Students and parents - COVID-19 advice

More information about Semester 2, 2021 is available on the Preparing for Semester 2 website and my.UQ. If after reading this information you are concerned about your course availability in Semester 2, 2021 and any potential impacts this may have to your program of study, please contact your Faculty for further advice or assistance with identifying alternative courses.

Visit the Programs and Courses website for more information about study modes and course availability in Semester 1, 2021. The Electronic Course Profile (ECP) for each course will provide specific details about any required practical components such as laboratory work.

If after reading this information you are concerned about your course availability in Semester 1, 2021 and any potential impacts this may have to your program of study, please contact your Faculty or Student Services for further advice or assistance with identifying alternative courses.

Visit the Programs and Courses website for more information about study modes and course availability in Semester 1, 2021. The Electronic Course Profile (ECP) for each course will provide specific details about any required practical components such as laboratory work.

If after reading this information you are concerned about your course availability in Semester 1, 2021 and any potential impacts this may have to your program of study, please contact your Faculty or Student Services for further advice or assistance with identifying alternative courses.

UQ is committed to supporting our students to progress with their studies including undertaking Work Integrated Learning (WIL), Work Experience (WE), placements, internships and field trips where possible.

The health and safety of our students and the staff of our partner organisations is of paramount importance, therefore the aforementioned activities can continue where it is safe to do so and where organisations are able to continue to facilitate this engagement.

As this situation is continually evolving, we recommend the use of online collaborative tools such as Zoom or Skype if on-site work is not possible.  Please make sure that you notify your Placement Coordinator if you need to engage in any placement activity from your home.

UQ’s personal accident insurance and third party liability insurance (public liability, professional indemnity and medical malpractice) continue to apply to students undertaking approved WIL, WE, placements, internships and field trips.  Cover is subject to full policy terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions.     

For more information on travel insurance refer to UQ Travel COVID-19 FAQs.

For specific questions about other types of insurance please contact UQ Insurance Services.

Please contact your Faculty or School, or your Placement Coordinator, for further advice.

UQ will make every effort to teach and assess as outlined in the relevant Electronic Course Profile. However, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, including changes to Government health restrictions that may be implemented during the Semester, could result in changes to teaching and assessment. We continue to strive to ensure the learning activities for courses remain accessible to students as far as is practicable, so that the learning objectives can be met. For further information and ongoing updates refer to https://about.uq.edu.au/coronavirus/students.

You can request to defer your studies to a future semester.

If you are an international student, you can request to defer your studies to a future semester by requesting a change in the online application portal. If you are unable to request a change through the portal, send an email to iasdeferral@uq.edu.au with the following details:

• Your student number (please include in the subject line of your message)

• The semester you would like to defer to

• The reason for your deferral.

You can usually defer your studies up to a maximum of two semesters from your original commencement semester. If you are considering deferring for more than two semesters, please contact the International Admissions team via email at iasdeferral@uq.edu.au who will assess your circumstances to see if this is possible.

You also need to check that your program will be offered in the semester you wish to defer to. You can read more about deferrals online here.

If you are a domestic student and have decided to defer your Semester 1, 2021 QTAC offer, please respond to your offer through QTAC by the specified due date and indicate your intention to defer. UQ Admissions will contact you to provide updated advice for your 2021 admission.

You only require a Student Visa when you intend to enter Australia but you should apply for your student visa as soon as possible so that you are ready to travel to Australia as soon as our international borders open for international students.

Once Australia’s international border restrictions are lifted and normal modes of delivery can be resumed, as an international student studying offshore you will be required to travel to Australia on a Student Visa as soon as you are able. This means that you will need to apply for a Student Visa using your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) issued by the University. You only require a Student Visa when you intend to enter Australia. For the latest information on applying for a Student Visa, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs.

If you are a student who has commenced, or is due to commence, study online from outside Australia but are unable to travel to Australia when the borders open because your Student Visa application is not approved, you will be able to continue with your studies online temporarily where your program of study continues to be offered in an external (online) mode of delivery.

