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Admissions and enrolment for international students

Admissions

International students applying for undergraduate or postgraduate coursework programs or postgraduate research programs must submit their applications directly to La Trobe International (LTI). International students currently undertaking VCE must apply through VTAC, in accordance with normal VTAC guidelines. However, direct applications lodged by VCE students may also be accepted after mid-January.

New international applicants who meet the academic and English language requirements for the program they have applied for will be contacted by La Trobe International by way of a Letter of Offer.

For further information see www.latrobe.edu.au/international/apply

Advanced Standing (credit)

If students have been granted Advanced Standing (credit) for previous studies, they would have received a letter from the relevant faculty with the Letter of Offer. If this offer of Advanced Standing is conditional upon providing evidence of previous studies, that evidence must be provided prior to or at the time of accepting the offer. The course duration shown on the Letter of Offer will reflect the amount of Advanced Standing granted. If an assessment of Advanced Standing is not requested at the time the application is submitted, and the student wishes to apply for Advanced Standing on the basis of previous studies, an appointment must be made with the relevant faculty adviser (for assessment) within the first two weeks of the course commencement date.

Please note if a student’s course length is reduced because of Advanced Standing being granted, the University will issue a new electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE). This means that students will be expected to complete their course based on the new course length, regardless of their visa expiry date.

English language proficiency

Applicants with a principal language of instruction other than English must provide evidence of their proficiency in English. Proof of English language proficiency may be achieved with a satisfactory result in VCE English (any) or in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or another test acceptable to the University. For more information on La Trobe University’s English language requirements please see: www.latrobe.edu.au/international/apply/how-to/english

Enrolment

International students on an International Student Visa must comply with condition 8202 – e.g. they must remain enrolled in a registered course, satisfy academic requirements, make satisfactory academic progress, and complete their course within the time stipulated on their eCOE.

To comply with visa condition 8202, international students must be aware that any variation to their enrolment may affect meeting requirements of the International Student Visa to enter Australia. It is important to be aware of all the implications of making changes to a course, or enrolment, before acting on a desire to change enrolment.

LTI can provide information on matters relating to international students including procedures for applying for a visa extension.

Variation to Underload an enrolment for international students

Students may reduce their study load with Faculty and LTI approval during any study period (semester or term) of their course, as long as it does not affect the duration of their eECOE. Students can also reduce their study load due to compassionate and compelling reasons. To apply, an international student must complete an Agreed Course Plan with their Faculty Adviser.

Deferral of enrolment (prior to commencement of course)

An international coursework student can defer their commencement of studies for up to a maximum of 12 months under normal circumstances, or longer if exceptional circumstances are shown. The University requires evidence of such exceptional circumstances to accept a request for a deferral of more than 12 months.

If an international student has not accepted their offer, they are required to contact La Trobe International admission staff in writing by email, fax or post. The correspondence must include the following:

• student ID number
• full name of student (family name, given name/s)
• course
• campus
• intention to defer
• the original commencement date
• the new commencement date requested.

No application fee is required if the international student is deferring for the first time. However, if a student defers for a second or subsequent time, a charge of A$80 will be made.

If a student has accepted their offer, they must complete the Request for a Change of Course Preference and/or Deferral of Course Commencement form.

If a visa has not been granted the student is only required to complete the Request for a Change of Course Preference and/or Deferral of Course Commencement form, which are available on-request from the La Trobe International Office.

If a visa has been granted the student must attach evidence of compassionate or compelling circumstances that prevent them from enrolling into their accepted program. Acceptable circumstances include:

• serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate or psychologist’s report states that the student was or will be unable to attend classes
• bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where possible a death certificate should be provided)
• major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel that may impact on the student’s studies
• a traumatic experience that has impacted the student, and is supported by police or psychologists’ reports
• where La Trobe University was unable to offer a prerequisite subject for the student to progress in their course
• a failure to meet any condition specified on the student’s official Letter of Offer
• an inability to begin studies on the course commencement date due to delay in receiving a student visa or because the applicant has not met the minimum age requirement.

International students holding a student visa should note if an eCOE has been issued it will be cancelled, and deferral for more than six months may result in cancellation of a student visa. After a deferral is granted, students must contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for further advice as they may be required to leave the country or apply for another type of visa.

Research Students

It is not normally possible for an international research student who has been offered candidature to defer their course of study (that is, to reverse a place until the next academic year). If an international research student wants to delay their candidature within the same academic year they need to contact their potential supervisor and discuss a mutually revised commencement date. Once this is confirmed with the supervisor, the student should contact La Trobe University’s research team by e-mail at ltiresearch@latrobe.edu.au. The correspondence must include the following:

• student ID number
• full name of student (family name, given name(s))
• course
• campus
• name of principal supervisor
• intention to defer
• the original commencement date
• the new commencement date requested.

Intermission of course (after commencement of course)

International students holding a student visa should note that intermission (taking an official leave of absence) generally affects their student visa. La Trobe International must notify the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) via PRISMS when an international student is not actively studying. The student’s current eCOE will be cancelled. If intermission is granted for more than six months, the DIAC may cancel a student’s visa. After an intermission is granted, students must contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for further advice as they may be required to leave the country or apply for another type of visa. 

Please note the University can only approve intermission for international students where compassionate and compelling circumstances exist, or if prerequisite subjects are not offered in the semester for which a student is intermitting. Please see the list above of acceptable compassionate and compelling circumstances. Students must provide documentary evidence to support a claim for intermission.

Transfer of course

International students who wish to transfer to another course before they have commenced their studies need to consult La Trobe International. Students who have already commenced their studies need to consult their School or Faculty and La Trobe International.

Please note International students on a student visa will need to obtain a new eCOE for their new course and should contact DIAC to inform the Department of the change of course.

Discontinuation of enrolment (withdrawal)

Students contemplating discontinuation of their course enrolment are strongly encouraged to discuss this with a course adviser and consult with the University's free counselling service. International students are also advised to discuss their decision with an  International Student Services Coordinator at La Trobe International.

It is important for students to be aware of all the implications of making changes to their course and to be aware of other enrolment choices. Any concerns should be discussed with a course adviser, La Trobe International and the counselling service as early as possible to ensure students are aware of any other available options.

Liability for international tuition fees is dependent upon the approved date of the discontinuation as issued by both La Trobe International and the School or Faculty. If an international student chooses to discontinue their course in the first semester of their enrolment, the refund policy applies. See: www.latrobe.edu.au/international/fees/tuition

After the first semester of enrolment, students need to discontinue subjects in which they are enrolled before each of the Census dates in order not to incur fees. If a student discontinues their enrolment after some of their subject Census dates, they may apply for a Remission of Debt, if there is evidence of exceptional circumstances.

See: www.latrobe.edu.au/calendar/all-students/census-dates

Students who discontinue their enrolment will normally be required to reapply directly to La Trobe International for re-admission to the previous course, or admission to a new course. La Trobe International must notify the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) via PRISMS when an international student is not actively studying. The student's current eCOE will be cancelled.

Student identification and contact

All students at La Trobe University are subject to the rules and conditions of maintaining current contact details on university records. To comply with visa condition 8533, international students on an international student visa must notify the University within seven (7) days of their arrival in Australia of their current residential address and of any subsequent changes of their address, within seven days of each change. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) does not require international student visa holders to maintain a current address with their office but will request these contact details from the University in order to contact students. Once enrolled, students can use the login and password details on their Statement of Account to change their details through StudentOnLine.

Scholarships

International students can apply for a number of scholarships. A range of new scholarships are currently being introduced. Visit the website for details: www.latrobe.edu.au/international/fees/scholarships

Academic progress requirements

All students at La Trobe University are subject to the University’s Academic Progress Policy.

To comply with visa condition 8202, international students on an international student visa must maintain satisfactory academic progress and are expected to complete their course within the duration of the visa that has been granted for the course. As a requirement of the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007, the University monitors the progress of international students and develops intervention strategies to assist students in their academic progress.

Students whose academic progress remains unsatisfactory after an intervention strategy has been implemented, will be notified in writing (by their student email account and/or mail to their residential address) that they are in breach of the Academic Progress Monitoring and Intervention Policy. Students can address these concerns through the internal procedures outlined in the notification sent to them, and through the Academic Progress Monitoring and Intervention Policy that can be found at: www.latrobe.edu.au/policy/academic

If a student has followed the University’s internal processes, and if all complaints and appeals are finalised and the student is still deemed to have failed to meet satisfactory course progress, the University is obliged to report the student for unsatisfactory course progress to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). Until then, it is recommended that students contact their faculty and apply to continue their enrolment and attend classes. Students should also obtain advice and support from the University’s Counselling Service and La Trobe International Student Services team:

www.latrobe.edu.au/international/life/supportservices
www.latrobe.edu.au/counselling

Complaints or grievances

The University’s Student Complaint and Grievance Student Handling Policy and Procedures can be found on the web at: www.latrobe.edu.au/policy/academic

Student Complaints Office

The Student Complaints Office is available to assist students in a fair, timely and confidential manner with information in relation to the University complaints process and how to obtain resolution of student’s complaints.

 

University Ombudsman

If a complaint or grievance regarding an academic matter or an administrative decision or action is not resolved through the relevant faculty, school or administrative department, advice may be sought from:

Victorian Ombudsman

If the complaint or grievance is not resolved through the University Ombudsman, students may lodge a complaint with the Victorian Ombudsman, a constitutional independent officer of the Victorian Parliament. If students have not followed the steps structured in the relevant University procedures, the Victorian Ombudsman may ask them to do so before accepting a complaint.