Coronavirus: Edinburgh University to move classes online and cancel exams

Edinburgh University will move classes online and cancel some exams in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

All teaching will be either moved online or cancelled by March 23.

First and Second Year exams will be cancelled this year, with some exceptions for professional accreditation.

Exams for those in Third Year and above will be performed remotely.

The move was announced in an email to all students from Vice-Chancellor Peter Mathieson, following an emergency meeting of senior staff.

“In recent weeks and days, the impact of coronavirus has heightened and we now know that we are in the middle of a global pandemic. This is a rapidly changing situation, which I understand will be causing worry and alarm for everybody,” he said.

“I have just convened an emergency meeting of my senior staff and I wanted to convey to you the key points from that meeting. Our actions are grounded in the advice and guidance from Government and Public Health Scotland and will continue to be as the situation develops and evolves.

“Within that advice our top priority is for the safety of our students, staff and visitors.

“It is also important to say, for our students, that your education at Edinburgh will continue. It will need to be modified due to this global public health emergency, but the high standards of education that you are accustomed to will be guaranteed. You will achieve your qualifications on time and an Edinburgh degree will still hold the same value.”

It comes after the first death from coronavirus in Scotland has been confirmed in the NHS Lothian area.