Students and parents - COVID-19 advice

Course Coordinators are reviewing all assessment for courses offered in Semester 2 to ensure that it is suitable for online and/or in-person study modes. Blackboard sites and the Electronic Course Profiles (ECP) will be updated in due course.

Visit the Preparing for Semester 2 website for more information about study modes and course availability in Semester 2.

UQ campuses are open to facilitate a range of teaching, learning and social activities that can still occur within the boundaries of current social distancing and public gathering guidelines.

UQ continues to follow government advice on what facilities can be open, and these may change as the advice changes. We will continue to update this page with information as it becomes available. Use the links below to find up to date information about what facilities are open.

·         UQ Retail Outlets

·         UQ Art Museum

·         UQ Libraries

·         UQ Sport

Access to important services such as mental health support, the Student Centre and UQ Health continues. The majority of these services are now only available online. Please refer to the links provided for information on how to access these services.

Please, if you need to self-isolate, you must do so. If you are still unsure as to what self-isolation means and how to put it into practice, please refer to Government advice.

More information about Semester 2 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, 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.

We are now implementing the UQ Safe Return to Campus Roadmap; a phased plan to safely re-introduce on campus activities during Semester 2.

Visit the Preparing for Semester 2 website for more information about study modes and course availability in Semester 2.

If after reading this information you are concerned about your course availability in Semester 2, 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.

At this time UQ is continuing to support our students progress with their studies and placement activities (including credit bearing field trips) where possible.

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

UQ does not have travel insurance coverage for any claims relating to COVID-19 for domestic travel that has been booked after 4pm (AEDT) on 2 March 2020. Travel insurance cover will still apply for claims with different causes (subject to full policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations).  UQ’s public liability and professional insurances will also continue to apply. For more information on travel and insurance refer to UQ Travel FAQs.

We recommend you contact your Faculty for further advice regarding the status of your placements.

The library can assist students with IT issues online or by phone, including help with student passwords and issues accessing UQ systems and resources. Students can contact the library’s AskUs service online.

Please check the COVID-19 (coronavirus) library services page to get current information about our service hours and resources available.

The library's print/physical collections are closed from Thursday 26 March 2020 until further notice. However online resources are still available.

Please check the COVID-19 (coronavirus) library services page to get current information about the opening hours for our locations and study spaces.

The University is aware that access to its systems from outside of Australia can be slow. To address this we are reviewing learning content for faster delivery. Please take steps to ensure that you have the best possible Internet connection.

If you are accessing from China, UQ has worked with a company based in China to boost your access through the UQ VPN. You can find out more information here.

If you continue to have an issue accessing course content we recommend you contact your Course Coordinator to find an alternative to get it to you. You are also able to contact UQ IT Support for further help accessing UQ websites and resources.

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 UQ courses, including assessment. We continue to strive to ensure the learning activities for UQ 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.

We are currently working on a plan to safely re-introduce on-campus activities during Semester 2 in line with the Federal and State Government roadmaps to easing restrictions over the coming weeks and months.

Teaching will be available online for the duration of Semester 2 for the majority of courses, regardless of your location, and supplemented with on-campus activities should Government restrictions allow. Visit the Preparing for Semester 2 website for more information about study modes and course availability in Semester 2.

Should on-campus activities be offered for your course(s) but you are unable to attend due to Government restrictions, all learning materials, including session recordings where available, will be accessible online. We are committed to ensuring that learning outcomes for students who are unable to attend on-campus activities will not be compromised. All courses that are offered for Semester 2, except for those that require attendance at in-person learning activities, will be adapted for online delivery, including all related assessment.

You can start your study with UQ online in Semester 2. If the Government travel restrictions are lifted, students can travel to Australia when they have successfully obtained a student visa. You will be able to continue your studies online until the travel restrictions are lifted.

Incoming Exchange has been cancelled for Semester 2 2020. You can withdraw your application, or you may be able to defer to the following semester. Please consult with your home university regarding your options.

Please organise return travel for as soon as possible after the end of your exchange semester. In addition to this, you should also:

• Update your travel details in ISOS MY Trips.
• Purchase additional insurance if required. Please remember that UQ insurance is only valid in the country of the exchange host university.
• Clarify exactly what immigration requirements apply to you - do you need to extend your visa/apply for a new one?
• Keep receipts for any costs incurred in the time between your original planned departure date (for return to Australia) and your actual departure date. Any insurance claims will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The above is general guidance only and any specific questions about insurance should be directed to UQ Insurance Services at insurance@uq.edu.au.

When you accept your offer for Semester 2, 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 need to notify us 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.

