Learning and Teaching Unit
While studying in Australia on a Student Visa you may have questions about conditions attached to your visa. This information site provides answers to frequently asked questions about visa rules and regulations. From this webpage you can also access other visa related sources of information.
Some addresses you will find useful are:
You must have a valid passport and student visa. This will allow you multiple entries into Australia
It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport and student visa remain valid and that you abide by the conditions of your student visa. You MUST:
Please note that this is not a complete list. For further details regarding your student visa conditions, please refer to your visa grant letter and/or contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (see contact details above).
For information on your - Passport: Contact your High Commission or Embassy. Please refer to the Embassy and Consulate websites of other nations to Australia for an alphabetical directory of list of contact addresses of overseas embassies in Australia.
OSHC renewal: Contact Campus Central, UniSA.
In order to complete your program within the duration of your CoE, you should maintain full-time enrolment (usually 4 courses or 18 units per half year) unless there are exceptional reasons for not doing so and this is reflected in your Study Plan.
If you undertake less than a full-time load without University approval, you will not be permitted to extend your CoE (Enrolment policy - Clause 5 and 7). Australian law requires that an extension be granted only where there are compassionate or compelling circumstances. (These are generally circumstances beyond your control and which have an impact on your academic progress or well-being). Documentary evidence (eg. medical certificate) must support any application for an extension CoE.
For further information, contact the Learning and Teaching Unit on your campus.
Student visa regulations require that you maintain satisfactory attendance and satisfactory academic progress. The University will monitor your academic performance in accordance with the Academic Review Policy.
The University's Academic Review Policy can be found in the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual - refer to sections 10.1 to 10.5.
You may change your program with the approval of the Program Directors concerned.
If you wish to change your program of study, it is your responsibility to check the fees that will be charged for your new program. You will need to pay fees that are applicable to the new program which may be more expensive than your first program.
Australian law requires the University to report all of the changes to your enrolment to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. This will happen once you are accepted into a new program.
You need to take your new CoE to the Department of Immigration to have your visa updated and in case you need to get a new visa for your new program (for example, if your new program finishes later than the one you were previously enrolled in).
If you require further information, please contact the Learning and Teaching Unit on your campus.
If you wish to transfer to another institution within the first 6 months of your study at UniSA you must apply for a Release Letter from UniSA International using the Application for Release Letter form (PDF 29KB - download Adobe Acrobat).
Your application for Release Letter does not guarantee that UniSA will release you from your program of study if you have not completed the first 6 months of study at UniSA. If you have completed 6 months of study at UniSA, you are entitled to transfer to another institution but should first withdraw from your UniSA program using the Withdrawal from Program form (PDF 95KB - download Adobe Acrobat).
If you require further in formation, please contact the Learning and Teaching Unit on your campus.
Depending on the conditions of your current visa, you may be able to apply for a student visa if you are already in Australia and hold a student visa.
Students from Assessment level 1 countries can apply for a student visa from within Australia while holding another temporary visa.
Contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for more information.
Yes, all international students except AusAID students are eligible to work subject to the following conditions:
Contact the Learning and Teaching Unit on your campus to confirm whether you need to apply. Work rights visa forms are available from the Learning and Teaching Unit on your campus.
Contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for approval.
You can enrol in an external course (ie. online or by distance/correspondence) only if you are enrolled in at least one course in an internal mode (face to face) in a study period. Also, you must not enrol in more than 25% of your program in an external mode over the duration of your program.
Lodge a Change of Address form within 7 days of the change of the address with Campus Central on your campus or change your address via MyUniSA. It is very important that you do this as soon as possible as this is a condition of your student visa.
Visa conditions require that International Students under 18 years of age have their accommodation and welfare arrangements approved by the University, unless they are living with an adult family member. The University will also be monitoring your academic progress.
Contact the Learning and Teaching Unit on your campus for approval of your accommodation and welfare arrangements.
Your Student Visa may be cancelled due to non-compliance with your student visa conditions. If your Student Visa is cancelled, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship may impose a three year exclusion period on other visa applications to Australia such as a tourist visa, or a permanent residency visa.
If you fail to adhere to the conditions of your current Student Visa you may have difficulty returning to Australia at a later date to complete your study.
In order to renew your student visa you will likely need a new CoE. Please note that a new CoE can only be granted in special circumstances (refer to the 'How do I extend my Conformation of Enrolment (CoE)' FAQ).
Please ensure that you leave plenty of time before your visa expires to ensure you complete this process. If approved, a new CoE will be emailed to your student email account. Once you have received the new CoE you can use it to apply for an extension of your student visa by going to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. You will need to take a copy of your CoE document along with your passport.
(Please also refer to information on how to extend your CoE in the section below).
You must complete your program of study within the length of time specified on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). The University will be able to extend your CoE document ONLY in limited circumstances, such as illness.
To apply for a new CoE, complete a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) Request form (PDF 366KB - download Adobe Acrobat) available online or from Campus Central. Any CoE Request form must be supported by documentary evidence (eg. medical certificate from your doctor) and must also be approved by your Program Director. You will also require a new Study Plan which you must organise with your Program Director. The CoE Request form requires your Program Director's approval and signature. When the form, is complete you must lodge it at Campus Central, together with your new Study Plan. Also, you will have to bring along your passport to verify your present student visa status.
Your health cover should also be extended for the duration of your new CoE. For more information about extending your Overseas student Health Cover, please read the Overseas Student Health Cover FAQ online information site.
For more information about your student visa responsibilities, please make a time to see an International Student Officer during a Drop-in session at the Learning and Teaching Unit on your home campus.
