Switch Courses

Can International Students Change Their Course in Australia?

The good news is that you can change your course while on a student visa in Australia. But there are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure a smooth transition. Let’s explore your options.

Can I Change my Course in Australia in Subclass 500?

If you hold a Subclass 500 Student Visa and want to change your course of study in Australia, you can typically do so without having to apply for another student visa. However, there are a few requirements you must meet:

• You must have already completed six months of study in your current course. If you have less than six months of study, you will usually need to apply for a new student visa for the new course.
• Your new course must be at the same or higher level on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as your current course. For example, you can change from a Diploma to a Bachelor’s degree, but not from a Bachelor’s to a Diploma.
• You must remain enrolled with your current education provider until the new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is issued for your new course. You cannot have a gap between finishing your old course and starting the new one.
• You need a valid CoE for your new course before you can change. It confirms you have been accepted into the new course by your education provider.

Is it possible to change to a lower level or non-AQF course?

Generally, international students are not permitted to change to a lower level course once they have started studying in Australia. This means switching from a Bachelor’s degree to a Diploma, for example, is usually NOT allowed.

The exception is if you can prove there are compelling or compassionate circumstances that warrant the change to a lower level course. For example, if you have developed a medical condition that prevents you from continuing with a high-level course.

Changing to a non-AQF course is also not normally allowed. Non-AQF courses do not lead to a recognised qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework. If you want to switch to a non-AQF course like an English language course, you will likely need to apply for a new student visa.

So in most cases, international students are expected to continue progressing to higher level courses, not downgrading. Special circumstances need to be proven if you wish to change to a lower level course once in Australia.

Do I need to apply for a new student visa to switch courses?

In some situations, you will need to apply for a new international student visa when changing courses in Australia:

• If you have not yet completed six months of study in your current course, you cannot change courses on your existing visa. You will need to apply for a new student visa for the new course.
• If the new course is at a lower level on the AQF than your current course, you will usually need a new visa application.
• If you want to enroll or change to a non-AQF course like an English language course, you typically need to apply for a new student visa, even if you have completed six months of your degree.
• If you have not maintained continuous enrolment and there is a gap between finishing your current course and starting your new one.

In these scenarios, we recommend you speak to an international student advisor about applying for a new Subclass 500 visa for your change of course to ensure you remain compliant with your visa conditions.

Does changing courses affect my student visa?

As long as you meet the requirements outlined above, changing courses should not affect your actual Subclass 500 Student Visa grant. Your visa will remain valid until its expiration date.

However, not meeting the course change requirements can be grounds for visa cancellation. For example, if you change to a lower level course without approval, or have a gap in enrolment between courses.

Unauthorised course changes are taken seriously by the Department of Home Affairs. It is important to follow the proper procedures and visa rules when changing courses to avoid cancellation of your Australian student visa.

Can I transfer to another institution?

Yes, you can transfer to a new institution or education provider after completing six months of your principal course. This is known as the ‘six month rule’ and is designed to protect the integrity of Australia’s student visa program. If you want to transfer earlier, you’ll need to get a release from your current institution.

This means you must still have a valid CoE for your new course and current institution, with no gap in enrolment if you have completed less than 6 months of your current course.

It is important to cancel your current CoE with your original institution once the new CoE is issued from your new provider. This notifies the Department of Home Affairs you are transferring institutions, not finishing study in Australia.

While changing Australian education institutions is permitted for international students, proper procedures must still be followed to remain compliant on your Subclass 500 visa.