Wish to study abroad? Countries that are reopening  |  Photo Credit: Representative Image
The past year has been challenging for all of us especially international students preparing to study abroad for their higher education. All their travel plans were put on hold, and they had to resort to online programs for the time being. Though virtual learning has its own set of benefits, at the same time, I do know that students missed meeting their new friends face to face, experiencing a different culture, and living campus life in their dream country.
Now that some of the top destinations are coming up with good news, students should begin their application procedure at the earliest. Given the series of lockdowns due to the second wave, and the number of students who could not travel in the last year, VACs and institutions will have a pile of applications to review. Thus, students should apply now and make the best use of the time to get timely approvals and be ready to fly to their destination when the time comes. However, students need not worry even if their visa gets delayed. Many universities and institutions have allowed students to register and start their course online by submitting proof of their visa application.
Here is a list of nations, which have opened their borders to welcome international students:
Canada: Canada was among the first nations across the globe to allow the entry of international students. However, students need to carry a Covid-19 negative certificate while travelling to Canada and self-quarantine themselves upon reaching their destination. To make this process easier, institutions are offering airport pick-up, self-quarantine facilities, discount on flight tickets, food, etc., to international students.
Also Read: Indian students not required to submit proof of vaccination for entering US: American Diplomat
Because of the huge impact of the second wave, there are travel restrictions for Indian students. But as soon as the situation improves and international travel resumes, all Indian students with a visa should be able to travel to Canada to attend in-person classes. Students must also note that their course time would be considered equivalent to time spent in Canada even if they attend online classes. They would be eligible for a work permit after completing their course. Hence, despite being unable to travel to Canada immediately, students would hold the advantage of a full work permit.
United Kingdom: The UK government has now allowed the entry of international students for the fall session, starting from September 2021. Though, they will have to carry a Covid-19 negative certificate and may have to complete a quarantine period after landing there. Moreover, UK institutions have also introduced additional scholarships and bursaries to help international students finance their education with ease.
Besides, many UK institutions are also allowing an extension to students to collect the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card. A BRP is the documentary evidence of the immigration permission in the UK issued by the Home Office.
Ireland: The government of Ireland is now welcoming all passengers from 62 designated countries (check out the list at www.gov.ie) after completing a mandatory hotel quarantine of 14 days after landing in Ireland.
Although the ‘hotel quarantine’ is exempted for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with a vaccine approved in Ireland), they will still have to present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of reaching Ireland. Post that, they need to complete a period of self-quarantine at the address mentioned in their passenger locator form. So international students who have already booked on-campus accommodation (where they will stay for the rest of the year) can quarantine at their accommodation for 14 days. Students also need to pay attention that they will be considered fully vaccinated after the allotted period listed below:
Pfizer – BioNtech vaccine: 7 days after the second dose
Moderna Vaccine: 14 days after the second dose
Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield Vaccine: 15 days after the second dose
United States: As part of their COVID-readiness plan, US institutions have been running vaccination drives at their campuses to ensure students are vaccinated. Universities are even conducting separate vaccination drives for international students if they have not been inoculated before. Students planning to move to the USA are required to submit their COVID negative report. To make things accessible for students, many institutions have waived off standardised tests mandatory for admissions earlier. These include GRE/ GMAT score for Masters and SAT/ ACT for undergraduate programs. Due to the delay in results, institutions are also accepting applications for UG programs based on the marks of 9th, 10th, 11th grade and the pre-boards score of 12th grade. However, students will still have to submit the 12th final mark sheets as soon as they receive them.
Related News: Study Abroad: U.S. Embassy to process Indian student VISA applications from June 14 for fall semester
Moreover, institutions are accepting scores of previous years for Masters programs, and students can also share their last year’s transcripts once they land in the US, and some universities even accept the same after one semester. Similarly, several universities are also giving out offers based on last year’s transcript. Some have even allowed students to submit digital copies of their mark sheets, though they are required to show original documents once they reach the US. Lockdown in several Indian cities has impacted the operations of Visa Application Centres’ (VACs), causing delays in visa approval for the aspiring students. Consequently, many institutions have allowed students to arrive on campus and resume the course even in the middle of the semester after obtaining visa approval. Furthermore, students have been granted a much longer window to apply for a full refund in case of visa refusal.
With a ray of hope from various top destinations, it is a great time for study abroad aspirants to begin their application and discuss their plans with an international education specialist. It is best to seek expert guidance since now students also need to focus on factors like Covid-readiness plans, government policies, medical facilities and care besides global ranking, courses offered, faculty members. I wish all the students the very best in their journey and success in their future endeavours.
This article has been written by Mr. Piyush Kumar, Regional Director (South Asia), IDP Education. Piyush commenced with IDP Education in 2015 as the Country Director for India. Piyush led significant expansion into India, and more recently led the successful market entry into Nepal.
