International students studying with any of Canberra’s tertiary education providers will be able to return to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in time for semester 1, 2022 classes to resume, provided they are fully vaccinated with a vaccine recognised by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration authority.

As will be the case for all international arrivals, students will need to follow all vaccination and testing requirements put in place by Australia’s health authorities. However, quarantine will not be required for fully vaccinated students arriving in, or returning to, the ACT.  

Canberra’s education providers have welcomed the announcement.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt says it’s great to have the clarity about the arrangements so students can come straight home to campus.  

“We will continue to work with the Commonwealth on arrangements to open the borders to students as soon as Australia safely can,” he says.

“As our economy starts to rebound, we will need the talents our international students bring, and we all benefit from the vibrancy they bring to our campus and our city,” says University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Paddy Nixon.

It’s important for international students to return to the ACT’s universities given their valuable input into research, including defence research and capability development, says UNSW Canberra Acting Rector Professor Harvi Sidhu.

“This news is welcomed by the CIT, as we understand how important our international students are to the fabric of the Canberra community, particularly in areas of essential work such as health, hospitality and the building and construction trades,” says CEO of the Canberra Institute of Technology, Leanne Cover.