Information and support for students currently outside Australia, including online/remote study options and plans for students to re-enter Australia.
On this page you will find information for:
Fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can travel to and from Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.
RMIT recognises the significant contribution international students make – not just to our University, but to the wider community and a diverse and inclusive Victoria.
We warmly welcome them back into our RMIT community in Victoria.
RMIT will continue to follow the latest health advice and government guidelines to ensure the safety of returning students and the wider community.
We will update this page as more information and directives become available.
If you are an international student currently outside Australia, please continue to check this page and your student email regularly for the latest information.
From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated travellers including students can travel to and from Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.
Under these arrangements, all travellers must meet all of the following criteria:
In addition, commencing and continuing students should be enrolled to study with RMIT in 2022.
Over the coming weeks, RMIT will deliver face-to-face and online information sessions where you can meet RMIT teams in your city (or online), and ask any questions you may have about tavelling to Australia for study.
A prerequisite of travelling to Australia to study with RMIT is that you must hold a valid Australian Student Visa (subclass 500).
You should ensure your visa doesn’t expire earlier than your expected course completion date. Go to Student visas for more information.
Please note, due to COVID-19, some visa processing times have been affected and may take longer to finalise. Go to Global visa processing times on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for the latest information.
You must have an active confirmation of enrolment (CoE) while studying on an Australian visa, and will need this when applying for a visa or visa renewal.
If your CoE is due to expire, find out how to apply for a new one.
You must be vaccinated with a completed dosage of a Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine at least seven days before you depart your home country, or have a valid medical exemption to travel to Victoria.
Sinopharm vaccine
Please note, there are two kinds of Sinopharm vaccine but only one is recognised by the TGA. If you have received the Sinopharm vaccine, go to Guidance on foreign vaccination certificates on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website for more information.
As evidence of your vaccination status, you must have an international COVID-19 vaccination certificate, or obtain a valid foreign vaccination certificate from the country you were vaccinated.
Go to Information for overseas travellers on the Victorian Government website for more information.
All students attending RMIT Australian campuses must provide evidence that they are fully vaccinated with a completed dosage of a TGA-approved or recognised vaccine, or have a valid medical exemption.
You should provide your vaccination status or medical exemption at least 24 hours prior to attending campus.
Find out what international vaccination evidence RMIT will accept and go to Vaccination requirements on campus for more information.
If you have received a completed dosage of an approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine while overseas, you can have it recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
You can ask a recognised vaccination provider* to add your vaccination record on AIR if:
For information about how to add your overseas immunisations to the, AIR, go to Help adding overseas vaccinations on the Services Australia website.
Once completed, your vaccinations will appear on your COVID-19 digital certificate and you’ll be able to provide proof that you’re fully vaccinated.
*RMIT's Medical Hub is a recognised vaccination provider and offers direct billing (no out of pocket expense) to international students with current OSHC insurance.
Follow the instructions to fulfill all government requirements outlined on the Victorian Government webpage, Information for overseas travellers, including completing all Commonwealth border entry requirements.
Rapid antigen tests
Currently, the availability of rapid antigen tests in Australia is limited. You're strongly encouraged to bring your own supply of rapid antigen tests with you when travelling to Australia.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) has approved a selection of rapid antigen tests (home use tests) for use in Australia. Please ensure your rapid antigen tests are approved for use in Australia.
Follow the instructions to fulfill all government requirements outlined on the Victorian Government webpage Information for overseas travellers.
Post-arrival COVID-19 tests
Get a rapid antigen test or PCR test (if you don’t have access to a rapid antigen test) within 24 hours of arriving in Australia, and isolate at home or other private accommodation until you receive a negative result.
What to do if you test positive to COVID-19 or are identified as a close contact
Support is available through both the Victorian Government and RMIT if you test positive to COVID-19 or are identified as a close contact. For more information, go to:
You can get free transfer from Melbourne Airport or Avalon Airport by submitting your pickup request through the booking form.
Ensure you read and accept the terms and conditions outlined in the booking form beore submitting your request.
All fully vaccinated international travellers will be required to get a PCR or rapid antingen test within 24 hours of arrival and isolate at home or other private accommodation until they receive a negative result.
For more information about self-isolation requirements, go to Information for overseas travellers on the Victorian Government website.
For more information about preparing to arrive in Victoria, including accommodation support, making friends and finding jobs, go to International students.
For more information, go to Frequently asked questions.
Whether you're studying remotely, or have arrived in Melbourne to study on-campus, you can access RMIT's social, wellbeing, study and career support.
Go to the RMIT student website for more information.
In 2022, the learning experience at RMIT will continue to be a mix of online and face to face. Students will be learning through digital content via Canvas and attending timetabled classes face-to-face in our physical classrooms.
We recognise that some international students will continue to be affected by the COVID-19 travel restrictions. That’s why we’ll continue to provide online options where possible to support our students in progressing their studies, while they remain offshore.
Depending on the program and its requirements, this may include different learning activities and assessments, conducting face-to-face studies at RMIT’s Offshore Learning Centres in their home country or guiding students through different program pathways.
However, for some programs, such as some with accreditation requirements, it is not possible to offer alternative learning options. Please see below for detailed information on the status of potentially affected programs, advice for international students and who to contact for further information.
Students should be aware that if they cannot attend campus, this may result in delays to their progression and program completion.
Students enrolled in double degrees or degrees with courses from different disciplines may need to check information from different Colleges depending on their chosen disciplines.
Programs and courses within the College of Business and Law include accounting, information systems and supply chain, business, economics, finance, marketing, management and law.
Online study options will be offered to all international students in all programs and courses within the College of Business and Law.
If you have any queries in relation to your courses or program, please contact Business Connect.
Schools within the College of Design and Social Context include Architecture and Urban Design, Art, Design, Education, Fashion and Textiles, Global, Urban and Social Studies, Media and Communication and Property, Construction and Project Management.
Information on study options for students in DSC is mostly available now on a per-program basis through the link below. If your program does not yet have detailed information in all columns, you will need to contact the school directly (details within the link) or consult your Enrolment Program Structure by clicking on the link within the sheet below.
For specific advice on progressing your program or course, contact the College of Design and Social Context by:
Programs and courses within the STEM College include computing technologies, engineering, maths, health and biomedical sciences, physical and natural sciences and biological sciences.
Information on study options for students in STEM can be found at the link below. Please note that there are two tabs in the spreadsheet. The first tab lists all courses that are available for online study for Semester 1 2022. The second tab lists all courses within the School of Science that’s NOT available for online study in Semester 1 2022. All School of Science courses that are not listed in the second tab are available online.
For advice on how to choose your courses or navigate your program, please contact STEM College Student Lifecycle Team by:
Programs offered in the College of Vocational Education include Cert III, Cert IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Associate Degrees across a range of disciplines in Creative Industries, Built Environment and Sustainability, Future Technologies, Business and Enterprise and Social Care and Health.
For advice on how to choose your courses or navigate your program, contact us by:
For more information about remote study, go to Frequently asked questions.
Eligible full-fee paying international students may be eligible for the International Tuition Fee Bursary. The bursary covers 10% of tuition fees for Semester 1 2022.
To find out if you’re eligible, go to International Tuition Fee Bursary.
Acknowledgement of country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.
Acknowledgement of country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.