Studying in Australia in times of Covid-19

Universities Down Under have been quite supportive and responsive to the concerns and needs of international and Indian students have been coping well with the lockdown there

Australia is unique in the number of intakes with multiple intakes happening in October/ November and March too

Telegana today 18.04.2020

Australia has done a good job of controlling the virus and expects things to be normal by the end of July — Divya Tadi, University of Sydney

Australia has risen over the years as a favourite destination for Indian students wanting to pursue higher education. Starting in the early years of the new millennium, Australia rose up the ranks of international education destinations and last year over a hundred thousand students from India enrolled in various colleges and universities in Australia. Indian students are behind only Chinese students in the number of international students studying in Australia. And also a significant portion of 7 billion dollar revenues that the overseas education industry in Australia earns is from the Indian sub-continent.

The Australian education system is semester based and the main intakes are at the start of the two semesters viz., in July/August and January of every year. However, Australia is unique in the number of intakes with multiple intakes happening through the year mainly in October/ November and March too. Under the aegis of this article, we shall endeavour to examine how the Covid-19 virus has impacted the student intake for the future as also how the students currently enrolled in various universities are faring during the shutdown.

Uncertainty over exams

Students across India have not taken the final exams of the various courses they are enrolled in. Usually, April is when they would have been taking the exams. But with the lockdown extended till May 3 and likely to get extended till the first week of June 2020 for educational institutions, one is not able to say with any degree of certainty as when the exams will be held. Though the process for admissions for the July intake for Australian universities extends up to May end, the uncertainty over the exams, results, visa, travel restrictions etc., makes the starting of the July 2020 intake a highly doubtful one.

The Covid-19 situation seems to be under control in Australia compared to most other developed nations. They seem to have been quick in placing travel restrictions and avoided widespread community transmission of the virus. As part of the process to minimise community transmission, all the universities in Australia have asked students to stay indoors and attend online classes. Several universities have come out with statements saying that they will not award fail grades or hold examinations for this semester. Rather, the students will be assessed based on various criteria.

On economic front

While this is on the academic front, on the economic front, significant impacts have applied to the broader Australian economy. Commercial restrictions are in place for all residents in Australia with only essential services open for public consumption. International students, like most Australian residents, have been hit to a certain extent as they may be unable to work and earn their monthly expenses. There was some consternation amongst the Indian student community on the reported statement of the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that “the international students who cannot support themselves may have to find a way to go to their countries”.

Coming at a time when the pandemic was raging both in India and Australia and all flights between the two countries had been suspended, besides being insensitive, it also led to a number of students and their parents in India worry about their future. However, to the credit of the Australian universities and the civic administration of several cities, they were quick to reach out to the international students and offer assistance to any student who was in financial distress.

In good spirits

The author personally spoke with a few Indian students and found them to be in good spirits. Divya Tadi, studying Masters in Telecommunications at the University of Sydney, said that Australia has done good job of controlling the virus and expects things to be normal by the end of July 2020.

Another student Mighty Sushanth Dodla who is doing Masters in Social Work from the James Cook University was all praise for the support the varsity has been giving to international students. The university was providing free food and essentials like toothpaste and soaps on a fortnightly basis to the students. Akhil Eaga who is studying Masters of Information Technology course in the University of Western Sydney has a slightly different story to tell. While the students are being given help in the form of food supply packages and financial hardship grants, some of his friends who have joined Masters programmes in Mechanical, Chemical, Biology and other degrees which require a lot of physical presence in the labs are unable to do so and are finding it difficult to adjust to online mode of learning. A few of them have cancelled their admissions and are planning to return to India at the first opportune time.

The overall feeling after talking to a number of students is that the universities have been quite supportive and responsive to the concerns and needs of the international students and Indian students have been coping well with the lockdown there.

Admission process

Resultantly, given the situation, many universities are going ahead with the admission process for July 2020 but with conditions attached. For example, University of Adelaide has expressed the hope that if travel restrictions are lifted and international travel becomes more acceptable, they hope to see students in the campus. However they have also stated that if international travel restrictions are in place students can avail of online classes for the first semester.

Online programme

What remains unclear is will the student be deemed to have gotten admission into a programme of study, if commencing through an online programme, even if a visa has not been granted? Yes, says Marcel Creed, vice-president of Global Study Partners, a digital student recruitment platform based out of Sydney in Australia. He quotes the example of Swinburne University which clearly states that students can commence studies online in their home countries and can come to Australia once the situation changes and students will be granted full credits for units successfully completed online. A valid visa at that time is of course necessary to enter Australia.

Sought-after students

Finally, students of Indian origin are going to be sought after worldwide post this pandemic period given the expected sharp drop in the number of students from China. While students do make their choice of destination based on various factors, one factor that is likely to play a significant role in the post Covid era is how students of Indian origin were treated during the times of this crisis. Politicians will do well to bear this in mind while making any statement regarding the status of international students. After all, international students are adding a lot to the financial well-being of the universities in Australia and to the economy of the country.

Prof. KP Singh

CEO, IMFS

info@imfs.co.in