ALL students studying at universities in Wales will be able to return to their campuses after Easter, the country’s education minister has said.

University campuses have been open since January and students who have needed to make use of the campus have been able to as part of the essential travel rules.

Since then, Wales has shifted from ‘stay at home’ to ‘stay local’ and the advice to students and staff remains the same - stay in the local area and work or study from home when possible.

But, next month, all students can return to campus for blended learning for the summer term.

Kirsty Williams told a press conference in Cardiff: “From April 12, it is our expectation that all students can return for blended learning for the duration of the summer term.

“Universities have planned for more teaching and learning to continue in the summer term than is usually normal in the academic cycle.”

Students will be offered coronavirus tests before returning to university, with twice-weekly lateral flow testing available for all students and staff who cannot regularly work from home.

Ms Williams continued: “I am so very grateful to students for maintaining high levels of compliance in difficult circumstances.

“No other generation has been asked to endure such a different university experience. But, because of your hard work and sacrifices, cases have been lowered.

“Thank you for your help and sacrifices.”

The deputy chief medical office for Wales, Dr Chris Jones, joined the education mister in saying that all Welsh universities have applied “robust measures” and that the country has not witnessed an increase in transmissions.

He said that universities are “now as COVID-secure as they can be” adding that university students are also less likely to be severely affected by the virus because of their age.