FAQ regarding the coronavirus

Updated information is highlighted at each paragraph / question with date.

Karlstad University follows the Swedish Public Health Agency's recommendations. General guidelines are:

  • Stay at home if you have symptoms such as cough, runny nose and fever, even mild symptoms.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Keep a distance, preferably 2 m.
  • Cough and sneeze in the armpit.
  • Avoid larger social contexts.
  • Seating in halls is sparse to keep distance.

Please respect this.

REPORT IF YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE CORONAVIRUS (MARCH 23)

If you are exposed to the coronavirus in connection with your studies, a serious incident report must be filed with the Swedish Work Environment Authority, even if you are not infected or develop any symptoms.

Possible exposure scenarios include studying or having studied in close proximity to a fellow student who is confirmed or suspected to have Covid-19. Contact the University’s chief security officer, Jan Gambring, at 070-201 05 69 and describe the situation. The chief security officer will then file a report with the Swedish Work Environment Authority and the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan).

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY OPENING HOURS, CAMPUS KARLSTAD (FEBRUARY 19)

TEACHING AND WORKING REMOTELY CONTINUES IN THE SPRING TERM (MARCH 3)

Education, research and other activities will be carried out at a distance until August 29, 2021. This is the general rule following the rector's decision in place from November 16. A supplementary Vice-Chancellor’s decision was made 14 December, confirming that the previous decision continues to apply in the spring. A supplementary decision was made on March 1, confirming that distance education will continue to be in effect until August 29.

The decision also includes the following additions:

  • Placements are exempt from the general rule of distance learning.
  • Examinations and course components that take place on campus require a risk assessment by the head of security beforehand.

All members of staff should work from home as much as possible and avoid all physical presence in the university's premises in Karlstad and in Arvika, unless it is absolutely necessary. All meetings, activities, conferences, etcetera must be held digitally and, if this is not possible, postponed or canceled. Avoid all business trips that are not absolutely necessary. The immediate manager decides which employees will work on site and whether any business trips are absolutely necessary, taken into account both the recommendations from the health authorities and the needs of the University.

Students are recommended distance learning as much as possible. The university and the library will continue to be open to students, but with stricter recommendations not to stay more than necessary in indoor environments with people you do not normally meet and with a distance of about two meters to the nearest person.

Where can I study on campus? (January 13)

Starting Monday November 23, all entrances will be locked - but students can still access the university campus using their keycards and personal access codes.

The University Library can to a limited extent also be used as a study place, but only for individual studies. The group rooms are locked and not bookable. A few study rooms with space for one person are available.

Books can be returned in the return box outside the university's main entrance.

The library is available digitally.

LECTURES AND EXAMINATIONS ON CAMPUS (NOVEMBER 20)

Starting November 16, all examinations are to be held online except for those that require a campus presence.

In cases where the examination will be held on campus, these are the measures we have taken to ensure safety (November 20)

  • Hand disinfectant will be available
  • Plastic partitions have been put up where deemed necessary
  • Furniture have been spread out to maintain safe distance
  • At least 30 minutes of airing time between examination sessions
  • Safety information readily available at all examinations venues

If you show cold symtoms, you are required to stay at home, even if you have an exam. If your examiner has decided that an on-campus exam cannot be substituted for another form of exam, you will be required to retake the exam at a later date.

General guidelines if you have symptoms 

People are supposed to stay at home if they feel unwell, but what does that mean? 

If you have symptoms of respiratory infection such as a cough or a fever, and even if the symptoms are mild, it is important that you stay at home and limit any social contacts and events where you might risk spreading the infection. If you need medical advice, or if you have been in contact with a person infected with the new coronavirus, call 1177 Vårdguiden. If you have questions about the new coronavirus and the disease Covid-19, call the national information line 113 13.

I have a cold. Can I still come to the University?

Karlstad University has implemented distance education. Follow the instructions of the course coordinator.

My teacher is ill - what will happen now?

You will receive information from the course coordinator.

Testing for covid-19

Region Värmland offers self-sampling for covid-19

What should I do as a student if I receive a positive Covid-19 test result?

Your test result will include information on how it should be interpreted.  It should also say where you can turn for more information. You are obliged to follow the instructions you receive since Covid-19 is covered by the Communicable Disease Act.

Students who are feeling anxious and need someone to talk to are welcome to contact the Student Health Services.

Before the start of the semester

How do I know if my course or program starts at a distance?

The welcome information you find in Mitt Kau says if your course or program is on campus or at a distance.

Is it any idea to move to Karlstad now?

If you are admitted to a course or program that would normally have been on campus but which is now at a distance, we will switch to campus as soon as possible. It is therefore a good idea to do as you would if you had studied on campus.

I belong to a risk group and do not want to be on campus - what do I do?

Students belonging to a risk group are recommended (in accordance with advice from the Public Health Authority) to consult with a doctor about what the student can do to reduce the risk of becoming ill in covid-19. You should contact the teacher at each course to see what opportunities for adaptation of teaching and examination are available at the current course.

How about the introduction?

It is the student associations and the Student Union that arrange the introduction, so contact your student association for more information.

