Yes, our January intake is going ahead as planned. There may be slight changes to dates to allow additional travel time for you – we will communicate this to you if it changes. All courses and dates are scheduled to run as planned. Please be assured we are continually reviewing the current situation in relation to Covid-19 and if there are any subsequent changes, we will advise you as soon as possible so that you have time to get ready to join your studies as planned.

Yes, you will follow a learning plan that allows you to complete your programme in the academic year as intended.  This will be delivered online as necessary. Dependent on travel restrictions in your home country and the UK, various options will be available to you. This will include online, on-campus (with appropriate social distancing) or a combination.

Please continue to monitor these pages on our website for up to date information and be assured we will be contacting you individually so that you know your own specific arrangements.

Yes. We are happy to defer you to a later intake to meet your own personal circumstances. We recognise that there is significant uncertainty with Covid-19 and are keen to support our applicants accordingly.

The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority, but we’re also working hard to make sure that people can make the most of our fantastic campus and feel safe and supported and ready to make the most of life at University. You can find out more the latest information about the steps being taken on campus here. You can find out more the latest information about the steps being taken on campus here.

Yes.  There is full information below on what you should expect when studying online, what you will need and how we will ensure you can study from your time zone.

Yes, you will follow a learning plan that allows you to complete your programme in the academic year as intended.

We will start semester 1 of the new academic year in January at which point those of you who can travel safely to our Newcastle campus will be able to join us on campus for learning and teaching; those who cannot do so will start online and join as soon as practicable. Each pathway programme will involve blended learning, meaning that face-to-face learning complements online learning and vice versa, as explained in this video. Blended learning does not normally mean that you can study wholly online with optional on-campus engagement. However, exceptions may be made on an individual basis for students who, for legitimate reasons, are unable to travel to campus. Please complete the Personalised Support survey as part of enrolment to inform us if you are unable to engage with the on campus offer from the start of Semester 1. We will then be in touch with you.

We understand that there is ongoing disruption to global travel and therefore, in line with the Home Office guidelines for students on a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4), we recognise that you may need to start your study online and join us when you are able to do so. Northumbria will use expected online contact points such as logging into online learning portals, attending virtual lectures and tutorials, and online submission of coursework to monitor academic engagement. Please complete the Personalised Support survey during enrolment to inform us if you are unable to travel to the UK for the start of Semester 1 and someone from our pathway team will be in touch with you.

You are required to engage with Northumbria’s blended learning offer for 2020/21 which means you must study on campus when you are timetabled to do so. You are permitted by the Home Office to study remotely in the UK in exceptional circumstances only. If you are an International student in the UK who cannot come on to campus from the start of Semester 1, please complete the Personalised Support survey during enrolment to inform us and someone will be in touch.

All learning and teaching on our Pathway Programmes will take place in small group sessions with direction and academic support from an experienced English Academic tutor.  This approach and focus on individually learning and development will continue online, with the opportunity to attend breakout session to discuss new knowledge and concepts, meet with your tutor during 1-2-1 sessions and informal café style groups to socialise with similar like-minded international students.

In fact, studying online offers many more options.  For example, as well as attending the live session you can watch it again to pick up the points you missed the first time.  Setting up a meeting with your tutor or classmates to work on a shared project can be much more flexible too.

So, our approach to online learning goes beyond just providing you with material online or via the university’s virtual learning environment and e-library.

Our Learning system additionally allows you to log into a virtual PC that provides all the software you would have if you were sitting at a PC on campus. There will also be directed reading via our online library and use of video and podcast.

You will be provided with a timetable for your online learning and induction to your programme and how to learn effectively online as part of induction.

The equipment that you need will be no different to that you need for your university studies when you come to the UK.  This should include:

• Laptop or desktop computer
• Wi-Fi/broadband
• Access to Word, Excel, or other desktop functionality
• The university has its own virtual learning environment (VLE), where you will find all your materials and any special software

You will be given access to the University’s resources via the internet.  As such you should have access to a computer (desktop/laptop) that is less than 5 years old alongside speakers/headphones/earbuds for listening to audio or videos presented and a webcam.  Our online sessions can be accessed via smart phone, but it is recommended that you have access to a tablet/laptop or a PC for ease of use and completing assessments.

