U.K. Announces Roadmap Out Of Lockdown – A Summary Of Key Dates For Students

U.K. Announces Roadmap out of Lockdown – A summary of key dates for students

The Fall 2021 recruitment cycle is well underway. We are excited to see that so many of our student-athletes already have offers to pursue both their sporting career and masters degrees overseas come September 2021. However we know that the final decision on whether our applicants decide to accept or decline the opportunity to study overseas largely hinges on the pandemic and how life will look come the start of the new academic year.

In an address to the Nation yesterday (22nd February 2021), the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson set out a four step plan that would see restrictions cautiously eased over the coming months.

For our international students currently in the United Kingdom and those that are currently considering the possibility of attending a university in the U.K. come September 2021, we have outlined those four steps below:

Step 1: From 8th March

High schools will reopen. Outdoor sports facilities to open from 29th.

Step 2: From 12th April

Indoor Leisure facilities such as gyms, swimming pools allowed to open.

Step 3: From 17th May

Most social contact rules lifted outdoors. Indoor hospitality and hotels to open.

Step 4: From 21st June

All remaining legal limits on social contacts removed with the hope to reopen any remaining hospitality and lift restrictions on large events (such as sport stadia, festivals etc).

What this means for current university students in the U.K.

For those students currently at a U.K. university on a practical Higher Education course who would be unable to complete their courses if they did not return to take part in practical teaching, access specialist facilities, or complete assessments will return from the 8 March.

For those Higher Education students that do not need to take part in practical teaching, and do not require access to specialist facilities or equipment as part of their studies, the Government will review, by the end of the Easter holidays, the options for timing of the return of these students. This will take account of the latest data and will then be a key part of the wider roadmap steps. Students and institutions will be given a week’s notice ahead of any reopening.

What does this mean for those hoping to start their course in September 2021?

The above steps are all subject to change depending on infection rates, though if the above targeted dates are met and restrictions are eased as planned, it is hoped that our student-athletes would experience a much more “normal” experience in terms of both sport and education during their time in the U.K.

We will keep in regular contact with each of our university partners and will keep you posted with any further significant changes.

Fall 2021 Scholarships Still Available!

There are still a lot of scholarship opportunities for those athletes wishing to pursue a Fall 2021 entry in the U.K.

Whilst there is still some uncertainty, we would recommend that any interested student-athlete registers their interest as soon as possible, so we can start securing you some potential overseas opportunities.

There is no obligation to accept any offer that we secure for you, so feel free to use this opportunity to explore your options overseas and then take the time to consider your offer. If you feel conditions have not improved to the level that you had hoped, you can simply defer your Fall 2021 offer to a later date.

Apply online today via the link below to see what options we can present for you!