International students studying on student visas are subject to restrictions and requirements that do not apply to other students. If you are studying on a student visa it is extremely important that you understand these restrictions and requirements.
If you do not abide by them your student visa may be cancelled or not renewed and you may not be able to complete your course in Australia.
Do these laws affect me?
Under Australian Government law, you are expected to complete your course by the end date specified on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Completing course within standard duration
Your eCoE end date is normally determined by the standard full-time duration of your course. For example, a UTS Bachelor of Business degree should be completed within 3 years. If you have been granted credit or advanced standing then your eCoE duration may be shorter than the standard full-time duration.
Extending your course
In some cases students may not be able to complete their courses within the standard duration. Australian Government legislation prohibits UTS from granting you an extension to your course except in the following circumstances:
- You have failed a number of subjects and need to extend your course to complete.
- You have previously been given permission to reduce your study load.
- You have previously taken an approved Leave of Absence from your course.
All of these circumstances require special permission. If one of the above circumstances applies to you, and you wish to apply to extend your course, you must submit a request for a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to UTS International. You can use your new Confirmation of Enrolment to apply for a new student visa.
Read more information on applying for permission to reduce your study load.
Extending student visa (Subclass 500) due to COVID-19 impact: Form 1545
The Department of Home Affairs may consider waiving the visa application fee to allow students to lodge a further student visa application to complete their studies.
This is available for students who:
- held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020; and
- could not complete their course within their original validity due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Further information regarding eligibility is available from Department of Home Affairs website (opens an external website).
Requesting form 1545
Students may request form 1545 from UTS once their current CoE end date is within 3 months of their current visa expiry date. UTS will only issue a completed form 1545 where a student’s circumstances meet the criteria set by the Department of Home Affairs. International students must email their request to UTS International.
Students will be advised via email of the outcome of their request.