STUDENTS will make a staggered return to Durham Univerity for the start of the new term in January.

In a bid to avoid mass movement across the country students will be asked to return to the city between Mondays January 11 and 25.

Teaching begins for most undergraduate and taught postgraduate students on January 11, either wholly online or via the university’s Covid-secure blended learning model, featuring both online and face-to face teaching.

Vice-chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge, said: “Following a UK Government request to minimise the risks associated with the mass movement of students across the country, we have implemented a staggered approach to the resumption of blended learning in January, with two main entry points for face-to-face teaching.

“Where face-to-face teaching recommences on January 25, we will support students to study from their home address by reducing college residence charges for those students who do not return to Durham during weeks one and two.”

Prof Corbridge said: “During Term 1, we saw no evidence of Covid-19 transmission within our Covid-secure teaching environments.”

He added that mass testing will again be available to all staff and students from the start of term to further ensure a Covid-secure campus.