichmond. Students must be in good academic and financial standing to apply.

22. What is the University doing in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

The health, welfare and safety of students, staff and faculty is the number one priority for the University. In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we are following UK Government guidance with information updates for students regularly posted on our website and emailed to students.

The University made the decision to close both London campuses and the study centre in Leeds on 1st May 2020 to protect the health of all of its students, faculty and staff. This means that all facilities are closed including student accommodation, common areas, dining facilities, classrooms, libraries and offices. Summer session classes began on Monday, 18th May and were offered remotely.

The University continues to house students who cannot travel back to home due to travel restrictions and/or other personal/health related issues. All student support including library access is being offered remotely through the summer. For assistance, contact us at studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk

23. How many cases of students do you have at Richmond who have tested positive for COVID-19?

As of 28 October 2020, we currently have two students who have tested positive for COVID-19. We wish both of them a speedy recovery. They will be fully supported by the University while they are recovering.

We have put in place significant safety measures, in line with the latest advice from the Government, Public Health England and our local health authority. More information on our safety measures can be found here. If you are self-isolating, we will do everything we can to support you.

24. For Fall 2020, I was put in a course by Registry that isn’t on my Academic Plan. Does this course still count toward my degree?

If you look at the ‘Notes’ section in the e-mail you received with your new Fall 2020 schedule, it will say what the chosen course will go in your Academic Plan as if it’s not a course that you chose during Priority Registration or is a course that isn’t on your original Academic Plan (a substitution). These courses have been approved to go into your Academic Plan, though you won’t see this on your Academic Plan on Self-Service yet.

25. How will Senior Projects and Senior Seminar work in Fall 2020?

When you look at your schedule on Self-Service, you’ll see these courses timetabled in for ‘Fall 1’. However, they run across the whole semester, just like they normally would. You’ll be assigned a supervisor and will meet with them virtually throughout the semester and your deadlines will be throughout the semester as well.

26. Can I do transfer credit during Fall 2020?

As with any other semester, this is your choice and at your own personal expense. The same rules still apply for transferring in credits this semester as they do any other semester. You MUST get any transfer credit courses assessed and approved by Registry Services BEFORE signing up for and paying for the course you’d like to take. However, if you want to do transfer credit during term time, then you are not allowed to take a full courseload at Richmond. You can find the full Transfer Credit Policy here.

27. I’m concerned that, because some of the courses I need to graduate aren’t running in Fall 2020, I will be a course or two behind and this may delay my graduation. Can you address this concern?

We understand that this is a concern because of the limited courses that are running in Fall, and because all Academic Plans may not have been updated with substitutions. However, Registry Services had all substitutions approved by the relevant School that your Major is in. If you have any specific concerns, please reach out to us about your case via e-mail.

28. I don’t understand the new timetable. Can you please explain it another way?

Yes, sure! We created a video that is now on the Registry Services FAQ page on myRichmond, which you used to access this document.

29. I‘m not happy with the courses that were chosen for me/I’ve had an elective chosen for me, but I don‘t want to take it/I’d like to change one (or more) of my courses. What can I do and how can I do this?

The best thing to do is to look on Self-Service at the courses that are running in the session that the course you’d like to change is running. You can then see what other course options you have for that session and compare this with the gaps in your Academic Plan. Please let us know what you’d like to change by sending Registry an e-mail with your proposed changes and we can do this for you.

30. One of the original courses that I chose was cancelled. What happens now?

Course cancellations inevitably happen every semester. For Fall 2020, if you look at the ‘Notes’ section in the e-mail you received with your new schedule, it will say what changes have been made and what the course Registry chose for you will be used for on your Academic Plan. If you’d like to make changes to this, please see the question above for next steps.

31. I‘m taking a transfer credit course over the summer that’s a pre-requisite for a course I’d like to take in the Fall. Can I sign up for the course in Fall now?

No. We need to see at least an Unofficial Transcript from the completed course before we can register you for this.

32. How will Add/Drop work this semester?

Since the courses in Fall 2020 are in block format, students will be able to Add/Drop on the first day of classes only. These dates are: 7 September for Fall A and Fall 1, 28 September for Fall B, and 2 November for Fall 2. It WILL NOT be possible to petition to Late Add courses, for the simple reason that students will have missed too much class content by the time that they are added to the course, making it incredibly challenging to catch up.

33. What if I am not able to return for in person classes?

You may request to complete Fall 2 online because of personal circumstances. Please get in touch with Registry Services directly at registryservices@richmond.ac.uk if this is the case.