The University of Borås is now on yellow level. This is due to the ongoing pandemic. All university operations must thus, as a general rule, be conducted digitally and remotely throughout the entire spring term of 2021. The decision is valid at present until until 6 June 2021. The decision covers all university operations--teaching, examinations, VFU/student placements/internships, library activities, and work within the university's other areas of activity.

This is due to the very serious current situation when it comes to the pandemic and the restrictions and recommendations that apply in Sweden.

General exceptions are made for clinical components including VFU/student placements within the Department of Caring Sciences and teaching components within Police Education.

If there are special reasons, course/programme coordinators can request exemptions from the requirement to conduct all university activities digitally and remotely. It is the Vice-Chancellor who makes any such decision.

Special reasons can e.g. be:

• Examinations that contain practical components (including VFU/student placements/internships).
• Examination components that are judged to have very high safety demands in relation to individual citizens such as e.g. healthcare recipients.
• Practical education components of a particularly important nature.

This is what applies to you as a student:

• All educational activities must be conducted digitally and remotely unless you have an examination or teaching component that is covered by an exemption.
• You are encouraged to conduct self-study at home and not be on the university premises more than absolutely necessary. If you have special reasons, for example if you do not have the opportunity to study from home or if you need special equipment or the network in the university's group rooms and computer rooms, the premises are accessible with access cards.
• Written examinations on campus and other examinations held on campus that are planned during this period will be affected. Course/programme coordinators will inform you of how things are to be done.

The university monitors the development of both student and staff attendance on campus and will take measures if attendance is deemed to be too high.

In the event that the university is affected by new decisions, recommendations, etc. from the government or another authority, a new decision on how university operations are to be conducted may need to be made before 6 June 2021.

Everyone must follow the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Sweden.

Other

The university has set up the following recommendations to minimise the spread of infection:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Stay home if you're sick
• Keep a distance of 1.5 meters
• Avoid larger groups of people

The entrances to Balder and Sandgärdet, and to the university premises in Textile Fashion Center, are closed until further notice. You also need an access card for all doors leading to corridors with study rooms, offices, and open spaces for staff and students.

A review of routines and safety measures in lab environments has been done. This applies, for example, to protective equipment, the number of people in the lab environment at the same time, etc.

The university's education activities are not covered by the 8 person limit. During examination there will never be more than 40 students in one hall.

Hand sanitiser will be placed on certain premises on campus.

Service desks in public areas will be equipped with an acrylic glass.

A comprehensive signage has been carried out on campus with distance markings, information regarding the university's recommendations, requests to leave the halls immediately after examination or teaching, etc.

Specific for students in risk groups

• Students are advised, following the advice of the Public Health Agency of Sweden, to consult with their doctors about what they can do to reduce the risk of becoming ill.
• The university makes general adjustments in the campus environment to minimise the spread of infection.
• Students who do not consider that the adjustments are sufficient can apply to defer the start of studies or for temporary interruption of studies.

How should I act if I suspect I've contracted COVID-19?

According to the infectious disease control physician, you are legally required to test yourself if you suspect you have COVID-19. Therefore, if you have symptoms which you suspect may be due to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider for testing immediately. The testing is free of charge and you should stay at home until you have received the test results. Read more at Vårdguiden (Vårdguiden 1177 is a Swedish service providing healthcare by telephone and the central national infrastructure for Swedish healthcare online.)

Am I obliged to inform the university if I am found to have COVID-19?

Physicians and the healthcare system determine whom an infected person must inform. However, if you, voluntarily or as instructed by the healthcare system, provide this information to the university (more appropriately a programme or course coordinator), the information is passed on to the relevant managers.

What does the university do if a student is diagnosed with COVID-19?

If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, they receive special instructions from their physician. This information lets them know what applies when it comes to sick leave, possible quarantine, contact tracing, and information for others. It is these individuals themselves who are responsible for providing any necessary information to others. The student provides this information to the programme or course coordinator.

If the university receives such information from a student, the information is passed along according to a routine to ensure that we have an overall picture of the state of infection on campus.

What if many students in a group have been found to have COVID-19?

If several students in the same group/programme have reported a COVID-19 infection, the university's Head of Professional Services contacts, if necessary, the infectious disease control physician for an assessment when it comes to measures to be taken.

In addition, the Head of Professional Services convenes, if necessary, a meeting of staff who work with crises for further management of the situation.

The University of Borås is now on yellow level, all university operations and activities will be conducted digitally and remotely. The decision covers all university operations--teaching, examinations, VFU/student placements/internships, library activities, and work within the university's other areas of activity.

This is due to the very serious current situation when it comes to the pandemic and the restrictions and recommendations that apply in Sweden.

General exceptions are made for clinical components including VFU/student placements within the Department of Caring Sciences and teaching components within Police Education.

This is what applies to you as a student:

• All educational activities must be conducted digitally and remotely unless you have an examination or teaching component that is covered by an exemption.
• You are encouraged to conduct self-study at home and not be on the university premises more than absolutely necessary. If you have special reasons, for example if you do not have the opportunity to study from home or if you need special equipment or the network in the university's group rooms and computer rooms, the premises are accessible with access cards.
• Written examinations on campus and other examinations held on campus that are planned during this period will be affected. Course/programme coordinators will inform you of how things are to be done.

