Life may be returning to normal on China's college campuses, but not before the COVID-19 pandemic left an indelible mark. Many foreign students who chose to stay on campus are reflecting on what life was like for the last three months.

Twenty-two-year-old Isah Muhammad from Nigeria didn't expect to spend over half of his spring semester in the dormitory at his university.

At first, making the most of everyday during self-isolation was a difficult task.

"I got bored at the beginning of self-isolation knowing that I had to say goodbye to my social life for a while...The university organized some activities like online short video competitions, it helped me escape the boredom", said Isah, who lives in Shenyang.

With a major in automation, it is Isah's first year of postgraduate studies. Like millions of university students around the world, online classes were adopted, but apart from studies, Isah thinks this semester has come to somewhat of a standstill.

Isah told CGTN: "I didn't understand why the university required us to stay indoors at the beginning, until I realized the seriousness of the virus outbreak. During the self-isolation period, the university has been very attentive to my day-to-day life."

While the travel bans and campus closures have stopped the flow of international students worldwide, for students like Isah who chose to stay, it won't be long before life on campus returns to normal as measures are eased. For now, epidemic prevention and studies still go hand in hand.

Honh Xinyan is the head of student affairs in Northeastern University and told CGTN: "We started online teaching in line with the original term calendar. E-teaching covers all students, including international ones. The quality is the most important aspect of online education, so our tutors are requested to hold one-on-one sessions in addition to the courses."

During the battle against coronavirus over the past few months, everyone on the campus followed the same anti-pandemic measures, regardless of one's nationality, race, gender or age.