Spring Term Arrangements for Teaching

We wrote to you on 26 January about our Spring Term plans and confirmed that the University would take a decision by today on whether more courses could return to blended learning, including access to on-campus face-to face teaching, during the current Spring Term.

In light of the UK Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday this week about changes to the national lockdown restrictions, we have agreed some changes to the arrangements for face-to-face teaching for the remainder of the Spring Term. We are pleased to confirm that students on a small number of courses will be permitted to return to on-campus face-to face teaching from 8 March 2021 in addition to those already doing so.

These additional courses are :

Social Sciences

• Languages and Linguistics
  • DIP Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting
  • MA Conference Interpreting with Advanced Technologies (Chinese-English)
  • MA Advanced Interpreting with Specialised Translation (Chinese-English),
  • MA Conference Interpreting and Translation (Chinese-English)
• Science and Health Life Sciences:
  • BSc Biomedical Science- Year 2 students (Completion of the course and access to specialist facilities)
• School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences
  • Postgraduate Certificate
  • Postgraduate Diploma
  • MSc in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging (Completion of the course, access to specialist facilities and for the completion of assessments

Humanities

• Literature, Film and Theatre Studies
  • LT225 Documentary Filmmaking (requires specialist equipment)
  • TH245 Gender in Performance (required for learning outcomes; needs performance space)
  • TH343 Theatre and Human Rights (required for learning outcomes; needs performance space).
• East 15 - All performance courses, creative production, and stage and performance management courses require face-to-face teaching for the completion of the course; and access to specialist facilities is required for the completion of assessments.
  • SOUTHEND:
    • BA Physical Theatre – Year 1
    • Creative Producing - 1st Year
    • Acting & Stage Combat / Acting & Community Theatre / World Performance - Year 1
    • Creative Producing Year 2
    • BA - Acting & Community Theatre / Acting & Stage Combat / Physical Theatre / World Performance - Years 2 and Years 3 ·
    • Creative Producing -Year 3
    • CERT HE Theatre Arts.
  •  LOUGHTON:
    • BA Acting / Acting & Contemporary Theatre / BA Acting INTERNATIONAL - Combined First Year
    • BA Stage and Production Management - Years 1 / 2 / 3:
    • BA Acting - 2nd Year
    • BA Acting INTERNATIONAL / Acting & Contemporary Theatre - 2nd and 3rd Year
    • BA Acting - 3rd Year
    • MA Acting
    • MA/MFA International -1st Year
    • MFA Acting International- 2nd Year
    • MA/MFA DIRECTING
    • CERT HE Theatre Art

All students affected by the changes have already been contacted by their Department or School.

All other students will continue to access their learning remotely for the remainder of the Spring Term.

Further consideration is under way in relation to Summer Term teaching and we will confirm the arrangements as soon as we are able. We remain committed to delivering face to face teaching as soon as we are permitted and we judge that it is safe to do so.

University Protection Level

Although we have been able to introduce more face-to-face teaching during the Spring Term, the University will remain in Advanced Protection for the remainder of this term. Our protection levels remain under constant review and any changes to the protection level will be communicated in due course.

Studying remotely?

All decisions on face-to-face teaching will not affect students who need to study wholly remotely in line with our dual delivery plan, which is designed to provide flexibility. All our plans continue to be shaped by the progress of the pandemic, the safety and wellbeing of our community and any requirements placed on us by the Government.

Help and support

We know these are challenging times. If you have any questions or concerns about your teaching, course or modules, let us know as soon as possible. Please contact your personal tutor or the administrative team in your Department or School. Our Students’ Union can also help. There are also Course Representatives at the Colchester, Southend and Loughton campuses, who can support you, provide feedback, and help to resolve any issues.