fbpx
Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
6th Jan 2021

UK suspends in-person classes and locks down as COVID cases rise

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • A worsening COVID-19 situation in the UK means the country is now under a strict lockdown with people urged to stay home and limit outings for essential purposes only (e.g., groceries, medical needs)
  • All schools and universities are now delivering education remotely, with campus instruction suspended until at least mid-February
  • International students currently outside the country are being asked to consider delaying their travel plans if they can do so without incurring undue costs

The UK entered a strict lockdown this week as part of the government deciding to move the country to a new Level 5 COVID threat level (the highest level in the UK scheme).

The country is reeling from the effects of a new variant of COVID-19 that is now circulating widely, with the new strain thought to be at least 50%–70% more infectious than the original one. There are now 40% more hospital admissions in England than there were in April 2020, and case rates and infection numbers are also skyrocketing.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the UK, daily counts and seven-day rolling averages, 07 March 2020 through 6 January 2021. Source: Public Health England, Sky News

As part of a sweeping range of lockdown measures intended to keep people at home with as few contacts as possible, all schools (except for early-learning centres) and higher education institutions in the UK have now moved to offering only remote learning until at least mid-February. GCSE and A-level exams – which would normally happen in May and June – have been cancelled, and university students are not permitted to return to campuses until the lockdown is lifted. In addition, vocational teachers and college leaders are also calling on the government to cancel upcoming technical exams.

The London School of Economics (LSE) – which contains the largest proportion of international students of any UK university (68% in 2018/19) – isn’t waiting to see what happens in February: in a move designed to provide students with some “certainty and stability,” it has announced that all “compulsory” teaching will move online for the entire 2020/21 academic year. The school hopes to provide additional, non-compulsory courses to students once the lockdown is lifted as well.

In general, there is a growing call among UK scientists and professors for academic programmes to remain online for the duration of the winter term. The University and College Union (UCU) and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies are advocating for universities to hold off in-person teaching until Easter.

Disruption for international students

The lockdown will naturally affect the plans of international students who had hoped to begin studies in the UK this term or to return to campus to continue their programmes. In a 31 December letter to visiting students, Michelle Donelan, England’s Minister of State for Universities, has asked those not enrolled in courses preparing them for “vital public sector roles in health and social care and education” to consider delaying their travel plans to the UK “if travel plans can be rearranged without undue cost”:

“We ask that those of you who are not studying on these courses remain where you are wherever possible, and start your term online, as facilitated by your university.”

Minister Donelan adds,

“Our advice for international students travelling from overseas for the Spring term is to consider whether you, in fact, need to travel to the UK at this time, particularly if your course does not require you to be on campus from 4 January. Those students should consider delaying their travel plans if travel plans can be rearranged without undue costs. For those who do need to travel, international arrivals must complete a passenger locator form on arrival in the UK, and passengers travelling from a country not on the exemption (travel corridor) list will need to self-isolate in their accommodation for 10 days. Your university should advise you of the appropriate local testing facilities at your institution.”

A last-minute call

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has been criticised for the delay in imposing the new Level 5 lockdown, especially as the decision to close schools is in direct contrast to directions given to educators over the past month. The Daily Mail reports “teachers last night condemned the ‘madness’ of the government changing its plans at the last minute again after only weeks ago threatening legal action against schools that tried to close early before Christmas." In response, the Prime Minister said he “completely understands the inconvenience and distress this late change will cause millions of parents.” Whatever the politics, the fact is that COVID case numbers and hospitalisations have risen at an alarming rate over a period of days, making new lockdown measures inevitable.

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • US warns of expanded travel ban that could affect key African markets Read More
  • Breaking: US resumes student visa processing Read More
  • Is Canada valued more as a “pathway to immigration” or as a destination for education? Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

US warns of expanded travel ban that could affect key African markets “The United States is considering restricting entry to citizens of an additional 36 countries in what would be...
Read more
Breaking: US resumes student visa processing On 18 June, the US State Department sent a cable to all US diplomatic posts abroad instructing them...
Read more
Is Canada valued more as a “pathway to immigration” or as a destination for education? During a 12 June 2025 webinar presented by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and IDP, IDP...
Read more
Japanese outbound numbers reached 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2024 An annual survey of Japanese education agents finds that outbound student numbers from this key sending market are...
Read more
UK: Study visa applications up by nearly a third year to date The early data we are seeing so far this year makes a couple of things clear. First, there...
Read more
Real-time insights on shifting international student interest in the US ICEF and NAFSA co-hosted a featured webinar on 11 June, and the session showcased some important data reflecting...
Read more
What are the latest developments for international students in the United States? An update like this needs a time stamp as the events reported are unfolding quickly. It was first...
Read more
ICEF Podcast: Live from NAFSA 2025 Listen in as ICEF’s Craig Riggs and Martijn van de Veen recap a busy week at the annual...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links