MORE than 20,000 university students in Bournemouth will be free to return home for Christmas in a week-long travel window at the end of lockdown.

Guidance released by the government reveals students in England will be required to follow the current national restrictions in place until December 2, completing the lockdown period in their term-time accommodation.  Now universities in the town are contacting students and making arrangements to get them home.

From December 3 to December 9, which will be known as the ‘student travel window’, students will be allowed to travel home on staggered departure dates set by universities, who will work with other institutions in the region to manage pressure on transport infrastructure.

The student travel window will mean students can travel having just completed the four-week period of national restrictions, reducing the risk of transmission to family and friends at home.

Universities should move learning online by December 9 so students can continue their education while also having the option to return home to study from there.

The government is currently consulting with Bournemouth University, Arts University Bournemouth and the AECC University College.

A spokesman for Bournemouth University said: “The guidance has just been released and we will work through the implications for all students and staff as quickly as possible, keeping the BU community updated with any decisions made.

“We recognise that every student’s situation is different. Some students will already be at home, some will be planning on returning home at the end of the semester, while others still will choose to stay in the local area over the festive period.”

And a spokesman for AUB added: "We received the news of the government’s end of term plan for universities and colleges via the media. We are being encouraged to implement a phased end of the term and to spread the departure of students over a given time period. We await specific instruction regarding this approach, but will align with the proposed guidance.

"We are regularly liaising with our students, staff representatives and unions to ensure that disruption to teaching is minimised during this period, and we remain fully aligned with AUB’s Academic Principles to ensure the quality of our teaching, instruction and support for all students."

The Government will also work closely with universities to establish mass testing capacity. Tests will be offered to as many students as possible before they travel home for Christmas, with universities in areas of high prevalence prioritised.

Where students test negative, they can return home safely and minimise the risk of passing coronavirus on to their loved ones.   If a student tests positive before their departure they will need to remain in self-isolation for 10 days.

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: “We know this Christmas will feel different, and after this incredibly difficult year we are absolutely committed to getting students back to their loved ones in time for the Christmas break.

“But I know residents in Bournemouth might wonder how students leaving campus, or those coming back to the area, might affect them. I want to reassure everyone that we have worked really hard to find a way to do this for this group, while limiting the risk of transmission.”

“With the national lockdown measures, staggered leave times, safer travel guidance and any additional assurances from testing, we are confident transmission can be controlled, and we can enable these students to have the Christmas break they deserve.”

English students at universities in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, should follow the guidance relevant to where they are living before returning home. When they return to England, they should follow their local guidance for their home area.

Students returning to their home in England who have not completed the 4 weeks of national restrictions should undertake at least 14 days of restricted contact either before or after return home to minimise their risk of transmission.