Welcome back!

In 2022, we will be offering both Live Online for those students unable to travel to Sydney, and face-to-face, on-campus classes for students who can travel to Sydney. Our student-centred model of learning caters for both domestic and international students, and our students enjoy the same mode of learning, whether in Australia or overseas.

Yes. We follow strict Covid-19 cleaning protocols and NSW Health recommendations for infection control and prevention. We provide hands-free sanitiser stations throughout our buildings, and we ask that you maintain 1.5 metre physical distancing where possible. We encourage you to use a mask in settings where staff or students cannot physically distance, or if you are more comfortable to do so. 

Please continue to check the latest advice from the NSW Government. Masks continue to be required on public transport, and from 15 December 2021, there will be no density limits on campus.

UTS College is a registered COVID Safe workplace, which means we've lodged a COVID-19 Safety Plan with NSW Health and we're taking appropriate steps to keep our community safe. We are focused supporting everyone's health and wellbeing, and have a comprehensive plan in place.

In addition to our regular cleaning schedule, we're also increasing how often we clean and sanitise tables in common contact points – door handles, lift controls and table surfaces. We have additional hand sanitiser available in bathrooms/toilets, building and campus foyers, kitchen areas, student lounges and the Student Centre.

We have installed physical distancing markers and perspex shields, as well as foot traffic management. From 15 December 2021, QR check-in on arrival and proof of full vaccination is no longer mandatory. We encourage you to use masks where it may not be possible to physically distance, or if you are more comfortable to do so. 

What if I have been in contact with a Covid case? 

NSW Health advises if you are a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case:

• immediately self-isolate for 7 days
• self test for COVID-19 using a Rapid Antigen Test. A positive test result must be reported via the Service NSW app or website. You do not need to confirm your result with a PCR test
• watch for COVID-19 symptoms and retest should any symptoms occur or retest at day 6 to confirm a negative result
• Find out more on the NSW Health website. 

If you develop a fever, a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath (other early symptoms to watch for are chills, body aches, sore throat, headache and runny nose, muscle pain or diarrhoea) within 14 days of exposure, you should:  

• immediately isolate yourself from other people
• wear a mask  
• seek medical attention as soon as possible and take a COVID test.

You should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 14 days after your last contact with a COVID-19 positive person.

NSW has now reached 90% full vaccination for people 16 and over, with further easing of restrictions on 15 December 2021 (at 95%).

In the interest of your health and safety, we are continuing to deliver classes Live Online for Semester 3, 2021. We continue to follow the advice of NSW Health and are planning a gradual approach to return to campus in 2022.

In line with Public Health Orders, from 15 December 2021, we no longer require you to show proof of vaccination or exemption. However, we continue to encourage everyone to become fully vaccinated, maintain physical distancing, wear a mask on campus, and to stay at home if you're unwell.

From Friday 24 December 2021, students will be required to wear a mask in all indoor settings. Students will also be required to check-in to hospitality and retail settings from 27 December 2021.

We encourage any unvaccinated staff or students wishing to visit campus to take appropriate measures to ensure their own, and others’, safety, such as wearing a mask and regular rapid antigen testing.

We also encourage you to continue to use a mask when you cannot physically distance.

International students will need to receive a negative Covid-19 PCR test prior to travel to Australia. You’ll also need to be fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine prior to travel to Australia.

You do not need to show a negative Covid-19 test to study on campus, and from 15 December 2021, you do not need to show proof of full vaccination or exemption.

If you feel unwell in any way, you should stay at home, self-isolate, and get a Covid-19 test if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms – even if they are minor.

Please follow the NSW Government's advice on Covid-19 testing and self-isolation if you begin to show any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Should you test positive, please follow the advice of NSW Health and continue to isolate and practice good hygiene.

There are several things you can do to maintain your health and safety while on campus. These include maintaining a physical distance of 1.5 metres, washing and sanitising your hands regularly, and wearing a mask.

