School leavers still enrolling to study at overseas colleges despite COVID-19 travel bans

COVID-19 may have killed off the overseas travel plans for many Australians but school leavers are not letting that stand in their way.

Australians are still seeking out international study experiences to add to their resumes, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Education USA country co-ordinator Samantha Jackson says COVID-19 has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of those applying to study overseas, with tens of thousands still going ahead with enrolments at US colleges.

A small number have deferred their travel plans and are either taking an extended gap year or doing a semester of remote study from Australia, with intentions to move to the US later, Jackson says.

“The lockdown in Victoria has forced that student cohort to stay (in Australia) and defer their plans,’’ she says.

“But we have seen a lot of other students proceed as planned.

“We’ve had more people go (to the US for study) than people who have stayed home (in Australia), to be honest.’’

Mercedes College Year 12 student Soobin Lee, 17, hopes to study a computer science degree overseas.

Jackson says Australian students have been largely satisfied with COVID-19 precautions put in place by US colleges and universities and believe overseas study is still advantageous to their career.

She says prospective students should research their options, including enrolling at smaller liberal arts universities if they feel their safety may be compromised attending Ivy League colleges that can attract up to 60,000 students on campus.

The number of Australians studying overseas is steadily increasing, with latest figures showing almost 50,000 students take up the option each year.

Universities in China and the US are the most popular for Australian students, followed by the United Kingdom.

Coronavirus restrictions mean all Australians must receive a Federal Government exemption to leave the country but Jackson is unaware of any applications to travel overseas for study being rejected.

While numerous pathways exist for those wanting to study at an overseas university, including the ATAR, Mercedes College curriculum and programmes director Ashley Coats says the International Baccalaureate Diploma “guarantees’’ eligibility.

Many Australian students want to experience college life at a US university.

Coats, who is also chair of IB Schools Australasia, says the Diploma requires students to study a second language, which can better prepare them for overseas learning.

“The IB Diploma is centred around independent learning, inquiry and critical thinking (and) students often realise the value of this course once they are studying at university,’’ he says.

“The fact that students completing the IB Diploma have to learn a second language gives them an advantage if they pick the language they want to go to.’’

Year 12 IB student Soobin Lee, 17, hopes to study a computer science degree in the UK and has already investigated his options at the University of Manchester, as well as King’s College and UCL in London.

He says the pandemic has done little to sway his plans, particularly given the UK academic year will not start until next September.

“I’m interested in studying at an overseas university to meet new people and expand my networks, experience a different culture, broaden career prospects and help to see the world from a new perspective,’’ Lee says.

Originally published as School leavers still enrolling to study at overseas colleges despite COVID-19 travel bans