Can I Still Study in Australia in 2020?

Are you longing for kangaroos and Vegemite?

If you live overseas and had plans to study in Australia this year and coronavirus (COVID-19) has since destroyed those plans, you might be feeling a bit salty.

The coronavirus pandemic has essentially put the world on pause, and that includes Australia and its borders, meaning that, right now, no one can enter or leave Australian shores.

Semester 2 is still a few months away though, so surely, you’ll be able to come then right?

Well, it might be a little bit more complicated than that, so let’s break down the options that are available to you right now, and what might be available in a few months’ time.

Online study

One of your easiest options, if you are keen for just a little piece of Australia, is online study.

While this obviously won’t get you to Australia, you will at least get the opportunity to study at an Australian university with other students who may already be in Australia or have had the full Australian experience.

This is a great opportunity for you to collaborate and learn with new people who have had different life experiences and you could even make a few friends along the way.

Building foundations in Australia through study and friendship are an awesome way for you to test the waters and may make your transition to Australian life just a little easier when you can eventually make it here.

If online study for a semester or a few is something you like the sound of, get in contact with your preferred education provider and find out what courses they offer online to international students as these will vary from school to course.

When will quarantine be lifted?

As we’re only in April of 2020, we may get lucky in the next few months and social distancing could soon become a distant memory.

However, as of right now, we don’t know exactly how long quarantine is going to last and if international travelers will be able to enter Australia any time soon.

World leaders have thrown a lot of numbers around guessing how long the pandemic could last. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has guessed at least six months, but so far nothing is set in stone.

Due to the flu season and winter in Australia occurring between June and August many specialists expect the virus to get worse before it gets any better.

For now, its probably best to plan for the worst-case scenario. Cancel your plans and try again when you know for certain that it is safe.

Defer for next year

If most of your plans were already organised just as the coronavirus pandemic really started ramping up, you have several options for right now so that you don’t lose your course spot or any money.

If you have already enrolled in an Australian institution but have not commenced your studies you can choose to either defer for 2021 or later, or withdraw from the course and revisit the idea when you feel more confident about traveling overseas.

Choosing to defer from your course means you will keep your spot at your preferred university without completing any units or spending any money on the course without being able to complete it.

Keep in mind that travel disruptions may still be in place in early or even late 2021 so while deferral is a great option, don’t get your hopes up about coming to Australia too soon.

If you have already commenced your studies in Australia and are unsure what happens now, check out our article on what to do if you’re an international student during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As information surrounding the coronavirus changes, we will keep you updated so you can start hitting the books as soon as possible.

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