The holiday season is upon us, with Christmas and New Year just around the corner, and final exams are approaching. After a semester of taking online classes at home in a blur, students barely have time to catch their breath before planning for the new semester begins.
In many study-abroad destinations, the pandemic situation remains severe, and many universities in the US, UK, and Canada continue to update their spring/winter 2021 semester policies. Let's take a look at the latest plans announced by major universities worldwide.
United States: Partial Return to In-Person, Multiple Plans Offered
The pandemic situation in the US remains challenging. Many schools have revised their initial spring semester plans and will continue remote teaching in the coming year, canceling spring break and holding graduation ceremonies online.
Of course, arrangements vary by school, and each is updating its spring plans based on local conditions and its own circumstances.
Princeton University
Princeton University announced on November 24 that all undergraduate students may return to campus for the spring semester. However, the university also listed numerous behavioral guidelines for returning students, including bans on gatherings, adjustments to dormitory capacity, COVID-19 testing, and more.
The spring 2021 semester at Princeton begins on February 1.
Duke University
Duke University's announced spring plan is relatively more complex and detailed.
Duke has prepared four plans based on pandemic developments, including the currently planned one and three alternative options, varying in isolation durations and teaching methods.
According to Duke's academic calendar, the spring 2021 semester starts on January 20.
United Kingdom: Partial Return to In-Person Teaching, Multiple Plans Provided
Many UK universities have announced on their websites that they plan to resume in-person teaching as much as possible in January, but most also stated that they will offer online options for students.
To help international students return to campus, some UK universities have recently started organizing charter flights for January, including: University of Sheffield, Cardiff University, University of Liverpool, Queen's University Belfast, and University of Aberdeen.
Students at these schools should check their email or the university's official Weibo account for the latest charter flight information.
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University of Oxford
The University of Oxford currently plans to start the spring term on January 5 and hopes students can return to campus. It also noted that any changes will be communicated promptly.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London plans to resume in-person teaching on January 9, but may adjust based on future UK government guidelines, and reminds students to be prepared for possible remote learning.
University College London
UCL will continue its teaching approach from this semester. Except for essential in-person teaching, all core instruction and exams will be conducted online.
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester's spring semester starts on February 8. According to the announced plan, all lectures will be online, but under safe conditions, each student can have an average of two hours of in-person classes per week.
University of Edinburgh
Many departments at Edinburgh have already informed students that the entire next semester can be online. Regarding the January return-to-campus arrangements, the University of Edinburgh says it is still awaiting further guidance from the Scottish government.
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds will resume in-person teaching in January if possible; otherwise, it will continue with fully online classes.
University of Nottingham
According to the University of Nottingham's current plan, it aims to resume a hybrid teaching model in January, provided it is safe to do so.
Canada: New Cases on Campus, Delayed Start Dates for Safety
Recently, Western University in Ontario also found confirmed cases in dormitories, and the University of Toronto reported three new cases.
As a result, nearly all Canadian universities have chosen to delay the start of the new semester.
University of Toronto
Due to the pandemic, the University of Toronto has decided to delay the spring semester start to January 11. All courses have been switched to online delivery.
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo has also set its new start date for January 11. There have also been recently confirmed cases in UW dormitories.
McMaster University
McMaster has postponed the start of the new semester to January 11.
Additionally, universities like Queen's and Ryerson have also set their winter term start dates for January 11.
As winter arrives and temperatures drop, the global pandemic situation remains serious and should not be taken lightly.
International students abroad must take protective measures in their daily lives and engage in academic activities while prioritizing their health and safety. Those choosing to study online from home should continue to plan their studies and actively manage their time and emotions.
Universities are now more adept at striking a balance between addressing the pandemic and safely resuming classes. Whether it's flexible teaching models or adjusted start dates, the goal is to ensure students have a good learning experience while staying healthy and safe.
We also hope the pandemic will soon pass so that international students everywhere can return to campus and rediscover the in-person learning experience they have long missed.
