International students may be allowed to return to New South Wales shortly under a pilot program slated to begin later this year.
On the 10th of June, the New South Wales government announced that it would welcome 250 students every two weeks from mid-year as a part of the trial via chartered flights.
As mentioned in the official press statement issued by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, the students must be quarantined in purpose-built student accommodation. The requirements would be the same as for all international arrivals.
The announcement states that more than 250,000 international students usually study in New South Wales each year, and they directly assisted more than 95,000 local jobs before the pandemic.
The NSW government has devised this idea to retain students from turning to other overseas destinations, which could impede the sector for decades.
Their universities will select international students based on "a range of criteria" and their circumstances, prioritising higher-degree research students.
The university sector will finance the student quarantine system, including travel costs, accommodation and security, while the state government will provide governance and operational support.
This news greatly relieved international students eagerly waiting to resume their studies in NSW universities and colleges.
The Australian government had planned to reopen the international border in the middle of 2022, affecting many students worldwide.
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