Coronavirus (COVID-19) status at Birkbeck

We look forward to welcoming you to the Birkbeck community in October. We recognise that many students, and their families, may have questions about the impact of the coronavirus.

Birkbeck has been delivering accessible and flexible, world-leading education for almost 200 years and we are looking forward to bringing you an outstanding learning experience in 2020-21. We will begin this academic year differently because of COVID-19, but we have not compromised our academic standards, nor the quality of our learning opportunities. You will enjoy an excellent Birkbeck learning experience and graduate with a prestigious University of London degree that is valued around the world.

High-quality online learning

The health and wellbeing of our students and staff members remains our top priority. COVID-19 has brought uncertainty into all of our lives with government guidance changing on a weekly basis. Birkbeck aims to mitigate the adverse effects of this uncertainty by ensuring that high-quality online learning and teaching will be available throughout the academic year. You can read about how we have approached this in the Vice Chancellor's welcome and in the Academic Registrar’s blog post. In addition, on-campus learning and teaching will be scheduled as and when possible, and our facilities will be opening within the constraints of government guidance.

Orientation and start of year

The new Welcome to Birkbeck 2020-21 Moodle course is now available to all enrolled students. The orientation module provides key information such as how to approach learning online and effective study skills, along with introductions to the Birkbeck student community, the personal tutor system, student services, careers support and the Birkbeck Library.

Alongside the Moodle resources, the Get Ahead Stay Ahead 2020 (GASA) study skills sessions run throughout September. The workshops are primarily intended for students new to Birkbeck but are also open to returning students. Book via your My Birkbeck page or via the Birkbeck events web page. Recordings of the sessions are available from the Birkbeck Study Skills Moodle module.

The Birkbeck Students’ Union have launched their Welcome Week programme for new and returning students.

The Virtual Annual Careers Fair will run on Saturday 7 November and is now open for bookings.

Option to complete the academic year fully online

We are guaranteeing that if you start the academic year with us then you will be able to complete it via high-quality online learning. We hope that you will also be able to access as many of our campus facilities as COVID-19 constraints allow. This balanced approach safeguards your educational experience and ensures that you could engage with the Birkbeck community if you were placed in local lockdown, required to self-isolate, needing to shield from the coronavirus or unable to travel to the Birkbeck estate. This will also ensure continuity of your studies if your personal or professional circumstances are affected or change.

Campus events and teaching

The College will be continuing to monitor government guidance on social distancing for campus events and teaching. This means that at the start of the academic year most of your learning will be conducted online with additional campus activities where possible. The latter will normally be on a voluntary basis. However, a few of our courses incorporate an obligatory practice-based component such as laboratory sessions or field trips, which means students would need to attend some teaching events physically in order to complete the year. Departments will write to students separately to explain the arrangements for these courses.

The library and study spaces

Birkbeck is committed to providing a safe environment while you study and use facilities in the Library. From Monday 14 September, the College Library in Malet Street will have almost 200 study spaces available for student use. The Library will be open from Monday to Friday from 12pm-7pm. To visit the Library, you will need to book a study space in advance and to come in to borrow items. There will be no access to the Library without a booking. Make sure you read the student protocol for attending the Library before you travel.

We will keep the situation under close review and provide more in-person learning and support opportunities once it becomes safe to do so.

Online learning resources, student support services and social networking events

We will be providing a blend of virtual and interactive classes and an excellent range of online learning resources in the Autumn Term. Our globally recognised academic staff members and digital education experts have been collaborating over the summer to transform our virtual learning environment to ensure you receive the highest quality intellectual experience. Delivered by our inspirational teaching staff, our classes will provide a wealth of opportunities to discuss your ideas face-to-face online with your tutors and fellow students.



Our virtual classrooms will be supported by a rich range of learning materials including videos, reading materials and learning activities, which you can engage with at times convenient to you. You will also have access to a full range of student support services, and a calendar of social networking events available on our Bloomsbury campus in the heart of London.

