Last updated 7 December
As an international student, we understand that being a long way from home in these uncertain and unprecedented times is particularly challenging, and that you may feel worried and uncertain about your health, wellbeing and about your education. We remain committed to your health, wellbeing and continuation of your studies. At times like this, being able to rely on some continuity and stability is critical, and while here in Australia you will be supported through the measures Flinders University is putting in place for all students.
This for you includes our dedicated International Student Services Team (ISS) who provide advice and support with new and emerging issues and concerns due to COVID 19. The ISS has extended its services through tele-consults, webinars, FLO and Zoom for students unable to be on campus.
We are also working closely with your respective College in circumstances where you feel you want to return home. If this is the case for you, please contact the ISS team to discuss your situation as soon as you can. In uncertain times there are many questions and in some cases some that cannot be answered, but we will support you and do all that we as a University can do to minimise disruption to your studies.
One frequent question relates to online study, and we’re pleased to advise that we have been given assurance from the University regulator TEQSA that your online study as a result of COVID-19 does not mean a breach of your visa conditions. Our Flinders International teams are also working closely with other State and Federal Government agencies to provide the best advice back to you.
This for you includes our dedicated International Student Services Team (ISS) who provide advice and support with new and emerging issues and concerns due to COVID 19. The ISS has extended its services through tele-consults, webinars, FLO and Zoom for students unable to be on campus.
Alice from International Student Services outlines how we're continuing to support international students through their study journey at Flinders.
The University has made on-campus teaching available from Monday 25 May. For students who are onshore in Australia it means that you can commence your studies on-campus from the beginning of 2021.
Please note that domestic border requirements may apply which may hinder your ability to travel to Adelaide, please check with the relevant authorities regarding these: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au or phone 1800 253 787.
Students who are not in Australia can commence most of our courses via online/remote learning and transition to on-campus delivery once international travel restrictions have been lifted.
A listing of online availability for our Bachelor and Master degrees commencing in S1, 2021 is here.
This list is correct at time of publication and may be subject to change.
If your preferred course is not in this list please contact intladmissions@flinders.edu.au for more information on availability.
International students who are not currently in Australia do not need an approved visa to commence their studies online. Students will need to have an approved visa prior to transitioning to on-campus studies. The Australian Government is processing visa applications however students will be unable to travel to Adelaide until the current travel restrictions have been lifted.
Students who are onshore in Australia and commencing studies in S1, 2021 will be issued a CoE and should apply for an international student visa to ensure that they are not unlawfully remaining in Australia without a valid visa.
A review of admission requirements was undertaken and the validity of IELTs tests was extended from 2 years to 3 years.
Additionally, Doulingo was approved to validate English with the following scores:
DUOLINGO |
IELTS equivalent |
55-60 |
4 |
65-70 |
4.5 |
75-80 |
5 |
85-90 |
5.5 |
95-100 |
6 |
105-110 |
6.5 |
115-120 |
7 |
125-130 |
7.5 |
The University will accept online/interview assessments from its approved English language providers as a basis for meeting direct English entry requirements. Students who do not meet direct entry requirements will be able to commence studies with the University's English language providers online and should contact them directly to understand study requirements, options and fees.
Yes, the Go Beyond Scholarship will be available for deferring applicants.
All FISC academic programs are available online for international students who are either in Australia or outside of Australia. Students who are not in Australia can commence FISC packaged programs without requiring an approved visa. Applicants who are located outside of Australia will be able to enrol in their Flinders program via online/remote learning and would be required to have an approved international student visa prior to transitioning to on-campus studies.
If you feel you want to return home, we will support you and work with you to minimise the disruption to your studies. Please contact the International Student Services (ISS) team on iss@flinders.edu.au or 8201 2717 to discuss your options. The ISS team will work with your College to find the best study plan for you. Continuation of studies will be based on consideration of each student’s course and study plan and the availability of fully online options. While we will do our best, we may not be able to provide a full time load for all offshore students.
If you stay in Australia, you must maintain enrolment so that you continue to meet your student visa conditions.
Please contact the International Student Services (ISS) team on iss@flinders.edu.au or 8201 2717 for advice on the availability of online options.
Please be aware that we do not know when the travel restrictions may be lifted so you may need to prepare for online offshore study for the rest of the year.
