OTHER INFORMATION

Information about Utas, Tasmania, agents and more...

Australian Government Regulations for International Students

  • Students in Library Computer LabFrequently Asked Questions
  • ESOS Framework
  • Student Visa Conditions
  • Completion Within Expected Duration of Study
  • Satisfactory Course Progress
  • Deferring, Suspending or Cancelling Enrolment
  • Changing Education Providers
  • Attendance for English Language Centre Students
  • Complaints and Appeals

Frequently asked questions

I have a question about the length of my student visa or the end date on my visa, who should I contact?

You should contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

There is a mistake on my CoE, who should I contact to get this changed?

You will have received your new CoE by email. If there is a mistake on your CoE reply to original email containing your CoE outlining the mistake and ensure your student ID is included in the subject heading.

I need advice on my current or future enrolment, who should I speak to?

You should contact your International Student Adviser.

Hobart - ISA.Hobart@utas.edu.au

Launceston - ISA.Ltn@utas.edu.au

I have failed a unit or been placed on a University approved intervention strategy and my CoE is about to expire, what should I do?

Please read the section titled “Completion within Expected Duration of Study”.

I have decided that I want to study at a different university, what should I do?

Please read the section titled “Changing Education Providers”.

I need to apply for a leave of absence due to unforseen circumstance, what should I do? What documentation should I provide with my application?

Please read the section titled “Deferring, Suspending or Cancelling Enrolment”. You should provide all relevant documentation to support your application. This documentation must be in English or translated by a certified translator. If you require assistance in applying for a leave of absence please contact your International Student Adviser.

Do I have to be enrolled on a full-time basis whilst I am studying at the University of Tasmania?

Yes. International students should maintain a full-time study load during compulsory study periods. This ensures that you can complete your course within the duration specified on your CoE. Only in very limited circumstances should international students under-enrol in their units. You should speak to an International Student Adviser or your Faculty Officer before you under-enrol in your units.

I have changed my course at the University of Tasmania, is there anybody I have to inform of this change?

Once you have accepted your new offer you will receive an email containing your CoE. You should make an appointment with DIAC to inform them that you have changed your course as you may need to extend your student visa if the new course is longer than the original course.

I have received an email to inform me that there is a problem with my attendance. What should I do?

You should ensure that you continue attending all of your classes. You should also make an appointment with your International Student Adviser who will be able to provide you with assistance.

Hobart - ELC.Support@utas.edu.au

Launceston - ELC.Launceston.Support@utas.edu.au

ESOS Framework

The Australian Government wants Australia to be a safe, enjoyable and rewarding place to study for international students. Australia's laws promote quality education and consumer protection for international students. These laws are known as the ESOS framework and they include the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code 2007.

The Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS) Act 2000

The National Code 2007

Student Visa Conditions

Under the ESOS Framework, international students on a student visa are responsible for upholding the conditions of their student visa.

To view a full list of your visa conditions please visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website or the Study in Australia website.

Satisfactory Course Progress

Your student visa requires you to maintain satisfactory course progress in your studies (visa condition 8202) so you are able to complete your degree within the specified visa duration.

The University of Tasmania is required to monitor your progress to ensure that you complete your studies within the duration specified in your original Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). For further information on monitoring satisfactory course progress please visit the Australia Government’s Australian Education International (AEI) website.

Identifying students at risk of not meeting course progress requirements

The University has procedures in place to monitor the progress of students. You can find the details of this process in the Rule of Academic Assessment (Rule 2 clause 25). If you have been identified as being at risk of not meeting course progress requirements, you will be contacted by your School to request a meeting to discuss your progress.

At the meeting it may be decided that an Intervention Strategy to assist your academic progress will be put in place. An intervention strategy may consist of, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:

  • A reduced study load (including a study plan);
  • Counselling; or
  • Additional tutoring.

If after being placed on an intervention strategy a student continues to not make satisfactory course progress the student may be notified that the University intends to report them to DIAC.

Students who do not make satisfactory course progress

If you have been assessed as not achieving satisfactory academic progress, the University will notify you in writing of its intention to report your breach of visa condition 8202 to DIAC. Pursuant to Standard 8 of the National Code 2007, you have 20 working days to access the University’s complaints and appeals process (Ordinance 8). Should you need any help accessing the complaints and appeals process, you may seek help from your International Student Adviser.

You can contact an International Student Adviser by emailing them directly, or by coming in to the Student Centre:

Hobart - ISA.Hobart@utas.edu.au

Launceston - ISA.Ltn@utas.edu.au

If you choose not to appeal or if your appeal is unsuccessful, you will be reported to DIAC.

Completion within Expected Duration of Study

It is a requirement of the National Code 2007 that international students on a student visa are required to finish their course within the expected duration specified on their CoE. You should enrol in a full-time load in each compulsory semester to ensure you complete your studies within the expected duration of study. 

It is also a requirement of the National Code 2007 that international students do not enrol in more than 25% of their course by distance or online study mode (e.g. a three year degree is made up of 24 units.  In this example an international students cannot take more than 6 units over the duration of their course by distance or online mode).

For further information on monitoring satisfactory course progress please visit the Australia Government’s AEI website.

In limited circumstances, you may be able to enrol in less than the full-time load.

