The University of Leeds has detailed how it will safely welcome old and new students in September as it announces it will be reopening.
University life is going to look and feel a lot different for students, with strict social distancing measures in place across all parts of campus and halls.
Those starting in first year will also experience the strange new rules to make sure different families from across the UK do not come into contact with one another.
The campus will reopen on September 28, with the key changes students will see including:
- Timetables adapted to avoid crowds at the same time
- Digital lectures
- Repeated seminars to ensure smaller class sizes
- Hand sanitiser provided to all students
For students moving into Halls of residents, there will also be some big changes. These include:
- Staggered and contactless arrivals process
- Increased cleaning of halls
- Hand sanitiser provided
Posting on Twitter, the university said: "Everyone at Leeds has been working hard to adapt and support students, we're proud of their efforts but also, we're proud of you.
"Thank you for being patient and understanding."
While making it safer for people to attend university, the rules will mean an incredibly different environment for students, who are used to socialising and pay thousands in tuition fees for seminars, lectures and one-to-one mentoring.
A huge change will be the atmosphere of Fresher's week, known across the UK as a time for starting students to go out, socialise, drink in bars, sign up to clubs and societies and to make friends during their first week away from their home.
Leeds University Union says it is ready for the challenge and is working on a series of events - both online and on campus - to help students integrate during Freshers week.
Small groups such as seminars, tutorials, practical sessions and supervision will be face-to-face but teaching where there is a "large number of students" can only happen digitally.
Timetables will also be changed to ensure people can move around campus without there being large crowds all at once.
Some seminars are likely to be repeated multiple times so people on larger courses can attend while maintaining social distancing.
International students will still need to register in person due to immigration rules.
The university said more detailed instructions on what new and returning students can expect will be announced nearer the start date.