You will also need access to a stable internet connection.  As a registered student, you will be able to access Office 365 via Microsoft’s arrangements for students.

The timetable will be organised around core hours of delivery, approximately 3 to 4 hours a day so that groups of students can continue to attend whole group classes, so depending on where you live your core hours could look something like the below.

In addition to the core hours there are approximately 4-6 hours per week of tutorials and small group sessions, these will be arranged to meet your time zone.  So, for example those of you coming from Asia which is ahead the UK it might be in advance of your core learning at 3-4pm (8am UK time).

We are aware that many applicants are unable to book tests. Northumbria accepts a wide variety of English tests and exemptions that may offer an alternative, including the QA Higher Education English test.

If you have specific questions about evidencing your English language, please contact us directly and we can discuss your options with you.

You can also find Covid-19 updates through the following links:

• IELTS
• PTE
• TOEFL
• Trinity College London
• Cambridge

We will maintain our acceptance criteria and also due to our joint CAS options we have increased the amount of English Language tests we can accept for Pathways courses. These currently include WAEC, Indian Standard XII, and the QA English Language test.

These acceptable English language tests will only be available until your local English Language Centre re-opens.

For more information please contact us directly on +44 (0) 203 944 6272

If your Year 12 or O level exams have been cancelled, we are able to consider Year 11 grades or your predicted grades on a case by case basis. Please contact us directly on +44 (0) 203 944 6272

If you are not able to provide a financial guarantee letter confirming your sponsorship by the deadline, you can defer your offer to the next available intake or decide to continue by paying your minimum deposit.

Yes, and for some courses with limited spaces we recommend that you do. You can reserve your space by paying the full deposit of £5500 for the course or pay a place holder fee of £500. You will need to pay the full deposit and meet the financial requirements for your CAS to be issued.

Please refer to your Terms and Conditions.

No. It is likely some of your study will be online due to restrictions on being able to open our campuses at this time. As outlined in the previous question, we are providing an extensive online course option which is designed to mirror your experience in the classroom as closely as possible, including live lectures and access to all the same support services you would normally receive.

Yes. Our standard deposit refund policy which can be found on the Terms and Conditions of your Offer continues to apply and we will of course refund your deposit in those scenarios.

In addition, if you are adversely affected by Covid-19, which impacts your ability to meet the conditions of your offer or your entry to the UK due to travel restrictions, we will also refund your deposit and discuss possible deferral options with you.

Yes.  We are flexible with your payment options and are happy to discuss your individual requirements if your fees are a concern.

Please contact us directly on +44 (0) 203 944 6272

In line with Government guidance our course fees will not change regardless of whether you are attending on campus or studying fully online, as we are delivering the same course content with the same academic staff online as on campus, albeit delivered remotely. You will be able to access the same high quality teaching materials, observe the same sessions and interact with your classmates, although virtually rather than face to face. As soon as you are able to join us on campus we will be glad to welcome you.

UKCISA has a range of information and advice for International Applicants and Students, including a COVID-19 FAQ section which is regularly updated

Yes. Our accommodation support team will be happy to help.

You can find much more information on the QA Higher Education website.

If you would like to speak to someone, please contact QAHE.accommodation@qa.com or 0203 627 6101.

If you plan to be able to come to campus for the start of your course and you require Northumbria University accommodation, you should apply for it in the usual way. There will be no penalties or fees charged to students who are unable to come to campus due to issues in relation to Covid-19. If you have paid a deposit and are then unable to take your room, you will be refunded your deposit. Please note that if you choose to arrange accommodation with a private provider, they may not be able to offer the same flexibility, so you should discuss your options with them directly.

If you would like help finding, organising and booking student accommodation, the QA Higher Education Accommodation Service is also available to help. Complete the online form here and one of the team will contact you to talk about your options.