The constant changes to what we can and can't do can be hard to keep up with. So, before you come to campus, check the NSW Government rules to make sure you’re informed, and you don’t put yourself or others at risk. Remember, the rules may change depending on where you're living, so take the time to double-check before you head in and always follow the advice.

We anticipate taking a blended approach to social events and activities for students. This means that events and activities will be held online as well as on campus in 2022.

From Semester 1, 2022, the campus will be open for face-to-face classes.

Yes, you can defer study on campus if you prefer to study face-to-face. We ask that you defer well in advance of the start of Semester 1, 2022 to ensure there is no impact on your fees. We also need to ensure that your new start date works with your ongoing study plans and pathway to UTS.

You can also commence your program Live Online in Semester 1 and continue face-to-face on campus in Semester 2.

Advice for students affected by travel restrictions or self-isolation

We are very conscious of the devastating effects COVID-19 is having on the global community, in terms of health, travel, freedom of movement and economic impacts.

If this situation is affecting you or your family, we would like to extend our sympathy and assure you that we are doing all we can to support you to commence or resume your studies as soon as possible. We will continue to update you about impacts on your studies through your UTS email.

How will you help students who are delayed with their English Language program?

We are very aware that you may be concerned about commencing or continuing your English Language studies with us, if you can’t travel to Australia as you had planned due to travel restriction for COVID-19.

Be assured that we will do all that we can to support you so that you can still complete your studies in the timeframe you had expected, and with no or minimal additional financial cost.

Our English Language programs commence every 10 weeks and we will be able to work with you to confirm your study plan once we know more about when you can arrive.

We are offering our English Language programs via Live Online classes.

Our Admission Team and your Education Agent will work together to review your study plan as needed.

I have had trouble accessing my accommodation in Sydney because of concerns about coronavirus, what should I do?

Please email welfare if you require accommodation support.

I’m currently affected by travel restrictions and isolations and can’t return to UTS College or commence on time. Who should I contact?

If you’re a continuing or current student and have been blocked from travelling to Sydney because of Coronavirus lockdowns, please contact our Student Centre.

If you need to isolate prior to returning to campus, please email Student Centre in case you require any support or assistance.

Due to the emergence of the COVID-19 variant, Omicron, Australia’s National Security Committee announced a pause to the return of international students, as well as other visa holders until 15 December 2021. The temporary pause will allow Australia time to better understand the Omicron variant.

Students returning in December via the UTS International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan will not be affected by this change.

You will need your student visa, proof of full vaccination with a TGA-approved vaccine, proof of negative PCR Covid-19 tests, a valid passport and any other travel documents as advised by the Australian Government.

You can prepare for your travel with the Pre-departure and Arrival checklist on the Study NSW website or the Australian government website. The checklist includes detailed information about visa requirements, vaccination certificates, COVID-19 testing, and more.

Yes. All international students can start returning to study in Australia from 15 December 2021 without requiring a travel exemption.

To attend the UTS College campus for Semester 1 2022 (commencing February), we encourage you to accept your offer as soon as possible in order to begin making travel arrangements.

After accepting your offer, you will receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which you will need to apply for your student visa.

See our website for more detailed information on getting ready to travel to Sydney and starting at UTS College.

1. Once you have accepted your offer and paid your fees, you’ll be issued a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) (if you’re under 18). This confirms the course/s that you’ve been admitted into.
2. Once you’ve received your CoE and CAAW you’ll be able to apply for a student visa. Your education agent will assist you with your visa application.  

For more information visit the Department of Home Affairs website. See our website for more information on applying to UTS College and accepting your offer.

We recommend that you book flights when you:

• have your CoE from UTS College
• have received an Australian student visa
• are prepared to meet the requirements for travel to Australia.

See our website for more detailed information on getting ready to travel to Sydney and starting at UTS College.

No. We will issue you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when you have accepted your offer and paid your fees. This confirms the course/s that you’ve been admitted into.