Approval may be granted (but is not limited to) in the following situations:

  • Compassionate or compelling circumstances (eg. Illness - where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes)
  • Where the University was unable to offer a pre-requisite unit
  • Your school has implemented an intervention strategy because you were identified as at risk of not meeting satisfactory course progress (eg. load reduction at your school's recommendation)
  • An approved deferment or suspension has been granted

If you do not have approval for any of the above you may not be eligible to receive a new CoE for your student visa extension and you may not be able to complete your course.

If you require a new CoE you must complete the Application for Extension of eCoE form, complete Part A, have your Faculty complete Part B and return it to the Student Centre.

If you complete your program early, the University must report this to DIAC, and the duration of your student visa may be reduced.

Deferring, Suspending or Cancelling Enrolment

Students may apply for deferment (leave of absence) of their studies under compassionate or compelling circumstances.

Compassionate and compelling circumstances are generally those beyond the control of the student and which impact on the student's program progress or wellbeing.

These could include (but are not limited to):

  • Illness, where a medical certificate states that you were unable to attend classes
  • The death of a close family member such as a parent or grandparent (where possible a copy of a death certificate should be provided)
  • Major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and where this has impacted on your studies
  • A traumatic experience which could include involvement in, or witnessing of a serious accident; or witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime and this has impacted on your studies (supported by police and psychologists’ reports)
  • Where the university was unable to offer a pre-requisite unit

If you wish to apply for a leave of absence, you are required to complete the Leave of Absence Application on the eStudentCentre webpage.

If you wish to cancel your enrolment, you are required to complete the Withdrawal – Notice of Leaving Education Provider form.

You should contact your International Student Adviser for more information on deferring or cancelling your enrolment.

Deferring of cancelling your studies may have an effect on your student visa. You should contact DIAC for advice before lodging an application to withdraw from the University of Tasmania.

Suspension or Cancellation of Enrolment by the University

The University of Tasmania can suspend or cancel a student’s enrolment for:

If you wish to appeal the University's decision, you have 20 working days to access the internal complaints and appeals process. For help or advice about appealing the University’s decision please contact your International Student Adviser.

Please Note: For English Language Centre (ELC) students wishing to defer, suspend or cancel their enrolment, please contact your International Student Adviser who can assist you with completing the relevant application form.

Transfer Requests

Transfer to the University of Tasmania

If you wish to transfer to the UTAS from your current education provider and you have not completed 6 months of your principle course you will need to provide UTAS with a letter of release, except where:

  • the original registered provider has ceased to be registered or the course in which the student is enrolled has ceased to be registered; or
  • the original registered provider has had a sanction imposed on its registration by the Australian Government or state or territory government that prevents the student from continuing his or her principal course; or
  • any government sponsor of the student considers the change to be in the student’s best interest and has provided written support for that change.

Where any of the exceptions above occur UTAS may request documentary evidence outlining that an applicant’s previous education provider has ceased to be registered, has had a sanction imposed against their registration, or written confirmation that the applicant’s government sponsor supports the change of provider.

Transfer from the University of Tasmania

If you wish to transfer to another Education Provider from your principal course at the University of Tasmania, you need to apply for a Letter of Release. Your application will be assessed on the following basis:

  • the student has completed 6 months of their principal course;
  • there are compassionate or compelling reasons; or
  • UTAS is unable to provide the course the student requires
Sponsored students

Sponsored students may transfer to another provider within the first six months of their principal course at the University of Tasmania.

A sponsored student who wishes to transfer to another provider must provide the University of Tasmania with the following documents:

  • a letter of approval from the government sponsor; and
  • a Letter of Offer from the other education provider

The letter of approval from the sponsor MUST contain the following:

  • name and ID number of the student;
  • confirmation that the student is being sponsored by that Department;
  • whether the sponsor is supporting a change in providers;
  • reasons as to why the sponsor considers the change to be in the student’s best interest

To apply for a letter of release please complete the Withdrawal – Notice of Leaving Education Provider form. You will also need to attach the offer letter from your new education provider and a letter addressed to the International Compliance Officer explaining why you wish to transfer.

If you are unsuccessful in your application for a Letter of Release and wish to appeal this decision, you have 20 working days to access the internal complaints and appeals process. For help or advice about appealing this decision please contact your International Student Adviser. For more information about lodging an appeal, please visit the following website which outlines the appeals process (Ordinance 8).

Please Note: For English Language Centre students wishing to transfer to another education provider, please contact your International Student Adviser who can assist you with completing the relevant application form.

Attendance for English Language Centre Students

English Language Centre students on a student visa are required to maintain satisfactory attendance.

If you have not achieved satisfactory attendance the ELC will notify you in writing of its intention to report the breach of your visa condition to DIAC.

Pursuant to Standard 8 of the National Code 2007, you have 20 working days to access the University’s complaints and appeals procedures as outlined on the ELC website. Should you need any help accessing the complaints and appeals procedures, you may seek help from your International Student Adviser.

You can contact an International Student Adviser by emailing them directly, or by coming in to one of the ELC Offices:

Hobart - ELC.Support@utas.edu.au

Launceston - ELC.Launceston.Support@utas.edu.au

If you choose not to appeal or if your appeal is unsuccessful, you will be reported to DIAC.

Complaints and Appeals

For more information about the University of Tasmania’s complaints and appeals process please visit the Student Complaints website. Should you need any help accessing the complaints and appeals process, you may seek help from your International Student Adviser.

For ELC student complaints and appeal procedures regarding attendance and/or administrative or academic issues please refer to the ELC website.