Coronavirus: Information for students

The health and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors is, and always will be our top priority. Getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is one of the best ways we can look after ourselves and each other. That’s why we are currently asking ourCovid-19 Lateral flow testing students to get vaccinated as soon as they can.

If you're eligible, we'd strongly encourage you to get an NHS Covid-19 vaccination before you start at Hull York Medical School in September. This will help to protect you and your new university friends and support us to keep campus open.

If you’re not eligible for your vaccination before September, don’t worry. It’s not essential to your offer.

Our universities will be providing further updates to all offer holders about testing and vaccinations as we approach the start of the academic year. In the meantime, NHS England has produced a Frequently Asked Questions document for students, which you might find useful.

It is crucial that staff and students who visit campus, are on placement or are receiving in-person teaching get tested regularly. It is recommended that individuals get two tests a week, three days apart.

At the University of Hull campus Lateral flow home testing kits are available to collect (with prior appointment) from the Brynmor Jones Library. 

At the University of York campus Lateral flow home testing kits are available to collect (with prior appointment) from College receptions, or the Sports Centre on Campus West, Monday to Friday, between 12pm and 4pm. In addition, on campus rapid results testing is available to all symptom free students, postgraduate researchers and staff, with (prior appointment) via the Sports Centre on Campus West from Monday to Friday, between 12pm and 4pm which you can book via the City of York website. 

MB BS and MSc Physician Associate Studies students on clinical placements should liaise with the local Student Liaison Team who will advise them of access to lateral flow testing at their individual placement site.

Note: Anyone with one or more coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – should book a Covid-19 test (also known as a PCR test) at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

Specialist research facilities at Hull and York remain open for research activities. Our universities have existing risk assessment protocols in place which have been adjusted to account for Covid-19 risks. Postgraduate research students should work closely with their research supervisor who will advise if any adjustment is needed to individual research plans.

We together with our Universities have undertaken comprehensive risk assessments for all of our on-campus activity. This activity will be reviewed in line with any new Covid-19 health and safety guidance. Students should look out for communications from the School and their University which will include information about the latest health and safety guidance as it arises, as well as guidance on keeping ourselves and members of our community safe. 

We recognise that members of our community might have underlying health conditions which put them at increased risk of Covid-19 and may mean they are unable to attend campus during national restrictions.  We are committed to supporting students to continue their studies. If you have any concerns, please contact the Student Support Team at studentsupport@hyms.ac.uk   

Our Universities have clear guidance on face coverings. You can read the full guidance on the University of Hull and University of York websites.

Students on clinical placement should adhere to infection prevention and control guidance at their individual placement site which will include guidance on face coverings and other preventative measures and should direct any queries to their local Student Liaison Team.

Self-isolate straight away and get a PCR test (a test that is sent to the lab) on GOV.UK as soon as possible if you have any of these 3 symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

You should also self-isolate straight away if

• you've tested positive for COVID-19 – this means you have the virus
• someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive (unless you are not required to self-isolate – check below if this applies to you)
• you've been told to self-isolate following contact with someone who tested positive – find out what to do if you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app

You must not come to campus or your clinical placement location and you should report to the Medical School and University that you are self-isolating.

Updated PHE guidance on NHS staff and student self-isolation and return to work following COVID-19 contact states that:

As of 16th August, following updated Government guidance, fully vaccinated staff and students working within the NHS who are identified as a contact of a positive COVID-19 case will no longer be required to isolate and will be expected to return to work, providing that the following safeguards are implemented for them to do so safely:

• a negative PCR test prior to returning to their NHS workplace. Staff members/students should not attend work/clinical placement while awaiting the PCR test result.
• the staff member/student has had two doses of an approved vaccine, and is at least two weeks (14 days) post double vaccination at the point of exposure
• provision of subsequent, daily negative LFD antigen tests for a minimum of 10 days before commencing each shift (with test results reported to Test and Trace via the web portal and to their duty manager or an identified senior staff member). Any contact who has a positive LFD test should self-isolate and arrange a PCR test.
• the staff member/student is and remains asymptomatic
• continued use of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, in line with the current UK IPC guidance and adherence to local IPC measures at their individual NHS sites

If the above criteria cannot be met, or if the staff member/student has not had both doses of the vaccine, or they are living directly (same household) with a positive contact, they will continue to be asked to isolate in-line with government guidance.

Students must notify their clinical tutor or the SLO team before they return to placement after having been identified as a contact, even if all the above conditions are met. This is so appropriate local risk assessments can be carried out to protect the safety of students, staff and patients – particularly those at higher risk. This may mean staff members/students not being able to access some clinical areas for a period of 10 days.

The guidance above is applicable to MB BS Medicine, MB BS Medicine with a Gateway Year and MSc Physician Associate Studies students at Hull York Medical School attending primary or secondary care placements. Students who have not yet had both doses of the Covid-19 vaccination, are recommended to do so as soon as possible. 

We ask that all students continue to update us as to their Covid-19 vaccination status to enable us to make decisions regarding teaching and assessments – both on campus and at our clinical sites – to ensure we have Covid-secure measures in place for the individual needs of all students, as well as our tutors and patients.

If you have a new or previously undisclosed health condition which may place you at increased risk of Covid-19 then please contact the Student Support team via email at studentsupport@hyms.ac.uk

If you have any queries, please contact the Programme Delivery Team or your local Student Liaison Team.

If you are self-isolating for any of the reasons outlined above, you should notify us by completing the University COVID-19 self-isolation form for University of Hull or University of York.

University of Hull self-isolation form

University of York student self-isolation form

Students should also notify their programme administrator and, where relevant, their PBL Tutor/Academic Supervisor.

