One of the things I witnessed international students enjoy in Australia is how flexible the educational system is.
You have different options with everything!
I enjoyed that a lot as a student here too. However, lots of students misuse this opportunity.
An example is when students intentionally seek and get admission to a particular course with no intention to study the course.
When they get to the country, they change to another course, almost immediately.
This happened all the time and it was only a matter of time before the authorities responded.
And, yes, they recently did.
You’ve probably heard about this response! The “new change of course rules” for international students.
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According to the government:
“The change is part of their effort to protect the integrity of Australia’s international education system and to address concerns about visa misuse”.
If you’re an international student in Australia, you should know that the new rules have taken effect.
What are the new rules for international students in Australia?
The new rule states that international students can no longer be allowed to change their course after arriving in Australia.
According to the new law:
- To change your course of study, educational institution, or thesis topic, you must get explicit permission from the Department of Home Affairs.
- In addition, every international student “MUST” complete six months of their principal course before even considering a change.
In simple terms, if you want to change your course, it must be supervised and approved by the Department of Home Affairs.
Plus, it can only happen after six months of studying your principal course.
Harder now?
You can say that, but, some students feel it is much needed considering how students abuse the change of course privilege.
Read also: Does admission in progress guarantee admission?
This is a shift from previous policies where students can switch courses as long as they maintain their visa conditions.
Remember, this also means the change of course approval by the Department of Home Affairs won’t be as easy as it was in the past.
Right now, you’ll face strict scrutiny before your change of course request is approved.
And, your new course must align with the original intent of your visa application.
The rule applies to students with a subclass 500 visa, which you know is the standard student visa for studying in Australia.
Does this mean that international students in Australia cannot change courses under new law?
No, international students in Australia can still change courses under the new laws, but they must get approval from the Department of Home Affairs before the change is successful.
In addition, you can only change your course of study after you complete six months of your principal course.
Furthermore, you also need to submit a detailed reason for the change and prove to the authorities that the new course aligns with your original study intention.
Can international students change their course in Australia?
Yes, international students can still change their course in Australia even with the new rule.
However, you must perfect the new conditions for change of course before you proceed to change from your principal course to another.
Why has the law been implemented?
Well, it’s pretty obvious why this had to be done.
According to the government, the law was introduced to help them crack down on fraudulent visa practices.
In case you have not been following, there has been growing concern within the authorities about students who use their visas as a backdoor to gain work rights and residency.
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Plus, the government has seen students misuse their student visas.
For example, some students switch to shorter or cheaper courses just immediately after arriving in the country.
All of this undermined the integrity of the immigration system and also raised concerns about “potential” breaches of visa regulations.
Read also: Can “admission in progress” change to not admitted?
The government don’t want to wait til it becomes a bigger problem.
For them, tightening the change of course rules will reduce visa misuse by students.
“The general aim is to prevent misuse of the student visa system and make sure students are genuinely pursuing the academic goals they listed during their visa applications.”
By implementing this law, the authorities want to:
- Protect the quality and reputation of its education system.
- Make sure that international students fulfil the commitments in their visa applications.
- Prevent exploitation within the education sector.
While the government intends to maintain the integrity of the system, many students obviously find the law challenging.
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Currently, if you find a passion for a different field partway through your studies, you’ve to go far and beyond before a course change is granted.
How does this law affect international students?
It does affect students in ways like:
1. It limits flexibility in course changes
International students now need government approval before changing courses.
This means, your request to change course will be delayed and scrutinized properly before it is approved.
You can’t easily change to new academic interests or career goals.
And, a change will only happen after you complete six months of the principal course.
2. It puts students at risk of breaching their visa regulations
If you change course without approval, you’ll breach your visa regulations.
When this happens, your visa can be cancelled or you face other penalties.
3. Increased administrative burden
The more the rules, the higher the layer of bureaucracy for students to navigate.
It is no longer business as usual.
For some students, the new law feels restrictive.
Not many students are well informed before choosing their course, and some choose courses under pressure.
These people need to change their course easily if they want to do so.
The law has made it harder for them to go for a change.
While it’s undoubtedly a game-changer and will reduce visa misuse by the student, it also limits genuine students who desire flexibility and love to change their career goals to suit our ever-changing world.
For these students, this restriction is another burden.
Following the new rule, if you want to change your course, below is how.
How to change course in Australia as an international student
If you need to change your course now, first you:
1. Speak with your institution’s international office
Right now, you can’t change your course just because you want to.
You must speak with the authorities, and let them help you decide if a change is exactly what you need.
If changing is the best option for you, they’ll tell you how to proceed with it.
2. Apply for approval from the Department of Home Affairs
To change courses, you’ll submit a request to the Department of Home Affairs.
Your request should include:
- An explanation for the change.
- Evidence that the new course aligns with your career goals and visa conditions.
- Confirmation from your current institution’s authorities – supporting your request for a change.
3. Wait for approval
After submitting your request to the Department of Home Affairs, you’ll wait for their approval.
Once approved, you can proceed to conclude the change of course.
4. Consider alternative options
If changing your course is not feasible, go for other options.
If you want a change due to academic challenges and changing is not possible, you can take academic support or adjust your study load.
4. Follow your visa conditions
During and after the change, make sure you follow your visa conditions.
Do not breach the conditions of your student visa even while changing course.
Common scenarios and how to handle them after the new law
If you find yourself in any of the situations below, here’s what to do:
1. What if you struggle academically?
If you find your current course too challenging and you can’t easily change due to the new rule, I advise that you go for academic support.
Many institutions in Australia have support options like tutoring, workshops, and counselling to help students succeed.
2. What if your career goals change?
If you change career goals, apply for a change of course, however, prepare to explain your reasons clearly in your application to the Department of Home Affairs.
Submit evidence like a career plan or advice from a career counsellor, to support your case.
3. Can I change my course from one state to another in Australia?
Of course, you can change your course from one state to another in Australia.
But, you must get accepted into the new course and institution in the other state.
Once accepted, you’ll inform your current institution about your intention.
They’ll approve your request and offer you a release letter if you haven’t completed six months of your principal course.
After the change, you’ll update your information through your ImmiAccount.
4. Can I change my master’s course in Australia?
You can change your master’s course in Australia, however, it must be done according to your institution’s policy on course change.
In addition, you also need approval from the Department of Home Affairs, as per the updated rule.
Read also: Can I change my course in Australia under subclass 500?
While this policy intends to protect the integrity of Australia’s education system, it does place more pressure on international students.
What do you think about the new rule?
Share with us below.