- Guidance for students:
Please book your tests through this form. You will need to log in with your UCL ID and password, complete the form and select and appointment. You will receive an email confirming your appointment time.
When you return to campus in Term Two, you should take your first test as soon as possible within 24 hours, and a second test three days later. Taking two tests increases the likelihood that a positive infection is picked up as Lateral Flow Tests don’t detect every positive case, so you can be more confident when you’re returning to your accommodation and study spaces.
If you can't book a test then you need to self-isolate for 10 days once you have arrived in London.
If you’re having problems booking your tests, please report the issue to IT Services.
- Guidance for UCL and contracted staff working on campus:
Due to the current restrictions, anyone who can work remotely must do so.
Lateral Flow Tests (LFT)
Staff who are required to work on-site, and who do not have COVID-19 symptoms, are expected to get tested twice a week, ideally three days apart.
All UCL and all contracted staff within Estates and other services who are working on campus, and who do not have COVID-19 symptoms, are expected to get tested twice a week. Due to the rapid nature of these tests, please bear in mind where you will be when you receive your results, and how you plan to travel home. Ideally you should walk or cycle if possible. If you are a staff member it may be preferable to book a test at the end of your shift, so that you will receive your result when you are at home.
UCL staff can use their UCL UserID to book a test. Contracted staff who can access the LFT testing centre at Bidborough House should contact their line manager for more information.
If you have coronavirus symptoms you must not come to campus or the testing centre at Bidborough House, please follow these steps to request a test.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) home-tests
Contracted staff who are working at UCL but unable to attend the Bidborough House LFT testing centre during opening hours (weekdays 08.30am–3.00pm) can register to collect a PCR home test from the North Lodge. If this applies to you, please speak to your line manager.
Those staff that are registered for symptom-free PCR testing due to working on the Royal Free or MSSL sites, or working night-shifts, are advised to take one PCR test a week.
- Getting an LFT test if you don't live in Bloomsbury:
If you are not local to Bloomsbury and can’t use the UCL testing facility, you can check your local Council pages for access to community LFT testing, and the eligibility criteria that applies.
Examples include:
- Guidance for staff working onsite away from campus:
We recognise that many of our staff that are required to work on-site are not based at the Main campus, or within close proximity of Bidborough House. UCL has also established local symptom-free testing arrangements for staff based at the Royal Free Campus and MSSL in Dorking, using our internal PCR facility in partnership with Health Services Laboratories (HSL).
- Do I have to get tested? How often should I take a symptom-free Lateral Flow Test?
Students and staff who are required to work or study on campus are expected to take two tests each week, ideally three days apart. If you work or study part-time, please do not travel to campus solely for the purpose of getting a second Lateral Flow Test. If you would like to attend a second appointment, please check your local Council website for details of symptom-free community testing services near to where you live. If you do not have access to community testing and are only on campus once a week, please take a test immediately before you arrive on campus.
Students arriving in London who don't get tested should self-isolate for 10 days on arrival.
- If I receive a positive LFT result, do I need to get a confirmatory PCR test?
For information on how to interpret your test result, please see “what happens when you get your LFT results” below. Currently in England the policy is that confirmatory PCR is not required following a positive LFT test taken at a university or community site. The legal requirement to self-isolate will commence from the date of the positive LFT.
- Can visitors to campus get tested for COVID-19 at UCL?
There should be no visitors on campus at this time, unless absolutely this is absolutely critical for UCL research or teaching. If it is essential for visitors to come onto campus, please note that they cannot access UCL's testing service. They may be eligible to use local council services instead.
- If I tested positive within the past 90 days, do I need to take an LFT test?
The Government has recently updated its guidelines. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days through NHS Test and Trace and been recorded as a positive case on the national system, you do not need to be tested again within that time period if you are asymptomatic. You are still required to self-isolate if you are identified as a close contact of a positive case, even if this is within the 90 day window. You must also request a PCR test from the NHS if you develop new COVID-19 symptoms.
- Where to go for your tests
The testing centre is on the ground floor of Bidborough House at UCL. The address is: Bidborough House, 38-50 Bidborough Street, London, WC1H 9BT. Find Bidborough House on UCL Maps and Google Maps. Please access the building through the entrance on Bidborough Street. We are operating a one-way system and you will exit onto Mabledon Place.
Bidborough House is accessible for wheelchair users. If you have any additional access needs, such as a BSL interpreter, please contact UCL's Student Support and Wellbeing team via askUCL or call +44 (0)20 7679 0100 before you book your test so we can make sure you have the support you need.
If you need to travel to UCL, we encourage you to cycle or walk if you can. See our Cycle and Walk pages for more advice on getting to campus. If you’re using public transport, read the advice for safer travel from the UK Government and Transport for London. You might want to consider travelling at off-peak times, using quieter stations and booking tickets in advance or paying by contactless if you can.
- What to expect at the testing centre
Please wear a face covering and remember to follow social distancing guidelines at the testing centre. You will also be asked to wash your hands with sanitiser when you get there.
You should arrive at the testing centre via the entrance on Bidborough Street at your appointment time. Signage will direct you to where you need to go. You will be guided through the registration and testing process by members of the team.
- What to bring:
- A form of student/staff ID
- Your phone, tablet or laptop to register when you arrive (which involves scanning a QR code). If you do not have one of these then a staff member at the site will be on hand to help you.
- Please do not register with an international phone number as this may be problematic when using the NHS Test and Trace service and delay your results. If you don't have a UK number then please register with your UCL email only, or alternatively you can request a free UK SIM card from the testing centre.
- A face covering or mask that covers your mouth and nose. Staff will tell you when you can take it off and put it back on again.
Please don't bring luggage or bulky items with you, as we do not have space to store it while you take your test.
- What the process will involve:
- At registration, you will be asked to scan a QR code to register with the NHS Lateral Flow Testing programme.
- You will be directed to an available booth where you will be provided with a swab and a barcode.
- You will be asked to take a swab of your nose and throat. A trained member of staff will be on hand to help you.
- A staff member will collect your sample and barcode from you.
- You will then leave the testing centre through the exit onto Mabledon Place.
- Infographic: How the tests work
- What is a Lateral Flow Test?
You will typically receive the results from the NHS within two hours via email and text, but this could take up to 48 hours. If you do not receive your results, or you need advice on your result, please call the NHS coronavirus testing contact centre on 119. Lines are open from 7am to 11pm. Please note that you are not able to call NHS 119 from an international number. Quote the barcode reference number from the registration card that you were given when you took the test and NHS Test and Trace should be able to locate their result using this code. You should go for your second test as planned.
Whether you have tested negative or positive, it is important that you report your results to UCL through Connect to Protect. This will help us provide you with any support you need.