News

International students will start returning to Victoria by the end of 2021 under the Victorian Government’s International Student Arrivals Plan, which has been endorsed by the Australian Government.

The plan was developed in consultation with Victorian universities, and industry peak bodies from across the international education sector, including the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, the International Higher Education Association, Victorian TAFE Association, Universities Australia, and English Australia and Asia Pacific Student Accommodation.

Under the first stage of the plan, 120 places will be available each week for students of Victorian universities who need to urgently return to do practical work, including health and medical and also postgraduate research students.

The second stage of the plan will expand to include more students, including those who are enrolled with other education providers such as TAFEs, English-language colleges, private education providers and secondary schools.

This stage is expected to start in early 2022 but will depend on the public health situation in Victoria, Australia’s international borders and progress in relation to the national plan to transition Australia’s COVID-19 response.

Students arriving under the plan will be in addition to Victoria’s existing international arrivals cap and quarantine places, which means they will not displace returning Australians and permanent residents.

Read more about the Victorian Governments International Student Arrivals Plan