The COVID-19 breakout is by far the most talked about topic in 2020. From offices and restaurants to parks and streets, almost everything is shut down. Or, should I say, locked down. As we draw closer to the end of the year, a few questions haunt a majority of us: How do we get back to studying? Do we continue with online classes, or will campuses open before 2021? For those who have just graduated, be it from high school or college, the uncertainty regarding where to apply next looms above. 

We thought we could help you out by walking you through how various countries and colleges have been helping international students during this pandemic. This article will help you in deciding among the best countries to study abroad based on your preferences.

1. The U.S.A

   More often than not, the first country that pops up in one’s mind while talking about studying in which country abroad, the U.S. can be your topmost choice. After all, around half of the world’s top 50 universities are located here, including the famous Ivy Leagues. However, with rising COVID-19 cases and all the confusion about visas, the U.S. may be on the verge of losing its place as the number one choice.

   During this crisis, many top universities have been reaching out to international students, facilitating COVID-19 tests for them, and giving out free masks. Testing and treatment for COVID-19 are also covered under international student health insurance plans. For the fall semester, a few universities, such as the University of Kentucky are planning on handing out PPE kits to all their students as a way of taking precautions.

   As we talk about health, an important but largely ignored factor is mental health, and living in a foreign country while a pandemic is raging is bound to put students under immense stress and anxiety. Many universities are providing students with counselling, psychiatric help, individual and group therapy sessions, and more to combat this.

   Besides caring for their students’ health, universities also provide virtual tutoring via online classes so students can pursue their studies. They have assisted students with numerous virtual tools, such as Zoom, and provided non-English speakers with English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Universities such as the University of Texas-Austin are providing students with assistance on food, emergency housing, career opportunities, and immigration policies.

2. The U.K.

   The UK is considered the best country to get a student visa. It was announced in 2019 that international students graduating in 2021 or later would be able to apply for a post-study visa via the Graduate Immigration Route. This will enable them to work or look for work during those 2 years. Additionally, international PhD graduates will be granted 3 years for the same. Following this, a 93% jump was seen in the number of Indian students joining universities in the UK in 2019, as it is considered the best country to study abroad for Indian students. As there is a rapid increase in the number of students opting to study in the U.K., it is important to look at how the students have been helped during this crisis.

   The British Council and the U.K. government have been working together to keep both current and future students updated on the latest guidelines linked to travelling, health, visas, and college applications. They have been actively sharing information on social media and engaging with the current international students staying there. With these measures, the UK is becoming one of the best countries for international students.

   Amid the pandemic, a lot of students have been left stranded with their housing contracts expiring and no way to get home. For such students, a student-led NGO called Educating Beyond Borders has been providing food and various forms of counselling and assistance. This organisation is known for helping out international students during and after their studies in the U.K. and has been contacting students in need throughout the lockdown period.

   The United Kingdom Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), which is an organisation that supports international students staying in the U.K., has launched a #WeAreTogether campaign to collectively combat the coronavirus and assist students in all the ways they can. They provide mental health guidance and have helpline numbers, e-mail IDs, blogs, and websites to help students contact the right people in case they feel unwell, face food shortages, or have accommodation issues.

   Outlining the plans for universities after the lockdown, the government and university leaders announced that they plan to keep students in “student bubbles” where they will study and live together. International students have the option of starting their courses in January 2021. They’re looking at the minimising movement to avoid the transmission of the virus.

3. Australia

   Australian universities have been providing their international students with financial packages and grants to help them in this lockdown, as most of the students rely largely on their part-time jobs for their regular expenses. With most places shut down and travel bans in place, the students have been finding it very difficult to stay in Australia since they don’t fulfill prerequisites for government packages for wage subsidies and social security payments. Deakin University, RMIT University, Monash University, and the University of Melbourne are just a few of the universities that have announced financial aid packages, scholarships, and waivers of fees for their international students. The value of the total financial aid provided by Australian universities is estimated to be more than AUS$110 million!

   The Australian government has also been helping students with food, accommodation, travel, and visas and has laid out the details of what to do when in an emergency. They have made it easier for students to travel to their home countries once the borders reopen by providing them with visas beforehand so they can travel as soon as possible. They also have multiple helpline numbers for all sorts of medical emergencies.

   Australian universities are planning on continuing remote learning, only providing occasional exceptions to students who require laboratories and need to partake in their practicals.

4. Canada

   As one of the most sought-after study destinations, Canada too has been looking after international students in every way they can. The government and universities have come together to accommodate students in dorms or help them find housing elsewhere. They are providing mental health support and helpline numbers for emergencies and have also allowed certain students to extend their hours of work so that they can earn more during this time of need. There are even study abroad programs that offer financial aid and income support to the students. Regular updates are being posted on this link.

   As travel continues to be restricted, current and former students can extend their stay, and many are also being invited to apply for permanent residency. Help is being provided to students who have already graduated for them to gain the necessary work experience, which would allow them to easily apply for permanent residency.

   Students currently in their home countries have been given the option to study online until April 30, 2021. The University of Ottawa has announced that it will be opening an on-campus COVID-19 testing centre to support its on-campus students and faculty. Universities are looking at a mix of online and offline classes for the coming semester, and you can enroll in these courses if you are looking for semester abroad programs.

   Universities and government institutions have gone out of their way to accommodate international students, who form an important part of their population and economy. Although uncertainty might be overwhelming you, know that options are open and that you can start preparing after deciding which country abroad you are going to study. As COVID-19 cases reduce in many countries, it is likely that the overall situation will also improve soon, and international students will get more options for countries to study abroad.

If you plan to study abroad in the near future and looking for the best study abroad countries, it’s always important to do research. Look up universities and courses you’ll be interested in, and here’s a set of parameters you could look at regarding the current health situation!