Delayed arrival on campus for students affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)

We understand that you may be unable to attend campus for a short or longer period because of issues relating to coronavirus (COVID-19).

We have developed a remote study policy to make sure you can continue with your studies online if you are unable to attend campus.

The option to study remotely is currently available for the autumn semester (semester one) only. This means you will need to arrive on campus by 31 January 2021. Please note that some programmes, such as undergraduate Engineering, require you to be on campus by 11 January 2020.

Check your eligibility

If you are an undergraduate or postgraduate taught student, you can apply to study remotely if you are:

• shielding or in a vulnerable group
• living with or caring for someone who is shielding
• unable to travel to the UK due to travel restrictions/issues
• self-isolating because you or a member of your household has presented with coronavirus symptoms
• required to self-isolate under a track-and-trace process
• in quarantine in UK accommodation
• concerned about attending on-campus provision.

The option to study remotely does not apply to programmes where you are required to attend on-campus activity to meet the needs of professional or statutory bodies.

How to apply to study remotely

1. You will need to hold an unconditional offer to study at Cardiff University.
2. You can apply through your SIMS applicant portal if you are a new student.
3. Log in to SIMS and choose 'My Student Record'.
4. Select 'Request remote study' and follow the instructions to make your application.
5. SIMS will check if your course can be studied remotely
6. You will be asked whether you would like to study remotely for the whole of the first semester (until 31 January 2021) or whether you are intending to arrive earlier than that date. If you are planning to arrive earlier than 31 January 2021, you will be asked to provide the date of your expected arrival in Cardiff.

Once submitted, your application will be passed to your Academic School for a decision. You'll receive notification of their decision by email.

It will take up to 10 days to make a decision, although many decisions will be made faster than this. If, after 10 days, you need to seek an update, contact your Academic School via the email address on the School webpages.

Timescales

Application deadlines

You should apply by the ‘arrival for induction and enrolment’ date stated on your offer letter. Ideally, you should apply before this date, to allow your Academic School enough time to make a decision.

If your circumstances change, you may be able to apply for remote study up until your latest possible arrival date.

Arrival dates

Students intending to arrive by their latest possible arrival date

If you are planning to arrive in Cardiff any time after the start of teaching on your programme, you should apply for remote study. If you choose to apply for remote study as a back up and your application is approved - and you then find you will be arriving in Cardiff before your latest possible arrival date - you will need to request to delete your application in SIMS.

Enrolment

Even if you are applying to study remotely, you should still complete your online enrolment as soon as you receive an email inviting you to do so (you may have already received this email).

Please note that if you are granted permission to study semester one remotely, you will not initially need to collect your student card, or, if you are an international student, provide evidence of your right to study in the UK. We will require you to upload a copy of your passport to the SIMS portal following completion of online enrolment, to verify your identity. When you arrive at the University you will collect your student ID card and provide your full documentation at the enrolment event.

Academic implications

In academic terms, students studying remotely for semester one will have a comparable student experience accessing learning materials online. Your academic work will be assessed on the same basis as all other students, whether they are studying remotely or not.

If you are intending to arrive by your latest possible arrival date, but you will have missed some teaching if you arrive at this point, you do not need to apply for remote study. As long as you have enrolled, you will still be able to access the ‘standard’ online learning material offered as part of your programme. This will not have the face-to-face element, but this element will not be necessary. We do, however, advise you make use of the standard online material in order to assist with your study before arriving in Cardiff.

International students

Confirmation of Acceptance of Study (CAS)

If your application to study remotely is approved, the sponsor information record on your CAS will be updated shortly after the approval from your Academic School has been agreed. We will send you an updated CAS within a few days of your remote study application being approved, so that the UK visa authorities know that your latest arrival date has changed.

Regardless of whether your arrival date is 31 January 2021 or earlier, the latest possible start date on your CAS will always be 31 January 2021. This will mean that if your plans change in the coming months, there will be no need for further amendments to your CAS.

UK visa application

Once issued, your visa will require you to enter the UK within 90 days. If your application for remote study in semester one is successful, you will likely be arriving in Cardiff in January 2021. Please check your dates before submitting your visa application as it can be difficult to change those dates once your visa is issued, if you subsequently find you will be arriving after the 90-day period.

Post-study work visa

You will still be able to apply for the post-study work visa (Graduate Route) if you study some or all of semester one remotely.

The Graduate Route opens in summer 2021, and the latest possible date you can arrive in Cardiff if you study semester one remotely is 31 January 2021. The UK rules state that as long as you have arrived in the UK by 6 April 2021, and meet all other criteria, you will be able to apply to switch to this route after completion of your academic programme.

Unsuccessful applications

If your application for remote study is unsuccessful, you should try to be on campus during semester one. In line with the policy, you have the right to submit a request for review and will be advised as such when you receive the result of your application.

In some cases, your application may be unsuccessful because, although your programme will allow remote study during semester one, it may not be able to allow this in late January. This may be the case for a number of Physical Sciences programmes, including Engineering, where in many cases you will need to arrive by 11 January 2021. If your application for remote study for a programme in this area has been rejected, and you applied for an arrival which was late in January, you may wish to re-submit the application with an earlier arrival date. In some cases, your Academic School will write to you to advise you of this.

Letting us know if you have to isolate or quarantine during term time

We are developing a form for you to tell us if you need to self-isolate or quarantine during term time once your programme has started.