What to Do If You’re an International Student During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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If you’re feeling a little anxious or confused because of everything that’s happening in the world right now, know that you’re not alone and there are services here to help.

If you’re currently an international student studying in Australia or were planning to commence your course here in Semester 2, you might be wondering what your options are now that coronavirus has gotten in the way.

There are several options and services available to you from both the government and your education institution that should support you during this time.

If you have questions or aren’t sure where to start, we’re here to help. (The information in this article is correct as of 8 April 2020. We will keep updating it as we learn more.)

What are my options if I am enrolled at an Australian institution?

As of this writing, the federal government has closed its international borders, meaning that only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia.

Due to this, many international students have already made the decision to return to their home countries.

So, if you’re an enrolled international student that’s back at home, what are your options?

Most universities have provided information regarding the different pathways you can take, so double check with your individual school, but to keep things simple, the most common options include online study, deferral or a complete withdrawal from the program.

If you have chosen to stay in Australia for the duration of this pandemic and wish to continue your studies, you have the option to study your course online.

This option will vary between courses and education providers but as most schools have already begun following social distancing guidelines, there are sure to be options in place to cater for your education. Double check with your course provider for the exact details.

If you need information on your student visa or financial help while you continue to stay in Australia, please see the 'What about my student visa?' section of this article below.

While you’re still in Australia it is important to follow social distancing or social isolation guidelines and continue to limit risks that could potentially expose you or others to the virus.

The Department of Health has this resource for frequently asked questions on COVID-19 to help you better protect yourself.

If you aren’t sure about your course anymore or have made the decision to return home before the travel ban was enacted, you have the choice to either defer from your course (which means delay it) for a set period or withdraw altogether.

Much like online study, these options will vary from course to school so do some research on their processes and how to enact your choice.

Information regarding individual universities’ options can be found on the Study In Australia Education Provider Response Information page.

What if I am an Australian citizen studying overseas?

If you’re an Australian citizen studying overseas there are also resources to assist you in keeping safe or potentially getting home.

All overseas travel is currently banned in Australia so it is now extremely difficult for Australians to get back in or out of the country.

While there are few exceptions, if you are an Australian citizen and are trying to get home, Smart Traveler has urged you to try and do so as soon as possible.

Government services and Smart Traveler are doing what they can to make flights available to Australian citizens stuck overseas, however, in most cases, individuals may have to stay in their current location for a while longer than originally planned.

If you are trying to get home, get in contact with Smart Traveler for the most up-to-date advice. For urgent assistance contact your nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate.

You can also call the DFAT’s Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135.

If you have chosen to stay where you are or you have had no luck getting home, there are still options available to you.

While you wait for your departure to be arranged or for border closures to be lifted, you may need to seek alternate sources of income or accommodation.

If you are in this situation, follow the advice of local authorities as some support measures may be available to you and some workplaces may still be permitted to operate if you also work overseas.

Stay in touch with friends and family back home and contact consular services for your individual options.

While you stay overseas it is important to continue to do your best to stay safe, monitor your health, and keep up to date with the news and COVID-19 updates. More information on what to do when you can’t get home can be found here.

It is also important to understand the status of your visa while you are still overseas, keep your documentation up to date and contact local authorities regarding your options.

As for study, contact your education provider to discuss the options they will have for you, as in many cases you may be able to study online, defer or withdraw altogether depending on your choice.

If you can return to Australia, make sure you follow quarantine guidelines as you will have to self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days.

What about my student visa?

International students in Australia and Australian citizens studying overseas have several options available regarding their visa status and financial options if they have lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If you are an international student in Australia, the Department of Education Skills and Employment (DESE) has announced that support options are being made available to those choosing to remain in Australia due to their important contribution to the tertiary sector and economy.

While international students are initially encouraged to rely on family support or part-time work where possible, students who have been in Australia for longer than 12 months and find themselves in financial hardship will be able to access their Australian superannuation.

You can read the full announcement here or get all the information on the DESE website.

In that case, you’ll need to make sure that your visa is up to date and that you re-apply before your current visa expires.

In some circumstances you may be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful while you wait for a decision to be made regarding your application.

If your visa has various conditions applied (including 8503, 8534 and 8535) you will need to apply for a visa that suits your needs. Contact the Department of Home Affairs to explore your options.

Permanent visa holders will not have to re-apply for a visa, however, if you have recently retuned to Australia you will still be required to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

If you’re worried about your visa being cancelled unexpectedly due to the coronavirus, rest assured the Department of Home Affairs will only cancel your visa in response to temporary travel restrictions or if your documentation expires.

The Department will notify you in writing if your visa has been cancelled so you won’t be left in the dark.

For more information on all visa holders during the COVID-19 crisis, check out the Department of Home Affairs website.

What are my options if I am a non-commenced international student?

If you were planning to study in Australia and have enrolled but have not commenced your studies, you may have to reconsider for the time being.

If your university or education provider is allowing you to commence your studies fully online, then you likely won’t have to make any changes to your plans.

However, if a requirement of your course was to be an internal international student, you will have to either defer or withdraw from your course.

Contact your education provider to discuss your options as these will vary from course and school.

Due to the travel ban on Australia, international travelers and students are unable to enter Australian borders for the time being.

When the coronavirus pandemic finally ends, you may be able to re-apply for your course and visa but for now options are very limited, so if you can, continue your studies online or from an institution available to you in your home country.

What precautions should I take to protect myself from COVID-19?

Whether you’re in Australia or currently overseas, its important to do what you can to better protect yourself and others from the spread of coronavirus and other flu-like illnesses.

A lot of information on the internet can be very confusing and misleading but you can rest easy knowing that the most reliable and up to date information regarding health and safety during this time is available from the Department of Health.

The best way to protect everyone right now is to:

• practice good personal hygiene;
• exercise social distancing;
• limit yourself from public gatherings;
• understand self-isolation and how to do it correctly if necessary

At Student Edge we also have various resources regarding COVID-19 news, safety and mental health on our Home Room page.

If you’re looking for more information check out other areas of the Department of Health’s website.

Other services and resources.

While we do our best to cover all elements of this difficult situation, there may be a lot of remaining questions regarding your student status that aren't answered above, so make sure you take advantage of all the other services available to you.

While you continue to work or study during this time, if you have any questions make sure to get in contact with your school or university to find out their individual plans.

You can also contact your state government officials or visit your state government website, the Study in Australia Website and the federal government’s website so they may help direct you to the information you are looking for.

If you are looking for financial help because of coronavirus, take a look on the Centrelink website to see if you are eligible for payments.

The federal government has also set up resources that may be more accessible to young people including the Coronavirus Australia app, the coronavirus WhatsApp feature, Facebook resources, Instragram resources and links to resources for Wiebo and Wechat.

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