Study In Australia For Indian Students: Latest Travel Update

Study in Australia for Indian students is now finally possible with the arrival of some good news.

Australia continues to take further steps to safely reopen its borders, with additional changes coming into effect on 1 December.

As per the official media statement, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that from 1 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can come to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. He further added that eligible visa holders include skilled and graduates, international students, as well as humanitarian, working holidaymaker and provisional family visa holders.

Under these arrangements, travellers must:

Be fully vaccinated with a completed dosage of a vaccine approved or recognized by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Hold a valid visa for one of the eligible visa subclasses.
Here is the subclass for international students.
Provide proof of their vaccination status.
Present a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken within three days of departure.

Travellers to Australia must comply with the quarantine requirements in the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territory to which they plan to travel.

The PM also emphasized that with study in Australia opening up and the return of skilled workers will further cement the economic recovery and support the education sector.

You can read the full official media statement here.

After more than a year and a half, this comes as great news for our Indian students, especially if you’re planning to study in Australia and pursue your higher education.

However, if you are stuck concerning your finances, we are here to help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight (absolutely FREE of cost service) and our trusted financial advisory.

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Study In Australia: The Latest Border Updates

Latest News, Travel

Study In Australia: The Latest Border Updates

If you’re planning to study in Australia or are waiting for Australia to reopen its borders, it might get a bit tricky and confusing. This is because each state and territory have their own plans on how to reopen their borders.

Here are the latest updates:

Western Australia

According to a report from The Guardian, Western Australia will wait until as late as early-February to reopen its interstate borders.

No announcements have been made regarding international students’ return, however.

The states’ premier Mark McGowan did not set a specific reopening date but said controls would be eased once the state achieved 90% vaccination for people aged 12 and above.

A specific reopening date will be locked in once the state achieves 80% vaccination, expected in the first half of December, said the report.

New South Wales

A plan under New South Wales will see about 500 students returning to the state in December.

Victoria

A total of 120 students could begin returning to Victoria by the end of 2021 under the first stage of the Victorian Government’s Student Arrivals Plan.

Under the first stage of the plan, a limited number of places will be available each week. These places will be prioritised for students who urgently need to return to Victoria to do practical work.

The second stage of the plan will expand to include more students, including those who are enrolled with other education providers such as TAFEs, English-language colleges, private education providers, other university students and secondary schools.

South Australia

South Australia is expected to welcome fully vaccinated domestic and international arrivals.

This includes international students with no quarantine period once 90% of South Australians aged 12 and above are fully vaccinated.

It is expected that the 90% target will be reached in late December 2021.

Queensland

Queensland announced that international students will return from January 2022.

The Queensland Student Arrivals Plan will follow a phased approach, starting with 250 students per fortnight in Phase 1.

The ACT Government

The ACT government said they will welcome back international tertiary education students for the start of the 2022 academic year. Students need to be fully vaccinated with a TGA recognized vaccine.

Tasmania

Vaccinated interstate and international arrivals can enter Tasmania without quarantining from December 15.

However, no updates have been announced for international students.

The University of Tasmania said they are working closely and actively with the Tasmanian and Australian governments to support the safe return of international students.

The university will contact students directly as soon as there is an opportunity for them to return to Tasmania.

How Can GradRight Help?

After more than a year and a half, this comes as great news, especially if you’re planning to study in Australia and pursue your higher education.

However, if you are stuck with respect to your finances, we are here to help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight (absolutely FREE of cost service) and our trusted financial advisory.

India's First Loan Bidding Platform

Get online lenders to bid on your profile to get the best student loans.

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Canada To Reopen Airports To International Flights

Latest News, Travel

Canada To Reopen More Airports To International Flights

Canada to reopen more airports to international flights starting November 30. November 30 is also the same day that passengers and crews would have to prove they’re fully vaccinated if they want to depart from a Canadian airport.

The announcement was made by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra at Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF), one of the eight.

In the official statement, Omar Alghabra said, “Increased vaccination levels have allowed us to safely reopen these additional Canadian airports to international flights. This measure will help ensure travelers are able to access more regional airports for their international travels, while continuing to support the Government’s measured approach to reopening our border.”

Which Canadian Airports Are Currently Accepting International Flights?

