International students want to be vaccinated so they can travel

International students overwhelmingingly want to be vaccinated if it means they will be allowed into their country of choice to study.

International students have overwhelming expressed their desire to be vaccinated if it means they can travel to their country of choice to study.

International students waiting to enrol in courses have overwhelmingly expressed their desire to be vaccinated and spend time in quarantine if it means they can travel to their country of choice to study.

A new survey of 4000 students across 20 countries by IDP Connect found that 53 per cent had already been vaccinated and another 36 per cent wanted to get the vaccine as soon as they were able.

Nearly 9 in 10, or 88 per cent, of students were willing to quarantine if that was a condition of entering their country of study and nearly a third of these were willing to pay the full cost of quarantine themselves if required.

“The research indicates students have a willingness and proactivity regarding becoming vaccinated, often above that of their wider home country population,” said IDP Connect’s report, titled International Student Crossroads V.

However the survey also found that international students’ perceptions of Australia have worsened since earlier surveys on all key measures – response to coronavirus, safety of citizens and visitors, policies for international students, and post-study work visa policies. Australia now ranks fourth, behind the UK, NZ and Canada and only marginally ahead of the US.

“Countries that have had open borders have seen an increase in student perceptions of international student welfare, while countries who have had closed borders have seen a decline,” the report said.

The survey also found that students wanting to go to Australia and New Zealand (which also has closed its borders to international students) were more likely to defer study until they were able to enter the country and study face-to-face.

And in a warning for Australia and New Zealand, 36 per cent of students said they were likely to switch their destination country if it meant they were able to study face-to-face sooner.

The survey also indicated that students would respond positively to any offer from their destination country to vaccinate them. Of students who had not yet received a vaccine, 77 per cent said a country would be more attractive to them if vaccines were made available to them on arrival.

James Cauchy, IDP’s Australasian regional director, said the survey findings confirmed the need for a clear plan from the government on when international students could return.

“The high rates of vaccinated students willing to quarantine, and in many instances, to take on the full costs of doing so, coupled with the declining perceptions of Australia’s handling of the pandemic and welfare of international students, strongly suggests an urgent need to rethink our policies and to find safe ways of welcoming students back into our country,” he said.