Western Sydney University is offering $1,500 payments to Chinese students to help fund travel packages to third-country transit destinations to get around the federal government’s coronavirus ban.

International students at Western Sydney University have been informed that the institution will “pay each student arriving in Australia through a third county $1500 AUD to help cover the cost of airfares and 14 days’ accommodation”.

“We consider the Australian Government’s endorsement of entering Australia through a third country an important development, opening up the opportunity to arrive in time to commence study in Australia,” said the Western Sydney University in an email sent on Wednesday, noting the payment would be made after arrival in Australia.

The Australian has revealed that Chinese travel agents are marketing bespoke “14-day, 13-night” packages to third-country transit destinations to help Chinese ­students enrolled at Australian universities get around the federal government’s coronavirus ban for as little as $2700 each. An estimated 65,000 Chinese students are struggling to return to Australia, putting in danger up to $2 billion in deferred fees.

Abbey Shi, General Secretary of University of the Sydney Student Representatives’ Council, has called for other universities to follow WSU’s lead.

“If [a] university is in the fiscal position which makes them capable of subsidising its students in need, it should,” Ms Shi said.

“The fact that international students are paying $45,000 annually for tuition fees does not mean they should always pay more.”

Agents said the thid country packages, which are being micro-targeted on Chinese social media, were selling well — even before Western Sydney University began its subsidisation program.

Citing medical advice, Prime Minister Scott Morrison imposed the coronavirus-related travel ban on February 1, when ­almost two-thirds of the 109,000 Chinese students enrolled in ­Australia were in China for the Lunar New Year break.

The travel ban, strongly oppose­d by the Chinese government, prevents travellers from mainland China from entering Australia for 14 days after they leave the Chinese ­mainland.

Canny students and travel agents discovered a loophole: students could still get in by transiting through countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia, the United­ Arab Emirates and Japan, which have not imposed bans on travellers from China.

Advertisements are marketing “study” packages to locations including Thailand and Dubai, which include flights, four-star hotel accommodation, personal guides and face mask supplies.

All were marketed as 14-day, 13 night packages — the length required for mainland Chinese travellers to enter Australia.

The Western Sydney University subsidy has been well received by Chinese students.

“Western Sydney, you are a star,” one online user posted in a chat group of nearly 500 students who are waiting to return to Australia.

“Now I want to transfer to their university!” another wrote.

The Australian spoke to a Chinese student enrolled at Western Sydney University on the fourth day of a 14-day stopover trip in Malaysia.

“I am surely glad to know this and will claim my travel cost,” said the second-year nursing student, who asked to be referred to as “Simon” (not his real name).

“After all it costs me so much due to the virus,” he said, adding that changing return tickets alone cost $900.

Stranded in his parent’s Beijing apartment, one University of Sydney student said he was considering taking the third country route to Australia, although he was concerned about the risk for him and others.

“Isn’t it increasing the chance of us getting infected or infecting others by additional travel? The policy really needs to be adjusted,” said the student, who did not want to give his name.

The coronavirus, named Covid-19, has spread to more than 75,000 cases around the world, with 15 confirmed cases — or 0.02 per cent of the world’s total — in Australia.

The government, which is being advised by Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy, is widely expected to extend the travel ban for another week after a meeting of the national security committee of cabinet.