Study during the Coronavirus outbreak

Last changed: 27 March 2020
Student attending a Zoom meeting

For you as a student at SLU, the coronavirus outbrake means that classes that would normally have taken place on campus now will be given on distance using digital tools.

Important!

  • All students at SLU are to study at home to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Do not come to campus unless you absolutely have to.
  • Beginning in Sunday 29 March, public gatherings with more than 50 people are prohibited by law.

Digital tools for distance studies

SLU has access to several digital tools for online distance learning and distance studies, for example when you have group work or want to study with a friend.

Canvas

Canvas is a learning platform consisting of course rooms. Canvas has four features:

  • Distributes materials, instructions, links and learning goals.
  • Submission of work safely.
  • Communication with your teacher and other students in the course.
  • Tools for evaluations and examns.

Zoom

With Zoom, you can study with your classmates over video, for example when you have group work. Zoom will also be used for distance lectures so it is good if you are familiar with the tool.

The first time you sign in, you will need to install the Zoom Client on your computer.

Office 365

 You have free access to Microsofts service Office 365. It includes:

  • 1 Tb storage in onedrive.
  • Access to the Microsoft Office suite, which you can install on up to 5 devices.
  • Log in to Office 365 >> Use your SLU account when logging in.

Adobe

Due to the restrictions preventing students from accessing campus, we are offering a temporary access to the entire Adobe suite (including programs such as Photoshop and Indesign).

 Download it to your computer by following the instructions here.

My desktop

By connecting to the My Desktop, you get access to SLU's standard programs and the documents and files that you have stored on a SLU computer.

  • More information about My Desktop and how to connect.

Tips for home study - take breaks and meet digitally

Structure your study day

Try to follow normal study times and routines as much as possible, even when studying from home. Include recuperation such as coffee breaks, lunch and other breaks. Try finding new routines at home that correspond to those at campus. It is recommended to have virtual coffee breaks with your classmates.

Move/take a walk

It can be physically or psychologically strenuous to study from home for a longer period. Make sure that it works in the long-term. For example, set reminders on your phone a few times per day to remind you to take proper breaks and allow the mind to rest and maintain concentration for the rest of the day.

It is also important to do ergonomic exercises in order to reduce the risk of strain injuries. Take a walk or two during the day. Other ways of incorporating physical exercise is moving the arms and legs, stretching the back, etc. Another tip is standing up and looking out the window, as far as you can, for a minute or two, before returning to your studies. This allows more blood to travel to the brain and rests the eyes. Perhaps it is possible to take part in a phone conversation with a classmate while getting some fresh air?

Ensure social contact

Study at campus provides most of us with a social community that is important for our well-being. Study from home separates us from or social fellowship during a longer period. It is therefore important to find ways to compensate this need. Make an effort to establish social contact in other ways.

A few tips

  • Coffee breaks on Skype – meet classmates online and talk about the day.
  • Also keep a chat window open in Skype or in messenger - this allows continual contact with your classmates throughout the study day.
  • Meet your friends in a video session through Zoom. Read more about Zoom in the header above.
  • Create an efficient and peaceful workspace

Another tip is creating a clear work station in the home. This may involve being able to close a physical door. If this is not possible, close a mental door by asking any family members or friends to respect your working hours and new study situation.

A clean and tidy kitchen table is also a good option. Signal that you are busy by closing the door, putting on headphones, turning your back or something else that shows intention. Notify your surroundings of when you take breaks and when you are done for the day. And perhaps most important of all: stick to the plan.

Give yourself time to structure any technical tools to make things easier and practical. Where should the computer be? Where do I sit best? Which chair should I use?

Digital exam

During distance teaching, the exam takes place mainly through home exam or digital exam, for example in Zoom or Canvas. Your course leader will inform you of what applies to your particular course.

Extended time for home exam can be granted by the examiner for a student with a disability.

Corona FAQ for students

Will you close the university or cancel courses or programmes?  

A few courses may be canceled or moved but moste courses will be given as planned.

All students are to study at home instead of on campus, starting 18 March.

What applies to my student finance?

As a student, you will be able to retain your decided study finance. You can find more information about study finance during the corona outbreak on CSN's website (in Swedish).

What is social distancing?

Social distancing means that you should stay at home and conduct your studies from there. If you live on campus you do not need to move from your student accommodation.

Students who do not have the option of studying at home will not be turned away from campus. But keep long distances to other people. On campus, you are expected to sit by yourself and not togehter in groups.

