Teaching in autumn 2021
Technology-enhanced teaching
Remotely controlled laboratories, medical consultations conducted entirely in augmented reality, travel-free expeditions, and remote assessments were just some of the novel teaching methods we introduced over the past year.
Learn more about how we adapted to teaching in a pandemic
If you’re joining us to study an on-campus programme, you’ll find more information here about our teaching arrangements from autumn 2021.
We are looking forward to welcoming you on campus for a broad range of teaching and extra-curricular activities, complemented by online activities where effective and necessary.
If you’re joining an online programme, your teaching and learning will run as advertised, though please do get in touch with your department if you have any questions.
If you’re going to be studying at Imperial College Business School, visit the School’s website for more detail about the teaching arrangements for the autumn term.
If you require a visa to study in the UK, please find out more about the evolving situation regarding travelling to the UK and enrolling on your programme.
What to expect in autumn 2021
Teaching arrangements in autumn 2021
Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students
Updated: 17 June 2021
Our priority is for you to experience everything our campuses and London has to offer.
We can now confirm you will be required to attend the College in-person, unless you are enrolled on a programme delivered wholly online.
This means we will be welcoming you to campus in autumn for an educational experience that will maximise in-person teaching throughout the academic year, unless we are prevented from doing so by UK government restrictions.
As a community, we have learnt a lot from this past year. Our combination of cutting-edge technology and academic excellence resulted in some new and creative ways of learning and engaging with each other on campus and remotely.
This summary [PDF] also provides more information on some of the ways in which we have collaborated with our student community to deliver investment in your university experience.
Many of the changes we have had to make to our teaching have worked well, and we will retain some of these approaches in the new academic year to enhance your overall experience on campus. This will vary course-by-course but, in general, it means:
- Lectures may be hosted online when this method is deemed to be educationally beneficial, and when it is clear that it will reduce the risk of sustained COVID-19 transmission as our community emerges from the pandemic.
- Classroom tutorials and laboratory activities will be hosted on our campuses. We are planning for these crucial and engaging learning opportunities to be delivered without social distancing in place. We anticipate UK government guidelines will support this decision by the time you return for the new academic year.
The plan detailed above is the common approach across the majority of programmes.
However, for a small number of programmes with scheduling complexities, it has been necessary for us to timetable with reduced in-person capacity. These programmes will still offer you substantial amounts of face-to-face teaching, but in smaller teaching groups.
Our high-quality and safe approach to your learning experience will be complemented by many other enjoyable elements of your student experience. This may include social events, clubs and societies, or simply being able to enjoy lunch on the lawn with your friends.
Departments are in the process of officially confirming the learning experience they will be able to offer you.
Just like last year, every College programme is expected to plan for multiple public health scenarios, and to ensure you receive the very best education and student experience regardless of any government restrictions.
Your department will contact you with your own plan before you enrol with the College.
Research postgraduates including MRes students
Updated: 17 June 2021
We understand how important it is that you have full access to our world-leading laboratories, facilities, study, and research space.
We are looking forward to welcoming you on campus in autumn 2021, unless we are prevented from doing so by UK government restrictions.
Our plans include suspending social distancing, if government guidelines allow. We will remain careful in how we deliver large scale teaching, research, or social events, with online provision remaining as an option.
You will also have access to many of the online tools that we have used to great effect in 2020–21 to help our research students interact with staff and other students while the UK was in full lockdown. This includes increased use of videoconferencing and online collaboration tools.
Your department, or your supervisor, will be able to answer any questions about the autumn, as well as how they will support you to conduct research and provide supervision.
Keeping you safe on campus
Your wellbeing and safety is our priority.
All overseas students coming to England can access vaccination against COVID-19.
Regular testing, along with our other safety measures, will also help safeguard our on-campus community.
The contingency plans for the academic delivery of your programme and the wider student experience, in the event of a potential partial or full lockdown, are being finalised by departments. We expect to publish these at the end of June 2021.