The information contained in this page is to help you understand and comply with your student visa conditions. It is not a complete list and your visa conditions may vary. For a full list of student visa conditions go to the Department of Home Affairs website or check your visa grant notification.
- What are visa conditions?
- Complete your program within the expected duration
- Maintain enrolment
- Meet satisfactory academic progress
- Notify change of address and contact details
- Changing to another education provider
- Working while studying
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- External / distance Study
- Leave of absence
- Withdrawal from program
What are visa conditions?
Visa conditions are the rules of your visa that are set by the Australian Government. It is important that you understand your visa conditions, as the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) may cancel your visa if you breach them.
Complete your program within the expected duration
It is a condition of your student visa to complete your program within the expected duration. The expected duration is based on a study load of 18 units per semester and is reflected on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) document. You will put yourself at risk of not completing your study by the end date on your CoE if you do not study in accordance with your Program Structure or your Study Plan.
Extending your program duration
If you need additional time to complete your degree you will need to extend your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and apply for a new student visa. Applications to extend a CoE are only approved in very limited circumstances, such as:
- Medical grounds (evidence required)
- Failed final course(s) or failed occasional courses throughout the program
- Granted a reduced study load due to an intervention strategy
- Approved leave of absence
- Prerequisite course(s) not available
CoE extension will not be approved if you choose to not enrol in accordance with your Program Structure or your personalised Study Plan.
To apply to extend your CoE you will need to fill out a CoE Request form and provide it to your Program Director for assessment.
Maintain enrolment
To satisfy your visa condition of maintaining enrolment you need to enrol in accordance with your Program Structure or your Study Plan (generally a study load of 18 units per semester). You are required to be enrolled in at least one internal (face to face) course per compulsory study period, unless it is your final course and it is only available in an external/online mode.
If you fail to maintain enrolment the University is required to report you to the Department of Home Affairs which will cancel your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and may affect (i.e. cancel) your student visa.
If you are unsure about your enrolment you can contact your Program Director. If you need assistance enrolling you can contact Campus Central.
The Department of Home Affairs also requires you to maintain enrolment in a registered course that is the same level as, or at a higher level than, the registered course for which you were granted a visa.
Meet satisfactory academic progress
To satisfy your student visa conditions you must maintain satisfactory course progress.
The University reviews the academic progress of students and identifies students at risk of making unsatisfactory academic progress.
If you fail to meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements the University will be required to report you to the Department of Home Affairs which will cancel your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and may affect (i.e. cancel) your student visa.
The University provides study support services to assist you with your studies.
Notify change of address and contact details
To ensure you receive important information from the Department of Home Affairs and to satisfy your student visa conditions, you must notify the University within 7 days:
- of your new address when you first arrive in Australia
- if you change your address at any time
- of any new contact details, including phone number, email address and emergency contacts details
If you do not update your address details and there is a problem with your visa, you will not receive communication sent by the Department of Home Affairs and your visa may be cancelled.
Visit the changing your address webpage or contact Campus Central if you require assistance.
Changing to another education provider
If your student visa was obtained for study at the University of South Australia and you wish to study at another education provider, you need to contact a Student Advisers (International) and fill out the appropriate form:
- If you have completed less than six calendar months of studies in your principal program at the University you need to lodge an Release Request application.
- If you have completed more than six calendar months of studies in your program at the University you need to lodge a Withdrawal from Program form.
If you have a package offer, the six calendar months of study is calculated only on study completed at the University. You need to apply for a release from both providers.
If your application for release or withdrawal is approved, the University will inform the Department of Home Affairs that you have transferred your studies. If you are transferring to a lower AQF level (i.e. Master to Bachelor) you will need to apply for a new student visa, see the Department of Home Affairs website.
Working while studying
Student visa holders are able to work 48 hours per fortnight (two weeks) while their program is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. For details regarding how the 48 hours are calculated, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website.
The opportunity to work part-time allows you to earn spending money and meet more people; however, you should not rely on these earnings to pay fees or other living expenses.
The Department of Home Affairs randomly checks workplaces to make sure that students are not exceeding the permitted hours and employers are legally required to provide information to the Department of Home Affairs.
You need to obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) in order to work in Australia.
For information regarding your family members work rights, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website.
Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students
Postgraduate Research student visa holders can work unlimited hours once their program has commenced. However, the University's Research Degrees Committee recommends that full-time research degree students in receipt of a living stipend only undertake paid employment for no more than 8 hours per week or for a total of the equivalent of 8 hours per week over a twelve-month period or 320 hours per year. The hours of employment include marking and preparation associated with part-time teaching duties. Please refer to Procedure AB-59 P1: Research Degrees and Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships section C.8.h.
If you are planning to work while studying, please note the following:
- Research degree students will require the approval of the University through their Principal supervisor and, where hours exceed the recommended 8 hours take into consideration satisfactory progress of the research degree student.
- Employment cannot be grounds for an extension to scholarship or application to go overtime.
- The University may not require HDR students to undertake employment at the University.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance to assist international students to meet the costs of medical and hospital care that they may need while in Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs requires student visa holders and their dependants to have health insurance for the duration of their stay in Australia (visa length health cover). Some exceptions apply, see the Department of Home Affairs website.
The University can organise your OSHC on your behalf or you can select and arrange OSHC yourself. If you need to extend your stay you will need additional cover before applying for a new student visa.
You may wish to arrange private health insurance in addition to OSHC as not all health services are covered (i.e. dental or physiotherapy). It is advisable to take out travel insurance to cover such things as accidents, lost luggage or trip cancellation as OSHC does not cover travel to and from Australia.
External / Online Study
You can study one-third of your program by external and/or online mode provided that in each compulsory study period you enrol in at least one internal (face to face) course (unless it is your final course which is only available via external/online mode).
If you exceed one-third external/online enrolment in your program or do not enrol in at least one internal course per compulsory study period (unless it is your final course which is only available via external/online mode) you will be in breach of your student visa conditions. The University is required to monitor a student's enrolment and report breaches to the Department of Home Affairs which will cancel your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and may affect (i.e cancel) your student visa.
Leave of absence
You may experience an event during your studies that prevents you from studying for a period of time. If this occurs it is important that you contact a Student Adviser (International) who will provide advice and assistance.
In limited compassionate or compelling circumstances (i.e. serious illness or injury, bereavement of close family members or a traumatic experience), you may be able to suspend your studies (e.g. take a leave of absence) for a period of up to six months.
Withdrawal from program
You can withdraw or cancel your program by providing the University written notification.
If you are a new commencing student please contact us and quote your Applicant ID as well as the reasons for your request. For continuing students, please complete a Withdrawal Form and lodge it with Campus Central.