Virtual learning technology requirements

Designed with accessibility in mind, our excellent online resources and support will work across various devices and platforms. As most of our teaching will be virtual in the autumn, you will need a personal computer or laptop and reliable internet connection. If these are not available to you, at home, work or on campus, please check our financial support pages for news of relevant schemes of support that may be able to assist you.

Prospective students, applicants and offer holders

My studies

The Autumn Term will begin on 5 October 2020. We will continue to support your studies in the following ways:

We are guaranteeing that if you start the academic year with us then you will be able to complete it via high quality online learning. We hope though that you will also be able to access as much of our campus facilities as COVID-19 constraints allow. This balanced approach safeguards your educational experience and ensures that you could engage with the Birkbeck community if you were placed in local lockdown, required to self-isolate, needing to shield from the coronavirus or unable to travel to the Birkbeck estate. This will also ensure continuity of your studies if your personal or professional circumstances are affected or change.



If you have a study-related question for a lecturer, please email them. If your question is for an administrator, please use the ASK system to get in touch.



Departmental administrative teams are offering support online, and are not available for face-to-face or phone enquiries at this time.



Please continue to use the wellbeing self-help resources available on our student services website .

wellbeing self-help resources available on our student services website

We recommend that you use our Studiosity service, located in My Birkbeck, to support your assignment submission preparations. Please note that you are not allowed to use Studiosity for take-home exams.



Learning Development staff are available to help you with your assignments and with preparation for your take-home exam, although they are not allowed to help you during the actual exam itself. Live online workshops are available to support you to study at home.

workshops are available

Your feedback is particularly important to help us understand what has worked well and how to make further improvements. Please complete the surveys sent to you, and provide feedback through your lecturers, student representatives and through the Students' Union.

If you are concerned about the impact of absence on your studies, please contact your personal tutor or lecturer. You can find the details of your personal tutor by logging in to My Birkbeck and selecting 'Academic Support'.

If you decide that the logistical challenges of continuing your studies are too great, you can take a break in studies due to compelling personal reasons. Before you do, please talk to your personal tutor or lecturer.

Keep checking your email, My Birkbeck and online calendars for information about your classes.

If you feel unsatisfied with your experience, please raise your concerns with the department in the first instance to see if they can help resolve your concerns. If you are still dissatisfied, you can lodge a formal complaint by following our student complaints policy and form on our policies page.

We are using national guidance from the Office for Students and the Quality Assurance Agency to ensure that teaching quality and standards are maintained, and to mitigate the impact of the situation on your studies and assessments.

My exams and assessments

The College has developed alternative assessments to replace traditional exams, and these are explained in your Moodle modules.

The College has tried to make alternative assessments as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you have a study support plan or personal exam provision and need to discuss your adjustments, please email the Disability and Dyslexia Service or the Mental Health Advisory Service .

Disability and Dyslexia Service Mental Health Advisory Service Please continue to work on any coursework that has been set. You should submit this in accordance with the instructions and deadlines provided by your department.

Many courses will require you to submit your assignment, exam or alternative assessment electronically via Moodle. A typed essay will be easy to submit from a laptop or PC, but if you don't have a laptop or PC at home, you can scan handwritten documents using your phone's camera and an app such as Office Lens. This is also a useful way to capture mathematical workings, drawings and graphs for inclusion in 'electronic' exam papers. A user guide for using mobile devices for assessment is provided in the Learning Online area of Moodle.

Dissertations and research projects : If your research involves participant interaction, it is essential that either the participant interaction is made remote or that the research is paused or changed. The College expects that most undergraduate and postgraduate taught students will continue to use approaches that do not need remote participant involvement as the lockdown is eased. Please discuss with your supervisor if your research changes as the restrictions are eased. You will not be penalised for changing your methodological approach. See full details of the change to research project regulations.

: If your research involves participant interaction, it is essential that either the participant interaction is made remote or that the research is paused or changed. The College expects that most undergraduate and postgraduate taught students will continue to use approaches that do not need remote participant involvement as the lockdown is eased. if your research changes as the restrictions are eased. You will not be penalised for changing your methodological approach. See full details of the change to research project regulations. We encourage you to complete your dissertation if you can. You are almost at the end of your programme of study and if you are able to complete your dissertation you will have achieved your University of London award this year. This then keeps you on track for the next stage in your career or personal development plans. In terms of fees, we will ensure you are not penalised as a result of disruption by COVID-19.