The UK Government regulations currently require travellers arriving from many countries to self-isolate for 10 days. If this is in place when you are ready to join us, we strongly encourages you to plan your travel to the UK so that you arrive 10 days before the start of teaching, if visa arrangements allow. Whilst these regulations remain in place, we want to ensure that this process is as comfortable as possible for you. So, we will:

• Allow you to move into your University-managed accommodation 10 days prior to your original start date, free of charge over this period if you book a full annual tenancy with us;
• As part of a welcome pack provide you with food and drinks to suit cultural preferences, bedding, towels, toiletries, and kitchen equipment;
• Offer continued support throughout the 10-day period.

We recommend you check the latest UK Government advice before you travel. This also includes a list of countries that are exempt from the 10 day self-isolation requirement. Please be aware that this list is subject to change so we recommend you continue to check this as your travel date gets closer.

If you are travelling to the UK to join us, please complete QA Higher Education’s online form with your travel information. This will allow the team at QA Higher Education to know when you are arriving and gives us the opportunity to provide any additional advice, guidance and support before and upon your arrival to the UK. This is particularly important should you be arriving from a country where you may need to self-isolate on arrival in the UK.

We hope that you will be able to join us on campus in time for the start of your induction programme. We do, however, understand that it may not be possible to travel to campus on this date. If that is the case, then you will start our course online, (from your home country) and then you will join us on campus on one of our later transition dates.

We are currently in the process of setting these transition dates for those joining us in the January 2021 intake. Once confirmed we will update this information here and we will contact you directly with these as part of our admissions process.

A transition date is the date that you will join us on Campus, if you are unable to join us at the start of the programme. This is NOT a later start date of your programme, as you will still begin your course in January 2021 online and then you will complete your study on campus when you are able to join us In the UK.

Yes, if you are not starting on campus from the start date of your course, then you must start and engage with your programme online, until you are able to transition to campus. If you do not engage with your online study prior to moving to campus, we may not issue you a CAS and you may be withdrawn from the course, which may affect your visa status or application.

You need to tell us when you plan to arrive. When you have accepted your offer and requested your CAS, you will be sent a short questionnaire which will allow you to inform us of when you are able to arrive. If possible, you should aim to arrive on campus as soon as possible, ideally from the start of the programme.

No, you will not require a visa when you study online, but you will need a visa to join us on campus. If you require a visa to travel to the university, you will need to make sure you make all the necessary preparations for this before travelling. There is more information on this page about when and how you can make the transition to the campus.

Your CAS will only be issued when we are clear that you are able to travel to Campus in the UK. Once you have let us know the date when you plan to come to campus, we will ensure that you have your CAS in good time to make a visa application and make any necessary arrangements to arrive on campus by this date.

Many Visa Centres have reopened or are due to reopen soon. There are, however, several countries where centres are still closed or are not currently processing new applications yet. You can keep up to date with the last information here.

The UK Government regulations currently require all travellers arriving from overseas to self-isolate for 10 days. If this is in place when you are ready to join us, we strongly encourage you to plan your travel to the UK so that you arrive 10 days before the start of teaching, if visa arrangements allow. Whilst these regulations remain in place, we want to ensure that this process is as comfortable as possible for you. So, we will:

• Allow you to move into your University-managed accommodation 10 days prior to your original start date, free of charge over this period if you book a full annual tenancy with us.
• As part of a welcome pack provide you with food and drinks to suit cultural preferences, bedding, towels, toiletries, and kitchen equipment.
• Offer continued support throughout the 10-day period.

We recommend you check the latest UK Government advice before you travel.

If you are travelling to the UK to join us, please complete QA Higher Education’s online form with your travel information. This will allow the team at QA Higher Education to know when you are arriving and gives us the opportunity to provide any additional advice, guidance and support before and upon your arrival to the UK. This is particularly important should you be arriving from a country where you may need to self-isolate on arrival in the UK.

To comply with social distancing rules, teaching will be blended learning. This means that you will attend some classes in person and for some others, you will continue online. This will be under on-going review.