Under the pilot returns program, 500 students will return to the Australian state this year as part of the Australian Government-approved New South Wales International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan.

The plan sees 250 fully vaccinated students allowed to return to Australia in the first two weeks of December, followed by another 250 students in the second two weeks of that month.

Participating students must be fully-vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination recognised by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) before they arrive in Sydney, and will be required to quarantine in purpose-built student accommodation in Sydney (regardless of which education provider they are enrolled with).

The selection of students for return to Australia, and the funding of the pilot program, will be managed and run by the New South Wales tertiary sector. 

“This is an important milestone for NSW and reinforces the State’s standing as a world-leading study destination, especially for any international student considering NSW as the next place to learn and live in their education journey,” the announcement from Study NSW says.

The success of the pilot program will determine the next steps regarding its future expansion, which could involve school students by that stage. 

The Australian Government continues to work closely with all of Australia’s states and territories on further development of student return and arrival plans.