Please check the GOV.UK website and read the information carefully before you book your travel and again before you travel.
Travelling Overseas from England
If you are travelling overseas from England, you can find information here.
Fit to fly - Free Fit to Fly certification is available with KCL TEST.
We encourage all students and staff to take up the option to have the COVID booster jab when you are eligible as it helps to reduce the risk of you getting seriously ill.
Vaccination is free for everyone in the UK, including international students. More information on the COVID vaccination and where to get the vaccine is available here.
Students and staff coming to campus and living in our residences and who don’t have COVID symptoms should take regular COVID-19 tests. See our COVID testing webpages for information on KCL TEST.
Wearing a face covering (unless you’re exempt) is recommended in our teaching areas, libraries and crowded areas and in offices when you’re moving around or sitting directly next to or opposite someone.
Spare face coverings are available from receptions and in our classrooms. Please respond respectfully if someone asks if you could wear a face covering, they may have health conditions or anxieties you are not aware of.
If you would like to show you are exempt, badges are available from our building and residencies receptions, libraries and KCLSU Hubs.
Exemptions include:
- People who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- Where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
- If you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
By enrolling at King’s and accepting our Community Charter, all our students agree to adhere to King’s health and safety guidance at all times to protect the health of ourselves and those around us.
Remember to sanitise or wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds regularly throughout the day.
When you enter our buildings, please use the hand sanitiser provided.
Students and staff should take tests twice a week when they are coming to campus.
Wearing a face covering in classrooms unless you are exempt is recommended
Please sanitise your desk and chair before you leave the room.
Meetings and events can be held in-person on our campuses. Please remember that the guidance in place on our campuses will need to be followed and a risk assessment completed as appropriate for any large meetings and events. We would ask invitees to take a COVID test before attending.
Study spaces are available on campus for you to use. Please follow the guidance in place and sanitise any shared equipment using the wipes provided before and after use to protect yourself and the next person who uses the space.
Information on the study spaces available for you to use can be found on Student Services Online
Please see the King’s Sport website for information on virtual classes and staying fit and healthy and any guidance in place.
Our restaurants and cafes are open. Please sanitise your hands before touching any food and drinks before you purchase them.
We have an Order Ahead service so you can pick up your favourite food, contact-free.
Visitors are welcome to come to campus..
We want you to enjoy living and working in London and all that the capital has to offer. We really encourage you to do everything you can to play your part in keeping the campuses and our local communities as safe as possible for everyone.
We are prepared to respond rapidly to implement additional and appropriate measures where necessary and in the instance of suspected or confirmed cases, working closely with the UK Security Health Agency (UKHSA) and local health protection teams. The privacy of our staff and students is at the forefront, and in line with data protection, we will never disclose an individual’s details.
We will remain agile and act quickly as part of measures to help protect our King’s community, including remote working and learning away from campus at short notice if required.
Suspected or Confirmed Cases
For additional guidance, please refer to the Suspected or Confirmed Case Detailed Guidance on SharePoint, which contains step-by-step, detailed instructions.
Experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks
It is possible that we may experience outbreaks on our campuses and more widely in London and the UK. In line with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) or Government guidance, we may need to increase the amount of teaching and learning delivered online to enable students to continue with their studies and reduce transmission of the virus.
Guidance for managers
- Ask your staff member or PGR to complete the King’s self-reporting form. Where a form has already been completed, ask the staff member to select ‘update of circumstances’.
- They should stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
- Do not notify any other staff or students at this time. Information about an individual’s personal circumstances is strictly confidential.
- If they can, they can continue to work from home. Where work cannot be undertaken remotely, discuss the options identified in the Return to working on campus policy.
- Highlight to the staff member / PGR that if they develop COVID-19 symptoms to request a test through the NHS. Continue to provide support and direct them to online resources: http://kcl.ac.uk/coronavirus and https://www.kcl.ac.uk/wellbeing.
- If a student contacts you stating they have tested positive, advise the student to complete the self-isolation form and to request a test through NHS if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
- The student should stay at home and avoid contact with others.
- Do not notify any other staff or students at this time. Information about an individual’s personal circumstances is strictly confidential.
- Ensure they feel supported and have the information they need. If the student is due to take an assessment, follow the normal guidance for sickness absence during an assessment period.
The Personal Health Silver Team and Safe Campus Operations Team (SCOT) manages the university’s response. Our approach aligns with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) definitions of what constitutes an outbreak and how they define close contacts.
The university has plans in place to manage any changes to services that are impacted by outbreaks on campus. SCOT or the Silver Incident Team will oversee any closures of rooms, floors or buildings and the completion of cleaning, in line with advice from the local Public Health team and UK Health Security Agency. Faculties and Directorates will be contacted by the Silver Incident Team either directly or via Students and Education or Estates. They will be informed of any changes and will be advised to activate local plans. The Silver Incident Team will keep affected Faculties and Directorates up-to-date with progress to return to campus activities.
The Personal Silver Health Team will be in contact with the following groups in the event of outbreaks.
- NHS Test & Trace – the UK’s national contact tracing provision for all positively confirmed coronavirus cases
- London Coronavirus Response Cell (LCRC) – this is a pan-London response team that oversees cases and outbreaks, advising on and supporting risk assessment and further management where required
- Local Health Protection Teams – these are managed by the Borough.
An outbreak is classed by UK Health Security Agency as being more than two confirmed cases of coronavirus amongst students/staff who are direct close contacts, proximity contacts or in the same cohort (tutorial group, seminar group, lab session, social club, households or other defined group within the setting) at the university within 14 days.
UK Health Security Agency defines close contacts as:
- Direct close contacts - direct face-to-face contact for any length of time, including sexual contacts, being coughed on or talked to OR exposure within 1 metre for more than minute.
- Proximity contacts - extended close contact (less than 2m for more than 15 minutes)
The measures we have developed and implemented including recommended use of face coverings and hygiene, regular testing and encouraging vaccinations are designed to limit the likelihood of outbreaks on our campuses.