London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Can university students go home? Current rules explained

Can university students go home? Current rules explained

Thousands of students are currently self-isolating in their rooms following a surge in coronavirus cases at institutions such as Glasgow, Manchester Metropolitan and Edinburgh Napier.

1,700 students at Manchester Metropolitan alone were put into a lockdown on Friday without any warning, after 127 students tested positive for Covid-19.

The government’s scientific adviser Sir Mark Walport has previously said that students may have to stay in halls when term ends to prevent them spreading the infection to older relatives. This has sparked panic that Christmas in isolation could be on the cards for many students.

But what are the current guidelines for students across the country?

Can university students go home?


Moving out of home can be a stressful and unnerving period in the best of times, let alone moving away in the middle of a pandemic.

With many classes being moved online, students up and down the UK are keen to know whether they can return home and do their classes remotely.


Thousands of students are currently self-isolating in their rooms


There are currently no official rules in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland stating that university students who are not under self-isolation cannot leave their accommodation to return home now or at any other time.

Scottish students have been told that they can return home from their university accommodation so long as it is on a ‘long-term’ basis.

Students have been urged by the Scottish government to remain living at university to lower the risk of spread. However, if they do decide to permanently move back home, they have been asked to follow coronavirus self-isolating rules and not use public transport.

Last week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out banning students from returning home at Christmas.

On BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme about whether students would be forced to stay in their university towns at Christmas, Mr Hancock said: ‘I don’t want to have a situation like that and I very much hope we can avoid it.’

He added: ‘Students, once they’ve gone to university, should stay, so as not to spread the disease.’



What are the current rules for students living on campus?


Students have been given guidelines to stay safe while on campus:

* Social distancing must be observed on campus and in class

* Some universities have said that students must wear face coverings in class

* Students are urged not to throw parties that impede on the ‘rule of six’

* Students are encouraged to avoid socialising in places that do not have Covid-19 protections in place

* Students’ housemates/flatmates are counted as their new household, and the same social gathering rules apply

* Campus pubs, restaurants, and other hospitality venues must close at 10pm

* Sex has been banned for students – unless they already live together

Students living in regions under local lockdown will have to follow these guidelines on top of whatever separate guidelines have been allocated to their area.

For example, students living in Cardiff and Swansea will have to adhere to the 6pm hospitality curfew, and will not be able to leave the region.

Students living in Bolton will not be able to go to any pub or restaurant unless they run a takeaway service.

Leeds students are prohibited from socially gathering indoors with any other households.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×