Return to campus 2021: Book COVID-19 testing

A message from Professor Debra Humphris, Vice-Chancellor emailed 16 December 2020 to all students

I am pleased to be able to let you know that you can now book your asymptomatic test for Covid-19 (i.e. for students showing no symptoms) as part of your safe return to campus in 2021.

Planning your travel and booking

You should by now have heard from your School about your course start date, and when face-to-face teaching will resume. In line with Government guidance, it is important to plan your travel date around your return to campus. If you haven’t received this yet, look out for it very shortly.

You may wish to consider returning a few days in advance of your scheduled return to face-to-face teaching, to give you time to settle in and book your first Covid-19 test in the days beforehand.

Testing will begin on 4 January and continue until early February. Testing centres will be open 9am to 5pm.

As during the recent testing, students are advised to take two tests, with three clear days in between where possible – so, for example, those who book their 1st test on 4 January should try to book their 2nd test on 8 January.

Testing will be available across four sites:

• Cockcroft – Moulsecoomb
• Mithras – Moulsecoomb
• Eastbourne
• Falmer

Booking your test

Booking is open now to all students at our website. Please look at availability across all sites and prioritise booking as close as possible to your return date.

Please note that if your scheduled return date is either week commencing 4 or 11 January, we strongly recommend you book as soon as possible.

And please do remember that you will not be able to attend without a pre-booked appointment.

Book your Covid-19 testing now

Other considerations

We understand that some of our students may wish to return to campus before the dates provided by their schools, if this is the case please book the test at the earliest point that you are able.

If you are traveling from an area of the UK defined as being in Tier 3, please try to get a test in your home town, if they are offering asymptomatic testing, before traveling to Brighton.

International students who are returning to the UK from a country not on the UK Travel Corridor list may wish to take advantage of the new ‘Test to Release’ Scheme. This allows for a test on the fifth day and release from the sixth day subject to a negative test.

Finally, please note that the Government has advised that students who have had a positive Covid test in the previous 90 days do not need to take a further test.

More information

Please take a moment to visit our website for more detail about the tests themselves, what to do on the day, and what to do depending on the result of your test. The site provides detailed information, including a short video of what to expect when you arrive at the test centre itself.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact staff in your school or student support teams, and refer to our updated FAQs for Brighton students.

More information about the wider support that we can provide our students can be found on our wellbeing pages.

Please do also remember that despite the news about Covid vaccines and the wider roll-out of mass testing, it is vital that we all continue to follow the very simple guidance about social distancing and social gathering, the wearing of face coverings and washing, or sanitising our hands.

You can start booking your testing now.