covid-19 testing for christmas travel

we will be providing voluntary covid-19 tests for students who wish to leave their term-time address for christmas.

we are able to offer up to 1,000 tests per day, on a first-come-first-served basis.

if you’ve already had a test

if you have previously tested negative, you should still book a test before for your christmas travel.

we are now asking students who have tested positive within the last 90 days not to book a test. this follows guidance to all universities from the department of health and social care. if you do take a test, you are likely to receive a 'false positive' result. 

a 'false positive' would unnecessarily delay your christmas travel, as you would have to self-isolate for 10 days first. in addition, anyone identified as having had close contact with you would have to self-isolate for 14 days once home.

booking your test

when choosing your test appointment, please:

• select the right testing window - these are explained below
• only book one appointment
• plan around your teaching, assessments and exams
• be aware that we expect high demand on friday 4 and monday 7 december
• be prepared to leave sheffield within 24 hours of the test

if your teaching has already moved fully online, please try to take your test and return home as early as possible.

standard testing: 30 november to 9 december

this window is for students who do not need to remain in sheffield after 9 december. it aligns with the government’s student travel window, from 3 december to 9 december.

late testing: 10 december to 14 december

this window is for students on placement and research students who need to remain in sheffield after 9 december.

note that tests are not available to students who commute to their placement from home, or who take regular pillar 1 tests as part of an nhs placement.

advice for students on placement

students on health, social care and education placements can remain on placement beyond 9 december to the end of term, due to ‘essential worker’ status. we encourage you to continue with your placement, if you’re content to do so.

if you plan to stay after 9 december, you should book an appointment in the late testing window (10 december - 14 december).

however, if you want to end your placement early in order to travel elsewhere in time for christmas, we will support you to do this. if this is the case, you should book an appointment in the standard testing window (30 november - 9 december).

course teams will be in direct contact with all affected students.

international travel

you should only book a test if you intend to travel within the uk. if you are planning to travel overseas, check the fco travel advice pages and follow the guidance for your destination country. 

if you cannot get a test

if you can't find a suitable test appointment, you can still travel home. you will not have self-isolate when you arrive home. 

refer to our christmas travel guidance and travel home as safely as possible. remember that national lockdown measures restrict travel until 2 december, and that the student travel window is 3–9 december. 

do not travel if you have covid-19 symptoms or have tested positive.

what to expect from the test

our test centre is in owen building on city campus. your appointment will take up to 30 minutes in total, and you will receive your results within an hour.

when you book you will receive a confirmation note with advice on where to go and what to bring. you can also find that information on our page about how testing works.

tests are fulfilled through the nhs track and trace system, and the results will not be shared with the university. we will send you a text and email on the day of your test with advice on what to do next.