How the corona virus affects you as a student

New: Previous restrictions re-apply on campus

After campus being closed for the last three weeks, the University has, in dialogue with Smittskydd Halland, decided to return to the level of restrictions that previously applied (please see below), from Monday April 19. To limit the spread of infection, it is important that everyone continues to follow the restrictions, keep their distance and avoid meeting new people, but only meet the few people you normally meet. If you have compulsory elements to be completed on campus before April 19 you will find information about this in your schedule.

Digital teaching until June 6

The restrictions below have been extended and apply until June 6 (and may be further extended or changed depending on new recommendations or decisions, nationally or regionally).

• All teaching and examination that can be done digitally with acceptable quality must be done digitally. Please note that exceptions can be made for course elements that must be carried out on campus. Decisions on exceptions are made by the School Dean. 
• You should avoid being on campus but you may visit campus if you have scheduled education. Students who do are not able to conduct distance studies can study on campus but should do so individually, not in groups. Access cards are required to enter all facilities.
• The University Library has very limited opening hours and you will not be able to use the study places in the library. See the University Library website for the latest updated information.
  The University Library's opening hours
• Group rooms and lecture halls are not available for booking through Mazemap.
• Service Center is closed for visits. If you need to get in touch with the Service Center, you can contact them by phone or email. Please note that it may take longer than usual to get an answer to your case given the current situation.
  

We continue to implement measures to reduce the risk of the spread of infection so that campus-based elements are possible even under current, stricter restrictions.

Please note that travelling to and from education and examination are still considered as necessary travelling. If you for some reason are not able to participate in teaching due to the restrictions, we advice you to contact your teacher. If the current restrictions unable you to attend an exam, your are referred to the re-exam.

If you are in a risk group, there are already possibilities to make special adaptions of teaching and examinations.

Information for students in a risk group

Protective masks on campus

Due to the stricter requirements regarding the use of protective masks in Halland, the following applies at Halmstad University:

• Protective masks should be used for activities on campus where the distance of two meters cannot be guaranteed, for example during laboratory work. During these activities, the University takes responsibility for access to protective masks for students and staff.
• Please note! Protective masks are not required for written exams on campus as these are carried out with a two-meter distance between each participant. If you insist on using a protective mask during a written exam, you must provide it yourself.

How to act responsible to reduce the risk of spreading infection

Keep social distance

When being present at campus it is especially important to keep social distance in order to limit the spread of infection. The Campus area is adjusted to follow the Public Health Agency's recommendations. It is important that we all follow the instructions on all signs and respect the barriers and distance marks.

Stay at home if you are feeling ill

If you are feeling ill, you must stay at home and avoid social contact, in accordance with the recommendations made by the Public Health Agency. This always apply, also if you only have mild symptoms. If you have symptoms during an exam and do not leave the room after being requested to do so, this will be reported, which may lead to disciplinary action.

Wash your hands

Be careful with your hand hygiene! Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and do not touch your nose, mouth or eyes with your hands.

Measures taken to prevent the spread of covid-19

Education and scheduling

• Teaching and examinations that can be done digitally with acceptable quality must be done digitally.
• When it comes to the education elements that take place on campus, the University has based its assessments of how many students can be in a certain room while being able to keep a safe distance both in the room itself and when passing in and out.
• Education scheduling is adjusted to limit the amount of students at campus at the same time.
• The government's various restrictions on the number of people who may meet do not involve higher education institutions, since teaching and research are not considered public gatherings or private interaction. It is the size of the room and the distance between people, both in the room itself and when you pass in and out, that determine the number of people allowed.

Hand hygiene and cleaning routines

• Stations with alcogel are placed in entrance areas, at information desks, or in connection with larger open spaces indoors.
• Stations with cleaning products and cloths are placed in lecture halls, information desks and general study places so that both staff and students can wipe surfaces themselves during the day.
  
• Daily cleaning in lecture halls, conference rooms, toilets and kitchens. Cleaning on surfaces such as access card readers, door handles, switches etc are prioritised. The University is responsible for restocking the cleaning equipment that you can use and that the cloths are washed daily (weekdays).
• An extra daily check of public toilets and refilling soap and paper towels will be made if needed.

Signs, barriers, open/closed premises

• The University campus premises are only open for students and University staff. The University Library is an exception, as the general public is allowed for loan services only. Access cards will be required to enter all facilities. This decision is made partly to avoid congestion and partly to increase physical safety when there are fewer people on campus.
• On signs at entrance doors we remind you to keep distance, and to maintain a good hand hygiene.
• Barriers, distance markings and, if necessary, plexiglass have been installed at information desks and other premises where queues and crowding can occur.
  
• Signs showing how to pass the entrance doors to avoid congestion.
• Some of the facilities at campus are closed to prevent shortcuts where crowding can occur and you may need your access card to enter them. As a student you have access to the facilities in which your school is operating. In these buildings you have access to study areas, computer rooms and project rooms. In case you need access to a computer and wi-fi you can also use the general study areas on campus.
• To avoid crowding before a lesson, as many lecture halls as possible will be unlocked during the day so that you can enter immediately instead of gathering outside the halls.
• The furniture in lecture halls, group rooms and study places is adapted to create greater distances, for example by moving, removing, blocking or marking furniture or seats. You are expected to respect this and are not allowed to change the current refurnishments or barriers.
• A maximum of 50 people is allowed at the same time in the University Library. Access card is required to enter. The bookable group rooms are closed.

