In accordance with government requirements, you must ensure your study load meets certain conditions set out in Standard 8.19 and 8.20 of the National Code.

What is the one third rule?

  • An international student on a student visa may not study more than one third of the total enrolment load via online learning.
  • An international student on a student visa may not study entirely via online or distance learning in Autumn or Spring session at UTS. This means that you must study at least one ‘face-to-face’ subject during the UTS Autumn and Spring sessions, unless your are completing the last unit of your course.

The one third rule will apply differently for individual students, depending on their course progression.

Sessions completed before 30 June 2023 will not be included in the calculation of online studies due to the flexibility permitted due to COVID restrictions.

Example 1

A student is in a 144-credit point bachelor course and in their final session, with 24 credit points of subjects remaining.

  • They are allowed to study no more than 8 credit points via online study (one third of 24 credit points). If they are enrolled in three 8 credit point subjects, they are allowed to study one 8 credit point subject via online study in that session and no more than one third of their total enrolment load online, which would be 48 credit points.
  • If they are enrolled in four 6 credit point subjects, they are allowed to study one 6 credit point subject via online study in that session 
     

Example 2

A student commencing a 96-credit point master degree has been granted 24 credit points of Recognition of Prior Learning and has 72 credit points to complete.

  • They are allowed to study no more than 24 credit points (one third of 72 credit points) via online study in the remaining duration of their course, with at least one face-to-face subject in each Autumn and Spring session

Please contact the UTS International Student Centre if you require assistance.