The federal government has approved the industry-funded NSW International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan, which will allow 250 international students studying with NSW education providers to return each fortnight from early December.

The first phase of the plan is expected to bring 500 students on chartered flights, paid for by the students, by the end of the year.

They will be separate to the state's weekly caps on arrivals and will not be prioritised ahead of Australians returning or wanting to return home.

UON Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO said the university welcomed the Friday announcement.

"While it's too early to discuss specific details, we hope it's not too long before we see international students start to return to our campuses when the Public Health Orders permit," he said.

The students will need to be fully vaccinated with a Therapeutic Goods Administration-recognised COVID-19 vaccine, which includes Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Students vaccinated with Sinovac or Sinopharm, including those from China and Nepal, will not be able to come to NSW for their studies in the pilot.

UON's 2020 annual report said it had 6395 international students and the top enrolments were from China, Singapore and India.

Accommodation provider Scape will house the returning students for their 14-day quarantine period in a refurbished building in Redfern.

Education providers and returning students will bear all the costs associated with travel and quarantine.

As well as UON, Australian Catholic University, Macquarie University, The University of Sydney, UNSW, UTS and the University of Wollongong have signed up, as have independent providers the International College of Management Sydney, Kaplan, Navitas, RedHill and Study Group.

An Investment NSW spokeswoman said the providers would work collaboratively "to allocate spaces via an expression of interest process".

"Students who are already enrolled in NSW institutions that have not been able to return to NSW will be invited to participate in this EOI process as a first priority," she said.

"The first cohort of returning international students will be approached by their respective institutions based on a range of criteria and their individual situations."

The Newcastle Herald reported in June that a plan to bring 250 international students to Sydney each fortnight would include eight UON students in each cohort.

NSW Vice-Chancellors' Committee Convener Professor Barney Glover AO said the plan was a "collaborative effort".

"We will be ready to go once the lockdown in NSW ends with the state reaching the 70 per cent vaccination target," he said.

"We know the pilot is small in scale, but it is a critical milestone that will allow us to test and refine our plans and processes before committing to a full return.

"The pilot will be evaluated after the first two flights with the view to scaling up as quickly as possible thereafter."

The government said there were more than 57,289 enrolled students outside Australia unable to travel to NSW.

It said the state had already lost more than one third of its international students since the start of the pandemic - some have gone to other countries and some have chosen to stay in their home countries.

Before the pandemic, international education was estimated to directly support more than 95,000 full-time equivalent jobs in NSW.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the sector was worth $14.6 billion in 2019.

THE University of Newcastle is one of eight universities helping to fund a pilot plan to bring fully vaccinated international students to Australia before the end of the year.

The Commonwealth Government has approved the industry-funded plan, which is expected to see 500 international students pay for their own seats on chartered flights.

UON Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO said the university welcomed the announcement. "While it's too early to discuss specific details, we hope it's not too long before we see international students start to return to our campuses when the Public Health Orders permit," he said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade John Barilaro said the staggered return of students was stage one of a pilot that would slowly expand and evolve, as vaccination rates continued to rise in NSW and internationally.

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"The international education sector sustains thousands of jobs across NSW, and I'm proud that NSW is leading the way with the return of international students to our shores," Mr Barilaro said.

"The safety of the people of NSW is paramount and we are taking no risks. All participating students will be required to be fully vaccinated with a TGA [Therapeutic Goods Administration]-recognised COVID-19 vaccine, and strict quarantine protocols will be in place.

"Importantly, this plan will not come at the expense of any Australian citizen or resident wishing to return home."

TGA recognised vaccines include Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Students vaccinated with Sinovac or Sinopharm, including those from China and Nepal, will not be able to come to NSW for their studies.

The Newcastle Herald reported in June that a plan to bring 250 international students to Sydney each fortnight would include eight UON students in each cohort.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the program was vital to the state's economic recovery, creating jobs and restoring growth.

"International education plays an important role in connecting NSW to the world," Mr Perrottet said. "As we implement a range of efforts to reboot our economy, rebuilding the sector - which was worth $14.6 billion to NSW in 2019 - is a key part of our efforts."

Accommodation provider Scape will house the returning students for a 14-day quarantine in Redfern, at a building refurbished to accommodate up to 650 students.

The University of Newcastle has signed up to the plan, along with Australian Catholic University, Macquarie University, The University of Sydney, UNSW, UTS, the University of Wollongong and independent providers the International College of Management Sydney, Kaplan, Navitas, RedHill and Study Group.

Participating providers will contact students about expression of interests for the plan.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said NSW was the top destination in Australia for international students.

"More than 57,000 students are currently overseas, with many desperate to return, resume their studies, part-time jobs, connect with friends and continue their journey in our world-leading institutions," Mr Ayres said.

Governor of the NSW Vice-Chancellors' Committee Professor Barney Glover AO welcomed the news. "After over 18 months of planning, we are delighted that both the Australian and NSW Government are supportive of a pilot plan for an incremental reopening of our borders to our international students," Mr Glover said.

Council of International Students Australia President, Belle Lim, said the plan was the result of detailed planning and collaborative approach. "We all want international students back on campus, enjoying the unique learning, work and life experience that only studying in Australia can deliver," Ms Lim said. "We support the cautious approach and look forward to growing the number of students returning to NSW over time."

CEO of Independent Higher Education Australia Simon Finn said the private higher education sector welcomes the pilot's launch and commends the NSW Government's unwavering focus on community safety, international student welfare and rebuilding the state economy. "By working with the Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) on this pilot from the beginning, the NSW Government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting both the private and public education sector," Mr Finn said.

Scape CEO Anouk Darling said the company was proud to be involved in the pilot.

"Our Scape team are proud to partner with the NSW Government and our world class education sector, here in NSW, to welcome our returning international students into our most advanced and COVID-safe student accommodation facility at Scape Redfern."

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