Oxford gets ready to welcome back university students

Oxford Skyline Oxford University Images /  Greg Smolonski   - Students are getting ready to come back to Oxford for the new academic year, and the city is getting ready for a return to a more normal rhythm of life. Students are an essential part of life here, and Oxford has felt the impact of restrictions on student attendance as an additional impact on businesses, and a strangely empty city. With the new academic year approaching, both universities will be continuing to have measures in place to manage the Covid risk. With many students now vaccinated as well as local residents, the risk this year is lower. However, the universities are still continuing to take steps to reduce COVID-19 risks. Measures include: Support to encourage students to take up their vaccine appointments as early as possible, before they arrive at university if they can Pop-up vaccination centres provided at both universities for those who have not been able to get vaccinated before attending Encouraging students to get tested before they arrive at university, and to keep home testing twice weekly throughout the term PCR testing for symptomatic cases is available on site at Oxford Brookes and Oxford University Health guidance for staff and students at both universities, covering the use of face coverings, testing and self isolation Many larger lectures taking place online, with smaller sessions going ahead in-person, with appropriate safety measures in place. Oxford Brookes University arrivals weekend is 11 and 12 September, while Oxford University students will arrive from early October.