The UQ COVID-19 Offshore Online Study Tuition Fee Rebate is a 12.5% rebate on the full tuition fees payable for Semester 2 2020 and Summer Semester 2020 by international coursework students.

The UQ COVID-19 Offshore Online Study Tuition Fee Rebate is available to all international coursework students enrolled in Semester 2 or Summer 2020 who:

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

When you are issued with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) by UQ, we will be able to verify your location using the Australian Government Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system. In some cases, we may need additional information from you, such as passport details.

Once you enrol, the UQ COVID-19 Offshore Online Study Tuition Fee Rebate will be provisionally applied to your student account. Provisional eligibility will be assessed using the information we have available from the Department of Home Affairs at that time.

Your final eligibility for the Rebate will then be finalised after the fees due date based on your location at that time. If your onshore/offshore location has changed, the Rebate will be adjusted accordingly.

You will be able to see the UQ COVID-19 Offshore Online Study Tuition Fee Rebate by logging into your student account via mySI-net. 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.

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.

No. The UQ COVID-19 Offshore Online Study Tuition Fee Rebate is only available for full tuition fee paying international students studying an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree online in Semester 2 or Summer Semester 2020, from outside Australia.

Yes, the Rebate 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% 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% 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 $57 per half-year period, whether full-time or part-time. To qualify as "external", your program must be delivered externally and all your courses must be external.

If you enrol in an internal or flexible course, even if your other courses are external, you are not considered external and you will be charged the internal student rate.

Updated Friday 31^st July.

If you are travelling to Queensland from any state, other than a specified COVID-19 hotspot, you will be permitted to enter Queensland subject to completing and signing a Queensland Border Declaration Pass.

As you are a student at UQ entering Queensland for the purposes of study you are allowed to enter Queensland. If you are intending to travel from a specified COVID-19 hotspot, or have spent time in any specified COVID-19 hotspot during the past 14 days, you will be required to complete mandatory quarantine in government arranged accommodation for a minimum for 14 days, at your own expense.

Further information about mandatory quarantine is available here. Queensland Government are charging for mandatory quarantine but if you are experiencing financial hardship, you may be able to apply for Government Assistance.

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

If you are moving to Queensland for the first time and you are a new student, you can contact Student Services to discuss what options may be available to you.

Detailed information in relation to the Queensland border restrictions and quarantine requirements for interstate travellers can be found here. The Queensland Government Roadmap to easing restrictions is also a useful resource.

If you require assistance with securing accommodation for Semester 2, please get in touch with Student Accommodation Services on accommodation@uq.edu.au.

If you are intending to travel from a specified COVID-19 hotspot, or have spent time in any specified COVID-19 hotspot during the past 14 days, 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 do require financial assistance and are unable or unsuccessful in securing Government assistance, you can submit the relevant supporting documentation as part of a Financial Hardship Application to UQ. 

If you are moving to Queensland for the first time and you are a new student, you can contact Student Services to discuss what options may be available to you.

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.

Once you have recovered all possible expenses from your airline, travel agent, accommodation and other providers, please submit a travel insurance claim for any remaining out of pocket expenses.

Please refer to the Travel FAQs for further details regarding the circumstances in which a claim is likely to be accepted by UQ's travel insurer.

Claims will be assessed by UQ's Travel Insurer on a case-by-case basis, and in accordance with the policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations. Cover for cancellations will only be available where cancellation was necessary for reasons other than the UQ-imposed travel restriction. The UQ travel and insurance teams, and Campus Travel, are currently receiving a significant number of enquiries, so please be patient.

Find out more about submitting an insurance claim.

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

If you are overseas looking to return home to Australia as soon as possible, based on Government advice, costs associated with early return to Australia will not necessarily be covered by UQ's travel insurance.

In line with the Government's worldwide travel advice rating being raised to Level 4 (Do Not Travel) on 18 March 2020, cover for cancellation is likely to be available for UQ approved international travel arrangements to locations where certain criteria are met.

For updated information and criteria for UQ Travel Insurance, please visit the Travel Insurance FAQs.

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 approved placements, work experience or field trips where the activity requires:

1. travel more than 50km from your usual place of residence;  and
2. 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.

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

UQ is working with the Queensland Government to establish a managed return for our current students that are overseas. It is likely that you will be subject to 2 weeks supervised quarantine when you are able to return to Australia. Details of the agreed scheme for international students is yet to emerge but UQ will provide support for an agreed scheme up to the value of $2000. More information will be placed on this webpage.

