Information for student visa holders

While studying at UWA, you need to be aware of the conditions attached to your student visa and what you need to do if you want to make changes to your studies. Variations to your enrolment or changes to the length of your stay in Australia may affect your visa. More information can be found within the National Code factsheets and the ESOS Act. It’s also important to be aware of the costs associated with living and studying in Australia, in addition to your tuition fees.

Important changes to student visa holders from 30 June 2023.

If you are studying on a student visa, you must:

If you have questions, please contact the International Student Support team.

Student visa conditions

There are strict conditions attached to your student visa, so check your visa grant notification to check which conditions apply to you. For a full list of visa conditions, visit the Department of Home Affairs. If you don’t comply with the conditions attached to your visa, you may not be able to stay in Australia.

Some common visa conditions are:

  • Study load

    Students must enrol in a study pattern that ensures they will complete their program within the duration of their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). This means that you must be enrolled full time (four units per semester, 48 points per year) to complete your program before your CoE expiry date.

  • Work restrictions

    8104: You can only work up to 48 hours in a fortnight when your course of study is in session. A fortnight means the period of 14 days starting on a Monday. For more information, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

    8105: You must not work in Australia before your course of study commences.

  • Academic progress

    8202: You must remain enrolled in a registered course that is the same Australian Qualifications Framework level or higher for which you were granted a visa, and you must maintain satisfactory academic course progress for each study period.

  • OSHC

    8501: You must have and maintain adequate health insurance for the whole of your stay in Australia. If you need to extend your student visa, you will need to also extend your OSHC.

  • Online/distance learning

    No more than one-third of your course may be completed through online units/distance learning. In addition, in each semester at least one unit must be studied face-to-face. The only exception is if you are in your final semester of study and the last unit of your course is only available online.

Approved Leave

If you’re an international student on a student visa, you may apply for an Approved Leave for up to 12 months if you are unable to continue your studies because of compassionate or compelling circumstances beyond your control (Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act (2000) and the National Code (2018)It is important to read the University's Student Enrolment Policy, particularly 4.1.5. 

  • Eligibility

    Compassionate and compelling circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

    • Serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes; 
    • Bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where possible a death certificate should be provided); 
    • Major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the overseas student’s studies; 
    • A traumatic experience, which could include: 
      • involvement in, or witnessing of a serious accident; or 
      • witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime, and this has impacted on the overseas student (these cases should be supported by police or psychologists’ reports); or 
    • Where the registered provider was unable to offer a pre-requisite unit, or the overseas student has failed a prerequisite unit and therefore faces a shortage of relevant units for which they are eligible to enrol. 

    Examples of situations that are not considered compassionate or compelling circumstances: 

    • Work commitments.
    • Travelling overseas.
    • Minor medical illness or condition.
    • Financial hardship.
    • Failure to enrol in your course by the enrolment date.
  • How to Apply

    To apply for Approved Leave:

    1. Log on to studentConnect. using your UWA student ID number and Pheme password.
    2. Under the COURSE DETAILS menu, select 'Discontinuation/Approved Leave'.
    3. Select your course and the time period of your leave.
    4. Submit your application.
  • Supporting Documents

    You can find examples of appropriate supporting documents, by visiting Supporting documents for international students applying for Approved Leave / Intermissions - askUWA page.

    All documentation must be provided in English. Overseas medical certificates issued in a language other than English must be translated into English by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) or an overseas notary department.

    Note: Self-translated documents are not acceptable.

  • COE and Student Visa Implications

    If your application is approved, your current Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be cancelled. Any variation to your CoE can have implications for your student visa and if you need advice about your visa status, please contact the Department of Home Affairs

    If you have any questions, contact International Student Support to discuss your circumstances and eligibility for leave, and the impact it may have on your visa.

  • Student Exchange and Study Abroad

    If you are a Student Exchange and Study Abroad student, please contact the UWA Global Learning Office via askUWA or +61 8 6488 8199.

  • Appeals
    • If Approved Leave has been refused, you have the option to internally appeal the outcome within 20 University working days.
    • If you choose to appeal the refusal, assessment and notification of the appeal outcome will be completed within 10 University working days.
    • If you are not successful with the internal appeal, you have the right to access an external complaints and appeal process.
    • The purpose of the external complaints and appeals process is to consider whether the University has followed its policies and procedures, rather than make a decision in place of the University.

Reduced study load or underloading

It is a requirement of your student visa that you are enrolled in a full-time study load every semester (equivalent to four units or 24 points per semester) and complete your course within the duration of your CoE.

If you believe you have compassionate and compelling grounds to reduce your study load/underload, you must seek approval from your Student Advising Office before withdrawing from any units. There are very limited grounds on which an underload can be approved and evidence is needed to support your request.

Note: Reducing your study load may lengthen the time it takes for you to finish your course. This may mean you need to apply for another CoE and visa, which could have associated costs and visa implications.