Requests to withdraw must be made by submitting an AskFlinders request. If you withdraw from your studies before census date (28 August for most topics but intensive and non-semester topics have individual census dates) these will not appear on your transcript and any tuition fees will be credited back to your student account to go towards future semesters’ fees.
If you suspend your studies you must depart Australia by census date (28 August). If you remain in Australia with no study you will be in breach of your student visa conditions and your COE will be cancelled. You will then be required find an alternative course of study or leave the country.
You must provide the Flinders International compliance team with evidence that you have left Australia by 28 August (eg boarding passes, stamped passport). The compliance team will suspend your COE and adjust the expected completion date for your course.
For more detail on critical enrolment dates and what these mean for enrolment changes please go to the University’s critical enrolment dates page.
Please contact the International Student Services (ISS) team on iss@flinders.edu.au or 8201 2717 to discuss any changes to your enrolment for semester 2, 2020.
There is information for current visa holders on the Department of Home Affairs website. This page is updated frequently with new information. Please check the links regularly for new updates and media releases.
The University is working according to the normal compliance requirements of the Department of Home Affairs when considering the impact of COVID-19 for students in Australia. Any withdrawal, suspension or deferral of studies will affect your COE status and may have implications for your student visa. Please contact the International Compliance team by making an AskFlinders request if you have specific enquiries about your visa.
Students who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and who couldn’t complete their course within their original visa validity due to the impacts of COVID-19 may be eligible to apply for a new student visa and have the visa application charge waived. Eligibility requirements apply, as outlined on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Applications must be submitted to Home Affairs with the completed form 1545. Applicants are advised to include evidence of the impact of COVID-19 on their studies with their visa application.
The application charge waiver is only available to students whose extension is required as a result of the impact of COVID-19. It is NOT available to students who:
If you think you are eligible for the visa application charge waiver, submit a request through Ask Flinders to request a new COE to extend your studies and attach documentary evidence of how COVID-19 prevented you from completing your studies by your expected completion date. If you have already provided evidence you do not need to provide it again, just advise us in the Ask Flinders request what it is and where it was submitted.
Taking the online options that Flinders has implemented will not affect your student visa. You do need to maintain enrolment so that you are compliant with your student visa conditions.
If you are in Australia, undertaking online study if a face to face availability is not available will not affect your eligibility for a Post Study Work (PSW) visa.
If you choose to leave Australia and maintain enrolment through online study, it is likely this will not contribute to the Australian study requirement for the PSW visa. Please carefully consider your plans if you wish to leave Australia during your studies as travel restrictions continue to remain enforced and not all topics may not be available for online study.
If you are studying online, you have a student visa and you have not yet travelled to Australia due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, your online study will count towards the Australian Study Requirement for existing and new student visa holders. Details on this and other flexibility measures is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Standard eligibility requirements for the Post Study Work visa are outlined on the Department of Home Affairs website.
If you are on a student visa, either onshore or offshore, you are expected to enrol in a full-time load of study. Any reduction of study load must be approved by Flinders International before you withdraw from any topics.
If the government health advice changes and Flinders is unable to continue face-to-face teaching, and if the University is unable to deliver your study plan in a fully online mode, you may need to maintain part-time enrolment until face-to-face teaching can resume. If the reduction in study load is required because a full-time online load is unavailable, the part-time load will not affect your COE and your student visa. Please seek written College confirmation of reduced study load and forward it to internationalcompliance@flinders.edu.au for approval.
The best source of information is the Department of Home Affairs website, which provides information on travel restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as information for current visa holders. These will be updated as the situation changes.
The University is working closely with all placement and WIL partners to ensure placements continue in-line with rapidly changing Australian Government directives and guidelines. This includes the strengthening of compliance statements that assures partners that all students are fit, healthy and able to undertake placements. The University is continuing to ensure partners are providing appropriate levels of health and safety for students during placements.
If a placement is available and a student chooses not to take it, the University cannot guarantee when the placement can be rescheduled. As such, this may impact on progression in the students’ course of study and potentially completion dates.
If you are unsure about any aspect of your placement please contact your College WIL contact:
If you are having problems accessing your learning materials, please check the FLO Student Support page in the first instance. If you still need assistance, email the FLO student helpdesk on flo.student@flinders.edu.au.
The Student Learning Support Service offers a number of support services online, including the academic writing support service Studiosity, the Learning Lounge and various resources and guides.
The Counselling and Disability services have also moved to using phone and Skype for consultations. Call 8201 2118 during business hours to book an appointment. After hours call 1300 512 409 for crisis assistance.
