Whilst living in Australia it is critical that you always hold a valid student visa. If you wish to extend your study you will need to be especially careful to make sure you continue to meet visa requirements. You must take responsibility for your own visa.
As an international student on a student visa, you have a number of visa conditions you must meet:
You must also ensure that you:
This list of conditions is not exhaustive. More information about visa requirements can be found at the Department of Home Affairs (HA).
If you need to extend your visa, make sure you begin the process well before your visa expires. You should consult with a Student Adviser International (by booking an appointment here or contacting Campus Central) to ensure you understand the process of extending your visa.
As part of the visa renewal process, you will need to fill out a form to request a Confirmation of Enrolment. Remember, your CoE may only be extended in compassionate or compelling circumstances. The form will need to be approved/signed by your Program Director and accompanied with an updated study plan from your Academic Unit. It must then be lodged at Campus Central and can take up to a week to process - so make sure you allow enough time before your visa expires. See more detail below in Frequently Asked Questions.
When ready, the CoE will be emailed to your student email account. You can then use it to apply for an extension of your student visa through the Department of Home Affairs (HA).
In order to complete your program within the duration of your CoE, you must maintain full-time enrolment (usually 4 courses or 18 units per half year) unless there are exceptional reasons for not doing so, you have received approval from a Student Adviser (International) 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). You must remain enrolled in accordance with your study plan until your application has been assessed and and approved by the Student Adviser (International) in consultation with your Program Director. 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 or letter from a relevant health care professional who is qualified to assess and support the application) must be provided.
For further information, contact Campus Central.
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 Procedure. The University's Academic Review Procedure can be found on the University's Assessment Policies and Procedures website.
You can enrol in an external course (ie, online delivery mode) only if you are enrolled in at least one course in an internal mode (face to face) in each major study period (SP2, SP5) unless you are completing your last course in your program and it is only available in an external/online mode.
You must not enrol in more than one third (33%) of the total courses in your program in external/online mode.
All Student Visa holders are eligible to work (paid and volunteer) subject to the following conditions
It is a Student Visa requirement that you notify the University within 7 days of a change of address via the myUniSA Student Portal. It is also recommended that you keep your mobile phone contact details up to date
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 a Student Adviser International on your campus for approval of any changes to your accommodation and welfare arrangements. Email internationalsupport@unisa.edu.au or book an appointment online.
Your student visa may be cancelled due to non-compliance with your student visa conditions. If your student visa is cancelled, the Department of Home Affairs (HA) may impose a three-year exclusion period on future visa applications to Australia such as a tourist visa, or a temporary or 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.
If you wish to be considered for an internal transfer, you will need to complete an Application to Change Program form.
Only current students who have completed at least one course at UniSA can apply to change their program.
The internal transfer process is only available to a limited selection of programs. Additionally some programs do not have a midyear intake. If you cannot see your desired program in the list, you will need to apply through the standard methods
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 Home Affairs (HA). This will happen once you are accepted into a new program.
If you are changing your program to a lower level (e.g. Masters to Bachelors) you will need to apply for a new Student Visa. Please see the Department of Home Affairs (HA) website for more details.
If you require further information, please contact Campus Central.
If you wish to transfer to another institution within the first 6 calendar months of your principal program of study at UniSA you must apply for a Release from UniSA International using the Release Request form.
The principal program of study is the main program of study undertaken by international student visa holders. Where a student visa has been issued for multiple programs (i.e. packaged programs), the principal program of study is the final program in the package (the highest qualification). Your Release Request application does not guarantee that UniSA will release you from your program of study if you have not completed the first 6 calendar months of your principal program of study at UniSA. If you have completed 6 calendar months of your principal program 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.
If you wish to change your level of qualification (eg, Masters to Bachelor), you may need to apply for a new student visa. Please see the Department of Home Affairs (HA) for more details.
If you require further information, please contact Campus Central.
If you do not complete your program within the duration of your current student visa, you will need to apply for a new student visa before your current one expires.
Follow these steps to apply for a new student visa:
It is important that you do not let your visa expire! You can make an appointment with a Student Adviser International through Campus Central for assistance with the Student Visa application process.
The Department of Home Affairs (HA) may waive the visa application fee of students who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and who couldn’t complete their program within their original visa validity due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Further information on the strict eligibility requirements can be found on the Department of Home Affairs webpage.
If you believe you may be eligible, please email qualityandcompliance@unisa.edu.au to request assessment for the 1545 form.
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 or where a student has remained fully enrolled but has not successfully completed all courses.
To apply for a new CoE, complete a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) request form 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 or delegated authority. You will also require an updated Study Plan which you must organise with your Program Director or Academic Unit
When the form is complete you must lodge it at Campus Central, together with your new Study Plan.
Your health cover should also be extended for the length of your expected visa (in most cases 15th March or 30th September). See more information about extending your Overseas student Health Cover.
For more information about your student visa responsibilities, please book an appointment online with a Student Adviser (International) or through Campus Central on your home campus.
The Australian Government wants overseas students in Australia to have a safe, enjoyable and rewarding place to study. Australia's laws promote quality education and consumer protection for overseas students. These laws are known as the ESOS framework and include the Education for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code 2018.
Further information can be found in the International Student Fact Sheet. Research degree students can access a list of FAQs about student visa holders.
Please also visit Study in Australia.
If you need to take a Leave of Absence (LoA) from your studies you must speak first with a Student Adviser (International) as your leave might impact your current student visa arrangements. Find the form here.
International students may take a leave of Absence for up to six months, (one semester) only on the grounds of ‘serious or exceptional compassionate or compelling circumstances’ supported by documentary evidence, e.g a certificate or letter from a relevant health care professional who is qualified to assess and support the application. In limited cases LoA may be extended beyond six months.
Serious or exceptional compassionate or compelling circumstances are situations beyond the control of a student which have an impact on the student’s academic progress or wellbeing. Some instances:
If your request for LoA is approved you will need to apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)as your present one will be cancelled and you will not be able to enter Australia without an active CoE.
A LoA application cannot be approved without the completion of the new CoE, an updated study plan and supporting documentary evidence.
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