Petition · past parliament

Allow university students to travel home for Christmas when they choose to

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

To remove the window dates the government have created and allow students to travel home at whatever point they want and need.
Many students have jobs and are essential workers in the areas they go to university and often taking 4 weeks off work is not allowed. Also many university students will not get the rent money they are already struggling to pay back if they are forced to go home weeks earlier than they planned. This decision will also have a mental effect on many students as they no longer feel happy and comfortable at home so forcing them to stay home longer will have a detrimental effect on their mental health

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action.

We're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do. The Government has released guidance for students and universities, however this is not mandatory and students can travel after this date, or not at all if they do not wish to, subject to other national and local restrictions in place at the time.

The Government guidance states:
Anyone who remains at university after 9 December will run the risk of having to undertake a period of isolation of up to 14 days at university, if they contracted Coronavirus (COVID-19) or were identified as a contact of someone who had, and would therefore be at risk of not being able to travel home for the end of term break. We therefore ask higher education providers to help reiterate this message so that students can make an informed choice.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses/student-movement-and-plans-for-the-end-of-autumn-2020-term

You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you would like the Government or Parliament to do.

Timeline

11 Nov 2020 Petition opened for signatures
18 Nov 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 18 Nov 2020

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.