Purpose: The purpose of the study would typically involve investigating how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the learning abilities of university students. The study could encompass various factors that may influence students' ability to learn, such as their academic performance, motivation, engagement, mental health, access to resources and learning environment. Design/methodology/approach: (1) A cross-sectional design, collecting data at a specific point in time to capture the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' learning abilities. (2) A structured questionnaire will be developed based on relevant literature and research objectives. (3) The questionnaire could be administered to the targeted sample of university students through online surveys, email or other appropriate methods. (4) Descriptive statistics could be used to summarize the demographic characteristics and other relevant variables of the sample. Factor analysis could be performed to identify underlying factors. The Mann-Whitney test, a non-parametric test, could be used to compare the differences between groups. Findings: The results of the data analysis would be interpreted and discussed in the context of the research objectives and relevant literature. The findings could provide insights into the factors that significantly affect learning abilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight any differences among groups. Limitations of the study, such as sample size or potential biases, would also be discussed. Originality/value: The study would provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students' learning abilities, highlight the existing literature in the field and establish the need for further research to investigate the factors influencing students' learning abilities during the pandemic. The study can provide a solid framework for similar studies.