STUDENTS across Scotland hoping to head home for Christmas will be asked to keep in doors and only go out for essential reasons for two weeks.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, the Higher Education Minister, told MSPs that of the 240,000 students at Scottish universities at this time of year, the government were expecting between 60,000 and 80,000 to travel home at the end of term.

Though Richard Lochhead admitted it was "challenging" to predict exactly what they might all do.  

"That said, we are expecting a substantial number of people wishing to travel. As with large numbers within the population as a whole potentially travelling, this poses a potential risk of virus transmission," he told MSPs.

He added: "We will advise any student who wants to return home for the end of term to voluntarily reduce their social mixing for two weeks before going home.

"This means going out only for essential reasons and exercise."

He said there will be "staggered and early departure irrespective of the level the institution is currently in".

Lochhead added: "Universities will be asked to make any necessary adjustments to scheduling to ensure that in-person teaching and assessment ends early enough to allow students time to get home at the end of term.

"I see that Universities Scotland has highlighted the staggered dates for the end of in-person teaching at Scottish universities from late November to mid-December, so they are not expecting a great surge of movement."

Lochhead also confirmed that Scottish students will be included in a UK-wide initiative to test some asymptomatic students before the end of term.

He told the Scottish Parliament: "We are currently planning on the basis that two tests will be necessary, five days apart, with PCR confirmation for positives, but that position may change as public health professionals and clinicians take account of the new evidence that's coming forward from England where there's a number of pilots."

Scottish Green health spokesperson Alison Johnstone said:“I have consistently called for Scotland to show much more ambition on asymptomatic testing, so I welcome this move in the right direction on students.

“However, I’m concerned that the minister couldn’t commit to the same robust testing when students return in January. We don’t want to see the same mess of students being locked in halls again in the new year. Testing can’t be a one-off initiative, it needs to be an ongoing commitment. 

“It’s also clear the Scottish Government is relying on the UK-wide privatised testing system when we could be building capacity in Scotland. 

“It’s vital the Scottish Government steps up its ambition on testing and contact tracing. It isn’t accurate to say there was no evidence on asymptomatic testing until recently. I wrote to the First Minister with evidence in April.”