Work and your visa
If you are on a student visa, there is no limit on the amount of hours you can work per fortnight, until 30 June 2023.
On a student visa, from 1 July 2023 you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight in a trimester when your course is in session. This includes work experience related to your degree, unless it is a mandatory component of that degree.
During trimesters when you are not studying and breaks between trimesters, you can work as much as you want.
While working during trimesters when you are studying, you must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is flexibility in the number of hours you can work.
Students must still:
- maintain their course enrolment
- ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
- ensure satisfactory course progress.
Learn more about student visa conditions on the Department of Home Affairs website
Finding work
Deakin's online jobs database is a good place to start to help you find work. Our online careers tools and resources will help increase your chances of finding part-time work while studying.
Your rights at work
Everyone who works in Australia, including international students, is protected by a set of workers’ rights. For example, it is illegal for a potential employer to ask you to work for free as a trial. Other rights include getting formal pay slips, working in safe conditions, and being comfortable at your workplace.
If you have concerns about your working conditions while in Australia, the Deakin Student Legal Service can provide you with advice and support.
DeakinTALENT is an amazing opportunity to gain real-life professional work experience – I’ve developed my network and skillset. DeakinTALENT also provides helpful resources regarding job opportunities and employment.
Tatyana, Indonesia
Bachelor of Nutrition Science
Work experience
Gaining professional work experience while you study can help you prepare for your future career. Deakin’s approach to learning puts an emphasis on practical experience – many of our degrees include internships or work placements as a requirement or elective unit.
Our award-winning careers service, DeakinTALENT, can also help you access employment support and opportunities. The Deakin International Student Careers program (DISC) can help prepare you for the Australian job market, increase your employability and help you reach your professional goals. DeakinTALENT also offers a range of other services, including workshops, coaching and the FreelancingHUB internship program.
DeakinTALENT won the Excellence in International Student Employability and Career Development category of the 2020 Victorian International Education Awards (VIEA), and has been voted the most popular careers service in Australia by the graduate recruitment industry for several years.
Working after you finish your degree
Once you finish your studies at Deakin, you might be able to stay in Australia and work with a post-study work visa. This can be a great opportunity to begin your career in the Australian job market. A post-study work visa typically allows you to stay and work for 2-4 years depending on your qualification and where you have studied.
You can apply for this visa if you have studied for a minimum of two years and completed an eligible qualification from an Australian educational institution.
Eligible qualifications are:
- a bachelor degree
- a bachelor degree with honours
- a masters by coursework degree
- a masters (extended) degree
- a masters by research degree
- a doctoral degree.