Should I be at home when I am sick or have a cold?

Yes! If you feel symptoms of illness, even mild colds, stay home to reduce the spread of the virus. Contact 11 77 if you are ill and need counseling.

Can I access the campus buildings

As of 18 March and until further notice, buildings at SLU’s Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala campuses will be locked according to the same schedule as during the summer holidays.

All buildings can still be accessed using access card and code.

You should still stay at home and conduct your studies and distance classes.

Examinations

During distance teaching you will do your exams from home using digital tools. Your course leader can aswer questions about examination on a specific course.

Take-home examinations does not require identification but follows the usual handling of the take-home examinations according to Utbildningshandboken, Section 8.4

Do you have any placement guidelines?

The government recommends that placements should take place as planned, but that social distancing should be practised. SLU’s priority is that students who have a placement planned for this spring should be able to carry it out.

For SLU, maintaining operations at the University Animal Hospital is important. This is why we have decided to prioritise making clinical training and placements available to last-year veterinary medicine and animal nursing students.

How is SLU handling the Coronavirus outbreak? 

The university is continually dealing with the coronavirus through a special group tasked with handling general issues related to the outbreak. It monitors the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s and the Ministry for Foreign Affair’s (in Swedish) updates and observes how other universities are handling the issue. If you have any questions that are not answered below, degree programme students can contact their programme director of studies. Students on freestanding courses should contact their course coordinator.

How are students informed about the current situation? 

We encourage all students to stay updated on the student web page about the coronavirus. If you have any questions about your course, contact your programme director of studies or course coordinator.  

Will the university cancel any big events? 

Updated 27 March

Any event arranged by SLU where more than 50 participants should be cancelled and participation in similar events arranged by others should be cancelled. Beginning in Sunday 29 March, public gatherings with more than 50 people are prohibited by law.

I live in student accommodations and am afraid of being infected by my neighbours. What can I do?  

It is generally important to follow the recommendations for good hand hygiene. We encourage all students to stay updated and carefully follow the recommendations on the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s FAQ web page/FAQ about COVID-19.

I have visited and travelled in a country that has been affected by the coronavirus. Can I still go to lectures?  

Yes. SLU now conduct distance teaching for all courses.

I am currently on an exchange in a country affected by the coronavirus. What should I do?  

Follow the advice and recommendations from the host university and stay updated through local public authorities, WHO, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Public Health Agency of Sweden. If you are on your way home, see the information above regarding returning from an affected area*. 

All exchange students can be reimbursed by the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency for the trip home from an affected area and a non affected area. In such cases, the student must submit a notification of damage and send a receipt to the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency.

Exchange students who cancel their exchange studies due to the coronavirus must contact the Swedish Board of Student Finance.

You can also contact mobility@slu.se if you have any further exchange study questions.  

Will the university contact students that are abroad? 

SLU have contact with all students who are currently on exchange studies or internships. You can contact mobility@slu.se if you have any further exchange study questions.  

I have an Erasmus trainee placement this spring. What happens if I wish to cancel my placement ahead of time? Do I have to refund my scholarship?

For the best support, contact mobility@slu.se BEFORE cancelling your trip. You may not need to refund your scholarship. Learn more on the Swedish Council for Higher Education’s web pages. 

I am supposed to travel this spring 

16 March update: the Ministry for Foreign Affairs advises against non-essential travel to ALL countries.

I am supposed to conduct exchange studies this autumn. Will I be able to go? 

It is currently difficult to know what the situation will be this autumn in countries with our partner universities. Stay updated on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ travel recommendations. Your international supervisor will keep in touch with the partner university and provide you with information. To be safe, apply for SLU courses this autumn no later than 15 April, and remember to decline the place if it turns out you will not be taking the course or programme. 

My apartment is subletted because I thought I would spend a semester abroad. Can the university help me find somewhere else to live?  

Contact housing@slu.se. Currently, there are available rooms in Umeå, Uppsala and Alnarp.

Here is information about accommodation: https://student.slu.se/en/student-life/campuses/

Contact

IT Support:
it-stod@slu.se, 018-67 66 00

If you suspect that you have contracted the virus, read more at http://krisinformation.se/en (emergency information from Swedish authorities), or phone 113 13 (national information number for information on emergencies) and ask for advice.

Staff who have questions about how this issue is handled at SLU, or who need practical advice in case they become infected, should contact their immediate superior.

Students should contact their programme director of studies, contact details can be found on the programme web pages.

Page editor: utb-webb@slu.se