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Student visas
While you’re studying at the University, you need to be aware of your student visa requirements. Variations to your enrolment or changes to the length of your stay in Australia will affect your visa.
All students at the University, including international students, need to understand their responsibilities and follow the student code of conduct. This is a condition of your enrolment at the University.
As an international student, you also have to meet your visa conditions.
Student visa conditions
There are strict conditions attached to Australian student visas. Read the full list of student visa conditions on the Department of Home Affairs website.
If you don’t comply with these conditions, you may not be able to stay in the country.
You can find more information on:
- maintaining satisfactory academic progress during your studies
- working while on your visa
- Overseas Student Health Cover.
You need to update your local address in Australia within seven days of arrival or within seven days of changing your address.
Study load
It is a requirement of your student visa that you are enrolled in a full-time study load, where the majority of your units are completed during the standard semesters.
During Semester 1 you need to be enrolled in:
- a minimum of 24 credit points in units from January to June
- at least 18 credit points in Semester 1 session units, or units in sessions other than Intensive January, Intensive February or Intensive June.
During Semester 2 you need to be enrolled in:
- a minimum of 24 credit points in units from July to December
- at least 18 credit points in Semester 2 session units, or units in sessions other than Intensive July or Intensive December.
The following are examples of a study load that meets these requirements:
- enrolling in 24 credit points during Semester 1
- enrolling in 18 credit points during Semester 1, and 6 credit points in Intensive June
- enrolling in 6 credit points in Intensive March, 6 credit points in Intensive April, 6 credit points in Intensive May and 6 credit points in Intensive June.
You need to have an active eCoE and visa that covers any period that you're studying in. This means you can’t select units held in an intensive session before the commencement date outlined on your offer letter. If you were approved for a suspension in your first semester of study, you can't select units held in an intensive session before the start date of the standard semester.
Any changes that you make to your enrolment, including suspending your studies or reducing your study load can impact on your student visa, so make sure you contact our compliance officers for advice.
Online/distance learning
Your student visa places restrictions around how many online or distance units of study you can undertake. A maximum of one third of your total course can be done by distance and/or online learning. In other words, 67 percent or more of your studies needs to be completed in class via face-to-face learning.
You also can’t enrol exclusively in distance or online study in any one session.
If you are a recipient of the US Federal Direct Loan, you can’t undertake any online or distance units of study to remain eligible for federal student aid.
Extend your stay
If your student visa is going to expire soon, and your faculty or school has approved your continued enrolment, you’ll need to apply for an extension of your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) and a new visa. It’s important to be aware of your visa’s expiry date and apply to extend your eCoE before your visa expires.
For information on applying for a new visa, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Apply to extend your eCoE through Sydney Student (go to 'My studies', then 'Course details').
If you’re extending your visa, remember to contact your health insurance provider to extend your Overseas Student Health Cover.
Applying for a further student visa application (Subclass 500) due to COVID-19 – Form 1545
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) may consider waiving your visa application fee if you are extending your student visa. 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 waive 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 receive one, however, if you require a 1545 form but have a valid eCoE for the duration of your course, you need to email student.compliance@sydney.edu.au and quote your SID.
- Be aware the University can only provide you with Form 1545 if your approved Suspension or Reduced Study Load application was due to the impacts of COVID-19, and your eCoE end date is within 3 months of your current visa expiry date.
Staying for graduation
If you want to stay in Australia to attend your graduation, you will need to contact the Department of Home Affairs about alternative visa options.
When you apply for your alternative visa, we recommend you provide your completion letter as supporting evidence. In the weeks after the release of your final results, your completion letter will be available in Sydney Student (go to 'My studies', then 'Assessments').
Postgraduate research thesis submission
If you have submitted your thesis but still hold a valid student visa, you can stay in Australia while your thesis is under examination, as you are still considered a student.
If your student visa is going to expire and you need to remain in Australia to respond to comments or make changes to your thesis, you will have to apply for a new student visa. Your application needs to include a letter from your faculty saying that you are required to remain in Australia for thesis marking, with an expected timeframe (no more than six months).
Change of visa status
If you change the type of visa you have, alter your country of citizenship or become a permanent Australian resident, you will need to update your details as soon as possible in Sydney Student and provide supporting documentation (go to ‘My details’, then ‘Address & residency’).
Find out more about changing your visa status.
Help and support
If you have any questions about your student visa, contact our compliance officers or visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Last updated: 18 January 2021