You need to seek approval for every semester in which you wish to underload.

  • Eligibility

    Compassionate or compelling circumstances are generally beyond your control and impact your course progress or well-being. This may include, but not limited to:

    • Serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes.
    • Trauma or bereavement of close family members.
    • If UWA is unable to offer required units of study due to the structure of your course.
    • Major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the overseas student’s studies.
    • If you are currently on an intervention strategy that includes a recommendation to reduce your study load.

    Examples of situations that are not considered as grounds are:

    • Work commitments.
    • Travelling overseas.
    • Minor medical illness or condition.
    • Financial hardship.
    • Family obligations, such as a wedding of a relative or friend

    Note: Receiving advanced standing/credit for previous study is not a valid reason in itself for reducing your study load. The only time this is permitted is if it is your final semester of study.

    If you are not approved to reduce your study load, you will need to enrol full-time as normal.

  • how to apply

    To apply for Special Approval:

    • Submit the completed online special approval form request to your Student Advising Office.
    • Attach all supporting documents so your request can be assessed. Requests without evidence of compassionate or compelling circumstances will not be approved.
    • Your Student Advising Office will respond to your request to let you know if it has been approved, if they want to meet with you or if they need further documents to enable them to assess your request.
  • supporting documents

    Please ensure all supporting documents are included with your Special Approval request for assessment. Requests without evidence of compassionate and compelling circumstances will not be approved.

    Examples of appropriate supporting documents include:

    • A detailed current medical statement from a medical specialist outlining the impact of your illness/injury on your study, including the expected duration of this impact.
    • A detailed statement issued and signed by a psychologist or counsellor outlining how the circumstances have impacted your studies, including the expected duration of this impact.
    • Any relevant documents such as doctor’s certificates, statutory declarations, or police reports which shows compelling circumstances that have resulted in you missing two weeks of study or more. 

    Supporting documents are not required if:

    • Have an approved intervention strategy in place that requires you to underload.
    • UWA is unable to offer the required units of study due to the structure of your course.
    • You are in your final semester of study and have less than four units left to complete your course requirements by the end of this semester.
  • HDR Students

    If you believe you have compassionate and compelling grounds to reduce your study load/underload, you must seek approval from the Graduate Research School (GRS). Please contact the Graduate Research School via askUWA or +61 8 6488 2807.

  • student exchange and study abroad students

    If you are a Student Exchange and Study Abroad student, please contact the UWA Global Learning Office via askUWA or +61 8 6488 8199.

  • Appeals
    • If a reduced study load or underloading has been refused, you have the option to internally appeal the outcome within 20 University working days.
    • If you choose to appeal the refusal, assessment and notification of the appeal outcome will be completed within 10 University working days.
    • If you are not successful with the internal appeal, you have the right to access an external complaints and appeal process.
    • The purpose of the external complaints and appeals process is to consider whether the University has followed its policies and procedures, rather than make a decision in place of the University.

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

Your CoE is an official document issued to international students to enable you to apply for a student visa. You will have received your CoE from UWA when you accepted your offer. In rare circumstances, if you are not able to complete your studies within the duration of your CoE, you can apply to extend your course and CoE.

  • eligibility

    UWA is only allowed to extend a student visa holder’s course and CoE if:

    • We have assessed that there are ‘compassionate or compelling’ circumstances (see below) and there is evidence to support this assessment.
    • An intervention strategy has been implemented, or is in the process of being implemented, for the overseas student who is at risk of not meeting course progress requirements, or
    • An approved deferral or suspension of the overseas student’s enrolment has occurred.

    Compassionate or compelling circumstances are generally beyond your control and impact your course progress or well-being. This may include, but not limited to:

    • Serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes.
    • Bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where possible a death certificate should be provided).
    • Major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the overseas student’s studies.
    • A traumatic experience, which could include involvement in or witnessing of a serious accident, or witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime, and this has impacted on the overseas student (these cases should be supported by police or psychologists’ reports).
    • Where the registered provider was unable to offer a prerequisite unit, or the overseas student has failed a prerequisite unit and therefore faces a shortage of relevant units for which they are eligible to enrol

    If your course and CoE are extended, and your student visa will expire before you complete your course, you’ll need to apply for a new visa to complete your study via the Department of Home Affairs. Submit your new CoE as part of your visa application, and make sure you have also extended your OSHC.

  • how to apply

    Complete the Course and CoE Extension Application form digitally in the editable PDF and submit it to your Student Advising Office no more than eight weeks before your current CoE expiry date.

