Keeping safe on campus

At UCL, your health and wellbeing are paramount. Our priority at all times is to make sure our campus is as safe as possible, minimise the risk to everyone onsite, and follow UK official guidance.

On this page you can find information about the safety measures we’re putting in place on campus and what you can do to help keep everyone safe. Visit the Government and NHS websites and download the NHS COVID-19 App for the most up to date information about what to do if you feel unwell and what you can do to avoid spreading the virus.

Please remember, to help keep our community safe:

you must stay at home if you feel unwell;
face coverings are mandatory for all students and staff while you are indoors on campus, unless you are exempt;
you should get tested twice a week and report your results to both NHS and UCL Connect to Protect.

Find out more on this page about the measures we’re putting in place, and what you can do to help keep everyone safe.

Get tested twice a week if you don't have symptoms

Video: ‘Swiss cheese’ can protect us against COVID-19

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Recent updates

UCL remains open and face-to-face teaching will continue. UCL’s libraries, study spaces, halls of residence and onsite catering facilities also remain open. Read the latest update for students and staff.
Face coverings are mandatory for all staff and students while you are indoors on campus, unless you are exempt. Find out how face coverings make a difference in UCL's short film with Professor Ivan Parkin. For more information, please see the Department of Education's guidance on face coverings in Higher Education settings.

How we are protecting our staff and students, and what you can do to help

How UCL is keeping you safe

We are working hard with our recognised unions and taking advice from UCL’s world-leading researchers to make sure our campus is as safe as possible:

Introduced the new UCL Connect to Protect reporting tool, to monitor and respond to any coronavirus cases at UCL
Established a COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing centre as part of the national testing programme for universities for students and staff without symptoms
Carrying out tailored risk assessments of all areas of campus
Regularly cleaning our buildings with antiviral disinfectant
Providing spray and wipes for you to clean your work area
Making more soap and hand sanitiser available
Ensuring our buildings are properly ventilated with a good supply of fresh air
Working with Camden Council and our neighbours to keep our borough as safe as possible
Planning for potential coronavirus cases on campus or the reintroduction of any further lockdown restrictions
Displaying NHS COVID-19 app QR codes at the entrances of high traffic buildings such as our cafes, libraries and UCL Halls

How you can make a difference

The measures UCL is putting in place won’t be enough on their own. We also need your help to prevent the spread of infection and keep our community safe. This means that everyone on campus must:

Get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you can
Stay at home if you feel unwell
Use the UCL Connect to Protect tool if you have symptoms of coronavirus, are self-isolating or have tested positive for coronavirus
Get tested for coronavirus regularly even if you don’t have symptoms
Wear face coverings in indoor spaces, including in lectures, seminar rooms, study spaces, offices and labs
Wash your hands frequently and don’t touch your face or mask
Always sneeze or cough into a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands
Please be considerate of others and follow our Community Commitment to Protect Each Other
Download the NHS COVID-19 app and scan into any buildings that display an NHS QR code

The science behind why you should self-isolate if you have coronavirus, Professor Anne Johnson

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The science behind wearing a face covering, Professor Ivan Parkin

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What should I do if I - or someone I manage or supervise – may have coronavirus?

Follow our step-by-step guide to reporting and responding to potential cases of coronavirus.

How will I know if someone in my class or department, or someone I work with, tests positive for coronavirus?

Where someone has tested positive anyone who has been in close contact with them will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace or notified through the NHS COVID-19 app. If they have reported that they have tested positive through UCL Connect to Protect, our case managers will liaise with the individual to identify and contact staff or students who have potentially been in close contact with them whilst at UCL A close contact is identified in line with the NHS definition and guidance.

Please note, there is no requirement for other staff or students to self-isolate or work from home unless they have been contacted and told to do so by NHS Test and Trace or UCL Connect to Protect.

If you have any questions about UCL Connect to Protect or you think you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, students can contact us though the askUCL student enquiries system. Members of staff can contact us by emailing connecttoprotect@ucl.ac.uk.

What if someone isn’t following UCL’s guidelines for keeping safe on campus?

We will all need to support each other and we expect everybody to follow our Community Commitment to Protect Each Other. If you notice that someone has made a mistake and overlooked these guidelines, please let them know in a friendly and polite way. Or if someone reminds you of your own slip, please don’t take offence – we're all just trying to keep everyone safe.

UCL is committed to ensuring staff and students still protect themselves and others. Everyone on campus should continue to wear face coverings in crowded indoor areas, and we expect staff, students and visitors to be respectful and considerate of others in situations where they could feel uncomfortable.

If you’re worried that a student isn’t following the safety measures we’ve put in place, you can let UCL know by contacting srs@ucl.ac.uk.

If you’re concerned about a member of staff not following these measures, please notify us by through RiskNET.

Video: What to expect on campus this term

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Key information and support

Testing, reporting and managing potential cases

Find out how to get an LFT test and what to do if you or a member of your team feels unwell, has symptoms, tests positive for coronavirus or have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

Wearing face coverings on campus

Unless you are exempt, it is now mandatory for everyone on campus to wear a face covering in indoor spaces, including in lectures, seminar rooms, study spaces, offices and labs. Find out more, including links to UCL's face coverings guidance.

The UCL Community Commitment to Protect Each Other

The UCL Community Commitment to Protect Each Other sets out the expectations of all members of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keeping safe around campus and Camden

We are working in partnership with local agencies and services to keep our community safe

Reducing the risk of transmission through cleaning and building ventilation

We are following the latest Government and UK Health and Safety Executive guidelines, and drawing on the latest research, to ensure that our buildings are as safe as possible and properly ventilated.

Support for disabled staff and students

UCL is committed to supporting disabled staff and students and to ensuring our return to campus is done in an inclusive way.

Information for UCL students

Information, advice and support for UCL students about joining or returning to campus following the coronavirus outbreak.

Information for UCL Staff

Key information, advice and support for UCL staff including FAQs, remote working and education planning support, when to return to work on campus and resources for managers

Cycling and walking to campus

We've installed installed 1,000 additional cycle racks and initiated a Buddy Scheme to support staff and students, see our walking and cycling pages below for resources.

Further questions

If you have a specific question about your individual circumstances please speak to your department or line manager in the first instance. If you have a more general question, please check that it has not already been answered through our Coronavirus FAQs or Keeping Safe on Campus webpages.

Students can contact us though the askUCL student enquiries system. Members of staff can contact us via our online form or alternatively you can email covidhelpline@ucl.ac.uk. If you would like to speak to someone on the phone, please call our helpline on 0203 108 5699. Lines are open 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday.