Can international students change their course in Australia?
As an international student, it’s likely that you did a lot of research before deciding to move to Australia. But what happens if you don’t like your course or institution?
You might have:
- enrolled into a course that is too difficult
- selected an institution that doesn’t meet your needs, or
- realised that you don’t want to pursue a career in your field of study.
- Book an appointment with a student adviser
- Consider visa requirements
- Understand your financial obligations
- Select a new course or institution
Book an appointment with a student adviser
Your first step is to book an appointment with your course coordinator or a student adviser. They will explain everything you need to know about changing your course, including:- your visa requirements
- financial obligations (learn more below).
The Department of Home Affairs has strict policies on course changes by international students, so it is important to get advice from your institution before making any changes to your enrolment.
To move to another education provider, you need to have completed at least six months of study at your current institution. If you would like to change your institution before the end of this six-month period, you will need to obtain a ‘Letter of Release’ from your institution. Your student adviser or course coordinator will explain this process to you.
Consider visa requirements
Your Australian student visa is the most important thing to consider when you change your course. This is because you will need to continue to meet the requirements of the specific student visa you have been granted — whether this is a visa for an English language course, Vocational Education and Training (VET) study or higher education.
A new student visa may also be required if you want to study a course at a different qualification level — for example, moving from a bachelor degree to a certificate IV, which is taught in the VET sector.
Understand your financial obligations
At this point, it's important to ask, what is the census date?
The fact is, your Australian institution will set a date each semester that is the final day you can make changes to your enrolment without financial penalty (having to pay fees for a subject or course you did not complete). This is usually called the ‘census date’ and occurs a couple of weeks into each semester.
If you make changes to your course after this date, you will pay the full cost of each subject you chose in that semester. If you change your course or subjects before this date, you may receive a partial or full refund.
Select a new course or institution
When selecting a new course or institution, it is important that your new choice meets your needs.If you thought that your course was too difficult, you should make sure that the new course is more suited to your abilities.
If you’re thinking about moving to another institution, think about why your current institution isn’t suitable:
- Are you looking for an institution with a more lively campus culture?
- Do you want to study in another part of Australia?
- Or do you want access to a broader range of courses and specialisations?
Once you’ve done your research on changing courses or institutions in Australia, it’s time to apply! Contact institutions to discuss your options.
Useful links
- Changing your study situation — Department of Home Affairs
- Course search
