Manage enrolment changes that affect your visa

Learn which changes to your enrolment can affect your visa and how to manage them.

How enrolment changes impact your visa

Before making any changes to your study or enrolment, check whether University approval is required and how the change may affect your student visa.

If your enrolment status or course duration changes, you may need to request a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), apply for a new student visa, or take other important steps.

What to do if a change may impact your student visa

Use the guidance below to understand what actions you may need to take depending on your circumstances, including completing relevant University processes or referring to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

  • Advanced standing recognises prior study or relevant experience and may reduce the overall duration of your course.

    It’s important to understand how these changes may affect your current visa and any future visa plans.

    The University is required to report changes in course duration to the DHA.

    A shorter course duration may affect your eligibility for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), including meeting the Australian Study Requirement.

    Next steps

    Before you commence: If advanced standing is granted before your course starts, your CoE will usually be issued with the updated course duration. No further action is typically required.

    After you’ve commenced: If advanced standing is approved after you have started your course, you will be issued a new CoE. If your student visa will expire before your new course completion date, you may need to:

    Related links

  • Student visa holders are required to enrol in at least 50 points in each half-year period or have an approved Reduced Study Load.

    If you are unable to study any subjects in a half-year period due to unforeseen compassionate or compelling reasons, you should apply for Leave of Absence.

    If your Leave of Absence is granted for compassionate or compelling reasons:

    • We will notify the DHA that your studies have been temporarily suspended
    • You’ll receive an updated CoE with a new end date.

    Next steps:

    Ensure you continue to comply with your visa conditions to maintain your visa status.

    You may also need to apply for a new student visa if your updated course end date extends beyond your current visa expiry date.

    Students registered in the Under 18 International Student Supervision Program who take a Leave of Absence must maintain their current accommodation and welfare arrangements to retain their CAAW and student visa until new arrangements are approved or until they leave the country. For more information, see the Under 18 International Student Supervision Program page.

    Useful links:

  • Reducing your study load means enrolling in fewer subjects than the standard full-time load. Student visa holders must enrol in a full-time study load, unless they receive University approval to take a Reduced Study Load (RSL), or take an approved Leave of Absence. A RSL can only be approved for compassionate or compelling circumstances.

    How a RSL can affect your student visa

    Reducing your study load can extend your course duration, which means you may need to apply for a new student visa if your new course end date extends beyond your visa expiry date.

    The University is required to report changes in course duration to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

    The University will assess whether your course duration has changedIf required, you will be issued a new CoE reflecting your revised course end date.You will be notified of this in your RSL outcomeIf you’ve received a new CoE, you should check you

    Next steps

    If your RSL is approved:

    • The University will assess whether your course duration has changed
    • You will be issued a new CoE if required, and notified of this in your RSL outcome
    • If you’ve received a new CoE, you should check your visa expiry date using VEVO
    • If your new CoE date extends beyond your current student visa expiry date, you may need to apply for a new student visa.

    The University cannot guarantee visa approval, and you are responsible for any related application costs.

    You should not reduce your study load without approval

    If you take unapproved RSL:

    • You may receive an RSL sanction
    • The University may not be able to issue you with a new CoE for the period of unapproved RSL
    • You will be in breach of your student visa conditions, and your student visa may be cancelled.

  • Withdrawing from your course will affect your student visa.

    What happens to your visa

    If you are studying on a student visa, you must comply with visa condition 8202, which requires you to remain enrolled in a registered course.

    Once your course withdrawal is processed:

    • Your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be cancelled
    • The University will notify the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

    If you are still in Australia, within 28 days you must leave Australia or apply for a new visa. You are responsible for ensuring you always hold a valid visa.

    For official visa requirements and options, visit the DHA website.

  • If your enrolment was cancelled due to failure to re-enrol, incomplete enrolment, withdrawal, or unpaid fees, you may be able to apply for reinstatement within the same half-year period.

    You must submit an online application, and a reinstatement fee may apply.

    Visa implications

    If you are on a student visa and your enrolment is cancelled, the University must notify the Department of Home Affairs and cancel your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). The Department may then cancel your visa.

    If your CoE is cancelled, you must leave Australia or apply for a different visa within 28 days of your enrolment cancellation date, or before your visa expires (whichever comes first).

    You are responsible for ensuring you always hold a valid visa.

    For eligibility, deadlines and application steps, visit the Reinstating your cancelled enrolment webpage.

  • Changing your course or education provider may affect your student visa.

    If you change courses within the University of Melbourne

    Once you accept your new offer:

    • You will receive a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
    • The University will notify the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) of your updated enrolment.

    You do not need a new visa if your current visa is valid for the full duration of your new course, and you are transferring to:

    • Your current visa is valid for the full duration of your new course, and you are transferring to:
      • A course at the same level (e.g. Bachelor to Bachelor)
      • A higher level (e.g. Bachelor to Master)
      • A PhD to a Master.

    You must apply for a new student visa if:

    • Your current visa will expire before your new course ends, or
    • You transfer to a lower level course (e.g. Master to Bachelor)
      • Exception: PhD to Master transfers do not require a new visa

    Apply for a new visa after you receive your new CoE.

    If you transfer to another education provider

    If you were granted a student visa to study at the University of Melbourne, you must complete at least six months of your principal course before transferring to another education provider.

