Another Australian university has put cash on the line to secure the goodwill of its international students, with the Australian National University announcing financial assistance packages of up to A$5,000 (?2,570) for enrolees affected by the government¡¯s coronavirus-related travel ban.

ANU deputy vice-chancellor Grady Venville said that the ¡°travel restrictions relief bursary¡± was designed for students who had been unable to arrive on campus in time for the start of classes in late February, but intended to persist with their studies.

¡°This bursary is to assist you with costs reasonably incurred due to the travel restrictions, including self-isolation, travel, accommodation and other related expenses,¡± Professor Venville said in an email to students.

They would be able to use the bursary to cover rent for on-campus accommodation while they were unable to come to Australia, for example.

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The gesture comes after former High Court judge and Macquarie University chancellor Michael Kirby urged Australian institutions to follow the University of Melbourne¡¯s lead in committing funds to help international students caught up in the crisis.

Mr Kirby told the Universities Australia conference that Melbourne was ¡°better able than many¡± to provide such assistance, but other universities should take note.

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Melbourne¡¯s assistance package of up to A$7,500, announced on 25 February, is designed to address ¡°unanticipated expenses incurred as a result of the travel restrictions¡± and to ¡°help students transition to or return to study at the University of Melbourne¡±. Eligible expenses include the costs of accommodation, unrecoverable flight changes, mandated 14-day self-isolation periods and technology upgrades.

A Melbourne spokesman stressed that the assistance package was not targeted at Chinese students travelling to Australia via other countries. ¡°The university does not in any way provide travel advice or encourage the option of travel to Australia via a third country,¡± he said.

The University of Adelaide has also pledged reimbursements of up to A$2,000 for its international students affected by the travel restrictions. ¡°The university is working to ensure that our students¡¯ transition to campus ¨C when they are able to be here ¨C will be as smooth as possible,¡± a spokeswoman said.

¡°Once the travel restrictions are lifted and students are able to arrive in Adelaide, intensive face-to-face learning will resume. The government has indicated it will regularly review its advice and the travel restrictions.¡±

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Meanwhile, Sydney¡¯s Macquarie University has decided to immediately cease all international travel for university business. ¡°The health and safety of our students and staff is critical in the rapidly evolving situation related to Covid-19,¡± said registrar Gail White.

She said that the embargo applied to all international travel booked prior to 4 April.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com