Applying to Study Abroad Amidst COVID19: A Guide

COVID-19 might have you wondering about how you should proceed with your plan to study abroad. Good news is applying to schools in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, or Ireland is still possible amidst the pandemic.

If you’re hoping to pursue your aspiration to study abroad, here are some of the updates with regard to university application process:

1. Submission of applications

Schools abroad are still accepting and processing student applications for the following semesters:

Australia / New Zealand: February 2021 or July 2021

Canada: May or September 2021

UK / Ireland: January or September 2021

Please note that schools can only release full offers to applications which have complete requirements. 

2. Student Visa application

For Australia: You can apply for a student visa even if borders are still closed. Since applications are done online, you can opt to take online classes while waiting for the decisions on your student visa application. Once granted and border closures are lifted, you can then depart and resume your studies onshore.

At the moment, Immigration New Zealand does not advise students to apply for student visas as the office is currently closed until the end of February 2021.

For Canada, UK and Ireland: Processing of student visa has resumed. Please visit the following websites for more information:

Canada

UK 

Ireland

3. Requirements

Requirements vary widely between schools and countries. While some basic requirements include passport, academic transcripts, certificate or diploma, and IELTS results, it is still best to speak with an IDP Education Counselor for the complete list of documents you need to submit to not miss out on your school and course's requirements.

If you are interested in studying abroad, we can help you. Just fill out the form on this page to book an appointment with an IDP Education Counselor and we'll assist you from school and visa application until pre-departure activities.