Chinese students rush back to Australia to finish university degrees

Hundreds of Chinese students who studied online during the pandemic are rushing to get back to Adelaide after a new demand by their home government.

South Australian universities are scrambling to help bring hundreds of Chinese students back to Adelaide to ensure their degrees are officially recognised.

The sudden activity has been triggered by a decision by the Chinese government to stop Australian qualifications being obtained online, unless students are granted exemptions.

The decree – announced at the weekend – affects thousands of Chinese students who went home during the pandemic and became locked in by international border closures.

Under the new rules, only students with exemptions can continue studying online within China, leaving thousands attempting hasty returns to Australia to finish their degrees.

They include 1800 Chinese students at various stages of studying at Adelaide’s three main universities – University of Adelaide, Flinders University and UniSA.

The universities have allowed the students to study online and sit exams within China during the pandemic to enable them to complete their degrees.

Agents used by the three SA universities to attract Chinese students to Adelaide have been activated to help them get back to Adelaide in time to keep studying.

The state government agency which promotes Adelaide as a study destination also was working to get the Chinese students back to SA as quickly as possible.

Chinese students Eugene Soo, Kathleen Xiao, Tony Xie and Lydia Jiang were members of a Facebook page which inspired a television series. Picture: Aaron Francis

StudyAdelaide chief executive Jane Johnson said the students were at various stages with their studies, from first year students to final year students nearing graduation.

“StudyAdelaide is working with universities, students, education institutions and the broader international education sector to assess the immediate impact of the Chinese government’s decision,” she said.

“We look forward to supporting and welcoming these students to Adelaide, alongside their fellow international students from over 120 countries that have chosen Adelaide as their place to study.”

The University of Adelaide had around 1200 students who should have returned to SA to continue studying still in China.

A spokesman said it was contacting the students to strategise how they could get back to SA.

This included ensuring there was accommodation available when they returned.

“The university is communicating with impacted students to reassure them of support available with transition back to campus,” he said.

An UniSA spokeswoman said the university welcomed the announcement by the Chinese government that students who were studying overseas needed to return to finish their education, not stay in China.

“This decision will encourage students to return to Australia, and we look forward to welcoming students to Adelaide,” she said.

“Of course, with the study year about to start, we will need to work through some issues to ensure a smooth return for our students.”

“UniSA will be working closely with government and the higher education sector to get students to Adelaide safely and as soon as possible.”

Flinders University pro vice-chancellor (international) Sebastian Raneskold said the university had about 50 students still in China.

Mr Raneskold said the university had been working since early last year to bring overseas students back to South Australia following the reopening of international borders.

“We have applied flexibility and allowed online commencement in courses where possible with the expectation that students arrive onshore as soon as their visa is granted,” he said.

“This flexibility was applied to support students who may have faced visa processing delays last year.”

Mr Raneskold said most of the overseas students Flinders since had returned, apart from the “relatively low number of Chinese students currently offshore”.

“Flinders will work actively to support their return to Adelaide, noting the range of exceptions announced by the Chinese government for students with extenuating circumstances,” he said.

Mr Raneskold said the university was looking forward to welcoming all of its Chinese students back to its main campuses at Bedford Park and Tonsley.