Studying abroad is a dream of many, and even non-affluent international students and their families strive to get the required financial resources to pay for overseas education, going as far as selling assets. Unfortunately, many students are currently unable to reach their higher education destination countries due to the COVID-19 related border closures, and hence, are resorting to online education. For example, recent news indicates that Australia may not reopen its borders completely until mid-2022.
Even the international students in their destination countries are not experiencing on-campus life like others before them due to pandemic-related measures such as online classes.
Challenges facing current students distant learning from overseas
QS Quacquarelli Symonds's report on “Studying abroad again: How do current and prospective international students feel about the return of studying overseas?” from June 2021 shows some challenges facing students at present. QS stated, “14,987 prospective and current international students from 185 regions” had participated in their survey between January 1 to June 7, 2021.
One challenge facing students appear to be the time differences, depending on their geographies. The QS report stated that 58% of current international students had attended a virtual lecture or a seminar during their night-time.
Some universities maintaining the same fees regardless of remote education is another factor concerning students learning online. The QS report stated that 81% of prospective international students felt the tuition fees should be reduced if they were to commence their education online until they could travel for in-person teaching.
Teshani Warusevitane, a recent graduate from Birmingham City University who pursued her bachelor's degree from Sri Lanka, said, “We don't have a huge choice of education here except for mainstream subjects. For instance, if I wish to study public relations, there is no proper affiliated institute in Sri Lanka that would allow me to study it. Therefore, being able to study abroad would be ideal for many. But unfortunately for most Sri Lankan students aspiring to study abroad, a make-or-break factor is the cash for tuition and living.”
The mental health of students attempting to follow their courses from overseas can also be affected. For example, Australia's strict border measures are affecting the students waiting overseas. The Pie News reported in May 2021 that a survey of students stranded abroad by the Council of International Students Australia (CISA) found about 93% of the 607 participants had faced mental health issues while studying remotely, away from Australia.
Students are also missing out on the experiences of living and studying in a foreign country and university, including on-campus life.
Future of overseas study as borders reopen
While many things remain uncertain around border openings and the pandemic in general, students may have concerns about the future of their education.
With reference to the QS report, students who can relocate to their higher-education destinations may also have to continue some distant learning, which can still be quite different from having personal interactions with teachers and classmates. Furthermore, they will have to face other lifestyle restrictions, depending on the COVID-19 situation at the time.
Teshani added, “A friend of mine was accepted to a Canadian university and commenced her education in Sri Lanka due to the border closures. The time difference meant she was sometimes learning when others were sleeping. She later relocated to Canada and is still remote learning. She is, however, grateful to be studying in the same time zone now. But even when borders are open, if your campus is not, you aren't getting the real university life experience you pay for.”
Countries are also establishing COVID-19 vaccination requirements for travellers and sometimes may restrict the types of accepted vaccines. These restrictions can affect students waiting to relocate. According to the QS report, 42% of prospective international student respondents had stated that the introduction of a COVID-19 vaccine had not made any difference to their plans to study abroad. The report identifies one reason for this as young people in some countries may not be having access to vaccines for a long while or at all. Only 21% felt a vaccine has made them want to start studying earlier, as per the QS report.
Teshani also stated, “Sri Lanka is now allowing students who plan to go overseas but are below the current vaccination age limit get the vaccine, but they will have to show proof of why the vaccine is needed.”
As vaccination programs ramp up and borders begin to reopen, we hope the international students can pursue their higher-education dreams in their planned destination countries and have a less restrictive student life sooner rather than later.
