The Government has confirmed that on-campus teaching will not resume before 17 May 2021 for students on courses that are not on the Government’s exemption list and we will continue to provide students with the same high quality, engaging learning experience and student support via our online channels as they start Term 3.

Aston’s on-campus asymptomatic (no-symptom) Covid-19 test centre is open in the Aston Conference Centre. The Government has announced that all students or staff attending on-campus sessions, and using on-campus facilities, must take two lateral flow tests per week. These tests will help reduce transmission of the virus from students and staff that show no symptoms. Students can book a test here.

Face coverings must be worn inside all Aston buildings and students are expected to follow the guidance on testing prior to entering the building.

Access to the Student Services Hub helpdesk is available via email and telephone. For all IT queries students should use Solve in the first instance.

See our current student FAQ page for further questions and answers about the January lockdown update.

If a student is self-isolating and is struggling to get any food they can contact our Campus Safety team campussaftey@aston.ac.uk and we can arrange for a food package to be delivered.

If students are staying or arriving on campus during the festive break, we have created some fun and free events for them to participate in.

See our current student FAQ page for the events schedule.

Our on-campus asymptomatic (no symptom Covid-19 test centre will be operational again from 4 January. All students returning to campus need to take two tests three days apart.

See our current student FAQ page for further questions and answers about our on-campus test centre.

Aston has a team who is closely monitoring and managing the implications of the pandemic, working closely with Birmingham City Council, and acting on advice of Public Health England, Universities UK and the NHS. We will be updating this advice as new Government and Public Health England guidance emerges COVID-19 - here's how we're handling it.

We have been working with Birmingham City Council to provide testing facilities on our campus since August 2020. This means in the event of a student or colleague displaying symptoms, they can book their test on campus and would not need to travel a long distance to a testing centre when feeling unwell.

For students who are self-isolating, support is available through our Student Services Team members, who also check in with students on a regular basis to see if they need anything.

For students staying in Unite accommodation, information on how they are working to keep everyone safe can be found at the Unite Students website. Students staying in other shared accommodation need to follow the instructions as outlined by their accommodation provider. For further information on what to do when self-isolating is available at NHS self-isolation advice and we have also shared this easy to follow graphic with students.

Students staying on in Aston Student Village and the Old Fire Station can order a food parcel or a meal package through Aston Catering Team ‘Nourish’ (order online at the Nourish webpage).

We have made sure extra safety measures are in place including sanitisers at key points across campus; clear signage; one-way systems; following guidelines around social distancing in taught sessions; prioritisation of touch points for cleaning throughout the day and wearing face coverings on campus.

If your son or daughter tests positive for Covid-19 this needs to be reported to covid-19reporting@aston.ac.uk and our Health and Safety Team will provide information on what to do next.  Our Student Services Team will then automatically contact any student who tests positive, so that they can provide them with the right level of support. 

We are operating a blended approach to learning and teaching where students will study both online and on-campus, adhering to social distancing guidelines. 

We have continued to invest in staff development to enable our lecturers to design, deliver and assess online and on campus in an innovative and interactive way. Throughout the 2020/21 academic year we will be running all our large group sessions online. We will be running smaller group sessions in a combination of on-campus and online modes. We are concentrating our on-campus activities on clinical and lab work, where there are scientific professionally-oriented programmes, and small group sessions for our business and social sciences students. Students are encouraged to attend the small group sessions on campus wherever they can. For students on courses with compulsory attendance elements, their academic College has been in touch with them.

In addition, all students have access to, academic study skills and careers support, the Library, study space and computer facilities. Students are also able to borrow laptops from the Library should they need to. Live webinars, demonstrations and individual / group study take place online to minimise the number of people moving around campus.

Key information and resources are available through our virtual learning environment, Blackboard Collaborate. All online Library services and resources will remain accessible through the Library website. Our Learning Development Centre will continue to support students with their academic writing, study skills and mathematics via online channels and face-to-face.

Students have access to our MyEngagement platform to keep track of their engagement with studies. The platform provides real-time feedback and tips on how they can maximise their engagement and achievement. Each student is also allocated a personal tutor who will check in with them if they don’t see any activity recorded. Students can talk to their Personal Tutors about any concerns that they have.

Our student Services team is on hand to offer advice and support to students and there are a number of resources that students can access remotely and on campus. They can be contacted at thehub@aston.ac.uk or 0121 204 4007

Our Safezone app means students can request help in getting food or medication; if they are struggling with their mental health; if they are worried about someone else or if they have an emergency.

For any student struggling with their wellbeing or mental health, our qualified counsellors/ psychotherapy practitioners in our Counselling and Wellbeing Service are on hand. They can be contacted on 0121 204 4007 or at counselling@aston.ac.uk.

Our Enabling Team offers advice and support for students with disabilities, ongoing health conditions and learning differences. They can be contacted on 0121 204 4007 or at enablingteam@aston.ac.uk.

We email our students frequently with information about the measures we've put in place and our coronavirus FAQ page provides the latest information which you may find useful.

If you have any concerns and would like to speak to a member of our Student Advice team they can be contacted at thehub@aston.ac.uk or on 0121 204 4007.  In an emergency our Campus Safety team can be contacted on 0121 204 4803 or via the Safezone app 24/7