Tools and tips for distance education

• The University's Study Support Centre can give useful tips for effective distance learning as well as support with study techniques and how you can improve your academic writing.
  Study Support Centre
• Halmstad University uses the digital tools Zoom and Blackboard Collaborate for e-meetings, online teaching and e-seminars. Via Blackboard you can easily log in to Zoom, you will find the link under 'Student services'.
  Blackboard
  Instructions Zoom

• If you experience any technical problems with any of the digital tools that you are currently using in your distance studies, you can report this to IT support via helpdesk.
  Report error in helpdesk

General questions regarding your studies in relation to the corona virus should be referred to servicecenter@hh.se.

Our support functions

The support functions at Halmstad University has increased the possibilities for digital meetings and limited the amount of physical meetings during the pandemic. Please find below the web page for each support function, where you can find more information about opening hours and points of contact.

University Library

IT support

Disability and learning support

Service Center

Student Healthcare Centre

Student Union

Study and career councelling

Study Support Centre

Guidelines regarding students in a risk group

If you belong to a risk group, or share a household with close relatives who belong to a risk group, the University can adapt the teaching for you whenever possible.

You have the possibility to receive adapted teaching and examination if you have one or several of the diagnosis listed in the National Board of Health and Welfare's report on identification of risk groups. If you belong to a risk group, you must be able to prove this.

Krisinformation.se regarding risk groups

How do you prove that you belong to a risk group?

Strengthen your belonging to a risk group with a certificate from a doctor or midwife, stating the specific risk group. Send the certificate to Student Healthcare Centre according to the instructions below, and wait for a decision.

1. You are responsible for sending all certificates / notes from the health service to the Student Healthcare Centre, via email to studenthalsan@hh.se.
2. The Student Healthcare Centre then decides if you are eligible to be able to receive any study adjustment.
3. The decision is called “Temporary decision of adaptation due to risk group” and will only state that the student has presented the correct certificate; therefore, in the risk group.
4. The decision is sent by email to you and you are responsible for showing it to the teachers concerned.

Adaptation of teaching

It is the teacher/examiner who assesses whether and how it is possible to adapt the teaching and examinations for students in the risk group.

Adaptation of examination(s)

Adaptation of examinations regarding examinations that are written in the same room as other students is that the you can take the examination in a different room where large social distancing is available. If you have a doctor’s note / certificate confirming you belong to the risk group, you need to apply for these rooms via email: tentamen@hh.se.

If adaptation is not possible

The decision is not a guarantee for adaptation. If it is not possible to make any adaptation regarding to the structure and teaching of the course, you can apply for leave of absence (study break) with an assured guaranteed place or deferment of studies.

Pause or discontinue your studies

Contact Service Center if you have any questions and queries concerning study breaks.

In case of suspected or confirmed infection

Take a test if you have symptoms

Information and instructions on how to take a Covid-19 test are available via 1177. The tests are free and if you have a Swedish personal ID number and mobile bank ID you can order a test directly from the webpage.

1177

If you do not have a Swedish personal ID number and mobile bank ID, please contact the healthcare clinic closest to your home address or call the pandemic services via 010-476 19 13 to get assistance with testing.

How to act if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you will receive instructions from the health services about what applies concerning sick leave, possible quarantine, infection tracking and information regarding contact with others. It is you yourself as an individual who is responsible for informing the people with whom you have been in close contact with.

The health services decide who you need to inform

It is the doctor and the health services who decide who an infected person needs to inform.

If you inform the University, a teacher, or other member of staff that you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the information will be passed on to the University’s security coordinator. The University will then contact the region’s infectious disease doctor (ID doctor) to receive instructions regarding what possible measures to undertake. The University shall not, and may not, make its own assessments in such matters.

How the University will act if many students in a group get COVID-19

If Halmstad University becomes aware of several students in the same group becoming ill with covid-19, the University will contact the infectious disease doctor (ID doctor). It is then the ID doctor who assesses what measures the University needs to take.

In case of new recommendations and decisions

The University bases its decisions on the recommendations of the Public Health Agency and the government, as well as on ensuring, as far as possible, the teaching of students. This means that current advice and restrictions may change.

We will inform you as a student as soon as any new decisions have been made, primarily via this page. However, in order for us to be able to reach you quickly if the situation calls for it, it is important that you check that your contact details in Student Ladok are updated and correct.

Student Ladok

More information

Keep yourself updated via the Public Health Agency and the Ministry of Foregin Affairs' webpages and apps. Avoid spreading rumours!

National and regional restrictions

Krisinformation.se (general information from different Swedish authorities about the corona virus in English)

Public Health Agency

1177.se – The Public Healthcare Guide

Ministry of Foreign Affairs