The 10 Canadian airports currently accepting international flights include:

Halifax Stanfield International
Québec City Jean Lesage International
Montréal-Trudeau International
Ottawa/Macdonald–Cartier International
Toronto Pearson International
Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre
Winnipeg James/Armstrong Richardson International
Edmonton International
Calgary International
Vancouver International

Canada To Reopen More Airports.

Starting November 30, 2021, the following additional Canadian airports will be reopened for international travel:

St. John’s International
John C. Munro Hamilton International
Region of Waterloo International
Regina International
Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International
Kelowna International
Abbotsford International
Victoria International

Omar Alghabra added that additional airports would be considered as conditions dictate.

Do you wish to study in Canada?

Canada reopening more of its airports comes in as great news for students.

But if you are still trying to figure out the right university and the program for you, worry not.

Shortlisting the right university(s) might seem a bit daunting but it’s also an important step that has the potential to determine your future life. Thankfully, there are ways to make better and informed decisions.

To tackle this problem, GradRight has launched another platform (in addition to our education loan platform, FundRight) called SelectRight, an AI-based data-driven platform that enables you to select, shortlist and apply to the right universities that are best suited for you.

Click On SelectRight below to get started!

US Student Visa: The US Government To Give Priority To Student Visa

The US Government To Give Priority To Student Visa

USA will provide preference to the US student visa(s). This is because the country estimates a heavy rush in the authorization application with the relaxation of travel restraints for vaccinated passengers.

In an official statement, “The appointments for the visa will be made available from November 1. Priority will be given to US student visas,” US Consul General to Kolkata, Melinda Pavek, said on the sidelines of an interactive session with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

At the time of the statement, she further highlighted that the US has already issued 62,000 US student visas to Indians this year. And that with the US presidential proclamation of travel ban coming to an end on November 8, all types of visa applications will become eligible.

Earlier, the US had announced the lifting of travel curbs on India from November 8. These Covid-19 restrictions were first imposed at the beginning of 2020 with the onset of the global pandemic.

The accounting period for a US visa for various purposes like work, business and studies are between September of a year to August the following year, officials said.

It was also noted that except for a brief period, US student visa and emergency visas were not closed.
From November 8, all types of visas will be given, and a heavy wave of visa applications is expected. And with the spring intake set to start, there could be a big surge in US Student Visa applications.

Patton International senior official, Preeyam Bhudhia said Indo-US trade would expand by raising the travel limitations.

Bilateral trade between the two countries had already improved by 50 per cent till August. It is expected to reach the pre-COVID level of 2019 in the current year, ICC officials said.

How Can GradRight Help?

This US Student Visa news couldn’t come at a better time. Especially to all those who have been eagerly waiting for a while for their travel to the states.

Just in case, if you are stuck with respect to your finances, we can help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight and our trusted financial advisory.

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Quacquarelli Symonds Introduces Environmental Impact Rating

QS Introduces Environmental Impact Rating

The Quacquarelli Symonds (or more popularly known as QS) Stars university rating system rates over 600 universities globally in three criteria – core criteria, specialist criteria and advanced criteria, which includes the new environmental impact rating.

The new category for the QS World University Rankings focuses on environmental impact & will aim to evaluate policy aspects such as sustainable investment, procurement, and donations and funding.

It will also examine individual staff members “dedicated to fostering sustainability or addressing climate change”, as well as the university’s climate action plan.

Operationally, it will finally focus on the consumption of each institution, including their water consumption and carbon footprint.

The decision comes after 94% of prospective international students wanted universities to be environmentally sustainable as per a survey.

As a result of Quacquarelli Symonds’s survey, Gen Z’s worries about climate change led to the institution adding the new rating in the rating system.

According to the survey, around 76% pointed to climate change as “one of their major societal concerns”, while 37% of the students ranked the highest among other options.

Leigh Kamolins, Head of Evaluation at Quacquarelli Symonds, highlighted the importance of the new parameter for institutions around the world, further adding that universities are pivotal in satisfying social changes like environmental impact, climate change and sustainability.

“QS is committed to shining a light on the work done by universities around the world to embrace sustainability and to address it, from an operational, educational and research perspective”, said Kamolins, in her official statement.

Ben Sowter, Research Director at Quacquarelli Symonds, stated that the parameter had been introduced to the QS Stars Rating system as a response to higher education institutions keen on measuring their environmental impact to an international standard while also meeting the requirements of the millions of students that engage with the institution.

Ben further added that a large number of universities have either already aligned themselves or are in the process of aligning themselves to the Environmental, Social and Governance, or ESG, criteria, thus satisfying students’ stances on environmental sustainability as well.

