Key dates for your student visa

If you're studying with a student visa, it's important to know the key dates that apply if you experience delays.

Last day to add a unit

You generally have until the last day to add a unit (the end of Week 2 of each Semester) to receive your visa and arrive to commence in-person classes. 

Census date

If your visa still hasn't been issued by the census date and you haven't suspended, deferred or discontinued your course, we'll need to suspend your enrolment. This is in line with Clause 71(6) of the University's Coursework Policy and applies even if your faculty has approved you to arrive late, study remotely or offshore.

Options if your student visa is delayed

If you’re concerned you won’t have received your student visa by the time your course commences, there are several options depending on whether you’ve accepted your offer or completed enrolment.

If you haven't enrolled

You can request to defer the start date of your current course offer to the next available semester.

Once your request is processed, and if approved, your existing electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) will be cancelled and you will receive a new offer letter. When you are ready, you can accept your new offer to receive an updated eCoE.

If you're fully enrolled

If you’ve already enrolled and you intend to keep studying, you can request to suspend your studies until the next available semester.

To support your suspension request, upload evidence of your visa application lodgment and a Student Declaration Form (docx, 53KB) to explain the reason for the delay.

Once your request is processed your existing eCoE will be cancelled and a new eCoE will be issued. You’ll need to submit your new eCoE to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) via your IMMI VEVO portal. 

If you're fully enrolled and considering withdrawal

You can discontinue your course to end your current enrolment and remove you from any units of study you are enrolled in. Depending on the timing of your decision to discontinue, there may be financial and academic penalties. Take the time to familiarise yourself with this information before proceeding with this option.

You will need to immediately withdraw your visa application as your eCoE will be cancelled. If you don't, the DHA will continue to process your application, but you you have discontinued and this may impact the application.

Refund options

If your visa is delayed, your refund options depend on when and how you choose to suspend, defer or discontinue your studies.

• If you suspend or defer before the official semester start date
  You can transfer 100% of your tuition fee deposit to a future intake.
• If you suspend or defer after the semester start date and want to withdraw your funds
  A 50% withdrawal fee applies, unless you can provide evidence that your visa outcome was delayed and you've withdrawn your visa application.
• If you discontinue your studies entirely before the census date
  You're eligible for a 100% refund due to the special circumstances of visa processing delays by the DHA. Make sure you state 'visa delays' in your request to discontinue your course. You can also transfer 100% of your tuition fee deposit to a future intake.
• If you defer or suspend to the next available intake and later decide to withdraw
  The standard refund policy may apply.

For questions about the refund policy, contact international.fees@sydney.edu.au.

Studying on a different visa type

Tourist visa

We highly recommend that you do not apply for a tourist visa to travel to Australia in the first instance if your intended purpose for travel is to study.

The DHA have stated that this is not a viable pathway for students and could be seen as evidence of bypassing the offshore visa processing and viewed negatively in a genuine student assessment.

Bridging visa

If you have been granted a bridging visa for the onshore student visa application by the DHA, or you currently hold a visa other than the student visa, submit an enquiry as soon as possible. 

Select ‘other’ for what your enquiry is about, provide your Student ID and attach a copy of the visa grant letter received from the DHA. This will enable us to assess your study rights on your visa and determine if you can remain enrolled in your course and continue to study whilst waiting for your final visa outcome.