Wondering about studying in Australia during the Pandemic? Start virtually today!

Worried about how to start your studies in Australia amid the COVID-19 pandemic? Charles Sturt University Study Centres is here to help students kick start their future with Face-to-Face Virtual (F2FV) for programmes starting in July 2020. Rather than putting all plans on hold, the university’s study centres will support students to start studying online with its blended learning approach, before they can transition to completing their degree in-centre, in Australia, when borders re-open and it’s safe to resume face-to-face studies.

Charles Sturt University is Australia’s leading online university of choice. More students choose to study online with the University than any other institution in the country (Department of Education, Skills and Employment Higher Education Statistics). So online students are supported at every step of the way.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann welcomes international students, affirming, “Charles Sturt University is pleased to offer online face-to-face learning for all international students commencing at the University’s study centres in July.

This teaching model will provide for our students the same level of interaction with our staff as studying in-centre, and means they won’t have to delay their study plans as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

As Australia’s largest and most experienced online university, Charles Sturt University continues to lead the way in online study, and we look forward to supporting these new students in this step on their education.”

Charles Sturt Study Centres’ F2FV teaching has been developed with the student in mind, to ensure students have all the support and guidance they need. F2FV classes are scheduled during the afternoon and evening to suit a wider range of time zones, including the Indian Standard. This means students from across the country, including Punjab, Gujarat, and Telangana can join for the live classes. They can also take part in online careers and wellbeing workshops and social events, including virtual karaoke and quiz nights – making sure they stay connected until arriving in Australia.

Welcoming students to a safe Australia

Australia is working tirelessly to minimise the impact and spread of COVID-19, with great progress already made. The Charles Sturt University Study Centres are confident that they will be able to welcome new students to Australia’s sunny shores very shortly! As soon as the borders are open, students can obtain a visa to travel and settle in Australia, even if their program is still online.

As Australia bounces back, high demand for IT specialists and business professionals is starting to emerge. Charles Sturt University Study Centres offers forward-thinking, career-focused undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Information Technology, Accounting and Business.

Satisfaction guaranteed introductory period

Indian students are often worried about studying online and the concept of a virtual classroom may not suit everybody. So, Charles Sturt University Study Centres is pleased to let students try the face-to-face virtual blended learning risk free until 9 August 2020. If unsatisfied, they can either choose to defer their place to a future intake or withdraw and get a full refund. If the students choose to withdraw after this date, the usual cancellation policy applies.

Speaking on the announcement, Cassandra Ashworth, VP-Recruitment, CSU Study Centres/ Study Group Global Director, asserted, “We believe this is a great opportunity for students to try before they fly. They can try the course with our risk-free intro period, and by starting the program online offshore, they’ll be fully credited when they transition to on-campus.”

Charles Sturt Study Centres is also committed to helping students manage their course load in session one, now starting on 20 July 2020, by allowing students to enrol in one to four classes, rather than a full course load. This means they’ll only have to pay for what they enrol in, reducing upfront costs.

If, when the time comes to move to Australia to continue their studies in person, they are unable to receive a visa, depending on the circumstance, a full refund will be offered to the student along with support to continue their education or find alternatives.

How are students Post Study Work rights affected?

The Post-Study Work stream is one of the two categories that come under the temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). The visa lets them live, work and study in Australia, temporarily after completing at least two years of study in a CRICOS approved qualification. International students with eligible qualifications regardless of their field of study can apply for the same if they can complete up to 1/3 of a two-year course in Australia online. To assist them in maintaining the ratio of study in Australia, students will be allowed to enrol in one to four subjects in the July 2020 intake for Charles Sturt University Study Centres. For more current information, students can visit immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

 “Our first priority must be education. That’s how I motivate myself to get a degree no matter what. The staff at the Study Centre has provided Zoom links and phone numbers with response time quicker than before. They’ve been extremely supportive with their assistance and currently all of their services are now online,” said Saurabh, an Indian student studying at Charles Sturt University Study Centres.

More information regarding the Charles Sturt University Study Centres F2FV offer can be found on their website, along with information regarding their programs. Visit csustudycentres.edu.au

About Cassandra Ashworth