International student visa holders

The Chinese Ministry for Education has announced that it will only acknowledge degrees awarded to students attending in-person classes from Semester 1, 2023 onwards.

The China Ministry of Education Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange has released a Q&A with more information about the announcement.

On 1 January 2023, the Australian Government announced new testing requirements for travellers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

From 5 January, travellers from these regions, including international students, will be required to undertake a COVID-19 test within the 48 hours prior to travel and show evidence of a negative test result when travelling to Australia. Read the Australian Government COVID-19 testing requirements fact sheet (PDF 226 KB) for more information.

For the latest information on visas and travel restrictions, visit the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs website.

For more updated information on requirements on entering NSW from overseas, please visit the NSW Government website.

The University has returned to on-campus teaching from Semester 1 2023. Offshore international students have been provided additional time and flexibility to obtain their visa and make travel arrangements to return to face-to-face learning, however we recommend all students arrive in Sydney for on-campus classes where possible. From 1 July 2023, the University will return to on-campus classes for all students and will cease to offer remote units.

We recommend you apply for your student visa as soon as possible, even if you are studying remotely in Semester 1.

If you held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and need to lodge a further student visa application (Subclass 500), AND your extension is a consequence of COVID-19 conditions, DHA may consider waiving your visa application fee. Information regarding eligibility is available from the Department of Home Affairs website.

How to obtain Form 1545 from The University of Sydney:

• eCoE requests that are eligible for 1545 will automatically receive one. If you require a 1545 form but have a valid eCoE for the duration of your course, please email the Student Compliance Team and please quote your SID
  
• Please note the University can only provide you with Form 1545 if your Suspension or Reduced Study Load application was approved due to COVID-19 impacts consistent with DHA guidelines, and your student visa expiries within three months.
  

The University has returned to on-campus teaching from Semester 1 2023. Offshore international students have been provided additional time and flexibility to obtain their visa and make travel arrangements to return to face-to-face learning from 1 July 2023. From 1 July 2023, we will cease to offer remote units and return to our pre-pandemic teaching modes.

Check if your course offers remote or online learning options.

If you are required to study in-person but cannot come to Australia, you may be able to defer your offer or suspend your studies until you can study in-person.

Learn more about deferring your offer or suspending your studies.

Please note not all courses allow deferrals or suspensions. Some courses may only be available in Semester 1, so check your course information prior to applying to defer or suspend.

High school completion exams all over the world have been impacted, however, most have been rescheduled and some moved online. The University of Sydney will continue to monitor the situation so that we can try to accommodate students completing their high school or secondary school qualifications.

The University is committed to working with schools, awarding bodies and test partners globally and recognises the importance of students completing their qualifications and the necessary tests for admissions. As such we are working within guidelines to accept what is deemed appropriate and will not be making concessional arrangements outside of these without research and consultation.

Most universities have now recommenced issuing official documentation. If your institution is still unable to produce official documents you will need to supply an official dated statement from the institution showing they are not providing documentation.

Both IB and A-Level will use existing assessment data to calculate the final scores for students who will still receive the official IB Diploma and GCE A Level Certificate. Therefore, IB and A-Level students will not be disadvantaged and these qualifications will be accepted by the University.

In 2023, CET is returning to face-to-face (F2F) teaching on campus in the second half of the year for all programs, including our Direct Entry Course (DEC) and Graduate Academic Skills (GAS) course.

Online classes are still available for students who enrolled in courses in 2022 or who are enrolling in our courses January-June this year which have an end date of 7 July 2023. However, we strongly encourage you to join our F2F classes for the full on-campus experience. 

Similarly, the 36-week DEC program starting in May 2023 will be offered online only until 14 July 2023, after which the course continues on campus only. Again, we recommend that you begin this course in F2F mode from the course start date in May if possible.

The University has returned to on-campus teaching from Semester 1 2023. Offshore international students have been provided additional time and flexibility to obtain their visa and make travel arrangements to return to face-to-face learning from 1 July 2023. From 1 July, 2023, we will cease to offer remote units and return to our pre-pandemic teaching modes.

Please also refer to the Department of Home Affairs for the latest information on visa advice.

Chinese nationals applying for an Australian skilled independent visa should refer to VETASSESS for information.

The change from face-to-face to remote delivery will not impact your compliance with your visa conditions.  

Please refer to the Department of Home Affairs student visa page for all information.

You should ensure that you include all relevant documents when lodging a student visa application to avoid your visa being rejected for being incomplete. The Department of Home Affairs has returned to standard timeframes for RFIs. Where an RFI has been issued to supply additional information for your visa application and you do not provide this information within the specified timeframe, the Department will decide the visa application on the basis of the information already provided, unless you have requested an extension of time.

If you are experiencing delays in obtaining the required information or cannot access your scheduled medical appointment, you should request an extension of time through ImmiAccount and provide evidence of what steps have been taken to obtain the required information, such as a payment receipt or booking confirmation.

It is very important that you remain in contact with the Department through designated channels. You should respond to any requests for information promptly and do not need to wait until the deadline to respond to a Departmental request. If documentation is provided when requested, the Department can progress the application. You are also encouraged to regularly log into your ImmiAccount to check for messages from the Department and respond promptly.

If your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) and student visa is going to expire soon; but you still need more time to complete your study, you must request for an eCoE extension and then apply for a new student visa. It's important to be aware of your visa's expiry date and apply for eCoE extension and new student visa before your current visa expires.

