As part of its commitments to do the right thing by students, Buckinghamshire New University has written to almost 1,400 EU, Erasmus, and International students to inform them about the latest rules and regulations around quarantine.

The University is also offering free accommodation to students who, due to circumstances beyond their control, require somewhere to stay before starting their actual accommodation contracts.

As Government advice around travel from various countries changes rapidly, the University is ensuring our students are kept up-to-date with developments.

Ian Harper, Commercial and Business Development Director, said: "We consider it vital to keep our students travelling in to the UK well-informed of latest developments around quarantine.

"We contacted them because the quarantine rules for people arriving in the UK are changing frequently and with relatively short notice and we do not want them to, in a worst case scenario, miss the start of term and any of their studies."

"We want to ensure that all students are able to participate in the University’s Welcome Week in mid-September, which means that students should consider their date of arrival to the UK in order that any applicable quarantine period is completed before it begins.

"We appreciate that this may make things difficult for some students, so are offering free accommodation in our halls from the date of their arrival in the UK until the start of their accommodation contract period with the University."

Elsewhere, the University has also worked with Bucks Students’ Union to develop a new accommodation package for all new, returning and graduating and alumni students for 2020/21.

Recognising the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19, the University has reduced all of our accommodation charges by 10-30%.

Rooms in our Covid-safe student accommodation will start at £80 per week and include:

- No deposit, flexible contract period and a public health crisis guarantee

- All utilities, free Wi-Fi and contents insurance

- 24 hr security and on-site pastoral and welfare provision

- 1/3 off University gym membership once lockdown restrictions are lifted

- Free membership of ‘The Bucks Café Club’ giving you discounts at all campus cafes which we expect to be open for at least takeaways from September

- Bedding, cleaning and welcome packs available on request.

The University is not charging a deposit and students' contracts will not start until they are required to be on campus and take up residence. Also, if there is another public health crisis which prevents students from accessing our campuses, they will be released from their contract at no additional cost.

Other measures the University has taken to support its students include:

- From 5 April, it waived the costs of accommodation for the summer term, and dramatically reduced the costs (by 75%) for those students still living in halls.

- It wrote an open letter to private landlords asking that they recognise the exceptional circumstances and consider rent discounts or early release from contracts for students.

- It set up an emergency allowance, in addition to an existing Hardship Fund, for students to claim up to £250 to meet any pressing money issues.