Can I take a bus to and from the university? (August 25)

When the semester starts week 36, public transport will have all the buses available in traffic.Karlstadsbuss will run line 1 every 10 minutes between the city center and campus and in addition to line 1 there are also lines 2 and 3 and Värmlandstrafik's regional bus lines. If you have to travel by public transport, we recommend that you choose earlier or later departures to avoid congestion and rush hour traffic. If you can, feel free to choose to cycle or walk instead of taking the bus.

How do students book rooms and group rooms? 

As of July 3, individual students cannot book rooms or group rooms via the web. Students who belong to a student association must submit their wishes via the Student Union to book premises. The Student Union approves or rejects the wishes.

  • If booking is to be made, contact the Student Union schema@kau.se

When will campus open again?

The Public Health Authority and the Government announced on May 29 that the universities are allowed to teach on campus from June 15, 2020. This means that summer courses and autumn teaching can be conducted on site again on campus, with restrictions based on recommendations from the Public Health Authority. The message means that the university can return to more of its regular activities but that parts of the teaching may still need to be done remotely.

The university's crisis management team is quickly investigating what the new message means for our students and staff. Further clarifications and decisions regarding what applies from June 15, 2020 for Karlstad University will be published on this page on an ongoing basis.

For the time being, Karlstad University still conducts all teaching via distance education.

I feel worried, who can I talk to?

Student Health is here for you. 

Courses and examination

What measures are being taken to ensure that on-campus examinations are held in a safe way? (October 23)

  • Hand sanitizer available in the examination halls.
  • Plexiglass barriers placed in strategic places.
  • Tables and chairs placed to ensure a safe distance.
  • A break of at least 30 minutes between examinations to air the premises.

Rules for examinations on campus (September 14)

If you have an upcoming written examination and show cold-like symptoms, you should stay at home. Then you can instead take the re-examination. We ask you to respect the Swedish Public Health Agency's recommendations to prevent infection.

If you belong to a risk group and have a written examination, it may be possible to replace it with another form of examination. It is up to the examiner to decide whether a different form of examination is possible. If it is not possible to change examination form, you will be asked to do a retake. In cases where it is possible to take another form of examination, you must verify to the examiner that you belong to a risk group.

    How does copying, printing and printing work?

    Printers / Copiers and the Copyshop are running as usual on campus for those who need prints or copies. The time for how long prints remain in the queue has been increased from 24 hours to 72 hours.

    To reduce the spread of infection, the reception desk of the print shop is kept closed.

    The print shop is reachable by email and telephone, Monday-Friday, 08: 00-16: 00

    Phone: 054-700 20 70

    Will the University be closed?

    No, but all teaching has changed to distance education. We follow the recommendations issued by the Public Health Agency and the government carefully, and at present there is no recommendation or national decision to close any university.

    If I cannot complete my studies as planned this spring, what will happen when the autumn semester begins?

    At the moment, we provide education adapted to the current situation. Keep updated about changes and stay in touch with your course/programme coordinator.

    How do we handle group assignments during this period of distance education?

    I was going to attend an on-campus meeting. What will happen to that meeting now that the University changes to distance education?

    Contact the course coordinator for information about on-campus meetings and what will happen instead. 

    Work-based training ("VFU" in Swedish)

    Teacher training placements during the corona pandemic (23 November)

    Placements are a compulsory part of teacher training that must be completed for a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Pre-School Education or Bachelor or Master of Arts in Education. Therefore, we cannot cancel placements. It is also important that the majority of our teacher students are able to complete their training within the normal programme length. This means that placements cannot be postponed either. We understand that you may have a lot of questions about placements during the corona pandemic and have gathered frequently asked questions and answers here:

     

    The Swedish Board of Student Finance

    What do I have to do to keep my students grant from the Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN) now that the University changes to distance education?

    We refer all questions about student grants to the Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN).

    I am in home quarantine and will not be able to study for two weeks. What happens to my student grant from the Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN)?

    We refer all questions about student grants to the Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN).

    Travel, exchange and returning home 

    I have just returned from travel abroad – what do I do?

    I plan to go abroad for exchange studies this autumn semester – will this be possible?

    Karlstad University and the International Office observe guidelines issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Health Agency of Sweden, as well as your host university. As long as these three agencies consider it safe and appropriate to carry out exchange studies, we will not make any changes in your placement. Keep updated about the situation in the country where you are planning to complete exchange studies. Since your travel is several months away, it is impossible to say what the situation will be like.

    • If you have questions, please contact the International Office at exchange@kau.se

    I was planning to go abroad for exchange studies this autumn - what happens if I cannot go?

    You can apply to courses given at Karlstad University as well, as a back-up plan for your semester of exchange studies in case the original plan is not feasible.

    • For more information about exchange studies, please contact the International Office at exchange@kau.se

    Insurance

    After a government decision due to the corona pandemic, the insurance also applies to distance studies. The insurance applies to accidents during distance studies if the accident is directly related to the studies to be performed.

    The insurance also applies if you become ill or injured during your VFU and after a government decision due to the corona pandemic, Covid 19 is also covered by the diseases covered by the insurance.

    Other questions


    How do I find out more about the graduation ceremony?

    The Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (SweSAT) will be held 25 October, how?

    The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) will hold the autumn’s SweSAT on 25 October. The test will have two restrictions – only people without a previous valid test result can register and a maximum of 27,600 people will be able to take the test.