To request for an eCoE, please go to Sydney Student (go to 'My studies', then 'Course details').

For information on applying for a new visa, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

If you’re applying for a new student visa, remember to also contact your health insurance provider to extend your Overseas Student Health Cover.

If you are no longer studying, you will need to contact the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent for information on other visa types and options available to you.

If your suspension or deferral is approved, your current electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) will be cancelled, and a new eCoE with the new commencement date will be issued.

Your current student visa may be affected due to this suspension or deferral; therefore, you may need to consult with the Department of Home Affairs for advice about how to remain in Australia lawfully, if you are still in the country.

For deferral, please contact international.admissions@sydney.edu.au.

For visa advice, please contact the Department of Home Affairs.

If a student is refused a visa with appropriate study rights and:

(a) is unable to commence the course, the University will refund the amount of the course fees, minus the lesser of:

(i) 5% of the amount of the course fees received in respect of the student before the default day; or

(ii) $500; or

(b) is unable to continue the course after commencement, the University will refund all unspent tuition fees, calculated as follows: refund amount = weekly tuition fee × weeks in default period.

Applications are not required for refunds under this clause, which will be paid within 20 working days of the day on which the University refuses to provide, or continue providing, the course to the student.

The University’s International Student Fee Refund Policy sets out the University’s policy on refunds.

For more information about our refund policy, international students should review their letter of offer.

Whilst on a student visa, you are required to maintain a full-time study load. This is to ensure you can complete your course within the time limit set out by your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment. You also need to make sure you're enrolling in a certain number of credit points in the standard semester sessions. Find out more about your student visa conditions and how to meet your study load requirements.

You will only be eligible for a reduced study load if you are able to outline compassionate and compelling reasons and provide sufficient supporting documents. Read our information on applying for a reduced study load to find out if you are eligible.

You cannot work more than 40 hours per fortnight when your course of study is ‘in session’, regardless of whether you are attending classes physically or studying remotely. However, the Department of Home Affairs has temporarily relaxed working hours limits for student visa holders generally during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

If you are applying for a student visa and you are under 18 years of age, you must have adequate welfare arrangements in place, unless you will turn 18 years old before arriving in Australia.

If you turn 18 before you arrive in Australia, you need to:

• complete questions 1 to 8 in Form 157N Nomination of a student guardian to your application
• have your parent or legal custodian sign the form
• attach the form to your application

Find more information at the Department of Home Affairs website about welfare arrangements for students under 18.

Decisions related to eligibility for persons affected by the coronavirus will depend on how long the travel restrictions remain in place. The Department of Home Affairs will consider making concessions, on a case-by-case basis, for those applicants affected once travel restrictions have been lifted.

A request for release is assessed in accordance with the University's International Student Change of Provider Policy. A release is not provided automatically. You will need to apply for a release Information and instructions on how to apply for a release can be found on Release for student visa holders page.

Visa advice can vary. The most up-to-date advice can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website. Our advice is that if you have held a student visa and have been studying remotely due to COVID-impacts but have been enrolled in a CRICOS registered course, you may apply for a post-study work visa (note that other requirements must also be met).

Visa advice can vary. The most up to date advice can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website. Our advice is that if you have held a student visa and have been studying remotely due to COVID-impacts but have been enrolled in a CRICOS registered course, you may apply for a post-study work visa (note that other requirements must also be met).

You will need to provide an updated Financial Guarantee letter from your sponsor which covers the new deferral course dates in order to have your records updated and a new electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) issued accordingly.

The approval of the Financial Guarantee letter and sponsorship will be up to the discretion of the University.

Payment details will be outlined in your letter of offer. You will be expected to pay the full deposit, regardless of enrolment. If you later withdraw, suspend or defer your studies you may be entitled to a refund or a credit. 

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is set annually by the Australian government. The 2023 full-time rate for Semester 1 is $163.00 AUD or part-time $122.25 AUD (semester study load of 0.374 equivalent full-time student load or less).

If you study on a part-time basis with a load of 0.374 or less you will be eligible for the lower rate. You will need to pay the relevant rate by the payment date set out on our website.

If you discontinue your course before the relevant census date, you will not be liable for the fee.

Please read and follow the instructions on your scholarship offer. For certain Scholarships, you will need to send an email to the Scholarships Office (scholarships.office@sydney.edu.au) to request a deferral for your scholarship offer and explain the reasons for your deferral request.

Deferral is subject to review from the Head of Scholarships Office and is subject to the terms and conditions of the scholarship.

No, the United States Government has amended the law in relation to on-line study for students enrolled at foreign institutions in receipt of US Federal Student Aid. The law allows an otherwise eligible program to be taught via online methods from March 1, 2020 for the duration of the qualifying emergency and the following semester.

You are still required to meet all other eligibility requirements. Enquiries should be made to the International Loans team at international.finaid@sydney.edu.au

Visit our webpage for information about the University's International Student Fee Refund Policy.

The Chinese Ministry for Education has announced that it will only acknowledge degrees awarded to students attending in-person classes from Semester 1, 2023 onwards.

We will continue to provide remote unit offerings to offshore students wherever possible in Semester 1, 2023.

The China Ministry of Education Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange has released a Q&A with more information about the announcement.

More information is available on the International student visa holders page.

Please check the provisions of your home country on the recognition of your overseas qualifications. Many countries are considering adjustments as a result of the global pandemic.