The university monitors the development of both student and staff attendance on campus and will take measures if attendance is deemed to be too high.

Education

If there are special reasons, course/programme coordinators can request exemptions from the requirement to conduct all university activities digitally and remotely. It is the Vice-Chancellor who makes any such decision.

Special reasons can e.g. be:

• Examinations that contain practical components (including VFU/student placements/internships).
• Examination components that are judged to have very high safety demands in relation to individual citizens such as e.g. healthcare recipients.
• Practical education components of a particularly important nature.

Zoom-supervised distance examinations

Read everything you need to know about Zoom-supervised distance examinations.

Written examinations on campus

If there are special reasons, course/programme coordinators can request exemptions from the requirement to conduct all university activities digitally and remotely. It is the Vice-Chancellor who makes any such decision.

Special reasons can e.g. be:

• Examinations that contain practical components (including VFU/student placements/internships).
• Examination components that are judged to have very high safety demands in relation to individual citizens such as e.g. healthcare recipients.
• Practical education components of a particularly important nature.

The university has taken measures to reduce the spread of the infection both before, during and after the examination for example:

• To avoid gatherings in the hallways outside the examination hall we will not use more than two halls in the same hallway, and then with a maximum of 15 students per hall.
• Never more than 40 students in one hall.
• Students are sitting with a distance of at least 1,5 meters to eachother.
• There will be handsanitisers in the examination hall.
• One student at a time will be allowed to turn in their examination.

Remember to keep your distance when arriving to and leaving the examination hall. 

We also take further measures to support students at the entrance to examination on campus by enlisting the help of extra guards/hosts.

The university has set up the following recommendations to minimise the spread of infection:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Stay home if you're sick
• Keep a distance of 1.5 meters
• Avoid larger groups of people

VFU/internships/placements

General exceptions are made for clinical components including VFU/student placements within the Department of Caring Sciences and teaching components within Police Education.

If there are special reasons, course/programme coordinators can request exemptions from the requirement to conduct all university activities digitally and remotely. It is the Vice-Chancellor who makes any such decision.

Special reasons can e.g. be:

• Examinations that contain practical components (including VFU/student placements/internships).
• Examination components that are judged to have very high safety demands in relation to individual citizens such as e.g. healthcare recipients.
• Practical education components of a particularly important nature.

Further information will be provided by the responsible teacher/Director of Studies.

Information

• Mutual information for all students is published in PING PONG.
• Specific information regarding your education is provided directly from your teachers.
• If you have questions about how the university is handling matters during the pandemic, you can email corona@hb.se.

Students are encouraged to conduct self-study at home and not be on the university premises more than absolutely necessary.

If you have special reasons, for example if you do not have the opportunity to study from home or if you need special equipment or the network in the university's group rooms and computer rooms, the premises are accessible with access cards.

The library shall only be open to university staff and students for deposits and lending, as well as certain limited opportunities to take part in reference literature.

Do not forget to have your access card with you when you are on university premises. It is needed in order to pass through doors and use the lifts.

Choose the entrance closest to where you are going and, as far as possible, plan an outdoors route when navigating around campus. Take a look at the map and find the entrance closest to your
destination. 

For several of our operations, special conditions regarding opening hours or possible closures apply. 

The university complies with the recommendations of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For countries where the Ministry decides to continue to advise against travels, the university will advise students to not carry out any planned travels abroad for studies. If you have plans to study abroad, please keep in touch with the International Office.

Information from The Swedish Police regarding travelling to Sweden.

The following information is not relevant for international students! As a Swedish student at the university, you are automatically insured by the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency. The insurance is valid during school hours on school premises and during direct travel between the home and the place where the school hours are spent. Workplace placements are considered to be a part of school hours and therefor you are covered by the insurance during placements. However, for distance studies the insurance only applies when you are at the university or in other premises with your teacher. The insurance never applies when at home or in public places. Read more about personal injury insurance for university students in Sweden.

For international students, these and related issues will be dealt with separately.

Zoom––our software for e-meetings

Zoom is the system we use for dsitans learning and video conference. Read more about Zoom and how to use it.

Here you can find information about Zoom etiquette.

General tools and tips

Here you can find tools and tips for distance learning

If you become ill or need to care for an ill child, you should report it to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and CSN. More information from CSN (external link, in Swedish only). 

In case of flu-like symptoms and respiratory problems, contact healthcare services through the medical information telephone number 1177 and follow their instructions.

The most effective way to avoid getting infected and infecting others is to observe a very good hand hygiene. Keep in mind the following:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Cough and sneeze in the bend of your arm.
• Stay at home when you are ill, even with mild symptoms.

If you have questions about the coronavirus, you can contact the national information number SOS Alarm 113 13. This number conveys information to the public in the event of serious accidents and crises in society.

In case of flu-like symptoms and respiratory problems, contact healthcare services through the medical information telephone number 1177 and follow their instructions.

You can also contact the Student Health Office if you have any questions.

If you have any questions about your education regarding the situation around the pandemic, we refer you primarily to the student website where all information is gathered in one place: https://www.hb.se/student/mina-studier/aktuellt/coronavirus-/

For education-specific information, contact your programme/course coordinator.

If you have more general questions, please contact corona@hb.se

Public Health Agency of Sweden's questions and answers

Travel information from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Only in Swedish)

Krisinformation.se - emergency information from Swedish authorities