These UK unis are helping to cover quarantine costs

Several UK universities have stepped up to help incoming international students by partially or fully covering quarantine costs. Cranfield University recently announced that it would pay quarantine costs for international students. The university will cover the cost of any COVID-19 testing on arrival in the UK, and provide accommodation on the Cranfield campus and all meals for the period that students need to quarantine on their arrival, it said in a statement. 

“Cranfield is a global university and, each year, we welcome students from more than 100 countries,” says Cranfield pro-vice-chancellor Simon Pollard said. “We appreciate that our international students may be facing extra challenges in taking the next steps in their educational journey. By offering this bursary, we hope to ease some of those challenges.”

The University of Bristol is supporting international students travelling to Bristol this September. “The university will help with the costs of coronavirus testing and quarantine where required,” it said. Students travelling through a red list country will be reimbursed the cost of their hotel stay. Bristol will cover the cost of the test package for students travelling from green and amber list countries.

Some UK universities will cover the cost of international students’ COVID-19 testing on arrival in the UK. Source: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP

Currently, before arriving in England, incoming travellers must book a managed quarantine hotel within a 14-day period before arrival. According to Gov.uk, the rate for one adult in one room for 10 days (11 nights) is 1,750 pounds. 

More fund support beyond quarantine costs

UK universities are also offering other forms of financial support. This includes scholarships, bursaries, hardship funds, tuition fee discounts and reimbursements. They are mostly targeted towards incoming students from red-list countries who may incur additional costs to travel to the UK from May 17, 2021.

The University of Salford is providing those who must book and pay for the UK Government Managed Quarantine Hotel a financial contribution of up to 750 pounds per student, and 250 pounds for one dependant. It is also offering all eligible international students a 300 pounds bursary to spend on a device for learning, including a laptop and data to be able to start their course online. This offer is open to those starting in January/February, March or June 2021.