What you need to know about coming to UCT in 2021

Dear students and colleagues

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is already preparing for the 2021 academic year and we are looking forward to welcoming back returning students and helping first-year students to feel at home on campus.

While COVID-19 is still with us, we all need to learn from the lessons of 2020. We’ve seen how difficult it was for many of our students to learn remotely for various reasons, including their social conditions. For safety reasons, UCT will adopt physically distanced learning next year, but in a way that will allow students to benefit from the resources available here. So it’s important that students return to campus in 2021, even if they will be working online. We are working hard to help everyone to succeed.

UCT residences will open on 25 February 2021 for postgraduate students and on 1 March for new and returning undergraduate students.

Some students will be permitted to return to residence earlier, to complete their requirements for the 2020 academic year. To limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, UCT is organising single-room residence accommodation and a ‘safe arrival’ quarantine period. If students become a close contact of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, we will follow the ‘close contact quarantine period’ as prescribed by the Department of Health.

• Read about the ‘safe arrival’ quarantine period and the ‘close contact quarantine period’ for students arriving in the UCT residence system.

Limiting the spread of COVID-19 is a responsibility we all share

All students, staff members and visitors to UCT will be required to abide by the health and safety procedures and protocols on campus. These protocols are designed to help everyone adhere to the four basic rules:

• Wear a mask over your mouth and nose in public, including when you leave your residence room (UCT will provide every staff member and student with cloth masks)
• Keep a distance of at least 1.5 m from other people
• Sanitise your hands or wash them frequently with soap and water
• Avoid crowded places and spaces with poor ventilation

Health support is available for students

The Student Wellness Service (SWS) in the Department of Student Affairs will continue to provide pandemic-related support to students, including screening for symptoms on arrival to residence and providing information about the prevention of COVID-19 infection before arrival. UCT’s responses to COVID-19, and the answers to frequently asked questions, are available on our dedicated web page.

• Read the FAQs and other information about UCT’s responses to COVID-19
• Read the COVID-19 support plan for UCT students

The SWS offers primary health care and medical, counselling and social work services, including:

• 24-hour Students COVID-19 Hotline: 021 650 1271
• SWS Triage Line: 021 650 5620
• Sexual Assault Emergency Standby Number: 072 393 7824
• Online booking for a SWS medical appointment for any health query

Students will need laptop computers in 2021

For students to receive the full value of UCT’s physically distanced learning in 2021, they will need to have access to their own laptop computers, which will allow them to access online teaching and academic support resources 24/7.

• Read about the options available in UCT’s Laptop Programme.

UCT is preparing study spaces on campus that will meet the health and safety protocols under COVID-19 conditions.

These spaces will be clearly marked to indicate the maximum number of occupants to comply with physical distancing requirements. Students using UCT venues and other facilities are required to follow the prescribed rules and regulations and to co-operate with students and staff in observing these limitations.

Students will be informed about what documentation they will need to carry to be allowed on campus in 2021.

While UCT remains an open campus, access points are limited to allow our Campus Protection Services to screen everyone who visits the university, as part of our health and safety precautions.

I wish each of you a restful holiday and a safe arrival to UCT next year.

Sincerely

Professor Loretta Feris
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Transformation

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements