University of Gloucestershire "strongly urging" students to get vaccinated before arriving in September
They hope the university experience will be what it was like before the pandemic
The University of Gloucestershire (UoG) are encouraging students to get vaccinated "as quickly as possible" before then arrive on campus in September.
The Vice Chancellor hopes the university experience will be as close to what it was like before the pandemic too.
Covid safety measures will still be in place such as hand sanitisers stations and the option to wear a face mask around the campus and in lectures halls and classrooms.
All learning will return to the classroom as well following a disruptive year in lockdown.
Stephen Marston, Vice Chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire, said: "If we can get everybody vaccinated then we're hoping we'll be able to run the next university year in pretty much the normal way.
"That's what we're looking forward to because we've had so much disruption for our students and our staff over the past 18 months.
"It would be great to get back to what feels like a more normal university experience."
After 18 months of managing the pandemic in the university setting Mr Marston says they're "feeling confident" they've learned the best way to manage it.
Students who are still feeling apprehensive about returning will be supported to ensure they feel safe about protecting themselves and their families.
Transmission rates will be monitored closely with a close partnership between the university, the local public health team and the night time industry.
Stephen continued: "We keep in touch with them to understand how the virus is transmitting in the local area, in the local community and what we need to watch out for.
"We're also partners of the night time economy so we have groups in Cheltenham and Gloucester who bring together representatives of the people who run the bars and the nightclubs so we can discuss how to keep people safe.
"It's not in the long-term interest of the bars and clubs if it becomes known you're at high risk of catching the virus at their venues so we continue to have conversations with the owners and managers on ensuring people are kept safe."