Most students across the globe rely on QS World University Rankings to evaluate and shortlist the universities they want to study abroad in. With the addition of environment rating, it adds an additional layer to the ranking system. While this is not a wrong approach to shortlist and select universities, it is important to evaluate different factors and look beyond just rankings.

To tackle this problem, GradRight is about to launch another product called SelectRight, an AI-based data-driven platform that enables you to select, shortlist and apply to the right universities that are best suited for you.

Click On SelectRight below to get started!

TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Is Added To ETS’ Product Portfolio

TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Added To ETS' Product Portfolio

To facilitate more options for study abroad aspirants, test provider ETS has announced a new format for TOEFL iBT. The new format, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition, includes two sessions for the test, where test-takers will be able to attempt the test in two different places, i.e. one session in a test centre and the other at their homes.

The executive director of the TOEFL Program, Mr Srikanth Gopal said, “We are excited to offer test takers yet another option for the TOEFL iBT test. It has been a busy few years for the TOEFL Program, but we set out with a customer-focused mindset and a goal to continue creating and enhancing high-quality testing options that serve the needs of students and institutions.”

He additionally added, “We’re eager to support students as they take advantage of the different options in the TOEFL portfolio of tests as part of their study-abroad journeys.”

The testing provider added its TOEFL Home Edition to its permanent product portfolio during the global health pandemic, while also introducing early performance indicators for its TOEFL iBT.

Additionally, ETS revealed an “accessible, affordable” Essentials test earlier in 2021.

The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition offering furthers the goal of serving the needs of students and institutions with new options.

As per the announcement, a new TOEFL iBT Paper Edition will be introduced, where four skills of the candidate will be evaluated over two sessions.

One session will be in the allocated centre and the other at the candidate’s home.

ETS further announced that the new offers will only be offered in India, Mexico, Colombia and US and will be offered at the same price point as the other formats in each location.

As per ETS, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition test-takers will first be asked to attempt the reading, listening and writing sections at the allocated test centres, subsequently attempting the speaking sections at their homes, within the next three days.

ETS further added that the new format of the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition test will be accepted in the same manner as the other tests, trusted by over 11,000 universities and institutions across 160 countries.

However, ETS has advised students to confirm the same with their prospective schools, colleges and universities.

The next step after giving your TOEFL iBT Paper Edition exam is to shortlist your university.

Click on SelectRight below to get started!

Australian International Borders To Open Soon For International Students

Latest News, Travel

Australia To Open Its Borders Soon For International Students

While New South Wales is scrapping home and hotel quarantine for fully vaccinated international travellers from November 1, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison clarified that Australia’s international borders are not open to “everyone” yet. Australia’s borders have been closed for the last 19 months to international travellers to prevent the spread of COVID-19

As per Morrison, the Australian International borders would open to more travellers “in a staged and careful way” with priority given to skilled migrants and international students ahead of tourists. Morrison was quoted saying, “The Commonwealth government has made no decision to allow other visa holders, skilled visa holders, student visa holders, international visitors travelling under an ETA or other international visa arrangements … to come to Australia under these arrangements. The premier understands that that’s a decision for the Commonwealth government not for the state governments. And when we believe that’s the right decision to make, we will make it in that time.”

In NSW however, from November 1, there will be no caps on overseas arrivals of people who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine recognized by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Currently, Australia recognizes the following vaccines for international travellers:

Pfizer
AstraZeneca
Moderna
Johnson & Johnson
Sinovac
Covishield

The New South Wales government recently announced a pilot plan to facilitate the return of some 500 international students from December 2021. All participating students will be required to be fully vaccinated with a TGA-recognised COVID-19 vaccination before landing in Sydney, while strict quarantine protocols will be in place.

International students will quarantine in purpose-built student accommodation in Sydney and adhere to the same health and quarantine requirements set by the Australian government for returning Australians

After 19 months, this, somewhat comes as good news, especially if you’re planning to go to Australia to pursue your higher education. However, if you are stuck with respect to your finances, we are here to help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight and our trusted financial advisory.

India's First Loan Bidding Platform

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Joe Biden Announces ‘Quad Fellowship’ for STEM Career in the US

Joe Biden Announces ‘Quad Fellowship’ For STEM Career In The US

Last month, during the first in-person meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, US President Joe Biden unveiled a new “Quad Fellowship program For STEM”. The program would let students from the Quad countries pursue higher studies and advanced degrees in “STEM programs” in the United States.