Once you’ve received your CoE (and CAAW if applicable) you’ll be able to apply for a student visa. Your education agent will assist you with your visa application.  

No. As long as you’re fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine and have received negative Covid-19 PCR tests, you will not need to quarantine on arrival.

For more information on what you need to do before you travel, read What I need to do before I travel on the Department of Home Affairs website.

All students who are eligible to study in Australia, that is, have a valid student visa, proof of full vaccination with a TGA-approved vaccine, proof of negative PCR Covid-19 tests, a valid passport and any other travel documents as advised by the Australian Government, are expected to study on campus.

If you are unable to attain the above items, you may continue or start to study Live Online in 2022.

Currently, TGA-approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccinations include:

• Comirnaty (Pfizer)
• Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
• Covishield (AstraZeneca)
• Spikevax (Moderna)
• Takeda (Moderna)
• Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson)
• Coronavac (Sinovac)
• BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) (for 18-60 years old)
• Covaxin (Bharat Biotech).

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is reviewing other COVID-19 vaccines that may be recognised for the purposes of inbound travel to Australia in future. 

We recommend that you read What I need to do before I travel on the Department of Home Affairs website and COVID-19 vaccinations on smartraveller.gov.au for more information on vaccination requirements.

If you are unable to attain one of the above vaccines, you may continue or start to study Live Online in 2022.

A range of financial government support is available for eligible students. Please refer to the Payments and Services During Coronavirus page on the Services Australia website to view eligibility criteria and find out what assistance is currently available.

We strongly recommend that all students continue to check both the Study Australia and Department of Home Affairs websites for the latest information before booking flights and finalising travel arrangements. 

UTS College and UTS offers a wide range of accommodation options for students. Click here for details about arranging accommodation in Sydney and your many accommodation options.

Urbanest observes NSW Health Covid-19 guidelines and maintains touch-point cleaning. Rooms at Urbanest are set aside for isolation, if needed. All staff at Urbanest are double vaccinated and all students/residents are also required to be double vaccinated.

Homestays has a Covid policy available on their website for hosts and recommend that all hosts are vaccinated. Hosts can upload vaccination certificates to the Homestay website so that vaccination status can be reviewed during the placement process. Homestay requests that students isolate for 72 hours in hotel quarantine on arrival before attending their homestay location. For more information on self-isolation, please see the NSW Government website. Once students have completed self-isolation and provide Homestay with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, they can move to their Homestay location. 

Yes. Your homestay accommodation can include an airport welcome. Alternatively, you can request UTS College to arrange your transport from the airport at a cost A$160. You can also find out more about transport in Sydney on our website.

Homestays has a Covid policy available on their website for hosts and recommend that all hosts are vaccinated. Hosts can upload vaccination certificates to the Homestay website so that vaccination status can be reviewed during the placement process. Homestay requests that students isolate for 72 hours in hotel quarantine on arrival before attending their homestay location. Once students have completed self-isolation and provide Homestay with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, they can move to their Homestay location. For more information on self-isolation, please see the NSW Government website.

See our website for information about Homestays and other accommodation options for students. You can also email accommodation@utscollege.edu.au to find out more.

See our Living in Sydney page for more information about preparing to travel, live, study and work, in Sydney.

What are coronaviruses?

Where have active cases of coronavirus been diagnosed? 

You can find the latest information on confirmed cases, symptoms and prevention, on the NSW Health website.  

If I need to self-isolate, what guidelines should I follow?

Visit the NSW Health guidelines on self-isolation.

The Australian Government has announcement that from 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated international students with a student visa can travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.

The NSW Government will not require international students to quarantine on arrival if they are fully vaccinated with a TGA-recognised vaccine. Students must show proof of vaccination and proof of a negative PCR test two to three days prior to travel. 

Where can I find more information? 

We will monitor and update this page as required. Please see the above FAQs on travelling to Australia and studying in Sydney. If you have any questions or concerns, you can also visit: 

• International SOS
• NSW Health 
• World Health Organization

Medibank’s 24/7 Student Health and Support Line can help provide students with guidance on what action to take. Students with Medibank Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) can call and speak with a nurse about any health issue by calling 1800 887 283, and they can arrange an interpreter if required.

