International students' responsibilities
Your responsibilities as an international student are imposed on you by the conditions of your student visa.
The below summary of information should be read in conjunction with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website and LTU’s Policies.
These conditions are governed by the Migration Regulations and are enforced by DIAC.
While it is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with your visa conditions, the University must also monitor your enrolment and notify DIAC of any breaches.
DIAC may cancel your student visa if you are found to have breached your visa conditions.
Your responsibilities include:
- maintaining enrolment and course progress
- achieving satisfactory results
- paying tuition fees on time
- notifying the University of any change of address
- maintain visa length Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
For tips and information to help you maintain a student visa compliance, check out this fact sheet (PDF 62KB).
Maintain enrolment and course progress
You must be enrolled in a full-time registered course at university. At La Trobe, this means you should study 120 credit points per calendar year.
You are also expected to complete your course by the end date specified on your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE). This means that you can only reduce your study load in special circumstances and in consultation with your Student Support Coordinator and Course Coordinator. A reduced load may result in the need to take up additional subjects in future sessions to complete your course in the time frame specified on your student visa.
According to Australian government regulations, La Trobe can only extend your eCoE (which you need to apply for an extension of your student visa) in certain circumstances. If you think that you will not be able to complete your course by the date on your eCoE, then you must see your Student Support Coordinator immediately so that an appropriate intervention strategy can be implemented.
If you do not abide by these requirements, you may not be able to extend your student visa to complete your course.
Achieve Satisfactory Results
All La Trobe students are subject to policies and procedures and must maintain satisfactory academic progress. As an international student, if you are excluded from your course because of unsatisfactory academic progress, the University must notify DIAC and your student visa may be cancelled.
Find more information about about La Trobe’s academic progress regulations.
Pay Tuition Fees on Time
It is a requirement of your student visa that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and to pay for your studies in Australia. If you do not pay your tuition fees on time, the University may cancel your enrolment and notify DIAC. This may lead to cancellation of your student visa. If you have trouble paying your fees, please contact the Fees and HECS Office or make an appointment to see the International Student Support Team by emailing studentsupport@latrobe.edu.au or by calling 03 9479 1199.
Notify the University of any change of address
It is a student visa condition that you notify La Trobe of your residential address in Australia within seven days of:
- arriving in Australia
- changing your address.
You can maintain your current address details by updating your details via StudentOnLine. All correspondence affecting your eCoE will be sent to the current address on file. If you do not receive the important information, your visa could be affected without you knowing.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
You need to ensure that your OSHC is valid throughout your studies in Australia. If you need to renew your coverage and your health provider is with Worldcare, you can do this by making a payment directly to OSHC by Allianz Global Assistance.
Worldcare representatives are available on campus at La Trobe International on Tuesday and Friday between 10am-5pm for advice, new policies and policy renewals/extensions.
