Graduate research student travel

Travel disruptions and safety advice

Monash is actively monitoring global fuel supply constraints and disruptions associated with Middle East tensions. These conditions are affecting airline operations and international transit routes.

All graduate research students must comply with current University travel settings and carefully consider risks when planning or undertaking travel.

Current requirements for graduate research travel

  • In line with DFAT Smartraveller advice, travel to and via the Middle East is suspended regardless of whether airlines recommence operations.
  • Study away applications must include a statement about why this travel is “essential” at this time.
  • Applications must include itineraries that demonstrate no travel to or transit through the Middle East.

If you already have bookings that include Middle East transit, these must be changed, particularly while:

  • DFAT risk levels remain elevated, or
  • disruptions to airspace and transit hubs continue.

If you need to change your travel

If your current booking includes travel to or transit through the Middle East, you must make changes while these restrictions are in place.

What you need to do

  • Review your itinerary carefully, including stopovers and code-share flights.
  • Contact your airline or travel provider to discuss available options.
  • Change or cancel your booking to avoid Middle East transit routes, regardless of whether airlines recommence operations.
  • Book alternative routes via Asia, the Americas, or direct services where available.
  • Keep all documentation (receipts, confirmations, correspondence).
  • Seek refunds or credits from your airline where eligible.
  • Submit an insurance claim only after airline options have been exhausted.

You may need to pay upfront for alternative flights, with reimbursement dependent on airline policies and insurance eligibility.

Is your travel considered essential?

Study away travel is not automatically approved and must be justified.

When assessing whether travel should proceed, you and your approver should consider:

  • Whether the travel is necessary for your research progress.
  • Personal safety risks associated with the destination.
  • Visa and immigration requirements and restrictions.
  • Travel disruptions, including cancellations and limited flight availability.
  • Rising travel costs and availability of sufficient funding.
  • Contingency planning, including the ability to manage delays or extended stays.

Examples of essential graduate research travel

Travel is more likely to be considered essential where it is:

  • core to your research project, such as:
    • fieldwork that cannot be conducted remotely
    • access to unique facilities, archives, or data
  • required to meet PhD milestones or completion requirements.

Travel for activities such as general conferences or non-critical collaboration may not meet the threshold where alternatives exist.

Financial and personal responsibility

Graduate research students should be aware:

  • You may be personally liable for non-insurable costs arising from:
    • cancellations
    • rebooking
    • extended stays due to disruptions.
  • Insurance coverage may be limited, particularly for:
    • bookings made after 2 March 2026
    • disruption-related claims.

You are expected to consider these risks carefully as part of your travel planning.

Support and further information

For guidance on study away applications or travel requirements: