University coronavirus advice for students

As university coronavirus cases increase and more and more universities are changing how they are delivering their teaching. Many students are coming to Uni Direct for advice.  

Countries responses to coronavirus are changing on a daily basis. We have produced this brief article to cover some of the main concerns of both current and future students.

Current students study implications

Around the world many universities, such as Regents University and UCLAN, are already responding to coronavirus by putting a range of measures into action. These include:

• Replacing face-to-face teaching with video lectures and online seminars
• Ending term early
• Making special arrangements for exams

So make sure you keep up to date with your university coronavirus policy. However, be reassured that whilst your university experience will be different over the coming weeks, your course is highly likely to continue.

During your university coronavirus measures, as well as ensuring the continuity of your education, it is also essential you take care of yourself and others:

• Protect yourself and others by following the official guidance
• Don’t panic, increased anxiety at this time is inevitable but try to keep calm and retain your focus on your studies
• Help others where possible but make sure you take care of yourself, particularly if you have any underlying health conditions
• Do you really need to return home if that means going back home to live with your parents or others in a high risk category?

Future student’s university coronavirus impacts

If you are looking to start your studies in 2020 please don’t worry. Whilst at the moment universities are focused on their ensuring the continuity of teaching for their current students. We are already talking to a number of universities about their university coronavirus plans for September when most course will start. Their initial advice has been:

• First and foremost, no university we spoke to had any plans to not start the term in September. With all of them saying they intend to have sufficient measures in place to start courses as planned. Some have also indicated that they could move start dates back to January. This will, however, depend on each country’s ability to manage the coronavirus. It is more probable that teaching methods will continue via distance learning and online methods if things are still an issue in September when universities start back.  
• Another common concern is disruption to high school or English language exams and how this might impact on conditional offers for degrees. Each university coronavirus policy when produced will be different, but you can expect a great deal of flexibility under these unprecedented circumstances.

Like the rest of society, university coronavirus responses will evolve to the rapidly changing situation. However, universities are much better set up to manage this crisis than the wider school system. For now, whether you are currently studying or planning to start this September, please try not to worry too much. Follow your university guidance and of course please don’t hesitate to contact us if you want any advice from us.

Most importantly make sure you stay healthy, and when you can help others who need it.