Changing your enrolments

Discontinue means you have begun your studies, but no longer wish to continue your program.

After your program starts, you can apply for a Discontinuation if:

• You are within the first 6 months of your program and NOT transferring to another Australian education provider; OR
• You have studied at the University for longer than 6 months.

Approvals:

• You will be discontinued from your program and your CoE will be cancelled. Please contact the Department of Home Affairs regarding the effect this will have on your student visa.
• Check the Refund Policy to see if you are eligible for a refund and how to apply.

Next steps:

• I want to leave the University. I am within the first 6 months of my program, and I am NOT transferring to another Australian education provider/ I have studied at the University for longer than 6 months.
• I want to check the Refund Policy to see if I am eligible for a refund and how to apply.

Release means you have studied in your program or highest level program (when you have a packaged Confirmation of Enrolment- e.g., Bachelor's plus Master's) at the University for less than 6 months and you plan to transfer to a different Australian education provider.

Approvals:

• If your application is approved, you will be released and your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be cancelled. Please contact the Department of Home Affairs regarding the effect this will have on your student visa.
• Check your Offer Letter to see if you are eligible for a refund and how to apply.

Refusals:

• If your application is refused, you will be told the reasons and provided 20 working days to appeal the decision.
• You may appeal the decision through the Student Complaints Policy.
• You must maintain your enrolment to comply with your student visa. You will also have other ways to appeal under the Student Complaints Policy.

Next steps:

• I want to leave the University and transfer to another Australian education provider. I am within the first 6 months of my program at the University.
• I want to learn more about the University Release Procedures.

If you require a short break (less than 28 days) from your program, you may be able to take a break without it affecting your student visa if the break is for a compelling and compassionate reason (e.g., due to a short-term illness), and provided you are still able to meet all of the program requirements, including attendance and assessment requirements.

Next steps:

• Discuss any potential break with all your Course Coordinators. You may also want to consult with both your College and International Student Support.

Leave of Absence means you will temporarily not be enrolled to study in a teaching period. If you need to take a break from your studies for longer than 4 weeks, you need to request a Leave of Absence. A Leave of Absence can be approved for up to 6 months except in extenuating circumstances (e.g., military leave).

For student visa holders, a Leave of Absence can only be granted when there are Compelling and Compassionate Circumstances or your ability to enrol is impacted and it’s beyond your control (i.e., visa delay, unavailability of courses).

NOTE: Your application MUST be received and assessed by the International Student Adviser by last day to enrol/enrol by date of the Semester in which you want to take leave.

Before you apply:

• You may seek advice from an International Student Advisor.
• You may need permission from your Program Director or Delegate.

Approvals:

• Your application MUST be assessed and approved by an International Student Adviser
• A Leave of Absence can be granted for 6 months where there are Compassionate and Compelling Circumstances.
• If a Leave of Absence is approved, you will be issued a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

Next steps:

• I want to take time off and request for a Leave of Absence.
• Do not remove yourself from your courses until your Leave has been approved.
• Discuss your potential break with an International Student Adviser and your College.

Coursework students

To apply for a new student visa, you will first need to apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the University. New CoEs can only be issued for a limited number of reasons.

Reasons for a new CoE:

• You have failed one or multiple courses
• There are no prerequisite courses available to study
• There is an approved leave of absence
• There is an Academic Progress process

Please note:

• We can't provide you with a CoE until you have:
  1. Received your final grades for this study period,
  2. Have received any replacement exams/ additional assessment grades, and
  3. Have paid all outstanding fees.
• Your new CoE will be emailed to you at your student email address.
• CoE processing times can take up to three weeks (after grades are released), and up to five weeks during peak processing times (December-January and July-August).
  1. You should extend your OSHC policy for the length of your new student visa before you lodge your visa application. You will be advised of your recommended OSHC length when we email your new CoE to you.
  2. For information about extending your student visa, see the Department of Home Affairs - Student visa.
  3. If your student account has been deactivated, please first contact your faculty to request reactivation.

Graduate Researchers /Research Students

If you are a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) student, you may apply for a new CoE for the full duration of your candidature. If you require an extension beyond your candidature end date, you will first need to apply for an extension through the Adelaide Graduate Research School.

Please note:

• Once you have your new CoE, you must purchase sufficient Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) to cover the full duration of your new visa. It is easier to do this before applying for your new student visa.
• International research students may be entitled to a visa for up to 6 months after their CoE end date so that they may remain onshore while their thesis is being marked and to give them time to make any corrections if required.
• If you are a sponsored student and your OSHC is arranged by the University, your CoE will reflect the total OSHC duration to which you are entitled. If you wish to take advantage of the full visa duration to which you may be entitled, you must purchase additional OSHC before lodging your visa application.
• International students studying a PhD or Master by Research are entitled to apply for a further student visa to cover the period between their thesis submission and official program completion. To apply for this student visa, you will require a letter from Graduate Research School, instead of a CoE. Please contact the Graduate Research School directly to discuss the procedures for obtaining this letter.

Next steps:

• I am a Coursework student and I want to apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment.
• I am a Higher Degree by Research student and I want to apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment.

Lodge your internal transfer request before the deadline for applications. If you are successful in your transfer, you will receive a Letter of Offer for the new program.

After accepting the Letter of Offer, you will be issued with a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for your new program. Your CoE for your previous program will be cancelled. Please note that your Letter of Offer may contain a condition that you wait until you have received your grades for the current study period before you are able to accept the Offer.

If your new program is longer than your old program, you can use your new CoE to apply for a new student visa. Please note that you can only apply for a new student visa roughly 3 months before the expiry date of your current visa.

If you have further questions about the internal transfer process, please speak to staff at the International Admissions Office via Student Assist. 

If you are currently studying a Pre-Enrolment English (PEP) program and would like to change your degree program at the University, please speak to the English Language Centre.

Next steps:

• I would like to transfer to another program offered by the University.

Coursework students

Coursework international students who hold a student visa are generally expected to maintain a full-time enrolment load.

Before making any changes to your enrolment, it is important that you meet with an International Student Adviser and review the Compelling and Compassionate Circumstances which may make you eligible for a reduced study load.

Do not withdraw from any courses until your request has been approved. Applications for reduced study load must be submitted prior to Study Period Census date.

Higher Degree Research (HDR) students

Students studying a higher degree by research (HDR) program (PhD or Master by Research) should consult the Adelaide Graduate Research School for processes around part-time study. Generally, student visa holders studying HDR programs onshore in Australia aren't permitted to study part-time. Scholarships may also affect your ability to study part-time.

Next steps:

• I am a Coursework student and I want to reduce my enrolment load.
• I am an HDR student and I need to contact the Graduate Research School about reducing my enrolment load.