Visa conditions

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid student visa at all times. Breaking visa conditions may lead to cancellation of your visa.​

Study load and completion of programs

You must be enrolled in a full-time CRICOS registered program and complete your studies within the expected time that is shown on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).​

To complete your program in the expected duration, in most cases you will need to be enrolled full-time each semester.​

If you don’t maintain a full-time load, and don’t complete your program within the expected duration, you may not be eligible for a new CoE, which you will need in order to extend your visa.​

​You can only enrol in a less than full-time study load if you:​

  • are participating in a documented academic performance improvement plan with your School, authorised by the Dean, Learning and Teaching​
  • have received approval from your School of your compassionate or compelling circumstances
  • have undertaken extra study (i.e. summer semester courses)​

Online and distance study

International students may be able to enrol in online or distance study modes when they are offered as part of CRICOS-registered programs. Some restrictions apply:​

  • online and distance courses can only make up one third of your total program​
  • you must be enrolled in at least one unit that is delivered face-to-face in each compulsory semester​
  • In a non-compulsory semester (i.e. summer school), you may enrol in online/distance courses. However, these will be counted towards your one third limit.​

Limits are configured in Enrolment Online to prevent students from enrolling outside these requirements. There may be exemptions where you are enrolling in your final course to complete your program. 

If you’ve been prevented from adding an online class in Enrolment Online and are in your final semester of study or enrolled in a face-to-face class running at the same time, you may apply to enrol by submitting a request via the Student Connect portal.

Program gaps

Student visa holders have a maximum of eight weeks break between programs. If you finish your pathway program and have more than an eight-week gap, you need to leave Australia or enrol in alternative study during the interim.​

Academic progress

Satisfactory academic progress is a condition of your student visa. Failure to achieve this will lead to you being considered "at risk" and can lead to exclusion from your program.

Learn more about academic progress for current students.

RMIT has many free services to help you succeed in your studies:

  • The Study and Learning Centre can help you with English language study skills, academic writing, undergraduate Maths and Science
  • The Peer mentoring program connects students with their peers for study support.

Attendance requirements

Some programs also have an attendance requirement. Foundation Studies and VCE require that you have a minimum of 80 per cent attendance.​

Changes to your study plans

Changing your study plans may have visa implications so you should discuss any changes with your School and RMIT Connect as early as possible. For more information on deferring, changing your program, transferring providers, taking a leave of absence, completing early, finishing late or withdrawing, see changes to your study plans.

Keep your contact details up to date

You must advise RMIT of your home address within seven days of arriving in Australia. If you change your address during your stay in Australia, you must update your details within seven days.

Students under 18 years of age

All under-18 international students must maintain their approved welfare arrangements.​

You must have health insurance

You, and your family if they are with you, must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) during your stay in Australia. RMIT International will arrange health cover through Medibank Private for you at the start of your program.​

Working as an international student

As an international student, there are restrictions on the number of hours you can work while studying, even when you have permission to work. Make sure you understand your visa conditions and work restrictions.​

For more information, see work while studying.

Your rights as an international student

Australia’s laws promote quality protection and consumer protection for international students. These laws are known as the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework. The ESOS framework outlines your rights and responsibilities as well as services that Australian education providers must provide to International students.​

Appealing RMIT decisions

If you submit an appeal, you must remain enrolled and attend all classes until the appeal outcome is known. Timelines apply for appeals. Find out more about appeals.

Updated by International Compliance: August 2019

Explore more

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.