Are universities open ?

[Emmie12345]

In this lockdown?

In the sense that students are still being given work to do then yes

My 3 students are at unis with facilities open to assist their learning.

Ah so they can still live in their halls etc

@Emmie12345 for many students their student accommodation is better than home in terms of space, internet connection, and to get away from tricky home situations

Medicine and Dentistry yes
Otherwise online.

Each university will have their own way of working. The rules say they must move to online learning unless it's a course based on physical attendance - which is more lenient than last time already.

You shouldn't move back to accommodation however until you've received guidance from the university.

@LindaEllen moving back into campus will be guided by the Uni but the vast majority of students live in private rented accommodation. This cannot be controlled by the Uni so students are then subject to national rules/guidance.

Everything has been online for DD, ie nothing face to face. Her uni had already given her a return date of not before 5 February. Following lockdown, DD tells me she'd already emailed the agent with a view to terminating her contract (which she can do). For her, there's no point in being there as they haven't been able to mix with anyone outside their household (Scotland). Hoping she's now legally allowed to travel across border and put her items into storage before end of contract.

The following courses can resume face to face teaching at the start of the spring term:

Medicine & dentistry.
Subjects allied to medicine/health.
Veterinary science.
Education (initial teacher training)
Social work.
Courses which require Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) assessments and or mandatory activity which is scheduled for January and which cannot be rescheduled.

www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#going-to-school-college-and-university

It depends on the course whether they are returning to face to face teaching.

Those students who are undertaking training and study for the following
courses should return to face to face learning as planned and be tested
twice, upon arrival or self-isolate for ten days:
● Medicine & dentistry
● Subjects allied to medicine/health
● Veterinary science
● Education (initial teacher training)
● Social work
● Courses which require Professional, Statutory and Regulatory
Body (PSRB) assessments and or mandatory activity which is
scheduled for January and which cannot be rescheduled (your
university will notify you if this applies to you).

Regardless of what course they are on they can still live in halls if already there.

Everyone needs to be aware that the rules are different in each of the four countries.

We live in England but DS1 is studying in Wales. He returned to Uni on Monday and is using the facilities their already (having been tested for Covid this morning). Were he doing the same course in England he would be staying at home.

there