Changes affecting your visa

Changes to your course, study plan or enrolment status can directly impact your student visa. Check the information below to see how course adjustments impact your student visa conditions and what steps you need to take:

• enrolment, assessments and results
• you need more time to complete your course
• transferring to another Monash course
• transferring to another university
• changing your citizenship or visa type
• extending your stay.

Enrolment, assessments and results

If your current visa is due to expire before you finish your course, you’ll need to make sure you have a valid visa to remain in Australia. You may find yourself in this situation because you:

• deferred your course start date
• failed one or more units
• reduced your study load
• took intermission (study leave)
• transferred to another Monash course
• transferred to another college or university
• lost your place at Monash
• are sitting deferred or supplementary assessments
• submitted your thesis later than expected
• plan to remain in Australia while under examination after submitting your thesis.

Visa requirements can change, so you should always check the latest information before making decisions about your course or visa.

If you need more time to complete your course

If your course takes longer than expected, check your visa expiry as soon as possible. Under the Australian Government current student visa rules, most student visa holders can’t apply for another student visa while in Australia. For example, an exemption may apply if you need up to 12 additional months to complete your course with the same education provider. Other exemptions may also apply depending on your circumstances.

If you don’t meet an exemption, you'll generally need to apply for your next Student visa from outside Australia. Don't wait until your visa is about to expire. Check your options early so you can make appropriate arrangements to remain lawfully in Australia.

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

Transferring to another Monash course

There's a chance you may need to apply for a new visa if you change your course. You should receive a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) after the course transfer. Refer to this for your revised course end date.

Whether you need a new visa depends on your new course, the length of your studies and your current visa conditions. For example, you may need a new Student visa if:

• you transfer to a course at a lower Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level
• your new course will take longer and you will not finish before your current visa expires.

If you’re considering changing your course, check how the change may affect your visa before you make the change.

Transferring to another university

You’ll need a release to transfer to another college or university, and you won’t be able to accept any offers until your release has been approved. But you won't need approval for release if you’re transferring to another course after having studied 12 calendar months of your course at Monash.

Transferring to another education provider may also affect your Student visa. Before you transfer, make sure you understand both the Monash requirements and any visa requirements that apply to you.

Changing your citizenship or visa type

If you change your citizenship or visa type, you need to let us know straight away. For details, see change of residency status.

Extending your stay

To stay in Australia, you need a valid visa. Check your visa options well before the expiry date. Under the current student visa rules, most students can’t apply in Australia. You may be able to apply in Australia if you meet the limited exemptions.

If you don’t intend to complete further studies, you may wish to extend your time in Australia to work or travel. While you can’t get a student visa for this purpose, you can apply for a range of other visa types through the Department of Home Affairs.

Compliance reporting

Keep in mind that Monash is required to inform the Department of Home Affairs when you make changes to your enrolment. This includes taking intermission (study leave), changing course, extending the duration of your studies or having your enrolment terminated or suspended.