While there are currently no specific treatments for novel coronavirus, in the unlikely case a student has the coronavirus, Medibank OSHC can still help them get the medical support they need in Australia with qualified health professionals.

The Central Railway Station Clinic is a walk-in Covid-19 testing clinic located on Eddy Avenue, under Central Station; a short 5-minute walk from UTS College. For a full list of Covid-19 testing locations and clinics, see the NSW Government website or the NSW Health website. 

UTS College is a registered COVID Safe workplace, which means we've lodged a COVID-19 Safety Plan with NSW Health and we're taking appropriate steps to keep our community safe. We are focused supporting everyone's health and wellbeing, and have a comprehensive plan in place. In addition to our regular cleaning schedule, we're also increasing how often we clean and sanitise tables in common contact points – door handles, lift controls and table surfaces. We have additional hand sanitiser available in bathrooms/toilets, building and campus foyers, kitchen areas, student lounges and the Student Centre.

We have installed physical distancing markers and perspex shields, as well as foot traffic management. 

What if I am exposed to a Covid-19 case? 

NSW Health advises if you are a close contact of a confirmed novel coronavirus case:

• immediately self-isolate for 7 days
• self test for COVID-19 using a Rapid Antigen Test. A positive test result must be reported via the Service NSW app or website. You do not need to confirm your result with a PCR test
• watch for COVID-19 symptoms and retest should any symptoms occur or retest at day 6 to confirm a negative result
• Find out more on the NSW Health website. 

If you develop a fever, a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath (other early symptoms to watch for are chills, body aches, sore throat, headache and runny nose, muscle pain or diarrhoea) within 14 days of exposure, you should:  

• immediately isolate yourself from other people
• wear a mask  
• seek medical attention as soon as possible and take a COVID test. 

NSW has now reached 90% full vaccination for people 16 and over. From Friday 24 December 2021, students will be required to wear a mask in all indoor retail settings. Students will also be required to check-in to hospitality and retail venues from 27 December 2021.

In the interest of your health and safety, we are continuing to deliver classes Live Online for Semester 3, 2021. We continue to follow the advice of NSW Health and are planning a gradual approach to return to campus in 2022.

If a staff member or student are on campus, or have been on campus three days prior to finding out they have tested positive or are a close contact, they will be asked to return home immediately. They will then be required to follow the guidance and advice provided by NSW Health. They are also required to contact the following UTS College staff to inform them of their situation. For students, this is: 

Zoe Wang, Study Success Team Leader – email zoe.wang@utscollege.edu.au or phone +61 2 9218 8607. 

Once UTS College is aware of a positive case, several precautions will be taken. These include:

• cleaning and disinfecting of all areas used by the person who tested positive. The campus will not close unless the College is advised to by NSW Health

• notifying SafeWork NSW who will then provide information to NSW Health to assist with the contact tracing

• the Senior People Partner and Study Success Team Leader in conjunction with the person who tested positive will use the NSW Contact risk assessment guidelines to determine who is a close or casual contact and contact those staff and students to request they be tested straight away

• while waiting for results, the member of staff or student will be asked to work or study from home until a negative result is received

• The College will then contact NSW Health to inform them of any close contacts and will follow the advice should there be any further actions required.  

If there have been three or more staff or students who have tested positive in a seven-day period, based on further assessment, NSW Health may recommend further actions to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19. These actions will be determined at the time and the College will provide staff and students with further information in these situations.  

There are several ways that UTS College will know that there has been a positive case on the campus. Confirmation of a positive case could come through any one of the following channels: 

• NSW Health 

• the staff member who has tested positive  

• a student who has tested positive 

• an employer of a worker such as a contractor or visitor who visits the College.  

The privacy and confidentiality of the person who tested positive for COVID-19 will always be maintained.