Skip to navigation Skip to content
Deakin Life Student news and insights
Female student with tablet

28 October 2021

FAQs for international students wishing to return to Victoria

**UPDATED 24 November**

There is updated information from the Federal and Victorian Government. The below information is no longer up to date. Please visit our International Student COVIDSafe FAQs for the latest information.

 


The Victorian Government’s International Student Arrivals Plan provides a safe, gradual pathway for international students to return to Victoria for study. Find out more about when you might be eligible to return and how it will work. 

Students included in stage one 

When will students begin arriving in Victoria?

Under stage one, international students could begin returning to Victoria by the end of 2021. Aligned with the government guidelines and the International Student Arrivals Plan, Deakin is prioritising places for those students who are completing study in health-related disciplines, as well as research students. 

How do I know if I have been selected to participate in stage one? 

Eligible students will have received a Deakin email that includes all requirements and an expression of interest (EoI) form.  

Students who wish to be part of stage one must submit their EoI by 11.59pm AEDT, Sunday 31 October.  

Students with a successful EoI will be contacted about next steps, including information from FCM Travel Solutions (a third-party travel provider) with details of flights from December and other travel logistics. 

Students whose EoI is not successful for stage one will receive information about how to reapply once there is more detail about subsequent stages. 

How will students be selected for stage one? 

It is very likely that more students will apply for stage one than there are places available. This means Deakin will need to prioritise students based on: 

Will returning students have to quarantine on arrival in Victoria? 

From Monday 1 November, international travellers with approved vaccination status will be able to enter Victoria without spending 14 days in hotel quarantine.  

Students who are unable to get vaccinated or choose not to will have to quarantine in dedicated accommodation managed by COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria for 14 days.    

It’s also important to know that access to Deakin campuses is restricted to fully vaccinated students, staff and visitors, or those with an approved medical exemption.

Subject to Commonwealth systems being confirmed, there may still be a requirement for vaccinated students to quarantine in dedicated accommodation managed by COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria for 14 days. If this is required, Deakin will cover the cost of hotel quarantine accommodation. 

How will I demonstrate my vaccination status? 

Vaccinated international arrivals will need to demonstrate their vaccination status to the Commonwealth with a vaccine approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Current TGA-recognised COVID-19 vaccines are: 

The way in which foreign passport-holders will verify their vaccination status to the Commonwealth is currently being developed. More information will be provided as soon as possible. As per the above advice, there may still be a requirement for students to quarantine.

Will I need to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test?

Students will need to provide a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result 72 hours before travelling to Australia. Read more about pre-flight testing. 

What is the cost to participate in the plan?

Costs will be communicated directly to students selected to return. All costs are the responsibility of the student.  

Under stage one, if quarantine is required Deakin will cover the cost of hotel quarantine accommodation. 

Future costs and quarantine arrangements will be reviewed as Victoria progresses through the Roadmap to Delivering the National Plan. 

Students not included in stage one

What if Deakin has not sent me an email?

Students who are not yet eligible or are not offered a place following the EoI will be able to participate in further stages of the arrival plan.  

When will more international students be allowed to return under the plan? 

Stage two of the plan, which is expected to start in early 2022, will enable more international students to return to Victoria. More information about stage two will be made available by the Victorian Government soon.  

Students should continue to monitor their Deakin email accounts, our International students COVID-19 FAQs page and the Study Melbourne webpage for important updates and announcements.  

Students should also ensure they are re-enrolled for 2022, consistent with enrolment arrangements in 2021. Contact Student Central with any questions about enrolment and study requirements. 

Can international students make their own arrangements to return to Melbourne instead of returning under the plan? 

International arrivals currently still need to comply with Australian visa requirements that restrict entry to Australian citizens or residents, unless there is an exemption. 

International students can only arrive in Melbourne as part of the International Student Arrivals Plan, or if they are exempt or have been granted an individual travel exemption by the Australian Government. 

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has more information about travel restrictions and exemptions to enter Australia. 



back to top