What to expect if you have applied for programs in Australia with the Covid curve climbing?

The outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2019 resulted in countries across the globe closing their borders to deal with rising infections and deaths. The knock-on effect hit industries reliant on international travel, really hard. The market for overseas education was one among many to bear the brunt of border closures in the wake of this global pandemic. Subsequently, 2020 was an adverse year for foreign education as countries employed a Zero-Covid strategy before health officials worldwide understood the infeasibility of this approach.

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However, as vaccination rates improved and cases of infection decreased in 2021, certain popular destinations for international education reopened their borders.


Consequently, the US, Canada, and the UK gained more visa applications from international students in line with or above pre-pandemic levels, according to a report dated 14 December 2021 from the Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy at Victoria University. In comparison, Australia and New Zealand saw lower visa applications from international students due to restrictive border policies as per the report.

Then, on 15 December 2021, in a move that was long in the making, Australia lifted its border restrictions after close to two years and opened the country up to foreign nationals to benefit the nation’s education sector, among other industries. New Zealand also changed its policy on Covid, effective December 2021, and transitioned to a ‘traffic light’ system. Not only this, the Australian Government announced that students pursuing taught master’s courses will be now able to stay up to 3 years post completion of their graduation to find job opportunities within the country extending it by 1 year.

But now, the emergence of the contagious Omicron variant is scaring the global student community, especially those who have already applied to study down under, as they view the current Covid scenario as a potential spanner in the works of their international education dream. It is no secret that students worldwide were shunning Australia and New Zealand due to the stringent anti-coronavirus measures in effect in these countries, which mandated and fuelled the migration to online learning. Students pursuing an international education place a premium on cross-cultural experience, a concept that is celebrated in the physical context.

So, as a student, what can you expect if you have applied for programs in Australia as the Covid curve is climbing?

To begin with, find comfort in knowing that Australian universities are reliant on international students for revenue, as this cohort of students accounts for 27% of university revenue in the country, as per a Mitchell Institute report dated August 2021. So if universities lose out on international students, it would hurt the educational sector from a financial perspective.

Secondly, the commonwealth government unveiled its Australian Strategy for International Education 2021-2030 on 26 November, 2021. The plan outlines new avenues of growth and aims to revamp the country’s education sector, focusing on
sustainability. In order to boost the resilience of Australia’s education sector, the government will support universities in the country, especially state-run universities, by ensuring diversity in the intake of international students. The government will also diversify its reliance on offshore and digital educational offerings by bringing cooperation between international and Australian settings, also via trade agreements.

Thirdly, the Australian government aims to provide international education that fulfills the skill requirements of the country. This would result in more jobs in Australia for international students who have the right skills. The government also plans to provide Australian students with access to international education through collaborations with other international institutions.

Fourthly, the Australian government will work towards ensuring social cohesion between domestic students, international students, and local communities. The government will also enhance the well-being of international students by streamlining important communication and publishing important information on the rights – living and working – of international students.

And finally, the government will put in place the requisite and qualitative partnerships to foster collaboration and research, with a view to ensure innovation in the country. They will also support the country’s educational sector with finances and review regulations, specifically the National Code and ESOS Act, to enhance the student experience and support diversity.

The initiatives of the Australian government, outlined above, should ease your anxieties about your education plans in Australia for the time being as the country is genuinely determined to establish itself as a powerhouse in tertiary education.