The faculty of medicine at James Cook University (JCU), Australia, is not letting their international students progress with their degrees. This comes after faculty encouragement for students to return to their home countries with reassurances that our decision to do so would be supported. While we have been trying to return to Australia for our studies, our applications to return have been denied time and time again due to COVID-19.

JCU has announced that online study will not be provided for us international students. However, the vast majority of our lectures are recorded anyway. As pre-clinical students, we have no hospital attachments yet. We, therefore, believe we can progress with our degrees online for now, just as many other universities around the world are. JCU’s solution for us is to take a leave of absence - essentially to sit this whole year out - this does not uphold their promises to support us.

JCU needs to provide a solution to support their offshore students. Please sign to show your support to urge action from JCU, AMA and the Australian government to allow us to progress.