COVID-19: Plan to return international students to NSW universities could be impacted

The return of thousands of international students to bolster the struggling university sector may be pushed back by the COVID-19 Delta variant. Take our poll here.

The COVID-19 Delta variant currently gripping Greater Sydney — forcing millions into lockdown — looks set to delay a pilot program of 250 international students from flying into NSW every fortnight. 

Proposed timelines for the return of international students were set out on June 10 by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

At the time, the Treasurer told reporters the “first international students will be back in NSW within the next six to eight weeks”, meaning overseas students could have been in classrooms as early as July 22. 

“This plan has been signed off by NSW Health and NSW Police, it is safe, and it is secure,” the Treasurer said at the time. “What’s more important, it does not come at the expense of any returning Australian.

He said returning students “will start on charter flights and we’ll move to commercial down the track”.

Amy Li - International Student

Government sources confirmed the growing threat of the Delta variant, resulting in 170 active cases across the state, would result in a delay to the start of the International Student pilot program.

The initiative was signed off by NSW Health and NSW Police, alongside the Federal Government, last month. 

“While the Treasurer indicated at the press conference he would like to see students return in six (to) eight weeks there has never been a start date for the pilot confirmed or announced,” a government source said.

“The current situation will have some impact on plans moving forward.

“The NSW Government is finalising plans and continues to work with all relevant parties and will make an announcement in due course.”

As many as 2500 international students could travel for study at NSW universities by December.

Barney Glover, Convener of the NSW Vice-Chancellor’s Committee, speaks during a vaccine update at Parliament House in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

NSW Vice-Chancellors’ Committee convener, Professor Barney Glover, said universities continue to work alongside government regarding the “plan for the safe return of international students to Australia”.

“Noting of course that the current priority for the State Government is navigating out of the current COVID-19 Delta outbreak,” he said.

Before the pandemic, there were more than 250,000 international students studying in NSW universities, with approximately 50,000 students currently trying to get back into the state from their home countries.