BOSSA president urges universities to make Covid-19 study plans clear

“Universities have to confirm if they can start their academic year in September or October. If they do that students and parents can then make decisions about flights and visas,” Sang explained.

“Students who want to get a student visa need their CASS or other documents from the universities saying when the academic year will start”

“Visas are an obstacle. Some countries are still not issuing them… But even if they resume, students who want to get a student visa need their CASS or other documents from the universities saying when the academic year will start.”

Many universities have already confirmed their plans for either in-person, blended or online learning and are beginning to work out what provisions to prepare for quarantining and social distancing. Others such as Cambridge University have announced they will be teaching online for the entirety of the next academic year.

However Sang further highlighted that for some courses online and blended learning may make it difficult for students to get their qualifications recognised in China.

“When students go abroad to study they have to get recognition from the government saying they obtained their diploma or degree from overseas.

“But if they studied overseas for less than a year, it’s difficult or even impossible to get that kind of recognition,” he explained.

“For example, a postgraduate student can go to somewhere like the UK and do a one-year, one-and-a-half-year or two-year course.

“If they study online for one year in China and then only have half a year overseas, it’s going to be difficult to get their qualification recognised,” he added.