The University will stagger students return to Cambridge for Lent term with in-person teaching for students with a negative test result commencing on January 25th.

In line with the Department of Education’s guidance, which prioritises the return of students on practical courses, lab work and practicals will be permitted to start on January 18th, while ‘small group teaching’ will take place online for the first few days of Lent term, which is due to begin on January 21st. Consequently, most exams and assessments due to take place in January will be taken online.

The University said that their ‘unique asymptomatic pooled screening programme underpins’ their plans for the return of students in January. The University has added that students ‘should not participate in in-person teaching until they have had a negative test.’

Students who need to return for placements and Postgraduate research students will be able to return from January 4th, with remaining undergraduate and postgraduate students returning between January 16th and 17th.

In an email seen by Varsity, some Part III Biological Natural Sciences students were told to return by January 12th by the Faculty of Biology; in-person teaching for Part IA and IB Medicine and Veterinary Medicine students, and Part III Biochemistry students, will also begin on January 19th.

Returning students are also being reminded that ‘it is especially important [to be] cautious in their social interactions’ until they have received a negative test result. They should also travel using ‘private rather than public transport’ if possible.

The University’s asymptomatic Covid-19 screeing programme will restart on January 18th, allowing for registered students to be tested between January 18th-20th, prior to students in-person teaching recommencing. From the week commencing January 11th, ‘some additional tests’ will be made available for students who have already returned to Cambridge.

Symptomatic testing of students and staff will continue to be made available during the winter vacation and throughout Lent term.

From January, screening will take place between Monday and Wednesday (rather than Monday and Thursday), while students in private accommodation will also be eligible for testing, and household contacts will be offered a test after one week to determine whether they have been infected.

The University has also reassured international students that they ‘will be allowed to return without being required to change travel plans to which they have already committed.’ However, tests offered by the University will not allow students to ‘stop self-isolating’ after five days due to ‘a number of regulatory and operational barriers.’

Most universities will follow the 5-week staggered return as advised by the Government, which suggests that students on ‘practical courses’ will return between January 4th and 18th, with the remaining students returning over a two-week period beginning on January 25th.