Mr Kansal is enrolled in a Master of Business Information Systems at Swinburne University.

He did approximately four weeks of on-campus learning before COVID-19 plunged Victoria into lockdown and turned his life upside down, he lost his casual job and had no choice but to study online.

“Since I lost my job I have tried and tried to get another one, but there are none. I don’t have any income,” Mr Kansal said.

Social isolation is making settling into his new country nearly impossible.

“I don’t have any local friends – you can’t meet new friends on social media. It’s really stressful. Lockdown changed everything,” he said.

There is also little assistance available to international students experiencing financial stress.

Mr Kansal has been told if he applies for an extension of up to a month to pay next semester’s fees, he must pay interest on it.

However, Swinburne University director of student support and wellbeing Vivian Allard said they are reviewing international students’ circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

“Students can contact Swinburne if they are in financial difficulty and we have set up a Student Emergency Fund to assist students who are struggling," she said.

"We have international student advisers and a dedicated fees team who work closely with our international students.

"The International Student Emergency Relief Fund is a government fund that has assisted many international students."

Swinburne has also set up its own Student Emergency Fund for students who need financial support.

A Victorian Government spokesperson said that as of October, just over 30,000 international students have been supported by the International Student Emergency Relief Fund, out of a total of 119,000 international students enrolled in Victorian education providers.

Despite being in severe financial hardship, Mr Kansal was not successful in his application for the Victorian government’s International Student Emergency Relief Fund, which provides a one-off payment of $1,100.

Mr Kansal ran into problems when he requested paperwork from his former employer, who refused to provide the documentation.

Not paying university fees can have dire consequences for international students. They can lose their Confirmation of Enrolment documentation and, as a result, they can be deported.

Mr Kansal said his future is uncertain.

“Somehow, I managed to pay this semester’s fees, but I don’t know how I will be able to complete this course,” he said.

Naman Vijay Sharma arrived in Melbourne from her home town of Mumbai in late February to begin studying a Master of Journalism at Monash University. Her course costs more than $69,400.

 

She arrived full of optimism and excitement about meeting new people and exploring a new city.

Within a month, the pandemic shut everything down and Ms Sharma could not set foot on campus.

“It has been a complete disaster for me,” she said.

“I’ve not been able to go out at all and make new friends because I’ve been locked inside my apartment on my own...the mental health toll is the biggest toll on me.”

It has also been hard studying away from family and friends during such an uncertain time.

“Initially when I came to Australia I was homesick and consoled myself, saying ‘you can always take a flight back whenever you need to'.

"But the uncertainty of not knowing when I can go back is very stressful. It’s the worst feeling."

However, Monash University has been helpful in alleviating some of Ms Sharma's stress. 

“Monash was brilliant. I survived because of their support, especially when they assisted me with a grant to continue my studies," she said.

"I am now doing a double Masters in Journalism and International Relations thanks to their help."

Even though the financial support from Monash has been a lifeline, Ms Sharma isn’t sure what her future holds.

“I am supposed to be in Australia to study for two and a half years, but now my future is uncertain.

"I’m not sure if I will be able to stay in Australia."

Kashan Javed Qureshi was excited about studying a Bachelor of Engineering at Monash in 2020. He expected to embark on an exciting adventure.

But, like Ms Sharma and Mr Kansal, Mr Qureshi arrived in Melbourne in February and within weeks the world had turned upside down. He was told his engineering studies would be conducted completely online.

Hearing this news was devastating.

“Paying this much money for online study is a waste,” he said.

The four-year degree will cost Mr Qureshi $184,000.

He decided to defer until second semester in the hope restrictions would ease by then and on-campus learning would return.

Since starting online learning, Mr Qureshi said it has not gone well.

“The communication gap is the main problem...it’s a major drawback. The online practicals are not even 50% as productive as face-to-face practicals," he said.

"The tuition fees should have been reduced. It’s not value for money at all.”

 

Mr Qureshi said some of his friends have been doing it much tougher than he has.

“My housemate was going through mental stress due to lockdown," he said.

"He lost his job, which was a financial burden to him. He was too scared to tell his parents.

"One day he collapsed due to extreme stress and we had to get him to hospital, where he stayed for a week. When he got back, me and my friends helped to pay his rent and bills.”

Feeling hemmed in by the lockdown, and with the uncertainty about when face-to-face learning would return, Mr Qureshi took the opportunity, when it arose, to fly back to his family in Pakistan.

He has continued his studies remotely from there.

Mr Qureshi is hoping he can come back to Australia and complete his Bachelor of Engineering face-to-face.

“I’m not sure if I can continue with it at present - definitely not if the only option is online.”