Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Matthew Kelly

University of Newcastle expands response to Coronavirus

Medical Emergency: New hospitals being built to tackle the coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Picture: Getty Images

The University of Newcastle has announced flexible study arrangements for Chinese students who have been unable to enter the country because of the Coronavirus.

While there are no known cases of coronavirus among the university's staff and students, two staff from Hubei Province who arrived before the federal government's February 1 cut-off are currently in isolation.

No students who arrived in Australia before the cut-off are in isolation.

The Department of Home Affairs has advised there are 724 University of Newcastle Chinese students and their dependants currently in Australia.

The university cannot determine if the students were in China prior to February 1.

There are 1168 Chinese student visa holders outside Australia.

The flexible study arrangements for Trimester 1 and Semester 1, announced on Thursday, are designed to allow students to continue their studies abroad without penalty.

Students enrolled in trimester studies will be allowed to study remotely and if they do not pass their course they will be able to enrol again without academic or financial penalty.

Affected students enrolled in Semester 1 will be allowed to start their term after the mid-semester break in April and will be able to progress their studies in time to start Semester 2 if required.

"We are also working to put course materials and course work online so that affected students will be able to access them remotely," a university statement said.

Liz Burd

"When those students are able to come to Australia they will be given extra tuition at our university and allowed extra time for assessments and to study for examinations."

Interim deputy vice-chancellor (academic) Liz Burd said the university was reinforcing NSW Health precautions about coronavirus to staff and students.

"We had three students who arrived prior to February 1," she said.

"As per NSW Health advice they are no longer required to be in isolation. All are well."

READ MORE:

Students and staff in Newcastle isolated to protect against coronavirus risks

Links you can add to your stories:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.