    Your principal course is the final course listed on your student visa if you were issued a visa for multiple courses.

    You can only transfer to another provider within the first six months if:

    • You are granted a formal release from the University under approved grounds outlined in the International Student Transfer Policy
    • You are a government-sponsored student and your sponsor provides written approval for the transfer
    • The course for which your CoE was issued is no longer offered and registered on CRICOS

    Transferring providers may affect your student visa. You are responsible for ensuring you continue to meet your visa conditions.

    For full eligibility requirements and application steps, visit the Changing courses or providers webpage.

    If you are under 18

    If you are registered in the Under 18 International Student Supervision Program, you must maintain approved accommodation and welfare arrangements to retain your visa.

    You are responsible for ensuring your visa remains valid.

    For official visa advice and requirements, refer to the DHA website.

  • If you hold a student visa, you must study onshore for most of your course. Online study is limited.

    What you must do

    • Complete no more than one third of your total course online
    • Enrol in at least one on campus subject in each half-year period
    • Count all online subjects taken after 1 July 2023 towards your allowance.

    Go to the online study page for more details about your online study allowance and how to calculate it.

    Exceeding your online study allowance may result in:

    • An Online Study Limit (OSL) sanction
    • Withdrawal from your course
    • Cancellation of your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
    • Impacts to your student visa.

    If you receive an Online Study Limit (OSL) sanction, follow the instructions in your email.

  • Student visa holders must meet visa condition 8202, which requires satisfactory course progress.

    If you fail to maintain satisfactory course progress, the University must notify the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

    Suspension of enrolment

    If your enrolment is suspended, the University will notify the DHA. Check the DHA guidance to confirm if you an remain in Australia during the suspension. If the duration of your course changes, you may need to request a new CoE and apply for a new student visa.

    Termination of enrolment

    If your enrolment is terminated, the University will notify the DHA. The DHA may cancel your student visa and you may not be granted another temporary visa for three years.

    Appeals

    You can appeal the outcome within 20 working days. The University will only notify the DHA if you do not appeal within the required timeframe, or if your appeal is unsuccessful.

    Under 18 international students must maintain approved accommodation and welfare arrangements to retain their CAAW and student visa.

    For full details on processes, appeals and timeframes, visit the Academic progress webpage.

  • If your enrolment is suspended or terminated due to misconduct, this will affect your student visa.

    Suspension due to unsatisfactory course progress is managed separately and may have different visa implications, check the relevant accordion.

    If your enrolment is suspended (misconduct)

    If you are suspended for academic or general misconduct:

    • Your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be cancelled
    • The University will notify the Department of Education and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
    • You will receive a new CoE for when your suspension period ends.

    During your suspension:

    • You must reside outside Australia
    • Your visa may be cancelled by the DHA.

    Before returning to Australia, you must check your visa status using VEVO.

    If your visa has been cancelled, you must apply for a new student visa before returning.

    You should seek advice and book a course planning appointment before resuming your studies.

    Book a course planning appointment

    If your enrolment is terminated (misconduct)

    If your enrolment is terminated:

    • You cannot return to your current course
    • The University will notify the DHA
    • Your student visa may be cancelled.

    If your visa is cancelled, you must leave Australia or apply for a different visa within 28 days of your enrolment cancellation date, or before your visa expires (whichever comes first).

    You are responsible for ensuring you always hold a valid visa.

    If you are under 18

    If you are registered in the Under 18 International Student Supervision Program, you must maintain approved accommodation and welfare arrangements until:

    • New arrangements are approved
    • You leave Australia.

    This is required to maintain your student visa.

  • Graduate researchers are expected to submit their thesis within their approved course duration.

    If you submit your thesis and it is accepted for examination within 28 days of your expected submission date you will receive a Confirmation of Marking (CMT) letter within 10 working days after submitting your thesis.

    The CMT letter confirms that:

    • You are eligible to remain in Australia during the examination period
    • Your work rights will continue during this time.

    If you do not submit your thesis by your expected submission date, your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will end. From that point, you will have 28 days to either depart Australia or make alternative visa arrangements.

    If your candidature was confirmed after 31 December 2017 and you submit your thesis after reaching your maximum course duration, your thesis will only be accepted for examination if you have received approval for late submission.

    If your visa will expire before you submit

    If you’ve had multiple extensions to your candidature, your student visa may not cover you until submission.

    If your visa will expire before you submit your thesis, you will need to:

    You should do this before your current visa expires.

    If your visa will expire during examination

    If you submit your thesis while in Australia but your visa will expire before examination is complete, you will need to:

    This allows you to remain in Australia until your examination process is finalised.

    Visit the Graduate Research Hub for more information about finishing on time and how to apply for late submission.

  • Student visa holders can work a limited number of hours while studying in Australia. The most up-to-date information about work rights and responsibilities is available from the DHA.

    Internships and work-integrated learning may count towards your work hour limits. Generally:

    • Elective internships count towards your student visa work hour limits
    • Mandatory internships that are a required part of your course do not count towards your work hour limits.

    If you’re unsure whether your internship is mandatory, contact your faculty or check the Handbook. For help finding work, visit the University’s Careers website.

    If you exceed your work hour limits, your student visa may be impacted.