A number of universities and colleges in China have postponed the start of the upcoming spring semester in the wake of the intensifying novel coronavirus epidemic nationwide.

In Wuhan, over 10 universities, including the Huazhong Agricultural University, Yangtze University and China University of Geosciences（Wuhan）announced on Saturday that they will postpone spring semester, with the date of school openings undecided.

Some universities in Shanghai and Chongqing also announced similar postponements. Shanghai University said the start of the new semester will be delayed till Feb 17.

The Ministry of Education also said on Saturday that exams for the enrollment of students in some majors, such as sports and arts, which usually take place between February and April each year, will be delayed to a later time.

In Beijing, the nation's top art schools, such as the Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama, said they will postpone the dates for student enrollment exams this year, with the exact dates "to be decided".