If you are a student who has commenced your study online and who subsequently wishes to apply to withdraw from enrolment due to refusal of a Student Visa, please refer to Section 2.1, PPL 3.40.03 Student Refunds Policy.

For current information on Student visas, including the latest advice on Temporary Graduate visas, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs. 

Yes, you will still be issued with a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) even though you are studying online from your home country.

International students affected by COVID-19 border restrictions who study in External mode from their home country in Semester 2, 2021, can reduce the number of courses they enrol in.

However, UQ recommends students consider this carefully, as it may not be recommended. Pre-requisite courses may not be offered in subsequent semesters, which could leave students unable to complete their studies within the program's approved duration as given in your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). International students who are unable to complete their degree on time will be required to apply for a CoE extension and a further student visa. 

UQ recommends that students consult with their Faculty or School before making course choices. This will ensure that your study plan can accommodate the reduction in courses, and allows you and your academic supervisors to consider the impact on your visa.

More information about international student visa requirements is on the Department of Home Affairs website.

If you are an international student in Australia, you are required to enrol in a full-time study load.

You can study with UQ online in Semester 2 if your preferred courses are available in External mode. Once the Government travel restrictions are lifted, you can travel to Australia to continue your studies. However, you will still need to complete your Semester 2 courses in external mode. You will need a valid Student Visa to enter Australia.

Incoming Exchange has been cancelled for both Semester 1 (Feb – June) and Semester 2 (July – Nov) in 2021. If you have already applied, we will withdraw your application. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply for a future semester. Please consult with your home university regarding your options as you may need to be re-nominated.

If you choose to participate in a global experience independent of UQ, you would be considered a free mover student.  

As a free-mover student, you are not supported by The University of Queensland by any means (including funding, insurance, credit pre-approvals etc.) and are choosing to participate in a global experience without any assistance from UQ. Additionally, as a free mover, you are not eligible to defer the tuitions fees to Australian Government FEE-HELP / HECS.  

Upon return from the experience, you may be eligible to apply for credit and will need to consult with your School or Faculty regarding this process. Credit transfer for free movers is high risk and is not guaranteed. International students returning to study in their home country should be aware that they may not be eligible to receive any credit for their studies, as credit is granted at the discretion of the Faculty. 

The Student Employability Centre supports a number of global short-term virtual study experiences and virtual internship opportunities. More information is available here and here.  

When you accept your offer for Semester 2, 2021 you will be invoiced for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) together with your deposit. If you do not wish to arrange your OSHC at the time of accepting your offer, you may pay the deposit amount only and we will issue you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) that includes a reminder that you are fully responsible for organising OSHC for the length of your student visa. You will need to arrange sufficient OSHC cover before applying for your student visa.

The UQ COVID-19 Offshore Online Study Tuition Fee Rebate is a 12.5 per cent rebate on the tuition fees payable for Semester 2, 2020, Summer Semester 2020, Semester 1, 2021 and Semester 2, 2021 by full fee paying international coursework students who are unable to come to Australia due to the Australian government border controls.

The UQ COVID-19 Offshore Online Study Tuition Fee Rebate is available to all international coursework students (both commencing and continuing) enrolled in Semester 2, 2020, Summer Semester 2020, Semester 1, 2021 or Semester 2, 2021 who:

• are prevented from travelling to Australia due to the Australian Government border controls; and
• will be studying at UQ online only from their home country; and
• are full fee paying international students undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree; and
• are not already receiving a higher reduction in their fees through a scholarship, sponsorship, bursary or partner arrangement.

If you have been issued a student visa, we will be able to verify your location using the Australian Government Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system. However, if you have not been issued a student visa, we may need additional information from you.

Your eligibility will be assessed using the information we have available from the Department of Home Affairs at that time, and the rebate will be applied to your account provisionally. Once you enrol in courses, and your fees are calculated, the rebate will be calculated and can be seen on your Financial home page in mySi-net as a “Waived International Tuition’ amount. The Rebate will not be evenly distributed across the courses you have enrolled in, instead the full rebate may be applied against the fees for just one course.

