From Professor Richard Reece, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience
I want to let you know that you will be able to book appointments for asymptomatic testing in the New Year via the Medway Council website.
You should only book your testing appointments for 2021 once you have reviewed your Spring timetable which is now available. You can book your tests up to 7 days in advance, so you will need to book your appointments in the New Year.
Please be assured that, by arrangement with the local Health Protection Team, you may use the Medway Council booking site despite the content suggesting it is not open for students. Further information about the testing process and what you need to take with you on the day is available on our Medway asymptomatic testing webpages.
Please note – if your term address is nearer the Canterbury campus, you should consider arranging your tests at Canterbury instead.
What is asymptomatic testing?
Asymptomatic testing is specifically designed for people who are asymptomatic ie not displaying symptoms of Covid-19.
Please note that if you do have symptoms of Covid-19 you should follow our Isolate Test and Inform procedure and book a PCR test via the NHS Coronavirus website.
When should I be tested in the new year?
The Government is advising that all students be tested before their face-to-face teaching begins in the new year. Your timetable will indicate when your first face-to-face teaching session is. Please remember you should ideally be tested twice within 3-5 days before you attend.
If it is available, you are also advised to have a test local to your home address, prior to travelling.
Please note you should avoid close contact with others between your arrival and receiving your second test result.
Students arriving from overseas who wish to be tested at Canterbury and Medway are allowed to do so, but must first follow the relevant government guidance in full. Our testing programme is not a permitted alternative to completing the full 10-day period of self-isolation if arriving from a non-exempt country and cannot be used to reduce that period of self-isolation under the Government’s Test and Release Scheme.
When should I return to campus?
To help you comply with Government guidelines, we have set out the following suggested arrival and testing windows based on when your first face-to-face teaching is taking place.
| First face-to-face teaching session | Recommended arrival window and testing |
| w/c 18 January | 9-15 January |
| w/c 25 January | 16-22 January |
| w/c 1 February | 23-29 January |
| Anytime after 8 February | 30 January-7 February |
These dates are designed to help you follow the Government recommendations. We know this will not be convenient for all of you and some of you may have already made other travel plans. We will support you whatever your travel arrangements and intended arrival date back to University.
If you are a postgraduate student, you may return to campus to use specialist facilities whenever you need to. However, if possible, you should be tested before accessing laboratories.
When will my teaching start in the new year?
Teaching begins on 18 January 2021 for all study programmes apart from KMMS. You should engage with all teaching sessions from this date. Your face-to-face teaching will be reintroduced over the first few weeks of term as shown on your timetable.
If you have any questions about Covid-19 related health, welfare and support issues please check our Coronavirus webpages or email CovidSupport@kent.ac.uk.
Best wishes
Richard
Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience