COVID-19 (coronavirus) advice for the UQ community - STUDENTS - Study

In preparing for 2022, we continue to be committed to providing you with engaging learning experiences and activities, both on-campus and online. If you are unable to make it to campus in 2022, many of our courses will be available to study in external mode. These courses are designed to support your progression until we get to see you again at our UQ campuses.

For more information:

• visit Programs and Courses  for information about the courses you can study
• read the information contained on this page
• visit Preparing to study in 2022 for guidance. 

If you find you are unable to complete your program online, we will work with you to try to identify an appropriate study plan. If you have any concerns and would like to discuss your program progression in further detail, contact your faculty.

Refer to Preparing to study in 2022. If after reading this information you are concerned about your course availability and any potential impacts this may have on your program, please contact your faculty for further advice or assistance with identifying alternative courses.

Visit Programs and Courses for more information about study modes and course availability. 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 still have concerns about your practical component and any potential impacts this may have on 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 WIL, WE, placements, internships and field trips can continue where it is safe to do so and where organisations are able to continue to facilitate this engagement, subject to restrictions and directions from the Queensland Government.

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.

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 (log-in required) 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.

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 2, 2023 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 2023 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 have commenced your study online and your student visa application is subsequently refused, you may apply to withdraw from enrolment. 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 delivery mode from their home country in Semester 1, 2022 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 (stated 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 living in Australia on a student visa, you are required to enrol in a full-time study load.