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

Travel / Quarantine

I have deferred my studies until Semester 2. What will happen to my visa and Overseas Student Health Cover?

If you have been impacted by coronavirus travel bans and have chosen to defer your studies, you will be able to adjust your OSHC policy dates without incurring any additional costs. There is no limitation on how many times a policy start date and policy end date can be changed for your OSHC. The University of Queensland is working closely with Allianz, our OSHC provider, to determine a clear process to change the OSHC policy dates as required. See more information about COVID-19 and OSHC on the Allianz website.

Deferring your studies will not affect your visa status. If you require additional time to complete your studies (beyond your visa expiry date), you will:

need to apply for a new student visa and
will require a new Confirmation of Enrolment.

I am currently located interstate and plan to commence my studies with UQ in Semester 2. Will I be able to travel to Queensland to commence my studies?

Updated following Queensland Government announcement on Tuesday 30^th June.

From 10^th July if you are travelling to Queensland from any state, other than Victoria, you will be permitted to enter Queensland subject to completing and signing a Queensland Border Declaration Pass.

If you are intending to travel from Victoria, or have spent time in any local government area in Victoria during the past 14 days, you will be required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a hotel for a minimum for 14 days, at your own cost.

Further information is available here and the application form for a fee waiver can be found here.

If you do require financial assistance and are unsuccessful in securing Government assistance, you can submit the relevant supporting documentation as part of a Financial Hardship Application to UQ.

You can contact Student Services to discuss what options may be available to you.

Detailed information in relation to the Queensland border restrictions and quarantine requirements for interstate travellers can be found here. The Queensland Government Roadmap to easing restrictions is also a useful resource.

If you require assistance with securing accommodation for Semester 2, please get in touch with Student Accommodation Services on accommodation@uq.edu.au

When will I know if I can come to Australia?

How do I check the implications for my visa?

What should I do about insurance claims for expenses incurred due to changes to travel plans?

Once you have recovered all possible expenses from your airline, travel agent, accommodation and other providers, please submit a travel insurance claim for any remaining out of pocket expenses.

Please refer to the Travel FAQs for further details regarding the circumstances in which a claim is likely to be accepted by UQ's travel insurer.

Claims will be assessed by UQ's Travel Insurer on a case-by-case basis, and in accordance with the policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations. Cover for cancellations will only be available where cancellation was necessary for reasons other than the UQ-imposed travel restriction. The UQ travel and insurance teams, and Campus Travel, are currently receiving a significant number of enquiries, so please be patient.

Find out more about submitting an insurance claim.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact our student advisers to explore options for financial assistance.

Given the change in Government advice about travel, am I covered for travel insurance?

If you are overseas looking to return home to Australia as soon as possible, based on Government advice, costs associated with early return to Australia will not necessarily be covered by UQ's travel insurance.

In line with the Government's worldwide travel advice rating being raised to Level 4 (Do Not Travel) on 18 March 2020, cover for cancellation is likely to be available for UQ approved international travel arrangements to locations where certain criteria are met.

For updated information and criteria for UQ Travel Insurance, please visit the Travel Insurance FAQs.

I am preparing to undertake a placement, work experience or field trip. What do I need to do in order to obtain travel approval?

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have changed the way that a number of our activities are managed, including clinical and industry based placements and field trips.

To mitigate travel related risks, UQ requires all students to complete an online Travel Declaration prior to undertaking approved placements, work experience or field trips where the activity requires:

travel more than 50km from your usual place of residence; and
an overnight stay (minimum of one night)

The Declaration outlines your responsibilities while engaging in this travel and also provides information on the UQ processes in place to ensure your safety and support while engaging in your placement or field trip. By completing the Declaration you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted these responsibilities.

If you have any questions regarding your specific placement or field trip circumstances please contact your Placement or Field Trip Coordinator.

What is included in the 2-week Quarantine costs and other Assistance Services?

UQ is working with the Queensland Government to establish a managed return for our current students that are overseas. It is likely that you will be subject to 2 weeks supervised quarantine when you are able to return to Australia. Details of the agreed scheme for international students is yet to emerge but UQ will provide support for an agreed scheme up to the value of $2000. More information will be placed on this webpage.

If the Government agree to an approved return to Australia for current international students overseas, UQ will work to establish the guidelines for assistance but the arrangement is likely to include support for part of the following:

Accommodation for 2 weeks (arranged through a UQ / Government approved provider)
Airport pickup to transport you to your accommodation (either through UQ or Government)
Welfare contact to assist you with transition to UQ and Brisbane
Access to counsellors (mental health and wellbeing)
Access to international student advisers
Access to the student accommodation team to assist you in finding the right home after the 2-week quarantine
Access to online based social activities
Access to a student mentor
Access to participate in the Student Success Program, including additional English Language preparation (if your arrival is outside of semester / teaching period)

More information on the current quarantine arrangements, delivered wholly by the Queensland Government is here.

I have managed to gain approval to re-enter Australia from overseas but will now need to go through the Government quarantine, can UQ assist with payment?

Some students may be able to gain entry to Australia on an individual basis. Following the change to government policy in relation to quarantine arrangements, if you do gain entry to Australia individually and require assistance with the costs of quarantine, please make an application for Financial Assistance.

If you are in financial hardship, you may also be entitled to financial assistance from the Queensland Government. You will be able to access further information about the eligibility criteria and how to apply for this assistance here, once it becomes available.

More information on the Government quarantine arrangements is available here.

I am currently overseas for a placement or global experience in Semester 1, 2020. I see that Australian State Governments are now charging fees for quarantining in government arranged accommodation on arrival to Australia. Will my travel insurance cover

Whether or not this will be covered by travel insurance will depend on the terms of your travel insurance and the circumstances of your travel.

If your return journey was part of UQ approved travel then cover may be available for these fees under UQ travel insurance if your travel was arranged prior to 4pm (AEDT) on 2 March 2020. All claims will be assessed by UQ’s travel insurer on a case by case basis, and you will need to submit a travel insurance claim via UQ Insurance Services to determine whether or not cover is available in your particular circumstances.

If your return journey was part of personal travel arrangements, you should check directly with your private travel insurance company. If you experience financial hardship as a result of returning to Australia and mandatory quarantine, you may be able to get assistance from the relevant State Government or in some circumstances, the Financial Hardship Assistance from the University.