This article is written by Sarrah David on 3 May 2020.

There is no doubt that the recent COVID-19 pandemic is causing a lot of worries. Here are some things to take note for international students in the various countries:

Australia 

• There are no instructions to close down schools and universities yet, but most of them have made the decision to limit face-to-face teaching and are offering online classes.
• Australia will temporarily lift the 20 hours work hours limit for international students in the healthcare industry. Approximately 20,000 overseas students will be able to work full-time to address workforce shortages. More details here.
• Australia is recommending students to stay put where they are and is providing help for those whose visas are expiring.
• Australia has closed its borders to all non-citizens and non-permanent residents.
• Application for mid year intake of 2020 still open. If the situation does not improve by then, most universities are committed to offer online enrolment and teaching until the situation improves.

For more information, you may visit the official Home Affairs website.

United Kingdom 

• There are no instructions to close down schools and universities, and all classes have now moved online.
• UK is recommending students to stay put where they are and is providing help for those whose visas are expiring.
• Other students who managed to return to their home countries are able to continue attending schools online.
• Application for September intake of 2020 still open.
• A collective decision is currently being made across all universities to finalise the mode of delivery for the September 2020 intake. Proposals include online enrolement and teaching of classes till situation improves, and postponment of the start date till January 2021
• The decision is expected to be announced in late May or early June. 

For more information, you may visit UKISA website.

New Zealand 

• Schools and universities with positive COVID-19 cases are instructed to close down, but most are also taking the discretion to move to online classes.
• New Zealand is recommending students to stay put where they are and is providing help for those whose visas are expiring.
• New Zealand has closed its borders to all non-citizens and non-permanent residents.
• Application for mid year intake of 2020 still open.

For more information, you may visit the official Education NZ website.

United States 

• Most university campuses have closed and classes have moved online.
• Some universities are requesting international students to vacate their dorms and to go back to their home countries. For compelling circumstances, students would need to speak to their respective student centre to request to stay on-campus.
• US has announced restrictions for foreign nationals returning from the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, other European countries, and China.
• Application for August intake of 2020 still open and classes are expected to start online. The transition back to campus teachin is likely to depend on when individual states decide to open up again after the current lockdown.

Canada 

• Schools and universities have closed and moved to online classes.
• Canada is recommending students to stay put where they are and is providing help for those whose visas are expiring.
• Canada will temporarily lift the 20 hours work limit for international students in essential services, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods. More details here.
• Canada has closed its borders to all non-citizens and non-permanent residents.
• Application for September intake of 2020 still open.

For more information, you may visit CICAN website.

If you are a Singaporean studying overseas, the government is recommending you to come back home as medical care would be more readily available back here. More flights are being arranged to bring back students from key cities.

In addition, you may like to refer to our public advisory regarding the Covid-19 situation.

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