    1. Submit your completed application form to your Student Advising Office via askUWA. Attach a copy of your current visa notice from your ImmiAccount.
    2. You’ll receive confirmation when your application has been received and whether or not any further information is needed.
    3. If approved, you’ll receive a new offer letter from Admissions via your UWA student email address. The next release of results may impact your new offer, so you may not receive your offer until closer to the start of the next semester. As long as your visa is still valid, this is not a problem.
    4. To accept your new offer, sign and return the documents to Admissions. You’ll then receive a new CoE via your UWA student email address.
    5. If you also need a new visa, first extend your OSHC with your chosen provider and submit the Certificate of Insurance from your online account.
    6. Use your new CoE and OSHC extension details to apply for a visa extension online through your ImmiAccount by logging in or creating an account. For more information on ImmiAccounts, visit the Department of Home Affairs.
    7. If you’re applying overseas, carry your CoE in your hand luggage (with your passport) in the event that you are questioned by Immigration at an airport.

    If you are only applying for a CoE extension but your student visa is still valid for the new duration of your studies, you don't need to give your new CoE to the Department of Home Affairs. You only need to provide it if you are also applying for a visa extension.

    Note: A CoE extension cannot be processed if you have outstanding fees or other encumbrances on your student record.

  • early course completion

    If you finish your course in an earlier teaching period than the one in which your CoE expires, your early course completion is reported to Immigration and your CoE cancelled, which may have implications on your visa. Contact the Department of Home Affairs if you have any questions.

  • my visa status has changed

    If your student visa status has changed in any way, for example, you may now be on a bridging visa or receive permanent residency, let us know as soon as possible, so we can update your details and provide you with any new information you need. Email a copy of your visa grant notice to the Compliance team via askUWA.

    If your citizenship has also changed, send through a copy of your citizenship certificate or passport. A change in citizenship may mean you are entitled to pay tuition fees at the domestic fee rate, so let us know as soon as possible.

  • early course completion

    If you finish your course in an earlier teaching period than the one in which your CoE expires, your early course completion is reported to Immigration and your CoE cancelled, which may have implications on your visa. Contact the Department of Home Affairs if you have any questions.

  • my visa status has changed

    If your student visa status has changed in any way, for example, you may now be on a bridging visa or receive permanent residency, let us know as soon as possible, so we can update your details and provide you with any new information you need. Email a copy of your visa grant notice to the Compliance team via askUWA.

    If your citizenship has also changed, send through a copy of your citizenship certificate or passport. A change in citizenship may mean you are entitled to pay tuition fees at the domestic fee rate, so let us know as soon as possible.

  • ADVANCED STANDING CREDIT

    If you apply for advanced standing/credit after your visa has been issued and this affects your course duration, UWA will cancel your current CoE and will re-issue you with a new CoE that covers the shorter duration of your studies. This is reported to Immigration, which may affect the duration of your visa. Contact the Department of Home Affairs if you have any questions.

    In applying for and accepting any credit, you should be aware that the credit may:

    • Reduce your course duration.
    • Reduce your total course fees.
    • Affect your eligibility for future visas.

    Applications:
    Submit your completed application for advanced standing to your Student Advising Office via askUWA. Once assessed, your Student Office will email you to let you know the outcome. If you’re offered advanced standing, you’ll need to confirm in writing your acceptance of it. If it affects your
    course duration, you’ll be issued with a new CoE. You do not need to provide this CoE to Immigration unless you are applying for a new student visa.

  • Appeals

    If your student visa status has changed in any way, for example, you may now be on a bridging visa

    • If a Course and CoE extension application has been refused, you have the option to internally appeal the outcome within 20 University working days.
    • If you choose to appeal the refusal, assessment and notification of the appeal outcome will be completed within 10 University working days.
    • If you are not successful with the internal appeal, you have the right to access an external complaints and appeal process.
    • The purpose of the external complaints and appeals process is to consider whether the University has followed its policies and procedures, rather than make a decision in place of the University.

Release requests

If you’re considering transferring to a different education provider and need to be formally released, review the Student Transfer Request section of the ESOS Act or the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 for further information.

  • CURRENT UWA STUDENT
    • If you have already completed one full-time semester of studies at UWA, you are not required to submit an application to be released and transfer to another Australian education provider.
    • If you are currently studying in your first semester at UWA, and want to leave the course before the semester is over, an application must be submitted in writing to askUWA.
    • Your application must include a completed International Student Release Form, together with the Letter of Offer from the new education provider, and other relevant documents.
    • Assessment will only begin once all required documents have been received.
    • Assessment and notification of the result will be completed within 10 University working days.
    • After notification of the decision, you must log into studentConnect to withdraw from your course.
  • CURRENTLY STUDYING WITH A PATHWAY PROVIDER, OR HAVE JUST COMPLETED YOUR PATHWAY COURSE
    • If you are currently enrolled in a pathway provider course (eg, UWA College or CELT) and do not wish to continue your studies in your principal course at UWA, an application must be submitted in writing to askUWA.
    • If you are currently enrolled in any other pathway providers and do not wish to continue your studies in your principal course at UWA, please contact admissions.
    • Your application must include a completed International Student Release Form, together with the Letter of Offer from the new education provider, and other relevant documents.
    • Assessment will only begin once all required documents have been received.
    • Assessment of the request and notification of decision will be completed within 10 University working days.
  • ACCEPTED AN OFFER TO STUDY AT UWA, BUT HAVE NOT COMMENCED STUDIES
    • If you have accepted an offer to study at UWA, but decide to withdraw before the semester starts to study at another Australian education provider, an application must be submitted in writing to askUWA.
    • Your application must include a completed International Student Release Form, together with the Letter of Offer from the new education provider, and other relevant documents.
    • Assessment will only begin once all required documents have been received.
    • Assessment of the request and notification of decision will be completed within 10 University working days.


