Yes, that is what we are planning for.  Through our Campus Intentions, we have committed to being on campus in September 2021 and planning for ‘near normal’. 

What we mean by that is that we are timetabling for normal teaching capacity but will have measures in place such as one-way systems, increased ventilation, face masks in certain scenarios, and increased hygiene measures. 

You may have some elements of your teaching delivered via our digital channels. This will be because your Programme Team has decided to retain what was useful about online delivery and use the face-to-face time with you in a different way, therefore be aware that not all of your teaching will be face-to-face.

Therefore you should expect a mixture of face to face and digital all of which are equally important in terms of your attendance and engagement. In person teaching and learning remains our primary mode of delivery as the class room is so vital for the sharing of ideas, developing new thoughts about what you are learning and interacting in person with both your lecturers and fellow students. Learning is a community based activity at Queen’s, so while digital delivery has some major benefits, we still believe in person is as important.

Unless you are on a Distance Learning Course you will need to be on campus, not just for face-to-face teaching, including for example laboratory and group work, but also to enjoy all aspects of student life including study facilities, clubs and societies, and the range of support services we have available for you. 

The University continues to work hard to make this a safe environment for staff and students.  You can see more about information about this here.

If you are concerned about getting to Belfast for the start of teaching please see the "Travelling" section below.

We understand that with the global situation this is a question a number of students may have. For some students this may be due to visa delays, for others it may be challenges associated with booking managed isolation beds if you are travelling from a ‘red list’ country.

At this stage, although some countries are considered ‘red list’ by the UK government and therefore travellers arriving from these territories have to isolate in an isolation hotel for ten days prior to arrival, most students should be able to arrive in the UK without too many challenges.

Even if you are not arriving from a country on the ‘red list’, you may find that you still need to isolate for 10 days in your accommodation We will however monitor the situation carefully and provide updates nearer the time.

Information on arriving in the UK can be found here.

Student visa holders who are not able to travel to the UK at the start of their programme can retain their visa and study online if your School is able to support this.  We will do all we can to help facilitate students who are temporarily delayed in getting to Belfast however the final decision will be made by your School of study.  The decision will depend on things like the potential length of your delay, the type of programme you are studying on, and for some students it will depend on your year of study.

Welcome emails for new students have been issued in late August. The email includes a link to a questionnaire where you can give us up to date details of your travel plans and potential delays. If you indicate that you cannot get here on time, your School will contact you to agree whether or not they can support you online until you are able to arrive in Belfast.

Even if you have already made arrangements with your School we would like you to fill out this form so that we have a record of your plans.

If you have not done so already, please complete the Arrival Questionnaire.  Once we know your situation in light of the most up to date information, we will then advise you.  Please be assured that we will do all we can to support your learning in 2021-22.

The University has Frequently Asked Questions which we update in line with both local and national public health measures in light of the pandemic.

You will normally only get your full timetable when you finish the enrolment & registration process – this is because it can only be generated once modules have been selected and we are able to do a final allocation on rooms based on module demand.

However your School will be writing to you on or before 20 August 2021 to give you a general sense of what your programme will look like next year including the balance between in person and digital delivery.

Yes, we will have a Pre-Semester Engagement Programme on-campus from 13-17 September 2021 which will include a range of events, in-person and delivered digitally, for students who want to arrive a few days before the start of teaching in order to get settled into life in Belfast.

Events will include opportunities to meet other students, learn about campus, and there will be particular events for new international students.  

Please note though that your School will have an induction programme for you from the 20 September 2021 onwards.

For most programmes, teaching starts on 20 September 2021. If your programme starts on a different date, you will be made aware of that by the Admissions Service. Research students normally start at this time too but if your School will confirm with you if you have a different start date.

Yes, you can explore the campus through a guided tour, or by enjoying our virtual campus tour.

We are currently only in-person running tours on Mondays and Fridays, and group sizes are limited in line with current restrictions.

To request an in-person campus tour, please visit this page to find out more information. 

Whether you will be coming to Belfast for the first time, or making a return journey, there is lots you can do to help enjoy your time and ease into the next stage of student life:

• Register for any pre-departure webinars or Moving to Queen’s online events
• Take part in the 1845 Challenge any time from Friday 6 August 2021: 18 things to do in 45 days to prepare for student life – Access the challenge here: New Students | Returning Students
• Register for the Pre-Semester Engagement Programme. There will be lots of activities specifically for international students, including a mix of virtual and face-to-face events which will allow you to connect with other students
• Familiarise yourself with your key dates for Semester 1
• Get ahead with your classes by exploring our Learning & Studying

You can also keep in touch with the Student Recruitment Teams for your area or your Faculty via the following contacts:

• askqueens@qub.ac.uk
• askahss@qub.ac.uk – for students in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
• askeps@qub.ac.uk – for students in the Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences
• askmhls@qub.ac.uk – for students in the Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Sciences

We have created a general timeline of communications you can expect from the University here – please note however that all dates are subject to change. 

New students will get their Welcome emails from 23 August onwards and all students will be invited to enrol in early September. 

For all students the first part of enrolment will be online. For new students you will have to complete the final part on-campus, which is also when you get your Student ID card.

Details on how you enrol will be included in the Welcome Email which have been issued in late August.

For students outside of the UK and Ireland we will also include in your welcome emails a link to a questionnaire so that you can advise us of your travel plans and any delays you may be experiencing.

We are strongly encouraging all students to get vaccinated as soon as they are able to. We have had pop up vaccination centres on campus and hope to again in the autumn – however please do not wait until you come to Queen’s to get vaccinated if you have the opportunity to do so sooner.

International students will be able to receive a vaccination (first or second dose) in the UK.

The Information for Students Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page sets out key questions on vaccination arrangements including:

• Where can I find information on the Northern Ireland COVID-19 Vaccination programme?
• Can international students get a vaccine in the UK?
• Will I have to be vaccinated before I can return to campus?