COVID-19 has effected both commencing and continuing international students and we understand as an international student, you may have questions about how COVID-19 will impact your studies at UniSC. You can find answers to frequently asked questions below.
For information about Australia's immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic visit the Department of Home Affairs’ COVID-19 and the border website.
Commencing Students
Yes, the Australian border is open. For information about Australia's immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic visit the Department of Home Affairs’ COVID-19 and the border website.
The Queensland border is also open and students should refer to the Queensland travel guidance.
No, while you are outside Australia you do not need a Student visa to commence your studies.
However, the Australian Government is strongly encouraging students commencing their studies online and who want to study in Australia, to start their visa application process as soon as practically possible. This will ensure students have a valid Student visa and will be able to travel to Australia when it is possible.
Offshore and online study is an interim arrangement, and a CoE and Student visa will be required if you want to undertake any study onshore in Australia.
If you are considering applying for a Temporary Graduate Visa (485) once you have finished your studies, online study taken outside Australia will count towards the Australian Study Requirement for Student visa holders, but will only be counted from the time of Student visa grant.
The Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) have advised that visa processing times continue to be affected. You can find out more about the current visa processing times for your visa subclass and the circumstances which may affect the processing time on the DoHA website.
We recommend you apply for your Student visa as soon as possible to avoid last minute delays.
If you are intending to apply for a Student visa, you will need to demonstrate as part of the application that you have visa length Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). If you requested UniSC arrange OSHC cover with our preferred provider Medibank, this cover will be reflected in your Confirmation of Enrolment and will show you have visa length cover.
If you hold an OSHC policy through Medibank, you can read more in their detailed FAQs.
There are a few options available if your Student visa is refused.
- Continue online study and appeal the Student visa refusal. In the case where you advise that you intend to appeal your visa outcome, UniSC will keep your Confirmation of Enrolment active. You must notify UniSC as soon as possible if you intend to appeal your visa decision.
- Continue online study offshore where it is available, and do not appeal the visa decision. In this case you will not:
- have the legislative protections of the ESOS Framework such as coverage by the Tuition Protection Service (TPS)
- be able to transition to onshore study in Australia when it is possible (without first obtaining a Student visa)
- have the option to count the offshore study towards eligibility for the Australian Study Requirement for future visa applications such as post study work
- Formally withdraw from study at UniSC and apply for a refund of any prepaid and unused tuition fees if applicable.
UniSC offers programs in a range of disciplines in an online study mode. You can start your studies online from outside of Australia and change to face to face delivery once you arrive onshore in Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs is taking a flexible approach where COVID-19 restrictions have prevented Student visa conditions being met. They have advised Student visa holders will not be in breach of visa conditions where they:
- have an approved course deferral
- are studying online
However, if you are onshore and hold a Student visa, you are expected to study on campus in a face to face study mode.
No. As all border restrictions have been lifted, you are expected to study on campus as per your Letter of Offer and meet your obligations as a Student visa holder.
Current Students
Yes, the Australian border is open. For information about Australia's immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic visit the Department of Home Affairs’ COVID-19 and the border website.
The Queensland border is also open and students should refer to the Queensland travel guidance.
No. As all border restrictions have been lifted, you are expected to study on campus as per your Letter of Offer and meet your obligations as a Student visa holder.
If your program is available online, you can continue to study in an online study mode. However, you will not be able to come to Australia at a later point to study if you do not hold a visa with appropriate study rights. If you decide you do not want to come to Australia, but continue studying, you may be eligible for a refund of your OSHC cover. If UniSC arranged your cover, you can contact us to arrange the refund for you. If you arranged your own OSHC cover, you should contact your OSHC provider.
If you were undertaking a Nursing placement, you will be eligible for a CoE extension if:
- it was deferred due to COVID-19 restrictions,
- this deferral impacted your progression through your program and you are no longer able to complete your studies by the end date of your CoE or your Student visa, whichever comes first.
Contact the International Office at askusci@usc.edu.au for information regarding how to apply for a CoE extension.
The Department of Home Affairs are currently waiving the visa application fee to allow students to submit a further Student visa application to complete their study, where they meet the following criteria:
- held a Student visa on or after 1 February 2020
- couldn’t complete their course in their original visa validity because of the impacts of COVID-19, specifically either:
- deferred study as they were unable to enter Australia because of travel restrictions
- were forced to reduce to a part-time study load
- were unable to complete their work-based training or placements.
This measure is not intended for students who are applying for a new Student visa because of ordinary reasons (including if you have failed a course or a unit of study, deferred for personal reasons or voluntarily reduced your study load.)
If you want to be considered for a Student visa application fee waiver, you should request UniSC complete the Form 1545 COVID-19 Impacted Student (PDF 228 KB) by contacting the International Office via askusci@usc.edu.au. We will assess you meet the criteria provided by the Department of Home Affairs. If you receive the Form 1545, you must submit this form with your Student visa application.
Yes, UniSC must sign the form to confirm that you meet the criteria for a fee waiver as determined by the Department of Home Affairs. If you believe you meet the criteria for a fee waiver, please contact the askusci@usc.edu.au for additional instructions and advice.
COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone in Australia, even if you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident. This includes people without a Medicare card, overseas visitors, international students, migrant workers and asylum seekers. You can find a clinic and book a COVID-19 vaccination using the vaccine clinic finder.
To apply for a Student visa, you will need to provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with your application. If you have not been able to complete your studies by the end date of your current CoE, you should contact the International Office for instructions to apply for a CoE extension. CoE extensions can only be issued where students meet specific criteria. To find out more about these criteria refer to the information available at while you are studying.
No. UniSC is required to monitor online enrolment for Student visa holders. However, the Department of Home Affairs has advised that students will not be in breach of their Student visa conditions by studying online where this is due to COVID -19.
- Study in Australia | Latest travel and visa advice
- Department of Home Affairs | Information for visa holders