If you’re starting your studies with us, you’ll need to apply for a student visa once you’ve accepted your offer and received your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

Before you apply

It’s a good idea to prepare a few things so you’re ready when it’s time to apply:

1. Check visa processing times (Department of Home Affairs). If you’re outside Australia, you’ll need enough time to get your visa before your course starts. If you’re already in Australia, make sure you apply in time before your current visa expires.
2. Get your documents ready – use the Department of Home Affairs’ Document Checklist Tool to see what you’ll need (do this early, as you’ll need to organise things like Overseas Student Health Cover).
3. Familiarise yourself with the application process – take a look at the Department of Home Affairs’ page on Student visa (Subclass 500) so you know what to expect.

Applying for your visa

You can apply for a student visa online through the Department of Home Affairs. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Create or log into your ImmiAccount – this is where you’ll apply.
2. Attach any documents required.
3. Pay the application charge for you and any family members.

Apply for a student visa

After you apply

You’ll receive a confirmation email from the Department of Home Affairs, who’ll get to work assessing your application.

To keep things moving in the meantime, make sure you:

• log into your ImmiAccount and check if there are any new requirements (for example, you may be asked to have a health assessment)
• check your email regularly for updates and requests from the Department of Home Affairs
• update the Department of Home Affairs if your details or situation changes.

Processing times

We understand that waiting for an outcome can be nerve-wracking. Most of the time, it takes the Department of Home Affairs up to eight weeks to process an application. However, it can take longer during peak periods. We recommend using the visa processing times guide to see how long your application should take.

If you’re experiencing delays and your course start date is approaching, reach out to Monash Connect for advice. While we can’t speed up your application, we can discuss some study options with you.

Receiving an outcome

Once your application has been processed, the Department of Home Affairs will send an outcome to you in writing.

If your visa is approved, make sure you read through this communication carefully and keep a copy of it. It will include important information like your visa grant number, expiry date and conditions.

Visas for family members

When you apply for a student visa, you can include these family members:

• your partner
• your or your partner’s dependent child if they’re unmarried and under 18 (otherwise, they’ll need to apply for their own visa).

This way family members can be assessed for visa entry at the same time as you. Among other things, they must take a medical examination and have health insurance. You’ll also need to provide evidence that you have enough money to support your dependents in Australia.

You need to declare all family members on your application, even if they don’t plan to travel with you to Australia. This will allow them to apply to join you after you have started your course.

If you’re coming to study at Monash on an Australia Awards scholarship, see family members of AAS students for relevant visa details.

Your student visa will remain valid unless you’re no longer enrolled in a registered course. Your enrolment ends when you complete the course, even if this is earlier than the end date on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

If your current visa is due to expire before you finish your course, you’ll need to apply for a new one.

Visa conditions

Visa conditions are set by the Australian Government. It's important to follow these conditions to avoid having your visa cancelled. Student visa conditions include:

• maintaining Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa
• maintaining your enrolment, satisfactory attendance (if applicable) and course progress for each study period
• completing your course within the time frame on your CoE
• not working more than the allowable hours per two-week period.

For more information, check your visa details and conditions (Department of Home Affairs).

Home Affairs no longer issues visa labels – instead, they now hold your visa information electronically. You can confirm your visa conditions (including work restrictions) using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.

Study load

If you're on a student visa, you must complete your course in the time stated on your CoE. The standard undergraduate study load per year is 48 credit points (24 credit points per semester).

As an international student, you can only apply to reduce your study load or take a study break (intermission) under compassionate or compelling circumstances.

Study mode

If you’re on a student visa, you need to be in Australia to attend face-to-face classes during your course. You can only study up to one-third of your course by distance education or online. For example, if your course has 24 units to be completed over a three-year period, you can only complete eight units by distance education or online.

You can't enrol exclusively in distance education or online study (unless it's your final unit in your final semester).