Partial Return to Campus for PGRs (Both Desk & Lab-based)

22 September 2020

We appreciate that work and study away from campus has been challenging for our PGR students.

To ensure everyone’s safety, we must continue to reduce attendance on campus to the essential. The majority of the university’s community will have to continue working from home.

For Autumn term, PGR return to campus for desk-based students must balance the availability of covid-19 secure space with careful judgement of who cannot work away from campus. For Lab-based students, return must be based on the need to access facilities and equipment necessary to continue research.

The principle guideline is that if PGR students can continue working from home, they should do so. This will allow us to maximise opportunity to those who are unable to continue their research from home.

Desk-based Guidance

Desk-based PGR students who are still working away from campus will have the opportunity to request access to campus if they cannot work from home. 

Each Faculty will establish available quantity of covid-19 secure PGR spaces. To limit the need for additional cleaning, this may not be the student’s previous/usual location.

Access will typically be based on need, and will be considered if Covid-19 secure capacity allows.

Lab-based Guidance

Lab-based PGR students may:

• Return to campus as part of the phased return to laboratories, by request from their supervisor or research group lead
• May request a return to lab work via the School if not included in the phased return

When considering requests for lab-based PGR access the following criteria will be considered:

• Year of study
• Access to lab required – and rationale
• Capacity of lab area and established protocols/RAMS
• Approval by Supervisor/Head of Research Group

Process for Requesting Access: Desk or Lab–based

• Students can request access from their School providing a brief rationale. This may be, for example restrictive domestic workspace, personal wellbeing, family or childcare commitments, need for on-campus facilities to carry out research.
• Requests will be reviewed by the relevant HOS (or appropriate nominee) and ADOFO to prioritise the academic needs of students.
• PGR will receive an email responding to the request, providing information about time and allocated space etc.

For Note:

• Safety will be the priority and so every request may not be granted.
• Social distancing will be maintained on campus: meetings, seminars and gatherings will online only for the foreseeable future.
• A workspace might not be someone’s usual desk to ensure capacity and safety.
• The process and access requests granted will be regularly reviewed.
• PGR students will be able to request a one-off access visit to collect items from their own desk to support their continued work.
• Student services such as the Library click and collect will be available.

If you have any questions regarding this guidance please contact your Associate Director of Faculty Operations.

See also the University guidance sites: Returning to Campus (Labs/Workshops/Studios) and Returning to Campus (Non Lab-based).