Frequently asked questions

Don’t worry, we will do everything we can to find a suitable course for you here at Herts. We assess each application case by case. We may also be able to offer you a Foundation or Initial Year course at one of our partner colleges that will allow you to progress on to the degree course that you have applied for, upon successful completion. If you are feeling a bit worried, sign up for information about Clearing so that you can be prepared just in case.

Like other qualifications this year, GCSEs will also be awarded with a calculated grade by teachers.

Ofqual has released some information for candidates in your position. You should contact your assessment centre to assess your options, but you may not receive a grade this summer and will have to sit an examination as soon as it becomes possible to do so. We are agreeing how we fairly review applicants in a similar situation and will update this page when we have further information.

UCAS have extended this deadline to 18 June to give applicants the time they need to make their decision about their preferred university.

Some applicants consider taking a year out before starting their studies (deferring). You must have accepted your offer and met all offer conditions in order to request this. We'll give your request all due consideration but can't promise that we'll be able to agree.

If you do choose to defer your place, please contact the Admissions team to request the deferral by emailing ask@herts.ac.uk.

Once you are a registered student you would need to make any request directly to your School of study, who will advise on your options.

From 6 July, if you are holding an unconditional firm place, you can release yourself into Clearing by using the ‘decline your place’ button in Track. We do encourage you to take some time to think carefully about changing any decisions as some courses may be full and your decision may not be able to be reversed.

As we are on the UCAS ‘pre-approved list’, this means you no longer need to contact us first to ask for this change to be made. You only need to call UCAS, and the other institution involved (if the other institution is not on the pre-approved list, which UCAS will be able to advise). If both institutions have opted-in to be on the pre-approved list, then you will only need to call UCAS, and the change can be made there and then.

You’ll be based on de Havilland campus if you’re studying subjects like Law, Business, English, Media, Criminology, Sport, Education and Teaching. You’ll be based on College Lane campus if you’re studying subjects like Art, Music, Health and Social Care, Psychology, Computer Science, Engineering, Maths and Astrophysics. You will receive full information in your joining instructions of where and when to go during your first week at uni.

We have two main start dates for our academic year. One for students joining us from within the UK and one for international students. These are:

• UK students and returning International students - 21 September 2020
• New International students - 26 October 2020

Some courses may have an earlier start. We’ll add details once dates are confirmed and you’ll be sent the specific information for your course as part of your joining instructions.

We know that some students may be unable to resume their studies straight away due to health, travel problems and possible quarantine restrictions. We want to give everyone the chance to join us this year so, if you have any extenuating circumstances, we will be offering you the opportunity to re-enrol by Monday 26th October.

If you are unable to join us in September, don’t worry. You will be offered additional support so you can catch up with your studies and you will be sent information in advance so you can prepare as much as possible. You will also have access to our virtual events, online groups to meet other students, as well as wellbeing support if you have any concerns.

Some changes have also been made to the length of our Christmas Vacation and Semester B teaching weeks. View the academic calendar for 2020/21 to see our updated term dates.

If you have any questions, please talk to your Programme Leader.

Registration usually takes place face to face, on campus at the start of term. This year, we are planning to run an on-line registration. We’re still working on the details, but we will let you know how to prepare and what you need to do as soon as we can.

Our campus is still open and we currently have students living in the halls of residence. Come September, many key members of staff will be on campus keeping our students safe and well and we will be welcoming new students to our halls.

Timetables for returning students will be published on 7 September.

New students will be able to access their timetables once they have completed their registration

If you are starting your course earlier in the Schools of Health and Social Work, Education or Law, you will be able to view your timetable from 31 August.

This year's Freshers' programme will be held over several weeks to give everyone the chance to enjoy the events, whilst prioritising the health and safety of our students. We will have a mix of face-to-face and online events for students to get involved with, including an outdoor cinema, campus walks, Drinks on the Green, and a Great British Tea Party. There will also be lots of support available to help all students settle back in to university life.

The University is working closely with Hertfordshire Students’ Union to provide an inclusive and safe experience at the start of term and we will continue to share updates with our students as our activities are confirmed.

