Some international students held back from protesting against a controversial Chinese education program at an elite Queensland university for fear of being identified by authorities in their home country, students say.

Protesters on Wednesday called for the University of Queensland's Confucius Institute to be shut down entirely amid concerns about foreign interference at Australian universities.

Students covered up their faces this week in fear of repercussions. Credit:Dave Hunt/AAP

Agreements signed by universities and the Chinese government-funded Confucius Institutes which reportedly say the universities must accept Beijing's directions on the organisations caused the outcry.

Confucius Institutes are run by Hanban, a part of China's Education Ministry.