Medicine students in Phase II or III of their programme who are on full time clinical placement must also inform their Student Liaison Team at their clinical placement site.

All Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate taught (PGT) students who are unwell and not able to attend teaching sessions (including online) should also complete an illness Absence Form and email to absence@hyms.ac.uk (UG) or your programme administrator (PGT)

Anyone self-isolating should also follow Government guidance for self-isolation.

At Hull York Medical School we use a range of tools to support your learning. From Microsoft office, to Blackboard, and Open Campus. For further information including FAQs and how to access support visit the How To website.

Our University library services continue to be available to students, with updated support in place for online and remote learning.

For further information about the services available, opening hours please visit their websites below.

University of Hull Library Services

University of York Library Services

Hull York Medical School is committed to supporting students as they progress through their programmes of study.

Your Academic Tutors/PBL Tutors will provide academic and pastoral support, as well as signposting to other services should you need them.

The Student Support team are also here to offer guidance and support to students they can be contacted via email at studentsupport@hyms.ac.uk

Students can also access student support services at the University of Hull and University of York.

Students struggling with their mental health at this time can access support via the NHS and online resources from Public Health England, along with support from mental health charity Mind. In addition to this there is the OfS-funded Student Space, Every Mind Matters for adults, and Young Minds for young people.

Hull York Medical School has its own Open Door mental health practitioner Nicola Howard, who can be contacted via email at nicola.howard@hyms.ac.uk

We are committed to supporting those students who may need to self-isolate at this time.

If you are a student in University of Hull accommodation you can find out more about support available here.

If you are a student in University of York accommodation you can find out more about support available here.

If you are a student on clinical placement, then your local Student Liaison Team will provide guidance as to the support available to you.

The University of Hull and University of York offer a range of support for students experiencing financial hardship.

Find out more about the financial suport available at the University of Hull.

Find out more about the financial support available at the University of York.

Hull York Medical School is a strong community and throughout recent months members of the community have come together to support each other. Students can keep up to date with what is happening at the school via the weekly HYMS at Home newsletter, as well as following #hymscommunity on social media.

On Wednesday 4 August, the UK Government announced an increase in the cost of managed hotel quarantine for travellers arriving from red list countries. The new cost will apply to those arriving in England after 4am on Thursday 12 August. The University of Hull and University of York will offer support with these quarantine costs for students joining or returning to Hull York Medical School in the academic year 2021/22. 

If you’re a new or returning international student, we can support you with the cost of mandatory testing or quarantine required under government rules for entry into the UK.

For the academic year 2021/22, this would be a refund for either your managed quarantine accommodation or your Day 2 (and Day 8 if required) Covid-19 PCR tests after your arrival in the UK. We will cover this cost once during the academic year, when you travel to Hull York Medical School (Hull or York campus or one of our clinical placement sites) for the first time. So for example, we would cover your costs if:

• You are a new student travelling to Hull York Medical School (Hull or York campus) in September 2021.

• You are a returning student coming back to Hull York Medical School (Hull or York campus or one of our clinical placement sites) in October 2021 having visited your home country over the summer.
• You are a returning student coming to Hull York Medical School (Hull or York campus) in November 2021 having studied online by agreement with your department.
• We would not cover your costs if you are already in the UK at the start of the academic year 2021/22 but choose to travel home, for example during a vacation.

For the academic year 2021/22, Hull York Medical School international students, via the University of Hull or the University of York, will be refunded the cost of one of the following:

• Day 2 (and Day 8 if required) Covid-19 PCR Tests (variable price, typically £210, 'Green' and 'Amber' arrivals only)
  You can now use a variety of providers for obtaining your Day 2 and Day 8 Tests and the cost is variable. We will only refund your Day 2 (and Day 8 if required) tests up to the value of £210, so please choose your provider carefully. If you choose tests that are more expensive, we will not refund the excess above £210. 'Amber' arrivals need to book both tests, to be taken on day 2 and 8 of their quarantine period, while 'Green' arrivals only need to book one test that is taken on or before day 2 of their arrival in the UK.

• Managed quarantine hotel accommodation (£1,750, or £2,285 if arriving from 12 August, + any additional days, 'Red' arrivals only)
  Managed quarantine hotel accommodation is only required for students who travel from, or through, a country on the Government banned travel list ('red list').
• For students over the age of 18, we will only refund the cost for the student, not for any partners, spouses or dependents. We will refund the cost of any additional days required if you test positive.
• For students under the age of 18, UK government travel guidance requires that you travel with a parent or guardian and that they enter managed quarantine with you on arrival. We will refund the additional cost of one parent or guardian accompanying a student in managed quarantine (£650, or £1,430 if arriving from 12 August).

Terms and conditions

• Refunds will be via electronic funds transfer only (not via cheque or cash)
• Refunds processed by the University of Hull are only available to UK bank accounts. For refunds processed via University of York it is strongly recommended where possible that students choose to refund to a UK bank account in order to receive the full value of the refund
• Refunds to international bank accounts maybe subject to currency exchange rates and any other charges levied by your financial institution. In addition, any payments that fail due to incorrect bank details entered by the student may be liable to further charges
• Refunds will be given for quarantine costs incurred in the past three months (taken from the date on the receipt) and no earlier than 9 December 2020
• We will aim to process your refund within 7-14 days following provision and approval of information needed to process the claim. The time taken for payment will vary depending upon in which country the nominated bank account is held.

University of Hull registered students should contact the Student Support team (studentsupport@hyms.ac.uk ) in the first instance, providing details of the claim and supporting documentation so this can be checked and approved. Approved claims will then be processed by the University of Hull’s Student Finance team. 

For details of how to claim visit the University of York website.