We’ll all need a big celebration when things get back to normal, we’re looking forward to the Freshers’ Prom as much as you are! How and when this will take place will very much depend on social distancing rules and Government advice as we move through the year. We’ll let you know as soon as we have some details.

Yes, you can apply with a conditional offer. We will hold your application on file until your offer of a place to study progresses to unconditional.

If your offer of a place to study is unconditional, we hope to start sending out accommodation offers in June. If your offer is conditional, we will hold your accommodation application on file until your offer of a place to study progresses to unconditional.

You do not need to make any payment until you are sent an offer of accommodation. Once you receive an offer of accommodation you have 7 days in which to pay the deposit of £150 and set up a payment plan or pay in full. The payment plan allows you to pay termly with the due dates being October, January and April. No payments except the deposit are taken before this date.

Home students are due to move in between Wednesday 16 and Sunday 20 September. All students will be allocated time slots to move in and once they are settled, housemates will become ‘household bubbles’, allowing them to socialise as normal.

We offer various contract lengths to meet your needs. You can apply for accommodation to live on campus for 42 or 50 weeks. Most students will choose the 42-week option as this will give you plenty of time to complete your studies. If you are an international student, a student on an extended course, or want to stay on campus over the summer then apply for a 50-week contract.

As long as you notify Residential Allocations at accommodation@herts.ac.uk by 1 September if you no longer need your room, we will refund your deposit and cancel any payment plan you have set up.

Yes, as long as you meet the criteria for eligibility. The guarantee is explained fully here.

Join our Facebook groups to get to know your new uni friends and flatmates before you arrive.

Once you have accepted your offer of accommodation, you will be asked to complete an induction process and as part of that we will give you information on items you might like to bring with you. In the meantime, there is lots of useful information in these two booklets that you can have a look through:

• College Lane - A student guide to living on campus
• de Havilland - A student guide to living on campus

Yes, our launderettes are open, with social distancing in place.

To ensure we maintain social distancing during arrival at your accommodation, only you and one other person will be allowed on to campus to move in. This will help us to keep our campus COVID secure and ensure you, our students and staff can remain safe.

If you have a difficulty or disability which means that you may need more people to help you, please contact us.

We have introduced a number of safety measures to make sure all of our accommodation is safe and COVID- secure before you move in. These measures include:

• All areas within our accommodation have had enhanced cleaning using products which meet European and British standards assured to maintain hygienic conditions.
• All rooms will be left vacated for a minimum of 72 hours before you move in.
• Clear signs will be in place to ensure all staff and students comply with social distancing when required.
• All rooms and communal areas have been inspected and maintenance completed.
• Hand sanitiser will also be available

For those of you who have recently travelled to the UK, we will provide you with further advice before you arrive on campus.

• If you develop any COVID-19 symptoms when you are living in halls; a new continuous cough, high temperature or loss/change of sense of smell/taste within your 14-day isolation period you must follow these instructions:
• Register for a test on the NHS website
• Notify the University by emailing studentsupport@herts.ac.uk
• You will be contacted and supported throughout your isolation period and we will notify your housemates and provide the relevant information.

We have a number of measures in place to ensure our accommodation remains safe for our staff and students. These include:

• Daily or routine cleaning will focus on high touch point areas in common spaces, such as main entrance doors and hand sanitiser will also be available.
• Weekly kitchen inspections will check to see if hygiene levels are acceptable and waste removed.
• Regular cleaning of lifts and stairwells will take place.
• All Staff visiting Halls we be complying with government guidelines on PPE and social distancing.
• When collecting post or visiting helpdesk receptions a clear queue system will be in place and with a limited number allowed into the area.
• Helpdesk Receptions screens will be in place.
• Laundry facilities will be limited to one person in at one time, to maintain social distancing, these will be regular cleaned.
• Students will be asked to keep a safe distance at assembly points and during fire drills and evacuations.

Residential parking on College Lane Campus is very limited. You can apply here and you must fall into the relevant criteria. Residential parking is £171.60 for the year. There is no residential parking in de Havilland Campus.

