COVID-19 (coronavirus) advice for the UQ community - STUDENTS - International students - About UQ

International students

What do I do if I am an international student and unable to make it to campus in 2022?

If you are an international student and unable to make it to campus in 2022, or if your travel has been delayed due to COVID-19, many of our courses will be available to study in external mode to support your progression.

It is important for you to ensure you keep as up-to-date as possible by commencing your studies in external mode. This will enable you to transition successfully to internal mode (if possible) once you return to campus.

If I can’t get to campus and I don’t want to study online, can I defer commencement of my studies?

You can request to defer your studies to a future semester.
If you are an international student, you can request to defer your studies to a future semester by requesting a change in the online application portal. If you are unable to request a change through the portal, send an email to iasdeferral@uq.edu.au with the following details:

Your student number (please include in the subject line of your message)
The semester you would like to defer to
The reason for your deferral.

Study Abroad and Incoming Exchange students should email studyabroad@uq.edu.au.

You can usually defer your studies up to a maximum of two semesters from your original commencement semester. If you are considering deferring for more than two semesters, please contact the International Admissions team via email at iasdeferral@uq.edu.au who will assess your circumstances to see if this is possible.

You also need to check that your program will be offered in the semester you wish to defer to.

If you are a domestic student and have decided to defer your Semester 2, 2022 QTAC offer, please respond to your offer through QTAC by the specified due date and indicate your intention to defer. UQ Admissions will contact you to provide updated advice for your 2023 admission.

If I am studying online in my home country, do I need to apply for a visa?

As an international student studying offshore you will be required to travel to Australia on a student visa as soon as you are able. This means that you will need to apply for a student visa using your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) issued by the University. You only require a student visa when you intend to enter Australia.

If you are a student who has commenced, or is due to commence, study online from outside Australia but are unable to travel to Australia when the borders open because your student visa application is not approved, you will be able to continue with your studies online temporarily while your program of study continues to be offered in an external (online) mode of delivery.

If you have commenced your study online and your student visa application is subsequently refused, you may apply to withdraw from enrolment. Please refer to Section 2.1 of the Student Refunds Policy.

For current information on student visas, including the latest advice on temporary graduate visas, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs.

Will I receive a Confirmation of Enrolment if I am studying online from my home country?

Do onshore international students holding a student visa need to be enrolled in internal courses?

If I accept an offer and commence study at UQ in Semester 2, 2022 but am unable to continue, can I withdraw and have all fees refunded?

If travel restrictions prevent you from travelling to Australia to commence your studies in Semester 2, 2022 and you do not want to study online, you can request to defer your studies to a future semester.

If you choose not to defer and cannot travel to Australia due to travel restrictions, UQ will provide you with a refund of your deposit paid if you withdraw by 31 August 2022 (census date). Cancellation fees may apply, please see section 2.1.1 of the Student Refund Procedures for more information.

You can still apply to have your financial liability removed after census date if you are withdrawing because of special circumstances.

The last day you can withdraw without academic penalty for Semester 2, 2022 will be 30 September 2022.

You can still apply to withdraw without academic penalty (removal of course) after 30 September if you are withdrawing because of special circumstances.