The Tube drivers’ strike planned for 19 to 22 May will create massive disruptions for students travelling to UCL’s main examination venue, Excel London in Newham.
UCL has published guidance advising students that their journey to the venue may be disrupted, but the late arrivals policy has stayed the same: entry will be permitted up to 45 minutes after the start of the exam, and no additional time will be given.
Until today, the University had not contacted students about disruption through email.
The email stated that students will be responsible for organising their own alternative transport. Options include bus services (around two-hours from the UCL Bloomsbury Campus), bike hire (one-hour), or Uber/taxi (around forty-five minutes and ranging from £40 to £70).
If they are late, or unable to attend the exam at all, students will have to complete the standard application for Extenuating Circumstances, which will be assesed a "case-by-case basis and must be supported by appropriate evidence".
Until today's email, some students had heard about the strikes through word of mouth.
One first-year student claimed she only found out about the disruption through a friend on her course, telling The Cheese Grater: “Even though the Elizabeth line is supposedly ‘unaffected’, I've had to make back up plans to take cabs or two hour bus trips, considering morning exams are also during rush hour.”
A UCL spokesperson said:
“We have emailed students about the upcoming strikes and have further information about them on our website here.
“We routinely email and update students about any travel disruption, which includes advising them to plan by leaving plenty of time, looking at alternative travel routes and to keep an eye out for TFL's updates."