International Student Regulation Changes Due to Covid-19 Outbreak
The COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted Australia and the world since the beginning of 2020. Scientists have been working hand in hand with the government and making new regulations to save a billion lives, while many scientists also work day and night to find a cure or vaccine for the world as soon as possible.
In these unprecedented times, we are forced to adapt to the new changes and make huge adjustments to our daily lives. For some people, the sudden changes might not be easy, especially for international students who have just arrived or who are currently studying in Australia – where they are away from their families, travel afar to get a better education in Australia.
How does this COVID-19 Pandemic impact the International Students?
Australia Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) along with The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) form new regulations for the education sectors, particularly for the international students as the result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This regulation is in place to ensure an international student can start, continue and finish their study just the way they are supposed to be.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, one of the first changes in international student regulations is that education providers are allowed to provide flexible study arrangements and prepare to start their online learning platforms regardless of their students’ locations. Even so, providers have to maintain their modes of training, courses, and assessments to meet the Australian standards of education.
With the new international student regulation 2020, education providers should inform their students if adjustments, regulations, and/or modes of studies have been changed. They may seek the student’s consent on this matter. Any disagreement about the approach, study methods or study plans, should be resolved directly with providers. However, if both parties do not come to a settlement, the provider might release the international student and refund the unused portion of their tuition fees.
Secondly, for the future and continuing international students, they may ask for additional sessions from the providers, if they have missed the classes and have compelling reasons for that.
Last but not least of the international student regulation changes, some international students might have concerns about how the travel restriction affects their eligibility to meet the Australian study requirements or the periods of stay in Australia – those who would like to apply for Temporary Graduate Visa 485 are required to stay in Australia for no less than 16 months. To answer the students’ concern, the Department of Home Affairs makes decisions on a case by case basis, which will depend on how long the travel restriction remains in place and may in turn affect the student.
The International student regulation gets reviewed on a regular basis. Australian government has been very flexible with their approach. They continue to make temporary arrangements to thousands of people, including provisional plans for temporary visa holders who are currently in Australia and unable to return to their home countries, especially for an international student to meet the Australian study requirements and apply for the subsequent visa afterwards.
Still not sure how this can affect your circumstances? Speak to us, we are here to help!
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