Your eligibility for the Rebate will be re-assessed after the fees due date based on the most current data.

If you believe you meet the eligibility requirements and the rebate has not been applied to your student account, please contact Student Fees and Scholarships immediately to outline your circumstances. You may be asked to provide further information to assess your eligibility.

If you believe you are eligible for the Rebate but it has not been applied to your account, please contact us by email fees@uq.edu.au.

Students who are studying from outside Australia for part of the Semester will need to provide details of their circumstances and will be assessed for eligibility for the Rebate on a case by case basis.

No. The UQ COVID-19 Offshore Online Study Tuition Fee Rebate is only available for full tuition fee paying international students enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program at UQ.

Yes, if you are eligible for the Rebate, it will be applied to your fees for each eligible semester or teaching period, regardless of the number of courses you enrol in.

If your fees have already been reduced by more than 12.5 per cent through a UQ scholarship, articulation, partner or sponsor arrangement, you will not receive the Rebate. However, if your fees are reduced by less than 12.5 per cent through a UQ scholarship, articulation, partner or sponsor arrangement, you will receive the Rebate instead of the existing reduction.

Yes, you will still pay the same deposit.

External students pay a maximum of $58 in 2021 per half-year period, whether full-time or part-time. To qualify as "external", you must only be enrolled in external courses.

If you are undertaking a UQ Abroad exchange semester, any course enrolment in addition to your EXCH courses must also be external.

If you enrol in an internal course or a flexible delivery course, you are not considered external. You will be charged the same fee as an internal student.

Visit the Student Services and Amenities Fee website for further information.

If you have been impacted by coronavirus travel bans and have chosen to defer your studies you can adjust your OSHC policy dates to allow for the later completion date. If you have organised your OSHC through UQ, we will arrange an updated OSHC cover with Allianz Care. Please note that Allianz Care has provided us with the general advice that they can postpone the start of a student’s original cover. This may provide sufficient cover for your new study duration and where it does not, you will need to contact Allianz Care to arrange additional cover. When you know the date that you will arrive in Australia you should contact Allianz Care to make any further adjustments needed to your policy. If you have any questions about a possible additional charge, please contact Allianz Care (https://www.allianzcare.com.au/en/faqs/covid19-coronavirus-oshc.html) direct for specific advice.

Deferring your studies will not affect your visa status. If you require additional time to complete your studies (beyond your visa expiry date), you will need to:

• request an extension to your Confirmation of Enrolment, and
• apply for a new student visa.

The travel restrictions are being reviewed constantly. Please continue to check the Department of Home Affairs.

We recommend you contact the Department of Home Affairs.

Please refer to the UQ Travel COVID-19 FAQs for information about the circumstances in which a claim is likely to be accepted by UQ's travel insurer, and how to submit an insurance claim.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact our student advisers to explore options for financial assistance.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have changed the way that a number of our activities are managed, including clinical and industry-based placements and field trips. 

To mitigate travel related risks, UQ requires all students to complete an online Travel Declaration prior to undertaking initial approved placements, work experience or field trips where the activity requires:

• travel more than 50km from your usual place of residence;  and
• an overnight stay (minimum of one night)

The Declaration outlines your responsibilities while engaging in this travel and also provides information on the UQ processes in place to ensure your safety and support while engaging in your placement or field trip.  By completing the Declaration you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted these responsibilities.

With regards to travel insurance cover please refer to the UQ Travel COVID-19 FAQs for the most up to date information.

If you have any questions regarding your specific placement or field trip circumstances please contact your Placement or Field Trip Coordinator.

If you are required to quarantine when returning to Queensland from overseas or interstate, please fill out the Quarantine Registration form and Student Services will assess your eligibility for quarantine assistance.

All students who have registered will receive information, resources, and ongoing support from Student Services during the quarantine period to assist with the transition to UQ. More information is available here.

Some students may be able to gain entry to Australia on an individual basis. Following the change to Government policy in relation to quarantine arrangements, if you do gain entry to Australia individually, you will be required to complete mandatory quarantine in Government arranged accommodation for a minimum for 14 days, at your own expense.

