Genuine Student Assessment Procedure

1. The purpose of our procedure

This procedure outlines how Adelaide University assesses whether an international prospective student is a genuine student for the Student Visa in support of our obligations under Direction No. 106 – Assessing the genuine entry and stay requirements for Student Visa and Student Guardian Visa applications and the Migration Act 1958.

This procedure is to be read in conjunction with our Admissions Policy.

2. Who our procedure applies to

2.1 Inclusions

This procedure applies to all prospective international students who intend to apply for a Student Visa to study at Adelaide University.

2.2 Exclusions

This procedure does not apply to prospective domestic students.

3. Our genuine student assessment procedure

3.1 Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for admission, prospective international students must meet our genuine student assessment criteria, as well as academic and English language requirements.

3.2 Information and evidence we may request

We may undertake a genuine student assessment at any time, including after issuing an offer of admission.

In addition to a completed application form, we may also require the prospective international student to:

• provide additional certified copies, in English, of supporting documentation
• attend an interview
• provide any other information we request to support our genuine student assessment.

3.3 Grounds for refusal or cancellation

We may refuse admission, withdraw an offer of admission, or cancel a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) at any time if:

• the prospective international student does not complete the assessment process within the required timeframe
• the prospective international student, if admitted, would cause the University to breach Commonwealth or state laws (for example, autonomous sanctions, foreign relations or foreign engagement)
• we believe the prospective international student, or their representative, has provided fraudulent or incorrect information
• the genuine student assessment determines that the prospective international student is not a genuine student.

Our assessment remains valid for 24 months. During this period, if one or more of the above refusal criteria apply to a prospective international student, they will be refused admission to all programs. Prospective international students seeking to reapply, including into an alternative program may be required to complete a new genuine student assessment.

3.4 Confidentiality and disclosure

We are not obliged to disclose or provide a copy of the assessment or its outcomes unless required by law. We may disclose the results to our pathway providers – partner institutions with which we have a formal arrangement for student progression into Adelaide University’s degree programs.

4. Who holds a responsibility within this procedure

Refer to the Delegation Policy for all delegations at Adelaide University.

4.1 The Director, Admissions or delegate is required to:

• interpret program rules to determine eligibility for admission and deferral
• confirm when the Deferrals Procedure should be invoked.

4.2 The Senior Manager, International Compliance is required to:

• assess whether a prospective international student is a genuine student
• request additional supporting documentation, interviews, or other information where necessary
• refuse admission or cancel a CoE if the prospective international student fails to satisfy genuine student criteria or does not comply with process requirements.

4.3 The International Compliance Team is required to:

• carry out genuine student assessments under the direction of the Director, Admissions
• prepare recommendations for admission, deferral, or refusal
• maintain accurate records of assessments, supporting evidence, and outcomes.

5. Definitions used in our procedure

Please refer to our Adelaide University glossary for a full list of our definitions.

Certified copy means a copy of an original document that an authorised witness has verified as a true copy of the original; an authorised witness is a person prescribed under applicable law (see Attorney-General’s Department - authorised witnesses and Statutory Declarations Regulations 2023). Certification confirms the copy matches the original document; it does not verify the authenticity of the original itself.

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) means an official document issued by Adelaide University to international students to confirm enrolment status, required for student visa holders by the Australian Government.

Genuine student means a person who has a genuine intention to study in Australia and that this is the primary purpose of their student visa.

How our procedure is governed

This procedure is categorised, approved and owned in line with the governance structure of Adelaide University and the offices and officers listed below.

Legislation and other documents related to our procedure

Refer to the Delegation Policy for all delegations at Adelaide University.

History of changes

At the time of writing, Adelaide University’s organisational structure, position titles, and committee names have not been confirmed. Square brackets [ ] indicate placeholders for these details. Brackets are also used to identify policy elements that are subject to further decision-making or confirmation. These will be updated once final decisions are made.