The Online Hub brings together a range of useful resources and links to support and assistance for all students.
No. Flinders transcripts do not show whether topics were taken online or on campus.
Please refer to the information under Campus in the FAQ on the main Coronavirus information for students page for up-to-date information about the availability of campus services.
SA Health has a comprehensive web page of COVID-19 health information.
The graphic at this SA Health page provides advice on how to seek assistance depending on your circumstances.
The Flinders Health Service remains open. Call 8201 2118 during business hours to book an appointment. After hours call 1300 512 409 for crisis assistance.
If your OSHC is provided by Medibank you can call their 24 hour Student Health and Support line on 1800 887 283.
Bupa provides a 24 hour Student Advice Line on 1300 884 235
If your OSCH is provided by Allianz you can speak to a doctor by phone or video call using the Doctors on Demand service. This will be covered by your policy at no extra cost.
SA Health advises the following four key points to limit the spread of infection:
We have received the following as general advice and add the caution that your insurer will review each claim in line with the policy wording.
OSHC is closely aligned to the Medicare system which is used by Australian citizens and residents. This coverage is in place for health concerns including COVID-19.
If a student visits a doctor (often called a GP - general practitioner - in Australia) for medical treatment, then this would be covered as part of the policy. OSHC would cover 100% of the Medical Benefit Scheme Fee. This means you may have to pay a fee, which is often called 'the gap' but it is a reduced fee as OSHC pay part of the cost. When making an appointment you can ask if a gap payment is required.
Similarly, if a you were to visit a Hospital's Emergency Department with a suspected (or subsequently confirmed) case of COVID-19 then coverage would likely be confirmed for this treatment as it was sought under an emergency situation which is 100% of the Medical Benefits Scheme Fee.
Policy-specific information for other insurers can be found on your insurer’s website or by phoning your insurer for further information.
Flinders’ preferred OSHC provider is Medibank. Medibank have provided a Coronavirus update on their webpage
nib, Bupa and Allianz have provided specific COVID-19 information on their webpages.
SA Health has detailed information on how to self-isolate.
If you need to self-isolate and you cannot do this in your current accommodation, contact the International Student Services team on iss@flinders.edu.au or 8201 2717.
The ISS team has extended its services through tele-consults, webinars, FLO and Zoom for students unable to attend on campus and this will continue into the foreseeable future.
The University has provided a $12.5M additional package of support for students, including a new scholarship program, cash payments and the waiver of the Student Services and Amenities Fee for this semester. The aim is to reduce your financial stress, so that you can continue to focus on your studies.
The new Matthew Flinders Scholarships provide grants valued up to $2,000 to support the continuation of your studies. Nearly 1300 international students were successful in the first Matthew Flinders Scholarship round. That round has now closed, however keep an eye out on Ping! for details of any subsequent rounds that may be announced.
The University and FUSA assisted more than 2000 international students with the COVID-19 Emergency Support Payments. Applications for this grant are now closed.
Information about the Student Services and Amenities Fee waiver can be found on the main Coronavirus information for students page.
The South Australian Government has announced that it will match funding provided by Flinders to alleviate student hardship as a result of COVID-19. The University and the Government are finalising the terms and conditions of the support package. Once it is finalised, the University will update this page and will also inform international students via email and in the International section of Ping!.
International students who have been in Australia for more than 12 months who find themselves in financial hardship are able to access their Australian superannuation. Further information is available on the Australian Taxation Office website. Application information is on the ATO website. Applications can be submitted through the myGov website from Monday 20 April.
Please continue to liaise with your College regarding your study plan and options:
You should also refer to the FAQ that your College distributed on or after 6 March.
It is important that you update your Embassy or Consulate with your current location by providing your current contact details as soon as possible (i.e. name, address, telephone number, email address). Please encourage immediate family members or carers who are with you in Australia to update their details with their Embassy or Consulate too.
Should you have any concerns about your welfare (e.g. problems with finding/maintaining accommodation, food or essential medications), you are encouraged to discuss this with your Embassy or Consulate and understand what support they can provide.
If you are considering returning to your home country but are worried that there are limited or no flights available from Australia, please let your Embassy or Consulate know. The governments of several countries may organise chartered flights to assist citizens to return to their home country.
View contact details for countries with representation in Australia.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
CRICOS Provider: 00114A
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