Students are to be given a "travel window" to ensure they can visit their families over the festive period.
The government has published plans for students coming home for Christmas while the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Advice on the government's website states everyone should follow the national restrictions in place from November 5 until December 2, which means students must stay in their current accommodation for a little longer.
Currently, students are unable leave their term time address except for specific purposes, including leaving home for education, during this period.
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But the second national lockdown ends this week which allow many students to travel home to their families.
The lockdown came into effect on November 2 in a bid to combat a spike in coronavirus cases but last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the strict measures would be ending on December 2.
From December 3 until December 9, a so-called "student travel window" will permit students to travel over a period of one week.
The government is asking that students return home once the national restrictions have been lifted, in a student travel window to help stagger their journeys.
Higher education providers are expected to work with other higher education providers in their city, town or county to agree on the staggered return home of students between these dates.
To support all students being able to travel home in the window, face to face provision for the winter term should finish at every provider by December 9 at the latest.
COVID-19 tests will be offered to as many students as possible before they travel home for Christmas, with universities in areas of high prevalence prioritised.
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This will provide further reassurance that where students test negative, they can return home safely and reduce the risk of passing coronavirus on to their loved ones.
Those who do not return home by December 9 will be advised to undertake a further period of restricted contact either before or after returning home to minimise the risk of transmission.
The government expects providers to stagger the end of face to face provision between December 3 and 9 between faculties. A provider can end face to face provision before December 3 if they wish.
This is aimed at alleviating pressures on public transport.
Higher education providers can continue online learning after December 9.
As well as getting tested before they embark on their journey home, students are reminded to wear a face covering on public transport, try and avoid busy routes and times, and to limit care sharing with only their household or support bubble wherever possible.
