ESOS: Protecting your rights
Australia provides the world's most rigorous protection for international students through the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.
The ESOS Act aims to maintain the quality of education in Australia, protect international students' rights, provide tuition protection and support the integrity of the student visa program.
International students' responsibilities
As an international student, you have responsibilities that are related to the conditions of your student visa. You’re required to notify us of any circumstances that may affect your student enrolment, including:
- maintaining enrolment
- underload of enrolment
- academic progress
- paying tuition fees on time to ensure you remain enrolled
- notifying the University of any change of address
- maintaining visa length Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- leave of absence
- online and distance education
- transfer of course
- discontinuation
- applying for a release letter
- early completions.
While it’s your responsibility to ensure that you comply with your visa conditions, we’re also obliged to monitor your enrolment and notify the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment of any breaches. The Department of Home Affairs may cancel your student visa if you are found to have breached your visa conditions.
La Trobe's responsibilities
The Act requires institutions providing education to international students to meet nationally consistent standards in their education delivery, facilities and services.
As an education provider, we are required to:
- register on CRICOS
- meet quality assurance standards
- comply with tuition and financial assurance requirements
- meet the obligations of registered providers
- report students who do not comply with student visa conditions to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and Department of Home Affairs.
For more detailed information, please visit the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.