Commuting students and visitors can either use the Park and Ride, multi-storey car park or use an e-permit. The Park and Ride (AL10 8HS) is available for all students, staff and visitors to use, it is £1 for the day per vehicle to use the shuttle bus that goes to both College Lane and de Havilland campuses. The multi-story car park next to the Forum is available for use using RingGo. It is free for 30 minutes, £3 up to 5 hours and £5 over 5 hours. E-permits are available for qualifying students and staff, these are £3 for the day.

Find out more information about parking.

There is a Medical Centre on College Lane Campus that is solely for staff and students. You can register there as soon as you know the address of your accommodation in Hatfield.

We have a number of shops of campus and these are well stocked to provide students with all the essentials you need.

We’re making plans for start of term, but don’t worry, you won’t be left alone. We have an app to help you find your way around campus. Download it now to take a look.

The University is introducing enhanced cleaning regimes across all University buildings, with additional information about hand washing and hand gels available across campus.

Our aim is to open as many of our facilities as possible. The University will follow up to date government guidance including social distancing and hygiene measures, meaning some of our facilities may operate with a limited capacity and with reduced hours. Clear signage will be in place to guide you.

We are working to ensure that there is a catering provision on campus from September which will be in accordance with Government guidelines. Our aim is to offer a range of services such as a coffee provision, grab and go items and enhanced services within our shops as and when the guidance permits.

The Student Wellbeing Centre on College Lane Campus is available for all students to use. They provide support with any emotional, mental health, disability and health related issues. More information can be found here.

For Undergraduate Tuition Fees, you need to register at your uni or college before Student Finance can make your first payment. You’ll usually do this in the first week of your course, and you may have to take your student finance entitlement letter with you.

Your Tuition Fee Loan is paid directly to your university or college in three instalments during the academic year.

For undergraduate students who are self-funded, and for all postgraduate students, the university offers a variety of ways you can pay your Tuition Fees.

Tuition fee payment and liability dates, and what are you liable for, can be found here.

Many of our programmes are taught through small-group settings such as seminars, laboratory classes and tutorials. We will continue to teach these in person, while following any national safety guidelines in place at the time, to ensure you have every opportunity to engage with our academics and course mates.

We are a campus-based University, which makes us well placed to deliver valuable face-to-face teaching in a COVID secure environment, efficiently following and responding to national safety guidelines. Therefore, our emphasis will remain on face-to-face delivery.

There will be some activities that cannot be delivered safely face-to-face and these will be delivered online. This includes live, synchronous online teaching sessions (e.g. large lectures), pre-recorded academic content integrated with online support, some social activities, student wellbeing and other support services. Some services will continue online until it is safe to resume a normal service.

All rooms in our accommodation have fast wi-fi and network connection sufficient for studies and personal use.

The intercampus shuttle bus is currently not running but is due to resume service in September 2020. Students can get on any scheduled bus that goes between campuses for free on presentation of their ID card. The park and ride is also closed until further notice.

Please visit the Uno Bus website for the latest timetables and updates on Uno bus services.

During this current period, our Wellbeing services are available 24/7 by contacting Security on +44 (0)1707 281010. Our team will then arrange a secure connection for a video call to provide assistance and reassurance. Students can also access a one-off same-day appointment by emailing deanofstudents@herts.ac.uk.

The University has its own bus company, with discounted tickets available for students.

Uno bus have a number of measures in place to ensure social distancing is observed on their buses and The Shuttle. These include:

• A reduced passenger capacity on each bus
• Areas of seating which are cordoned off
• Signage regarding 2m spacing
• Hand sanitiser dispensers on the door to the bus

Passengers are also asked to take extra safety measures to keep everyone on board safe including hand washing, contactless payments and the wearing of face coverings.

Visit the Uno bus website for more information

All our plans will be communicated to you by email. Check our website herts.ac.uk and our social media channels for our latest news and updates.

Face coverings are not PPE or Medical Devices and do not protect the wearer. However, they may protect others and help our community to feel safer. 

Face masks and medical masks should only be used in medical and clinical settings. See our table below to see the different between face coverings: