Changing Courses

All Student visa (subclass 500) holders need to maintain enrolment in a course that is the same level (or higher) Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level for which they were granted a visa.

Unless you are studying a doctoral degree (AQF10) and transfer to a master’s degree (AQF9).

Transferring to a lower AQF level course or transferring from an AQF level course to a non-AQF Award course is a breach of your student visa condition and might result in your visa being cancelled.

Students who want to change to a lower level course or non-award course must apply for, and be granted, a new student visa before they change their course. More information is available about changing courses.

Standard 7 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 also applies to transfers between Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)-registered providers. More information is available from the Department of Education and Training.