Pandemic poses challenge to students abroad

Struggling decisions

"A lot of my Chinese friends are struggling to return to China," said Zheng Luyao, who is studying for a master's degree in international relations at the Oxford University. "Despite the 14-day quarantine policy upon arrival, which causes inconvenience, many students are determined to return. They paid up to 6,000 pounds for a ticket, and some even bought multiple flight tickets because of cancellations."

As many UK-based Chinese students faced difficulties in getting back to China because of the pandemic, China's Foreign Ministry arranged a charter flight, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, to bring the students back on April 2.

For Zheng, it was tough deciding on whether to return home or continue staying in the UK, and she took many days to discuss her options with her family before finally deciding to stay.

"I am not alone in the UK, because my sibling and boyfriend are here as well. So if the situation really gets serious we can we can take care of each other.

"My long-term plan is to work in the UK given that I have already received a job offer," she said. "Returning to China and flying back to the UK after the pandemic could expose me to even more risks. Hence, I chose to stay and self-isolate," Zheng said.

There are signs of anxiety among Chinese students who are in the UK.

"All my friends and classmates are concerned at the moment, not just Chinese students," Zheng said. "Academic work is also being affected, and it is very hard to focus on your studies at such a difficult time.

"Anxiety is often neglected in the policy-making process, but it has a profound impact on young and international students. My course mates have been organizing virtual meetups to offer peer support," Zheng added.

The UK has more than 220,000 Chinese students at 154 universities and about 15,000 Chinese teenagers at more than 1,000 British private schools, making China the top source of overseas students in the UK, according to the Chinese embassy in London.

And with many Chinese students in Britain having chosen to stay through the epidemic, the embassy is in close contact with the student community there and is responding to their needs. The embassy has provided Chinese students in Britain with "health kits" containing epidemic prevention material and guidelines.

All schools and universities in the UK were asked to close from March 18 as part of the government's emergency measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus, and the educational establishments across the country have been moving to online teaching.