Preparing for September 2021

From the start of the 2020-21 academic year and subject to KHDA and the Ministry of Education’s approval, the University is planning to introduce a ‘Bi-modal’ system of teaching. Bi-modal learning means that our programmes will able to be delivered either on campus, online or a blend of both. This means that we are in a great position to ensure you can access your education throughout the year even if more strict restrictions relating to COVID-19 are re-imposed.

Our teaching will be delivered through a combination of in-person teaching and learning on our Dubai campus, and online activities using the various platforms and resources we have available. The exact nature of this combination will depend on the requirements of each academic programme, what the situation with COVID-19 allows and the approval of our regulators.

Our priority is that you can start your education and join our community as safely and seamlessly as possible.

We know it is important for our new students to make friends and interact with each other, your academic team and our support staff in order to feel at home on campus and settle into university life. Our plan is to do as much on campus with you as we can, providing we think we can do that safely. The safety of our community will remain our top priority.  Whether it is our Welcome activities for new and returning students or our teaching activity we will provide the best experience we can, whilst adhering to the regulations and safety guidelines in place at the time.

You will be taught by the same excellent Professors and lecturers that make the University of Birmingham a world top 100 university! Birmingham’s level of innovation means that your education with us will continue to be of the highest standard that you would expect.

In order to support your online learning, we will be using a range of platforms, accessible through our Virtual Learning Environment, Canvas, including Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

We have enhanced our extensive online collection of resources, books and journals that you can access through the Library from anywhere in the world.

We have increased the range of software that is available online for students to use anywhere, including free access to Office365, which includes all of the standard Office products plus OneDrive and Teams and LinkedIn Learning to supplement your skills development.

The Academic Skills Centre has developed a range of new resources to help you improve your digital skills so that you can make the most of learning online and benefit from of all of our online resources.

Yes, absolutely. We appreciate that, perhaps now more than ever, students may need additional support to allow them to engage fully with their studies and fulfil their potential, and these will all be available to you. We are focused on ensuring all students feel supported throughout this time and beyond.

Your wellbeing is our top priority and we are working on a range of measures to ensure you stay safe, happy and healthy whilst at University.

We have a dedicated Student Wellbeing Officer on campus who will be available to support your wellbeing and your studies. Our Student Wellbeing Officer is currently offering student support remotely whether that be via email, over the telephone or online appointments via Zoom. Regular drop-in sessions and in-person appointments will be introduced throughout the first semester when it is safe to do so.

The Birmingham Mental Health and Wellbeing Team have developed a full online service including online counselling and therapeutic support. This works alongside our extensive self-help and self-care resources.

Students with disabilities

• Inclusivity, accessibility, flexibility and understanding are embedded in our approach to learning and teaching.
• If you have a Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) these considerations will continue to be supported.
• If you need to declare a disability, or need any specialist advice to start your studies with us, then please contact the Student Disability Service. Our team are working remotely, answering queries and offering 1:1 appointments online.

We understand that for some students it may not be possible to be present on campus at times due to travel restrictions, shielding measures or temporary self-isolation. In making all of the core module content available online, we are doing everything we can to ensure all students can continue to progress.

Welcome is the chance for students to meet each other, learn about our systems, such as IT, Wellbeing, Library or Careers, and to get to know the campus and how things work.

For new undergraduate students, it is the first opportunity to start feeling part of our unique community, make new friends and have some fun with the range of activities that take place across the week and beyond.

Welcome is going to be a little different this year. COVID-19 means that the start of the academic year is likely to involve social distancing, and many of the usual activities we hold during our Welcome just aren’t going to be possible at the moment. The safety of our community will remain our top priority.  Whether it is our Welcome activities for new and returning students or our teaching activity we will provide the best experience we can, whilst adhering to the regulations and safety guidelines in place at the time.

However! We are still 100% committed to doing our very best in the current situation; to make sure that all of our students feel part of our community, make connections with each other, and get all the information they need to make a flying start to the academic year. Whether it’s online or in person, the best thing about UoB Dubai is the people, so we can’t wait to see you in September!