One-way systems, Connected Learning and no more ExCel Centre exams: Studying at UCL in the Covid years

An update for new and returning students on the changes made to learning at UCL during a global pandemic.

UCL Imagestore

September 28 marks the start of the new academic year at University College London (UCL). While campus will be open and limited face-to-face education will be offered, noticeable changes are being made to student life in Bloomsbury to ensure the safety of students and staff members against Covid-19.

The first alteration to normal student life is the confirmation that the ExCel Centre will not be used for term three assessments in the next academic year. Currently, the east London conference centre, renamed NHS Nightingale, is on “standby” to combat a potential winter peak in coronavirus hospitalisations. UCL’s media relations team have confirmed for Pi that “the university is unable to use the venue” for examinations.

It is unclear whether or not all students will sit online examinations, however, some departments, including history and biological sciences, have confirmed that their students will face online assessments in term three, similar to those completed in the last academic year. 

Another significant change will be the reduction in the campus’ capacity. UCL has stated that it intends to cut the number of people onsite to just 25 per cent. For those students able to attend campus, UCL will also deliver a newly introduced one-way system, trials in the use of temperature checking and have increased access to soap and hand sanitiser.

UCL has also decided to, contrary to the government, maintain a two-metre requirement for social distancing. This comes as Boris Johnson altered the pandemic guidelines earlier this summer and narrowed the distance to one metre plus on July 4.

The only exceptions to the two-metre rule are in situations when students are in circulation spaces that make it all but impossible to keep this distance apart. This includes hallways and cloisters, all spaces where face coverings are mandatory, when the length of direct contact is minimal, and in research labs and specialist spaces that have been assessed as posing a low risk. 

The exceptions granted to areas where face coverings are mandatory comes as the university has “strongly encouraged” face coverings to be worn across campus. The university added that if you do not have access to face masks, then “UCL will ensure that face coverings are available on campus to purchase.” Nonetheless, rules state that this only applies to suitable face coverings and masks with valves will not sufficiently prevent the spread of the virus.

When arriving on campus students will be welcomed to visit the new “Zoning system.” UCL’s website has stated that the three entrance points: the Front Quad, Gordon Street Gate and Malet Place Gate will now be “Welcome Stations” where students will wash their hands upon entering campus.

UCL has also produced advice for students on how to get to campus. The advice states that you may wish to avoid peak times on public transport and “consider walking or cycling... if you can.” 

However, UCL has also advised the less desirable methods of travel, including use of the capital’s public transport. UCL has encouraged students to use Tottenham Court Road or King’s Cross tube stations as “both stations have large concourse areas that make social distancing easier.”

During the first term of 2020-21, contact hours will be significantly reduced. “Core teaching,” defined as the content needed to complete a module, will be provided entirely online. This will include lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. 

UCL has also introduced measures to accommodate for the ever-changing situation emerging from the coronavirus pandemic. This includes “Connected Learning.” This new form of learning is the most significant change to UCL’s Bloomsbury-based teaching since the university temporarily relocated to west Wales during the Second World War. 

The measures mean that “if your arrival on UCL campus is delayed, you can still join our academic community and start your education with us - connecting with your tutors and fellow students, inside and outside the classroom.”    

This is particularly useful for UCL’s global student population as it will enable many students to have the choice whether or not to study in London or wherever they are based around the world.

UCL has given students reassurances that dissertations would not be detrimentally affected by the distanced learning and added that among the online teaching schedule students will have access to “highly interactive sessions in real time… [and] engaging learning activities designed so you can study at your own pace and in your own time zone.” 

For those hoping to take advantage of campus life, there will be access to the libraries, UCL careers and the student centre. Nonetheless, amongst UCL’s advice on how students can make a difference, it suggests that students should “hold meetings on Microsoft Teams, not face-to-face in meeting rooms.” Furthermore, while it may vary from course to course, any access to in-person teaching is expected to be reduced to no more than two hours per week.