Biden hosted the leaders of the four countries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the White House. Along with Modi, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and Japan’s Yoshihide Suga were also present at the meeting.

In Biden’s official statement, he said, “Today, we are launching a new Quad fellowship for students from each of our Quad countries to pursue advanced degrees in leading STEM programs here in the United States, representing an investment in the leaders, innovators, and pioneers of tomorrow.”

Biden further added, “When we met six months ago, we made concrete commitments to shared and positive agenda for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Today I am proud to say that we are making excellent progress.”

The Quad member countries, in addition to the US, are India, Japan, and Australia. Thanks to the Quad Fellowship program For STEM, students from these countries will now have better opportunities to pursue their dream careers in the United States in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, a combination more popularly known as STEM.

Sponsored by private donors, 25 students from each of the four Quad countries will be selected to pursue Master’s and post-doctoral degrees in STEM fields at leading US universities every year.

More details on how and when to apply to the Quad Fellowship program For STEM are yet to be released.

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No Quarantine In The UK For Fully Vaccinated Indian Travellers

Latest News, Travel

No Quarantine in the UK for Fully-Vaccinated Indian Travellers

The UK, on October 7, announced that Indian travellers fully vaccinated with Covishield or any other UK-approved Covid-19 vaccine will no longer have to undergo the mandatory 10-day quarantine upon arrival in the UK from October 11. Having no quarantine in the UK comes as a major relief to all students.

Earlier, the UK had not even added Covishield to its list of approved vaccines. This drew sharp criticism from India, as many believed the decision to be “discriminatory”. Following this, the UK, on September 22, revised its travel advisory and included Covishield as an accepted vaccine. However, it still required Indians to quarantine and get tested on arrival. This meant the country still required fully-vaccinated travellers from India to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Britain. The UK had also said it didn’t accept the Cowin certificate which led to a major row between the two countries.

However, recently, a British High Commission spokesperson said the decision to remove quarantine rules for fully-vaccinated Indian passengers was made after close technical cooperation between both countries’ ministries taking public health factors into account.

The spokesperson added that the extension of vaccine certification is a further step to let people travel more freely again in a safe and sustainable way while also protecting public health.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis tweeted about the news and also thanked the Indian government for close cooperation during that time period.

No quarantine for Indian 🇮🇳 travellers to UK 🇬🇧 fully vaccinated with Covishield or another UK-approved vaccine from 11 October.

Thanks to Indian government for close cooperation over last month. pic.twitter.com/cbI8Gqp0Qt
— Alex Ellis (@AlexWEllis) October 7, 2021

This comes as great news, especially if you’re planning to go to the UK to pursue your higher education. However, if you are stuck with respect to your finances, we are here to help you get the best education loan possible, thanks to our World’s 1st Education Loan Bidding Platform in FundRight and our trusted financial advisory.

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Canada Extends Travel Ban On Indian Flights

Latest News, Travel

Canada Extends Travel Ban On Indian Flights

The Canadian government, on Monday i.e. August 10th, 2021, has extended the Canada travel ban on Indian flights till September 21. The ban was earlier till August 21.

Here is the official statement:

“Based on the latest public health advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canada is extending the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricts all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from India until September 21, 2021, at 23:59 EDT.”

The Canada travel ban was first imposed on April 22. Recently, for the fifth time, the ban has been extended.

Due to the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus during the second wave as well as the increasing threat of the Delta variant, many countries have decided to impose a travel ban on flights from the subcontinent. This is adding more hurdles for Indian students who want to go to Canada for their higher education.

How does this affect the travel plans of students?

With direct flights from India banned till September, students would have to look at indirect flights via Qatar, Doha, Maldives, Mexico, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and Egypt. Each of the following countries has its own set of guidelines concerning Covid testing, quarantine duration and the requirement of return tickets.

We have covered the different indirect flight routes from India to Canada along with their pros, cons and things to keep in mind like supporting documentation and accommodation availabilities in this blog here.

Flight tickets’ prices can be very expensive on some of these routes. To help students get a cheaper rate, we have additional services called GradOns.

This includes services like accommodations, flight tickets (cheaper rates), Canada GIC Account, Forex services and credit and debit cards too.

Click on GradOns below to get started