Your rights and responsibilities

This section outlines the rights of international students at UTS. If you would like to see the rights and responsibilities of all students, visit the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy.

As an international student, you have rights that are protected under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework.

The university must provide you with, or refer you to, accurate information about:

Your course

• content
• fees
• entry requirements
• the qualification or accreditation gained on completion
• duration
• teaching methods
• assessment

The university

• campus locations
• learning facilities

Living in Sydney

• indication of living costs
• advice on school-aged dependants about payment of school fees.

Circumstances which may lead to your enrolment at the university being suspended or cancelled

This information is provided in the UTS Student Rules.

Support services

UTS must provide you with certain support services, including access to information or counselling in the areas of:

• orientation
• academic progress
• further study
• accommodation

A designated student contact officer

At UTS this function is performed by the UTS International Student Services team.

+61 2 9514 1531

internationalstudent@uts.edu.au

Through these services, the university must promote your successful adjustment to life and study at UTS and assist you to resolve problems that could prevent you from completing your course successfully.

This section sets out the responsibilities of international students at UTS. If you would like to see the rights and responsibilities of all students, visit the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy.

Your responsibilities as an international student are imposed on you by the conditions of your student visa. These conditions are governed by the Migration Regulations and are enforced by the Department of Home Affairs.    

While it is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with your visa conditions, the university must also monitor your enrolment and notify the Department of Home Affairs of any breaches.    

The Department of Home Affairs will take all circumstances into account and determine whether or not your visa should be cancelled.

For enquiries about your rights and responsibilities as an international student or about your student visa contact the UTS International student services on:

+61 2 9514 1531

internationalstudent@uts.edu.au

Your responsibilities include:

Maintain enrolment and course progress

You must be enrolled in a full-time course for the full duration of your student visa. You are also expected to complete your course by the end date specified on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). At UTS, this means:

• you must normally enrol in 24 credit points per teaching session or equivalent if you study onshore;
• you can reduce your study load only in special circumstances if you are studying onshore; and
• you will be allowed to defer or take leave from your program only in special circumstances.

If you are identified as being at risk of failing to make satisfactory academic progress, you will be placed on early intervention following results release and you will receive an email notification to your UTS email account advising you to undertake certain activities to help improve your academic performance. For more information, please visit the Academic progress and early intervention webpage.

For information about how to apply to reduce your study load, visit Permission to reduce study load. 

According to Australian Government regulations, UTS can only issue you a new CoE (which is used to apply for a new student visa) in certain circumstances.    

If you do not abide by these requirements you may not be able to apply for a new student visa to complete your course.

For information about how to apply for a new CoE, please visit Student or alumni records. 

Attend classes

You are expected to attend all scheduled lectures, tutorial and/or workshops. If you do not attend classes you may risk failing.

Achieve satisfactory results

All students at UTS are subject to rules and policies governing satisfactory academic progress.    

You are in breach of your visa conditions if your enrolment is terminated by the university as a result of your unsatisfactory academic progress. Breaching this condition has serious implications for your student visa and may affect future study in Australia.

Pay tuition fees on time

It is a requirement of your student visa that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and to pay for your studies in Australia.    

If you do not pay your tuition fees on time the university may cancel your enrolment and notify the Department of Home Affairs for further action.    

For information on paying tuition fees go to Fees and payment.

Notify the university of any change of address

The university and the Australian Government must be able to contact you while you are in Australia.    

You must notify the university of your contact details (residential address, mobile telephone number and email) and emergency contact via My Student Admin within seven days of:

• your arrival in Australia, and
• any changes to these details while in Australia.

Other responsibilities

There may be other conditions attached to your student visa that are not covered on this page because they do not form part of the ESOS framework.    

These include limitations on working in Australia and requirements for overseas health insurance.    

It is your responsibility to comply with all your visa conditions. For further information on your student visa conditions visit the Department of Home Affairs Check visa details and conditions (opens an external site).    

You must also comply with all relevant UTS Policies.