While the situation is still developing and exact details are not yet finalised, it was made clear this morning in an internal email that students who wish to return home for Christmas should do from December 3 to 9.
It is expected that the majority of university lessons will move solely online from this time until the end of term to accommodate for student departure, but for some students the situation is still uncertain and stressful.
Millie Hardy-Sims, a Film and Television student at the university, thinks the government plans so far have been too vague and haven’t taken into account the circumstances many students may find themselves in.
Currently living in uphill Lincoln, Ms Hardy-Sims says the information given so far is inadequate as it is unclear what will happen to students who need to stay for a while longer than the designated travel window allows.
She is also worried about the lack of advice for those who would need to use public transport to get home.
“It is just confusing and frightening and yet another instance where the government have disregarded young people,” she said.
Another student, Eleanor Stanbridge, who is studying Biomedical Science at the university while renting a property in Newark, says she thinks the government aren’t taking student commitments seriously enough at this time.
“Students are stereotyped as being young, wild, party animals but there is actually a considerable proportion of us who are classified as adult students,” she said.
“I have a lot of financial commitments that other, younger students perhaps don’t have, such as car insurance, road tax and credit cards, so I have no choice but to work.”
Ms Stanbridge works in the NHS alongside her degree and says she will find it hard getting enough time off work to go home during the designated time period.
“It’s difficult for me to have time off work around Christmas time as this is very popular with other employees who cater for children being off school for Christmas,” she added.
The ‘travel window’ could also lead to some students being stuck in Lincoln for an uncertain amount of time – if you test positive or get a track and trace notification before the window, you will not be permitted to travel home.
This has left some students worried about the very real prospect of having to spend Christmas in their university accommodations.
A University of Lincoln spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring students who remain on campus over the Christmas period are well supported and we will communicate details soon.”
The university is continuing to follow government guidelines and will be updating students as soon as they have finalised plans and support in place.