Advice for International Students

As a student at the Institution you need to be aware of your student visa conditions to ensure you have a positive study experience. It is also important to be aware that the Institution has legal requirements to notify the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) of information in certain circumstances, for example, if you are no longer studying at the Institution.

To maintain a valid student visa you must hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) that you are issued by the Institution during the acceptance process.

Conditions

Ensure you are familiar with your student visa conditions by visiting the DHA website for a comprehensive description of conditions applicable to all student visas. Check your visa details and your conditions that apply to you and your family members online at VEVO. Below are details of only some of the visa conditions that apply to student visas.

Work Limitations

Once your course has commenced, you are permitted to work in paid employment up to 40 hours per fortnight in term time. During term breaks, you are permitted to work more than 40 hours per fortnight. A fortnight means the period of 14 days starting on a Monday. Your family members are allowed to work no more than 40 hours per fortnight for undergraduate students, and unlimited hours for postgraduate students, but not until your course has commenced.

International students employed in the tourism and hospitality sector can work more than 40 hours a fortnight in response to the affected services of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meet Course Requirements

To maintain your student visa you must remain enrolled in your course and meet the Institution’s course progression requirements. For ELICOS and Pathway students, you must also maintain satisfactory attendance.

If you are not meeting course progression requirements the Institution will be in contact with you to commence an intervention strategy to assist you to get back on track in your studies and meet standard requirements.

If after an intervention you are still unable to meet course progression requirements, as per the Academic Progression Policy and the ELICOS Course Progression Policy, you may be excluded from the Institution. You will have the right to submit a complaint about this decision as per the Complaints and Appeals Policy and Complaints and Appeals Procedures. If you appeal the decision and your appeal is unsuccessful or you do not appeal the decision, you will be reported to DHA for failure to maintain course progress (or attendance), and this may result in your visa being cancelled.

Overseas Student Health Cover

Student visa holders and their dependents are required to hold Overseas Student Heath Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their visa. OSHC provides medical and hospital insurance during your stay in Australia.

You can elect for the Institution to organise your OSHC during your acceptance process, with Allianz Global Assistance, or you can purchase your own OSHC using an Australian Government approved provider.

Students from certain countries including Norway, Sweden and Belgium may have special arrangements under their own national schemes and are requested to contact DHA for further information.

Under 18 Years of Age

For a student visa holder under 18 years of age, you must maintain the accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements for the duration of your stay in Australia. If you wish to change these arrangements, you must have written approval from the Institution and DHA. Refer to the Under 18 Student Policy.

Visit ICMS Under 18s for more information.

Change of Contact Details

You must notify the Institution using this from within seven days of the following:

• your new address and contact details after arrival in Australia
• any changes to your address and contact details during your enrolment at the institution

Updating your address and contact details are important as DHA may need to contact you if there are any visa problems and if your details are not accurate you may risk having your visa cancelled without your knowledge.

Australia provides rigorous protection for international students through the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) and related legislation, (including the National Code of Practice 2018) which protects and enhances Australia’s reputation for quality education, provides tuition protection and supports the integrity of the student visa program.

The Australian Government has created a fact sheet for international students, containing important information about your rights and responsibilities while studying in Australia.

International students requesting a transfer to the Institution or requesting a release from the Institution prior to the completion of the first 6 months of their principal course* should consult the Transfer Between Providers Policy and the Release Request Procedures. A release request will only be approved in limited and exceptional circumstances.

*The principal course of study refers to the main course of study to be undertaken by an international student where a student visa has been issued for multiple courses of study.

International students on student visas must complete their course within the duration specified on their COE. This requires international students to be enrolled full-time in each study period, which is usually 24 credit points for undergraduate courses and 32 credit points for postgraduate courses.

In limited circumstances including academic difficulties or situations considered compassionate or compelling, a student may be eligible to reduce their study load in a particular study period. Refer to the Change of Study Load Procedures for further details.

The Australian Government offers various support services for free such as Food Assistance, Legal Advice, and Resources for Health and Mental Well-being. For better-suited confidential advice on work, accommodation, and visa-related concerns, you may submit your inquiries to the Intake Support Service. ICMS also provides both face to face and online Student Services wherever you may be around the world.

International student visa holders arriving in Australia between 19 January and 19 March 2022 can claim a visa fee refund.

To claim their refund students need to create an account on the Home Affairs Visa Refund Portal and complete an online claim form.

Read here for more information.

Student visa holders who couldn’t complete their course due to COVID-19 impacts may be eligible to have their visa fee waived when applying for a new student visa.

To view your eligibility to have your student visa application waived view this page.

Read here for more information.

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recognised COVID-19 vaccines.

If you are not eligible for Medicare, you will need an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) to get your proof online. The quickest way to get an IHI is online through myGov account by following these instructions.