Hi, we are a group of students commencing studies in Dentistry at the University of Adelaide. Many of us have been offered admissions by the school in October 2020. Of which, we had to pay a deposit of ~17k AUD within a week of the offer to secure our spots. We have been compliant with the school’s requests, but it was only ambiguous as to whether we could start school as supposed.

During this period of waiting since the offer, many emails were sent to the faculty as well as the agencies representing us seeking advice on this matter, with no replies received. With much ambiguity, many of us continued to wait for news while enrolling ourselves into the school’s system. We had been advised in January 2021 that a formal email addressing the plans for all international students offshore will be up soon which we regret that no official information has been relayed from the school as to how our education would proceed for everyone. 

Unfortunately, on 17th February, just days before the commencement of studies, we received an email response from the International Admissions Team that the school has decided that “failure to appear on campus by 22nd February” will necessitate a deferment. The prerequisites for commencement of school are simply brutal for us students. The control of Australian borders is nothing within us students’ manipulations. The government had stated that travel exemptions are valid for healthcare students in their final two years of studies. Which leaves us freshmen, though eager to start school, only confused and helpless. The school’s reason for deferment is “due to the nature of our courses'' in which online lessons will not be plausible. However, the university had made it a point to shift classes online for all students in Australia, whether interstate or in Adelaide, last year. If lessons can be conducted virtually, it should not matter where in the globe we are to conduct these classes. Especially considering the quagmire the entire world is in, desperate measures should be taken into considerations instead. Understanding that Singapore is only 2.5hours behind Adelaide, time difference will not be a significant factor. We also believe that we are passionate enough to ride this wave out with the school and if online lessons are what it takes, we will be compliant to attend lessons diligently and work closely with the school. This will only prove how driven and strong our Adelaide community can be. 

Additionally, students in their first 2 years of Dentistry do not have clinical placements in the hospital hence whether we can attend lessons onshore should not be as significant. Dentistry students have simulated clinics 1 to 3 times a week, however these were lessons previously moved online when Covid-19 first hit which shows that online teaching of these practical skills is feasible. Moreover, the previous batch of Singaporean students was given the chance to access online lessons from March to September 2020. Although they ultimately halt lessons, this shows that the school has means and is able to do online lessons for the time-being, or at least sufficiently for a semester, so that students do not have to waste time. It is possible that the pandemic becomes less severe by then with shipments of vaccinations entering both Singapore and Australia already. Thus, it is hard to comprehend why the school can only conclude a harsh deferment plan.

We understand that the University is also in a tough position, but we do not understand the University’s position in asking us to wait a year out when almost everywhere else in the world, even other states in Australia are already making the shift to online lessons to live with this unpredictable Covid-19 situation. We are grateful that the University is reserving our places. However, we are more worried about the time lost that cannot be retrieved. It cannot be certain whether a year of deferment will change the situation for the better, knowing how unpredictable and volatile the pandemic has been the past year. Who can assure us that if we wait out this year, we can surely begin school next year if the University’s stance continues to be that online lessons are not possible at all for international students? 1 year of waiting with ambiguity is an extremely arduous time. Many international students have been brave to decide to venture out of the comfort zone of their home countries. All so for a dream. Many of us in Singapore have already taken a gap year to match the academic timeline in Australia. Not to mention, the Singaporean boys who must serve their mandatory 2 years of National Service. As dental students, we are committing our 5 years wholly and in good faith of the school. We believe in working this difficult situation out together with the school. On an annual average, we spend AUD$80,000 on school fees and AUD$14,000 on accommodation, excluding other daily expenses. This creates a great financial burden on all of us. Every year of delaying our graduation is yet another year of not being able to find proper work to pay off this sum.

We believe that there are options and suggestions not explored yet and waiting and deferring should not be the only solution. Delaying a year is only procrastination in facing the pandemic and its challenges. Where we now stand as a global community amidst this pandemic, unison is mandatory. Therefore, we must write this plea - to implore for the school’s unison with their very own international students they have accepted. For all of us to work together in seeking a forward-looking solution during these challenging times. Living in this era of technology, we believe our community can leverage on the technologies already readily accessible to us instead of necessitating a deferment. Especially when all other universities around the world are relying on online meetings and lectures to facilitate learning. 

Some of us may have been on the campus before while some have not. But we all share the same sentiments for the school. We are all excited to start an enriching journey with the school. To be proudly educated by the university. We hope that this very institution making compassionate and empathetic healthcare workers can embody and perform these very qualities to its international students during such trying times. Every waiting day augments to a waiting month and then to a tiresome and seemingly hopeless year of waiting. We only hope that the school will work tighter with us and stronger for us. So that we can resume education despite where we may be. And that after all these trying times, we can eventually reunite physically on campus and celebrate.

We sincerely hope for the University to reconsider their plans and to allow us to continue our studies amidst this difficult period. Our education and future have been compromised by a situation we reign no control in. We only hope for a chance to be able to finally start education after what a confusing and troubling year it had been. We are determined and willing to work hard. As an individual supposedly a freshman dental student enrolling in the AY 2021 but now, just someone holding onto a title so unclear – and many alike me – we appreciate every help we can get. Please help us to spread the word to your family and friends studying in the University of Adelaide. Thank you for reading thus far and we sincerely appreciate your simple gesture of signing this petition for it means the world to us. We hope you support our petition, thank you!