Universities say their foreign enrolments have remained “astonishingly high” and they are hoping international students can return to the country in the middle of next year.
But they say it is not practical to expect large numbers of students until managed isolation and quarantine requirements are dropped.
Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan said the eight institutions had about 14,000 international students, which was a lot better than initial “doom and gloom” forecasts at the start of the pandemic.
Universities hoped students might be able to enter the country in the middle of next year, he said. Many other countries are now allowing international travel for those who are double vaccinated. It will have to get to the point where New Zealand does the same.
