Alexandra Bode-Tunji, Executive HR Director, said: “We’re doing all we can to ensure we are providing an experience which is as safe and close to normal as possible. We’re excited to see our students back on our campuses and resuming day-to-day university life once again.”

Among the precautions the University has taken to ensure utmost safety are:

· Screens at receptions, help desks and catering counters;

· Reducing capacity in teaching spaces to allow for social distancing

· Clear social distance signage around all of the University's buildings;

· Frequent cleaning at all locations throughout each day and ready supplies of sanitiser.

· Providing appropriate Personal Protective equipment for activities that require close contact

Plenty is being done for new and returning students, including:

· The Bucks Welcome: The Bucks Welcome Back programme – brought to you by the University and Bucks Students’ Union – is packed full of initiatives to help get you back in to the swing of campus life.

· Teaching and Learning: The University is following a ‘hybrid’ approach to teaching across every course and module. Students are receiving face-to-face teaching and space to study, strictly observing social distancing guidelines, supported by online material and content. It’s a real – not virtual – learning experience.

· Student Support – every step of the way: The University is ensuring that students have access to face-to-face and online advice, guidance, and support for all aspects of university life, supported by TogetherAll, 24/7 wellbeing support online.

· Accommodation: Students won’t have been charged a deposit and your contract will not have begun until you took up residence. If there’s another public health crisis which prevents students from accessing campuses, you will be released from your contract at no extra cost.

Students who returned to the campus over the summer to complete work and assessments said they felt safe and secure.

These included second-year BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy students who wore face shields, aprons, and gloves as they carried out their assessments on fellow students in the University's Human Performance, Exercise, & Wellbeing Centre

Student Amber Murray said she had been quite anxious about attending.

“After my first day back, and receiving all the PPE, my worries were immediately put to ease,” she added. "I felt very safe in all the practical assessments and while the concept of wearing the PPE is still a bit strange I appreciate that safety is paramount and I feel much more prepared as I go in to my third year."

Fellow student Katie Pusey said: "Overall the Sports Therapy lectures went above and beyond their duties to ensure our safety while returning to the University.

"We were informed prior to returning of the measures which had been put in place and everything was clearly laid out on our return.

"The transition of us returning couldn't have gone smoother and the lecturers made our teaching environment as close to normal as possible.

"A very big thank you to the lecturers for allowing us back to complete one of the modules for the second year."

Course Leader Dr Kevin Campbell-Karn said he had been impressed with how well students had adhered to what was required. "The students were great and really stepped up to the requirements,” said Kevin.

"Whilst they were a little apprehensive to start, it all became normal quite quickly. There were some teething difficulties, including making sure people could hear me through the shield, but otherwise everything has gone seamlessly."