International students

Should I stay in Australia or return home?

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.

If your government, sponsoring body or home institution (for exchange and study abroad students) has directed you to return home we urge you to comply with this advice.

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.

I want to return home and suspend my studies

Requests to withdraw must be made by submitting an AskFlinders request. If you withdraw from your studies before census date (3 April 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.

For more detail on critical enrolment dates and what these mean for enrolment changes please go to the University’s critical enrolment dates page.

There is information for current visa holders on the Department of Home Affairs website.

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.

Will online study affect my visa if I am still onshore?

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.

Will online study affect my eligibility for a Post Study Work visa?

If you are in Australia, undertaking study online where available will not affect your eligibility for a Post Study Work (PSW) visa.

If you choose leave Australia and maintain enrolment through online study, it is likely this will not contribute to the Australian study requirement for the PSW visa.

Standard eligibility requirements for the Post Study Work visa are outlined on the Department of Home Affairs website.

If I am not able to enrol in a full-time load of online topics will it affect my visa?

You must maintain some enrolment if you are in Australia on a student visa. If the government advice changes and Flinders is unable to continue face-to-face teaching and if some of your topics cannot be delivered online, you may need to maintain part-time enrolment until face-to-face teaching can resume. So long as you maintain some enrolment your COE and your student visa will not be affected.

If I leave Australia, will I be able to return?

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:

• College of Business, Government and Law: cbgl.placements@flinders.edu.au
• College of Education, Psychology and Social Work: cepsw.placements@flinders.edu.au
• College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences: chass.placements@flinders.edu.au
• College of Medicine and Public Health: cmph.placements@flinders.edu.au
• College of Nursing and Health Sciences: cnhs.placements@flinders.edu.au
• College of Science and Engineering: cse.placements@flinders.edu.au

I’m having trouble with the online delivery

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.

How can I access support from off-campus?

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.

Will my transcript show that some topics were taken online?

No. Flinders transcripts do not show whether topics were taken online or on campus.

Can I still come to campus for tutorials and to use the library and other facilities?

Yes, Flinders’ Bedford Park, Tonsley and Victoria Square locations are still open. Teaching activities that cannot be done online will continue to be conducted on campus, with measures put in place to ensure appropriate social distancing. Please check FLO for updates from your topic coordinators on how your classes are being managed.

Flinders University Library branches at Central (Hub), Sturt and Medical have closed in line with government advice. Access to Flinders Library’s online collections remain available 24/7. Library staff remain available during staffed hours via phone or online (via Ask Flinders).

The University has increased the number of computers that are available for student use throughout the Hub and Plaza and on Level 1 – in line with social distancing measures. The Sturt 24/7 computer lab also remains open at this time.

Please be aware that the situation is changing very rapidly and we may need to make changes to the availability of our locations and facilities based on new government advice. Any changes will be advised by email and recorded on the Flinders Coronavirus information page.

SA Health has a comprehensive web page of COVID-19 health information.

What do I do if I feel sick?

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.

What can I do to protect myself from infection?

SA Health advises the following four key points to limit the spread of infection:

• Stay home and avoid contact with others if you are sick.
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Wipe down frequently touched surfaces.

What does my Overseas Student Health Care (OSHC) cover if I contract COVID-19?

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.

What do I do if I need to self-isolate? How can I access support?

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.

I am in financial difficulty due to the economic disruption caused by COVID-19 – what help is available?

We understand that the economic impact of COVID-19 both in Adelaide and in home countries may affect students’ financial situations. For advice on financial issues please contact the ISS team on iss@flinders.edu.au or 8201 2717.

I am still in China and unable to get to Adelaide. What should I do?

Please continue to liaise with your College regarding your study plan and options:

• College of Business, Government and Law: Courseadvice.bgl@flinders.edu.au
• College of Education, Psychology and Social Work: Courseadvice.epsw@flinders.edu.au
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Courseadvice.hass@flinders.edu.au
• College of Medicine and Public Health: Courseadvice.mph@flinders.edu.au
• College of Nursing and Health Sciences: Courseadvice.nhs@flinders.edu.au
• College of Science and Engineering: Courseadvice.se@flinders.edu.au

You should also refer to the FAQ that your College distributed on or after 6 March.