No detriment policy and mitigating circumstances

Parents and carers

Many students are parents of school-aged children and have had to take on home schooling while also juggling work and study.

The Mental Health Foundation have advice on parenting during lockdown

Financial support

Wellbeing

Student services and library

Research students and supervisors

The impact of COVID-19 is a particular threat to the long-term nature of the work of researchers, and the BGRS is working to find the best ways to support our PhD students through these difficult times.

an open letter from PhD students to Professor Julian Swann, and his response . Information and guidance specifically for PhD students and supervisors is available on the BGRS Moodle site , which includes

Research students should keep in touch with their supervisors and check the BGRS website for information.

BGRS website We have arranged a number of adjustments to support our research students:

PhD students in years 3-4 full time (5-7 part time) can request a six-month extension to their thesis submission deadline. Students at earlier stages can request COVID-19 extensions when they reach that point in their studies.



Birkbeck will provide up to six months' funded extensions for College-funded students, in line with UKRI-funded studentships.



Students submitting for upgrade from MPhil to PhD are entitled to a minimum three-month extension if required. Departments are being asked to arrange these for all relevant students.



Schools and Departments have been asked to consider how any unspent (student) conference or training budget could be used to support PhD students affected by COVID-19.

TRAVEL

Student course-related travel : The College and our insurers are advising against all student travel to the end of this calendar year. If you were planning to study abroad or travel overseas between now and December 2020, you should contact your lecturer or supervisor for advice and support. Our primary concern is the health and safety of all members of the College community.

Read the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO's) travel advice and please see the latest travel information from the UK government.

If you have any questions on travel that has already been booked, contact insurance@bbk.ac.uk.

You can access our foreign travel information if you'd like to know more.

International students

Birkbeck attracts students from over 100 different countries, all of whom contribute to the vibrant community at the College. We understand that during this current situation, these students have specific concerns that are different to students from the UK. Much of the information below applies only to those who hold a Tier 4 visa who have certain regulatory requirements, but it will also be helpful to non-Tier 4 students.

Tier 4 students can continue to receive Tier 4 sponsorship while studying online, provided they regularly engage in their studies.

UK Visas and Immigration have issued guidance for international students who are unable to extend their visa. If you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation, please contact the International Student Administration team.

Please visit our visa information page for the most up-to-date information.

We understand that this is a difficult and stressful time for those who have remained in the UK, away from home, but also for those who are back home and feeling isolated from their previous community. A series of online and offline extracurricular events are published on the International web page.

You may also find the guidance from UKCISA useful.

Birkbeck is an inclusive learning community and we treat any reports of harassment or intimidation in the name of the coronavirus very seriously. If you feel that you have experienced harassment within the College please get in touch and we will investigate using College policy and procedure.

If you have returned to your home country and have not informed us, please get in touch to let us know by submitting an ASK query.

Coronavirus symptoms and preventative measures

If you suspect that you have coronavirus symptoms, visit the NHS's online coronavirus service , which will tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do next.

NHS's online coronavirus service To find out more about what you can do to help stop viruses like the coronavirus spreading, visit the NHS website .

NHS website Get a free NHS test to check if you have coronavirus.

Being respectful of others

The coronavirus is an international health issue and transcends ethnicity and nationality.

Where a member of the student community is harassed or intimidated in the name of the coronavirus, or indeed in any other issue, the College will treat any reports of harassment seriously and will investigate using College policy and procedure.

We are an inclusive learning community and in times of external challenge it is a time to support one another.

Contact information

If you are concerned about a student or member of staff, you can contact the College by logging a query on ASK.

If you are a student living in a University of London halls of residence, contact Residential.Life@london.ac.uk.

If you have a clear medical concern about yourself or someone else, use the NHS 111 online service.

Staying up to date