If the Government agree to an approved return to Australia for current international students overseas, UQ will work to establish the guidelines for assistance but the arrangement is likely to include support for part of the following:

• Accommodation for 2 weeks (arranged through a UQ / Government approved provider) 
• Airport pickup to transport you to your accommodation (either through UQ or Government)
• Welfare contact to assist you with transition to UQ and Brisbane 
• Access to counsellors (mental health and wellbeing) 
• Access to international student advisers 
• Access to the student accommodation team to assist you in finding the right home after the 2-week quarantine 
• Access to online based social activities 
• Access to a student mentor 
• Access to participate in the Student Success Program, including additional English Language preparation (if your arrival is outside of semester / teaching period)

More information on the current quarantine arrangements, delivered wholly by the Queensland Government is 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 and require assistance with the costs of quarantine, please make an application for Financial Assistance.

If you are in financial hardship, 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, once it becomes available.

More information on the Government quarantine arrangements is available here.

Whether or not this will be covered by travel insurance will depend on the terms of your travel insurance and the circumstances of your travel.

If your return journey was part of UQ approved travel then cover may be available for these fees under UQ travel insurance if your travel was arranged prior to 4pm (AEDT) on 2 March 2020.  All claims will be assessed by UQ’s travel insurer on a case by case basis, and you will need to submit a travel insurance claim via UQ Insurance Services to determine whether or not cover is available in your particular circumstances.  

If your return journey was part of personal travel arrangements, you should check directly with your private travel insurance company. If you experience financial hardship as a result of returning to Australia and mandatory quarantine, you may be able to get assistance from the relevant State Government or in some circumstances, the Financial Hardship Assistance from the University. 

Students can contact Student Services if they have questions. The Student Services team will continue to monitor the situation and give further advice to students who may be concerned.

• Student Services: + 61 (07) 3365 1704 or toll free (within Australia): 1800 512 391.
• Email: student.services@uq.edu.au   

If you have been advised to self-isolate, please follow all advice from Queensland Health and the Australian Government Department of Health.

If you require medical advice or assistance, you can contact:
- Your regular doctor
- UQ Health Care
- 13HEALTH (Queensland only - 13 43 25 84)
- Australian Government Department of Health (1800 020 103)
- Dial 000 in case of emergency

If arranging a medical appointment, current health advice is to phone your health service prior to attending the clinic, explaining your symptoms and any recent travel history so that appropriate precautionary measures can be taken, particularly if you are exhibiting symptoms.

If your studies are impacted, use the Electronic Course Profile for your course to assess any upcoming assessment or attendance guidelines. Contact your tutors, course coordinator or Faculty/School to arrange for any alternate learning materials and arrangements if needed. Most lectures are available online for you to watch. If there is further impact, you require any assistance or have any other general welfare or health concerns you can access UQ Student Services support. 

If you are in need of general assistance you can contact the UQ Coronavirus Contact Centre Team on 1800 512 391 or student.services@uq.edu.au.

UQ has Student Advisers that can assist you with your specific concerns, provide support and offer any support you may need. You can book an appointment through StudentHub and appointments can be conducted via phone, Zoom and Skype.

Further support and information on COVID-19 is available on the following websites:

• my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/student-support/
• qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19
• health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

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.

To protect the wellbeing and privacy of any staff member or student who may be being tested, or has been confirmed COVID-19 positive, the University will not release personal details of every case. However, we are very fortunate in Queensland to have a robust healthcare system that is set-up to respond to the COVID-19 situation.

The Queensland Health Public Health Unit (QPHU) undertake contact tracing and they determine the actions required by the University. 

QPHU determine the risk to others based on information provided by the patient and information from UQ’s systems including rooms (capacity and location), class lists and teaching staff and contact details.

QPHU assess this information and determine who should be contacted. QPHU initiate and control contact tracing, if the University is to play a part in this or if further information is required, QPHU will advise us. It is not UQ's role to advise QPHU who has been in contact with a positive person – the medical professionals know what situations are likely to aid transmission and therefore these decisions are left to medical professionals with expertise in this area.

Any staff or student feeling unwell should contact their doctor or UQ Health Care or for health advice over the phone, call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84 - Queensland only) or the Australian Government Department of Health (1800 020 103).

• Students can call, live chat or email Student Services: + 61 (07) 3365 1704 or toll free (within Australia): 1800 512 391, or email: student.services@uq.edu.au.
• Students can contact Student Services and make an appointment to speak to a counsellor.
• Students can make friends and connect with other peers via the UQ Mates Virtual Village.
• ‘Coffee catch-up’ is a live group video where they can get updates on what’s happening around UQ virtually alongside other students.
• We also encourage students to engage with the services and information provided by our partners at Study Brisbane and Study Queensland #InThisTogether

• If your child has been studying in Australia for more than 12 months, and find they are in financial hardship, they will be able to access their Australian superannuation. Apply at the myGov website from April 20.
• The Australian Government has temporarily extended limits to working hours for international students in supermarkets, aged care and nursing. There may be other industries that will need extra workers and your child would be making a valuable contribution by working in these sectors at this time.

