Some UK universities have said they will partially cover the costs of mandated hotel quarantine for new and returning students travelling from red-list countries.

Some higher-education institutions said they would pay up to $2,412 for the mandatory hotel stay and up to £150 (Dh760) for required Covid-19 tests.

Universities are taking these steps to reduce the financial burden on students as they travel abroad to study during the pandemic.

The UAE is on the UK’s red list and travellers are required to spend 11 nights in quarantine at a government-approved hotel, even if they have been vaccinated against Covid-19. The official cost of this service is about £1,750.

Royal Holloway, University of London, will be paying up to £1,500 for student’s hotel quarantine if they are arriving from countries on the UK’s red list, and up to £150 for Covid-19 tests.

Angela Milln, director of student recruitment for Royal Holloway, University of London, said the institution wished to support new and returning international students.

“We know that studying abroad away from home can be daunting for some, even under normal circumstances.

The university is planning for the majority of students to study on campus in September.

“We hope that the support we are providing to new and continuing international students on arrival in the UK will help to alleviate some of these concerns, especially for those travelling from countries which are on the UK government’s red list, meaning that they are required to quarantine in managed hotels on arrival.”