The UK¡¯s opposition party, Labour, has called for the return of students to universities in January to be staggered, saying the current approach risks a?repeat of a spike in infections.

Under new proposals outlined by the party on 30?November, students on placements or those whose face-to-face teaching is deemed ¡°essential¡± would return to campus first, with other students joining them later in the term.

The intervention comes ahead of the seven-day ¡°student travel window¡± in which millions of students will begin heading home for Christmas, starting on 3?December.

But Emma Hardy, Labour¡¯s shadow universities minister, claimed that the government had provided no guidance for universities or students on how to manage the return to campus in January. She accused ministers of ¡°passing the buck to universities and expecting them to come up with answers where the government has?none¡±.

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¡°Students are about to leave universities for Christmas holidays without knowing when or how they will go back,¡± said Ms?Hardy, adding that ¡°guidance on their safe return must be published without delay to give universities time to put processes in?place¡±.

¡°The government should adopt Labour¡¯s call to stagger their return and work with universities to deliver this,¡± she continued, noting the rise in coronavirus infections seen in many UK university cities in and around freshers¡¯ week in September.

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Ms Hardy said it was essential that the government ensured that universities have ¡°the appropriate testing capacity available for students¡¯ return to?campus¡±.

International students were also in need of clarity given the possibility that they could carry the coronavirus with them, she added.

In a letter to the universities minister, Michelle Donelan, Ms Hardy asks if international students will be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival and enquires about what ¡°guidance will universities be given on supporting students in self-isolation given the damaging impact this could have on their mental health, including the need for continuing extra resources to support domestic students?¡± She also asks if Ms Donelan¡¯s department will ¡°be putting in place additional steps to ensure international students will be supported on their arrival in the?UK¡±.

In a statement, a government spokeswoman said officials had ¡°set out plans delivering on our commitment to enable students to return home for the Christmas holidays while minimising the risk of transmission¡±.

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¡°We will provide further guidance in due course on the spring term, which will look to use mass testing on offer and consider the latest scientific advice,¡± she added, saying the government ¡°understand[s] this has been a very difficult time for students, which is why we have prioritised their education and well-being from the start of this pandemic, by supporting universities to provide a blend of online and in-person learning in a Covid-secure way¡±.

In the letter, Ms Hardy also asks the government to detail how it will monitor the potential increase in student dropout rates after Christmas.

¡°Given the significant concerns that have already been expressed about the impact of the Christmas period on the R?number, your department¡¯s failure to set out a plan for the return of university students in January is simply irresponsible,¡± she says.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com