Frequently Asked Admission Questions

Second bachelor’s degree

Current undergraduate business students have the option to complete an additional eight subjects to gain a second bachelor’s degree. Learn more.

Second master’s degree

Eligible postgraduate students have the option to complete an additional four subjects to gain a second master’s degree. Learn more.

Concurrent enrolment

In some circumstances students can enrol to study more than one degree simultaneously. This has to be approved by the relevant Associate Dean. If this enrolment constitutes a study overload, the Associate Dean will only approve concurrent enrolment if the student has achieved a CGPA of at least 2.50 after two study periods. Of course, your performance will be monitored in accordance with the Academic Progression Policy.

Domestic (Australian and New Zealand) students

Domestic students who wish to withdraw from a course of study before commencement must complete the Withdrawal from Course form.

If a student correctly withdraws from a course of study by the census date, they will not have to pay the tuition fees or incur a debt for that course. For financial implications, refer to the Refund of Fees Policy – Domestic Students.

International students

International students who wish to withdraw from a course of study before their commencement date (of the first course if a student has a package offer) must:

• complete the Withdrawal from Course form;
• provide an airplane ticket indicating the date on which the student intends to leave Australia (applicable for onshore students withdrawing to return to their home country); and/or
• provide a Decision Record as provided by the DHA (Department of Home Affairs), if the withdrawal is due to student visa refusal.

For financial implications, refer to the Refund of Fees Policy – International Students. For students under 18 years of age, written evidence of the legal guardian and/or government sponsor support for the withdrawal is also required.

All students seeking to withdraw entirely from their studies and discontinue their enrolment after they have signed their offer of acceptance or have commenced their study should refer to the Withdrawal Procedures for further information.

Academic and financial penalties related to requests for withdrawal will be determined by the guidelines contained in ICMS Refund and Grading Policies.

The institution reserves the right to cancel (rescind) an offer or cancel the enrolment of a person where:

• an offer is made on the basis of incomplete, inaccurate, fraudulent or misleading information supplied by the applicant or certifying authority;
• For international students – in the event that the institution is not satisfied that the applicant meets the Genuine Student (GS) criteria as set out by the Australian Government.
• an offer is made in error.

The institution is permitted (and sometimes obliged) to cancel or suspend a student’s enrolment for the following reasons, including (but not limited to):

• An offer was made after submission of incomplete, fraudulent or misleading information
• Breach of the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
• Misbehaviour
• Breach of course progress or attendance
• Breach of academic integrity

For further information please refer to the Suspension and Cancellation Procedures which provides details of related policies and the Institution’s obligation to report an international student to DHA.

Yes, you will receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) for the full CRICOS registered duration of the course and your academic study plan will enable to you complete your course within the expected duration.

Applicants with an offer of admission who wish to defer their course commencement date are required to defer in accordance with the Deferral Procedures. Learn more.

Students must read, understand and comply with the requirements laid out in the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment for the duration of their studies at ICMS, Aspire or ISCA.

In accordance with the National Code, ICMS is required to monitor the course progress of each overseas student to ensure that they are in a position to complete their course within the expected duration specified on their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

ICMS is only permitted to extend a course duration in limited circumstances, as detailed in the Extension of Course Duration Procedures.

In order to complete a course within the expected duration of study, international students are normally required to be enrolled in a full-time study load each study period. As such, international students must maintain a full-time study load to ensure that they complete their course within the duration specified in their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). This is usually a condition of their visa under the Australian Government’s Education Services for Overseas Students (2000) Act 2000.

Requests to vary study load are only permitted in exceptional circumstances. What constitutes a full-time load will vary by course of study, hence students should liaise closely with their academic advisors to understand and follow the requirements of their course.

Refer to the Policy Library for more information.

ICMS measures student enrolment load in credit points and in Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL). One EFTSL is the amount of student load determined to be equal to a full-time load for one student for one year. Typically, each subject has a set study load which is represented in credit points and EFTSL value. The EFTSL value of the subject is calculated using the credits points attributed to the subject as a proportion of the annual credit point requirement under a full-time study load.

Refer to the Policy Library for more information.

International students who do not comply with the requirements to maintain a full-time study load will be deemed to have intentionally under enrolled without acceptable reason and contrary to the institution’s requirements. Students who intentionally under enrol may have the following penalties applied:

• refusal of any request to extend their current Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE); and/or
• cancellation of the enrolment.

Refer to the Policy Library for more information.

The typical full-time study load (for students who are not on Work Integrated Learning) in one study period is:

• no more than 9 credit points (24 credit points per year) for undergraduate courses; and
• no more than 12 (32 credit points per year) for postgraduate courses.

The accelerated study load (for students who are not on work integrated learning) in one study period is: 

• 12 credit points (36 credit points per year) for undergraduate courses; and 
• 16 credit points (48 credit points per year) for postgraduate courses. 

