Visa Information for new and current students
Visa conditions
Macquarie University wants to give you every assistance in keeping your student visa, and therefore provides International Student Advisers to help with any difficulties you may encounter in completing your course of studies. However, we have a legal obligation to provide information to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in some circumstances, for example if you withdraw from your course of study.
What are visa conditions?
Visa conditions are the rules of your visa. They are set by Australian law and cannot be changed or disregarded to suit individual circumstances. It is important that you understand these conditions, as DIAC may cancel your visa if you breach these conditions. Included below is information to help you comply with your student visa conditions. For a comprehensive list of your student visa conditions go to
www.immi.gov.au/students/visa-conditions-students.htm
Some Important Details
Course Duration
International Students studying on a student visa are required by the Australian Commonwealth Government to complete their course within the CRICOS registered duration which is based on a full time load. Take for example a postgraduate student studying a 32 credit point program. This student will have been issued a CoE for 1 year. Therefore this student must enrol in 16 credit points each semester in order to complete the program within the specified time on the CoE. Need more information about your course duration? Visit our study programs section, find your course and click on course duration.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will only allow students to extend their visa in very limited circumstances and for reasons which must be documented. Students who experience either academic or compassionate difficulties are eligible to request to reduce their enrolment load.
If you wish to request a reduce in your enrolment load must submit a Request to Reduce Study Load form to your International Student Adviser.
Course Progression
You must satisfy course progression requirements. If you don't satisfy course progression requirements you'll be asked to see an International Student Adviser. Your adviser will discuss any difficulties your having with your studies and place you on an Intervention Strategy. Your at risk of being reported to DIAC if you fail to meet course requirements in accordance with your degree rules. This may result in automatic visa cancellation so if your having difficulty meeting this requirement, you should immediately make an appointment to see an International Student Adviser.
Click here for information on Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree rules.
Notify Macquarie University when you change address
Within seven days of arriving in Australia, you must notify Macquarie University of your new address through e-student. If you move house during your stay, you must again notify Macquarie University of your new address through e-student within seven working days. If you do not do this, and there is a problem with your visa, you will not receive communication from DIAC and your visa may be cancelled without you knowing. If this happens, you may be deported from Australia and prevented from completing your studies.
Remain with Macquarie University for 6 months
You must study with Macquarie University for at least six calendar months, if your visa was obtained for study at this institution. If you have come to study English (eg CME), or a preparatory course (eg SIBT) on a package offer, you must complete this course and then continue your studies at Macquarie University for at least six calendar months. If you decide to enrol at another university or college, you should first discuss this with an International Student Adviser. In this case you will need to obtain a Release Letter from Macquarie University. The University is legally obliged to tell DIAC that you have transferred your studies.
Work Limitation
If your student visa has been granted on or after 26 April 2008, you will automatically receive permission to work with your visa. As a result, most student visa holders will no longer need to apply separately in Australia for permission to work.
However if your student visa was granted before 26 April 2008 and you have been issued with a “No work” condition on your visa (this includes volunteer work) you can apply to obtain permission to work by applying online to DIAC or filling out a 157P form at Macquarie International and submitting this form to DIAC. If this application is successful condition 8101 will be changed to 8105.
Once you have been granted permission you cannot work more than 20 hours per week when your course is in session. No work limits apply during recognised Macquarie vacation periods. Click here for more information about working while studying at Macquarie.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
DIAC requires all international students and their families (on student dependant visas) to have medical insurance while in Australia.
All international students will be required to have program length OSHC cover. If you are granted permission to extend your program you will need to arrange for additional cover.
Click here for more information on Overseas Student Health Cover.
Change of welfare arrangements
If you are under 18 years of age and do not live with a parent or legal guardian in Australia, you must not change your accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements without consulting an International Student Adviser.
No further stay
This condition is not given very often. It means that you cannot apply for any further visa (except a protection visa or a student visa with permission to work) within Australia after your visa expires. If you want to apply for any type of visa (including student visa), you must return to your home country.
Not to be involved in activities disruptive to the Australian community
You must not become involved in activities disruptive to, or violence threatening harm to, the Australian community or a group within the Australian community.
Limit in period of study for adult family members
Family members aged 18 years or over can only study for maximum 3 months on non-award studies. If they want to study for more than 3 months, they must obtain student visas of their own.
Arrangements for education of school age family members
If any members of your family accompanying you in Australia are aged between 5 and 15 years, they must be enrolled in school and you must meet any tuition costs. This condition also applies to family members who join you in Australia temporarily for more than three months.
Departure from Australia
Your family members must leave Australia either before you leave, or with you. They cannot remain in Australia after you leave.
Withdrawal from Macquarie University
Should you wish to withdraw from Macquarie University, you will need to submit a ‘Notice of Leaving Education Provider’ form to Macquarie International. If you are planning to study at another education provider and have been at Macquarie for less than 6 months, please refer to the Remain with Macquarie University section.
Getting advice about your visa
Make an appointment to see an International Student Adviser at Macquarie International if you would like to obtain more information on your student visa or are having problems meeting the conditions. While we can give you general advice about your student visa, we are not trained migration agents and if you have further questions, you need to speak to DIAC directly.
Contact Details:
| Address: | Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) NSW Student Centre 26 Lee Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia |
|---|---|
| Telephone: | 131 881 |
| Web Address: | www.immi.gov.au |
