More than 8,300 students from the Chinese mainland enrolled in Taiwan universities are unable to go back due to restrictions placed by the island authorities, the mainland Taiwan affairs authority said on Thursday.

The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office called on the island authorities and universities to take responsibility and properly handle the issue to protect the rights of mainland students.

Universities in Taiwan began new terms from the end of last month to the beginning of this month, but mainland students were unable to return to the island because visits by mainland residents to Taiwan were suspended from February 6, the office said.

After the novel coronavirus outbreak, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of the island escalated measures to restrict mainland residents from traveling to Taiwan.

Universities did not make proper arrangements for mainland students to return to school. Instead, they required mainland students to pay school fees on time. Some even asked students to postpone their enrollment for one term after the fee was charged, the office said.

Among the over 8,300 students, most of them will study in the island for four to seven years, and some are supposed to graduate this year, according to the office.

It is obviously unreasonable for Taiwan to not allow mainland students to return to school while the universities are open for normal classes, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the office.

The delay of the students' study affects their graduation and employment, which seriously damages their legitimate rights and interests, she said.