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

What facilities are available on campus?

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. Most of these services are now 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.

I decided not to resume my UQ study in Semester 1, 2021. What if the last course I need is not offered in Semester 2, 2021?

My course has a practical component such as laboratory work. How will it be affected if I am studying in external mode?

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.

My course has a practical component such as laboratory work. How will it be affected if I am studying in external mode?

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.

Can I participate in activities such as Work Integrated Learning (WIL), Work Experience (WE) and placements?

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.

What will happen if the Government restrictions are strengthened again in Queensland during Semester 1, 2021? Will teaching and assessment be online?

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.

If I can’t get to campus and I don’t want to study online, can I defer my studies?

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.

If I am studying online in my home country, do I need to apply for a visa?

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.

Will I receive a CoE if I am studying online from my home country?

I am an international student, studying in External mode. Can I reduce the number of courses I enrol in for Semester 2, 2021?

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.