University students in England will be allowed to travel home in early December after a four-week lockdown is eased to spend Christmas with their families, under newly unveiled government plans.

Universities will switch to online tuition by December 9 while students will be encouraged to return home during a “travel window” through the preceding week.

Health officials and university staff will work with transport operators to ensure there are staggered departure times during the seven-day window, according to the guidance.

The government has said it will help universities test as many students as possible before the travel window, with institutions in areas of high coronavirus prevalence prioritised.