Please make sure that you refer to the full information published by the Queensland Government in relation to mandatory quarantine fees here.

If you are an international student, you may be eligible for assistance from UQ which may include a contribution towards quarantine fees and support from our international welfare advisers and counsellors. To get current information about what to expect when you get to quarantine and how to access support while you are there, please go to our webpage that outlines how we can support your safe return to UQ. This weblink also has the Quarantine Registration form which you will need to complete and we will assess your eligibility.

If you are a domestic student returning to Australia and require assistance with the costs of quarantine, you may also be entitled to financial assistance from the Queensland Government. You will be able to access further information about the eligibility criteria and how to apply for this assistance here.

If you are unable or unsuccessful in securing Government Assistance, you can submit the relevant supporting documentation as part of a Financial Hardship Application to UQ. 

You will need to check with your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) provider as to what is covered. If the University arranged your OSHC, your OSHC provider is Allianz Care and Allianz have confirmed that your health insurance will cover your care for recovery from COVID-19 when you are in Australia.

• If you are worried that your family member is sad or depressed encourage them to speak to a counsellor with Student Services on how to cope in this time.
• It is also very important to stay in touch with friends and family. UQ provides opportunities for students to make friends and connect with other peers via the Virtual Village.

• Australia has one of the best medical systems in the world. If your child was to fall ill they would never be turned away, and they would be well cared for.
• They can call the National Coronavirus Hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 020 080.
• Respiratory clinics are being rolled out across the country to assess people with coronavirus symptoms so they go to these clinics and not the general doctor’s clinic. This way you should not be worried if they need to see a doctor for another reason.
• We encourage you to regularly check the Australian Government coronavirus COVID-19 health alert for up-to-date advice on what to do.

Yes. You can provide an unofficial or online transcript for your final university semester studies. We will assess whether you meet the entry requirements for the relevant postgraduate program at UQ using your first 5 semesters (of a 3 year degree) or 6 to 7 semesters (of a 4 year degree) from your home institution.

If you meet the entry requirements for your program, you will be issued with a conditional Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). This enables you to start your program at UQ on a provisional basis and provide us with the official certified documents before the end of classes in Semester 2, 2021. You must provide all outstanding documents and show that you meet the program entry requirements, otherwise you are at risk of having your CoE cancelled.

No. You do not need to have your unofficial documents certified.

If you meet the entry requirements for your program, you will be issued with a conditional Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). This enables you to start your program at UQ on a provisional basis and provide us with the official certified documents before the end of classes in Semester 2, 2021. You must provide all outstanding documents and show you meet the program entry requirements, otherwise you are at risk of having your CoE cancelled.

Yes. You need to supply your unofficial or online transcript in English and we will accept agent translations.

If you meet the entry requirements for your program, you will be issued with a conditional Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). This enables you to start your program at UQ on a provisional basis and provide us with the official certified documents before the end of classes in Semester 2, 2021. You must provide all outstanding documents and show you meet the program entry requirements, otherwise you are at risk of having your CoE cancelled.

UQ is aware of the changes made by the IBO in regard to final examinations in light of COVID-19. UQ will accept predicted grades from students undertaking the IB diploma from all schools that provide these. Your predicted grade will need to be 2 points higher than the minimum entry score requirement for entry into the relevant UQ undergraduate program in Semester 2, 2021. 

If you are applying to commence an undergraduate program in Semester 2, 2021 at UQ, we may be able to accept alternative evidence of your high school results. These include:

• Predicted grades, if available, for your senior qualification (eg A Levels or IB).  
• Adjusted test results and grades from testing centres that UQ recognises, such as Advanced Placements (APs), Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs) etc.

• High school results that are equivalent to Australian Year 12.

You will still need to meet the program minimum entry score, subject pre-requisites as well as, minimum English language proficiency requirements (unless your UQ program requirements exclude these).

Yes. If you have completed one year of tertiary study but do not have the results, we will assess you either on your high school results (if equivalent to Australian Year 12) or the first 6 months of your tertiary study.