St Andrews University has cancelled classes for the remainder of the the semester to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Students have been told there will be no face-to-face teaching after the spring break.
They were warned before they broke off for the holiday on Friday to prepare for a possible shift to remote learning before their return on March 30.
But advice issued to students and staff on Sunday evening stated: “By its nature, this is a quickly evolving situation.
“The University of St Andrews has been planning for this eventuality for several weeks.
“The university will deliver all of its teaching and assessment exclusively in online formats from the resumption of the semester after spring break.
“There will be no classes or face-to-face teaching in St Andrews for the rest of this semester.”
One student at the Fife institution has already been diagnosed with Covid-19, having recently returned from Switzerland.
The university, which has a high proportion of students from overseas, said it expects more cases of the virus among its population.
It had encouraged all those able to return home safely for the holidays to do so, to reduce risk of infection to the wider town community including residents considered vulnerable.
The university said it has been laying contingency plans over the last few weeks for staff and students and said its primary concern was for the welfare of those affected by the spread of the virus.
It also said: “The university is well prepared.
“We are working closely with NHS Scotland to ensure a best-practice response to limit the risk of the spread of coronavirus, and other seasonal illnesses.”
Fife College said there were no restrictions yet on its classes but it was drawing up contingency plans so it is prepared for an escalation of the situation.