• If you are worried that your child 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 UQ Mates 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.

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

• If you are studying GCE A Levels, your school may be able to provide predicted grades. You will still need to meet the program minimum entry score equivalent for GCE A Levels.
• Adjusted test results and grades from testing centres that UQ recognises, such as Advanced Placements (APs) and Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs).
• The grades and recommendations from the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).
• The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)’s Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) online multiple choice exam to meet Maths A and English subject pre-requisites, as well as, minimum English language proficiency requirements (unless your UQ program requirements exclude these).

Due to the impacts that COVID-19 is having on education institutions globally, UQ will temporarily offer a conditional Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when students can demonstrate that they have met the entry requirements, however, due to circumstances beyond their control, are unable to provide the official certified documentation in time for commencement of Semester 2.

If you meet the entry requirements for your program and have been issued with a conditional CoE, this means you will be able to start your program at UQ on a provisional basis. To satisfy the conditions of your conditional CoE, you must provide us with all outstanding official documents that have been certified before the end of classes in Semester 2, 2020. Otherwise, you are at risk of having your CoE cancelled.

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.

UQ recognises the disruption that COVID-19 has had on university academic calendars and will accept your unofficial marksheet or transcript for entry into semester 2 2020.

If your marksheet or transcript is not available in English, we will accept documents that have been translated by a UQ approved agent.

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, 2020. You must provide all outstanding documents and show that you have met the program entry requirements, otherwise you are at risk of having your CoE cancelled.

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, 2020. 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, 2020. 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, 2020. You must provide all outstanding documents and show you meet the program entry requirements, otherwise you are at risk of having your CoE cancelled.

To ensure applicants for the 2021 Doctor of Medicine are not unfairly affected, we have made some adjustments to the MCAT and GAMSAT requirements, as follows:
 
MCAT

• Extended validity period of MCAT from three years to four years.
• Applicants can apply without an MCAT score, but will be required to provide confirmation of a test booking.
• UQ will assess eligibility and invite to interview based on GPA.
• UQ will issue conditional offers: Applicants will require a minimum score of 504 and must satisfy all admission requirements to receive a confirmed place, noting that this is subject to availability of places.

GAMSAT

• Applicants can apply without a GAMSAT score, but will be required to provide confirmation of a test booking.
• UQ will assess eligibility and invite to interview based on GPA.
• UQ will issue conditional offers: Applicants will require a minimum score of 50 in each section and must satisfy all admission requirements to receive a confirmed place, noting that this is subject to availability of places.

UQ is temporarily accepting alternative English language tests for direct entry into Semester 2, 2020, or for UQ Package Offers (English language pathway program) for entry into UQ in Semester 1, 2021.

In addition to IELTS, TOEFL and PTE-A, you may be able to sit one of the following tests online in order to meet UQ’s English language requirements:

• Password Skills
• Linguaskill General
• TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition ‘at home’ (not available in China)

These tests are taken online in your own home via remote proctoring, provided by ProctorU. If you are unable to take the test from your home, there may be the option to take the test through a UQ approved agent.

An additional online test that will be accepted and can be taken through a UQ approved agent but is unable to be taken at home:

• IELTS Indicator (not available in China)

Password Skills or Linguaskill General

For more information or to book a test, please visit icte.uq.edu.au/testing or contact the ICTE Test Services team at icte.testing@icte.uq.edu.au.

TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition ‘at home’ test

For more information or to book a test, please visit ets.org/s/cv/toefl/at-home.

IELTS Indicator test

For more information, please visit icte.uq.edu.au/testing or contact the ICTE Test Services team at icte.testing@icte.uq.edu.au.

Remote proctoring is used when you sit an online test in your own home. It is the online invigilation of an exam. The exam is supervised by a real person called a “proctor” in real time via your computer webcam. 

The cost to sit Linguaskill General or Password Skills tests through ICTE Test Services is AUD$245 (incl. GST). This includes remote proctoring through ProctorU.

The TOEFL iBT and IELTS Indicator tests are currently not available through ICTE Test Services. You will need to liaise directly with these providers. For IELTS Indicator, you will need to register with ICTE first, before contacting IELTS.

• Password Skills 
• Linguaskill General  
• TOEFL iBT at home - Not available in China
• IELTS Indicator - Not available in China

• TOEFL iBT at home – Not available in China 
• IELTS Indicator – Not available in China
• Password Skills

The scores that you need to achieve to meet UQ’s English language requirements will depend on if you are applying for direct entry or via an English language pathway program on a UQ Package Offer.