ABERYSTWYTH University has welcomed plans that will allow students to travel home for Christmas.

The Welsh Government announced today that students wishing to go home for Christmas are being asked to travel home no later than 9 December and that they are tested for coronavirus before travelling.

New Covid-19 lateral flow tests, designed to diagnose people without symptoms, will be provided to students who are planning to travel home for the holiday.

All teaching will go also go online from 8 December allowing anyone who tests positive for coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days before travelling home or the Christmas break.

Students at universities in Wales who plan to travel home for the holidays will be asked to minimise their social contacts in the run up to the end of term, get an asymptomatic test, ideally within 24 hours of their intended travel time, travel no later than 9 December and familiarise themselves with their university’s plans for concluding in-person teaching.

Commenting on today’s announcement an Aberystwyth University spokesperson said: “We welcome today’s announcement of principles to allow students to travel home for Christmas if they wish to do so.

“We are in active discussions about taking part in the scheme to test students before they leave.

“We continue to work very closely with local, regional and national partners in order to reduce the spread of the virus, including on testing arrangements.

“We are grateful for all this collaboration, and the evidence shows that there has been no transmission to the wider community from the small cluster of student cases.

“We will continue to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and the wider community.

“In the run up to Christmas, we will support students to continue to make responsible choices, and, for those who are travelling, to do so as safely as possible.”

The governments of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will announce separately their plans for students living there. Each government has worked together in recent weeks on these matters.

The Welsh Government will also communicate directly with Welsh students at universities elsewhere in the UK.

Kirsty Williams, the Education Minister, said: “Many students will wish to return home for the Christmas break and I’m pleased to confirm arrangements to enable that.

"Our priority, and the priority for our universities, has been to enable students to travel home safely, while minimising the risk of transmission of the coronavirus.

“It’s also important students take action to minimise the chances they could bring the virus back home to friends and family members, who may be far more vulnerable to its effects.

"That’s why we’re asking students to limit their social contacts as they’re preparing to travel home.

"The more people socialise, the greater their risk of contracting coronavirus.

“We have been working with the other nations to ensure that all students, no matter where they live or study, are treated fairly and can travel home as safely as possible.

“We are also working with our universities to roll out the asymptomatic mass testing pilot before the end of term.

"I would encourage students to sign up for the testing pilot to make returning home at the end of term easier.

“I have been determined that students here in Wales are able to spend the holidays where they most want to, in a safe way, and these arrangements will allow that to happen.”