Domestic students may have a reduced study load and study part time if they wish.

International students must apply to reduce their study load which may be approved in limited circumstances only.

Refer to the Change of Study Load Procedures for further information on eligibility and how to apply.

Sponsored students must seek written approval from their sponsor prior to submitting their completed form. Students are required to attach a letter of consent from their sponsor with their application.

Once a student has commenced enrolment in a course, they must gain permission for a leave of absence. For all approved applications, the period of leave will not normally exceed a total of two study periods. The student must formally notify the institution of their intention to return to recommence their studies.

A period of leave that requires longer than the permitted time will be deemed a withdrawal, and students will be required to reapply for admission to the course, including meeting any updated entry requirements.

International students can only access a leave of absence during a course in certain limited circumstances including:

• serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes;
• instances where the institution is unable to offer a pre-requisite subject;
• an intervention strategy for students at risk of not meeting satisfactory course progress;
• bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents;
• major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country that require emergency travel and this has impacted on the student’s studies;
• a traumatic experience which could include:

1. involvement in, or witnessing of a serious crime, or
2. witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime, and this has impacted on the student (these cases should be supported by police or psychologists’ reports).

Refer to the Policy Library for more information.

A student who wishes to transfer from one enrolled course to another course within ICMS, must satisfy the entry requirements for the course for which they are applying as per the Admissions Policy.

If a student transfers from one course at the institution to another, any credit approved for the original course will not necessarily be transferred to the new course. Learn more by reading the Change of Course Procedures.

Learning completed during student exchange and study abroad is considered to be directly equivalent to study completed at ICMS when approval is gained from ICMS, prior to participating in the student exchange and study abroad program.

Students must apply for credit after the student exchange and study abroad has been completed. Credit will be given on receipt of a transcript or other satisfactory confirmation of completion. Credit will be in the form of exemptions and the grade awarded by the student exchange and study abroad partner institution will not be recorded on the ICMS transcript and will not contribute towards the calculation of the students ICMS GPA.

International students are able to request a release from their enrolment to transfer to another registered provider. The institution ensures that it is compliant with the ESOS Act and the requirements of Standard 7 of the National Code, by outlining its approach within the Transfer Between Providers Policy – International Students. All requests for release to transfer between providers will be assessed against this policy.

If a student holds a student visa and is considering changing their course of study, they must ensure that they continue to meet all the conditions that apply to their student visa. Find more information on the Australian Government website.

The institution will not admit an international student who wishes to transfer from another institution during the first six months of their principal course of study except where:

• the student’s original institution has provided a written letter of release;
• the student’s original institution has ceased to be registered as a CRICOS provider, or the course in which the student is currently enrolled has ceased to be registered as a CRICOS course;
• the student’s original institution has had a sanction imposed on its registration by the Australian Government or state or territory government that prevents the student from continuing their principal course of study;
• a government sponsor of the student considers the change to be in the student’s best interest and provides written support for the transfer.

Students under the age of 18 will also require evidence that the transfer is supported by their parents or guardian.

Domestic transfers are accepted at any time.

Domestic (Australian and New Zealand) students

Australian and New Zealand students may study fully online if this is offered for their preferred course. They may also choose a blend of online and face-to-face classes, subject to availability.

International students

International students may also choose a blend of online and face-to-face classes, subject to availability. However, please note that from 30 June 2023 all international students on a Student Visa must comply with ESOS National Code rules, and therefore are permitted only to study a third of their course subjects online.

This means that international students on a student visa can only undertake 33% of their total enrolment load at ICMS as online study and must be enrolled in at least one on-campus subject in each compulsory study period.

Students may not apply for admission (or readmission) during a period of exclusion from the institution. The period of exclusion is typically two consecutive study periods.

Re-admission requirements are outlined as follows:

• applicants whose deferral period has lapsed may reapply for admission to their course of study and will be subject to the same requirements as all other applicants at the time of applying;
• applicants who have been previously excluded from the institution may reapply to a course of study, when the exclusion period lapses. If accepted, students may be awarded the enrolment status of “Conditional Enrolment” subject to an intervention strategy; and
• applicants must be aware that courses are subject to change and that their original enrolled course/subjects may not be available, particularly if returning after a significant period of time.

Students concerned with decisions made by the institution in relation matters regarding enrolments may lodge a complaint in accordance with the Complaints and Appeals Policy.

Requirements related to admissions are set out in the Admissions Policy.

ICMS acknowledges its responsibilities to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for students under the age of 18. We aim to ensure that students under 18 receive the appropriate accommodation, support and general welfare while studying in Australia.

All international students who will be under 18 years of age when they commence their course must prove they have adequate accommodation and welfare arrangements in place to obtain a student visa.