  • eLIGIBILITY

    Circumstances in which a Release to transfer will be granted:

    • If you do not meet the entry requirements for your principal degree course after completing your pathway course.
    • Where UWA is unable to deliver the course as stated on the written agreement.
    • Where there is sufficient evidence of compassionate or compelling circumstances that suggests the transfer will be in your best interest.
    • If you are sponsored by a government body, and the sponsor has provided written authorisation supporting your transfer.
    • Where there is evidence that your reasonable expectations about the course are not being met, where those particular expectations had been set through correspondence between you an UWA or through marketing materials given to you.
    • Where there is evidence that you were misled by UWA or an agent regarding the course, and the course is therefore unsuitable for your needs or your study objectives.
    • Where an internal or external appeal on another matter results in a decision or recommendation to release you from UWA.

    Compassionate or compelling circumstances are generally beyond your control and which has an impact on your course progress or wellbeing. This may include, but not limited to:

    • Serious illness or injury
    • Trauma or bereavement
    • Upheaval in your home country
    • Lack of availability of a prerequisite unit

    Circumstances in which a Release to transfer will not be granted:

    • If UWA forms the view that the transfer is against your best interest.
    • If you have met the entry requirements to your principal degree course at UWA and have requested to transfer to a similar course at another education provider.
    • If the transfer may jeopardise your progression through a package of courses or would be detrimental to your future study plans.
    • If UWA determines that you are trying to avoid being reported to the Department of Home Affairs for failure to meet UWA’s attendance or academic progress requirements.
    • Where you do not have a valid letter of offer from a CRICOS-registered education provider.
    • Where you want to transfer to a similar course at another education provider with lower tuition fees.
    • Where you have requested to transfer to a lower Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level course. You will be required to apply for a new visa if you wish to transfer to a course that is at a lower AQF level.
    • Where you have not provided or provided insufficient evidence of compassionate or compelling circumstances.
    • Where there is evidence to suggest that you have not utilised the full range of support services available at UWA to assist you with academic and personal issues.
    • Where your actions have caused UWA to form the view that you are not a genuine student or genuine temporary entrant (e.g. absence from orientation events, low attendance rate, failure to access support services, radical change in academic direction, etc).
    • If you are sponsored by a government body, and the sponsor has not provided written authorisation to support the transfer.
    • If you are under 18 years of age, and your parent or legal guardian has not provided written authorisation in support of your transfer.

     

  • RELEASE OUTCOME AND COE/ STUDENT VISA IMPLICATIONS
    • If the release to transfer is granted, your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be released and cancelled. You are advised to contact the Department of Home Affairs if you have queries about your student visa.
    • If a release to transfer is refused, the criteria used and the reasons for refusal will be given to you in writing.
    • You will have the right to appeal against a refusal if you think there are sufficient grounds.
    • The final decision will be recorded and automatically reported to the Department of Education and Training.
  • STUDENT EXCHANGE AND STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS

    If you are a Student Exchange and Study Abroad student, please contact the UWA Global Learning Office via askUWA or +61 8 6488 8199.

  • HDR STUDENTS

    If you believe you have compassionate and compelling grounds to reduce your study load/underload, you must seek approval from the Graduate Research School (GRS). Please contact the Graduate Research School via askUWA or +61 8 6488 2807.

  • APPEALS
    • If a reduced study load or underloading has been refused, you have the option to internally appeal the outcome within 20 University working days.
    • If you choose to appeal the refusal, assessment and notification of the appeal outcome will be completed within 10 University working days.
    • If you are not successful with the internal appeal, you have the right to access an external complaints and appeal process.
    • The purpose of the external complaints and appeals process is to consider whether the University has followed its policies and procedures, rather than make a decision in place of the University.

Extending your stay for graduation

If you want to stay in Australia to attend your graduation and your student visa will expire before the ceremony, contact the Department of Home Affairs about alternative visa options. When you apply for your alternative visa, we recommend you provide your Statement of Qualification (completion letter) as supporting evidence. Once your final results are released, you can order your Statement of Qualification via studentConnect.

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