Student visa personal obligations

You must continue to have sufficient financial capacity to support your study and stay in Australia. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact us. Deakin offers a range of financial assistance services such as interest-free loans, emergency essentials and other support options. It's important to note that this type of financial help cannot be used towards payment of tuition fees.

More information on our financial assistance webpage

Within seven (7) days of your arrival, and at any time after you arrive if your details change, you must notify Deakin of:

• your Australian residential address
• your mobile phone number
• an emergency contact number.

Your details can be updated in StudentConnect. If you intend to go home during the holidays, it is important that you change your postal address to your overseas address for the period of time in which you’re not in Australia. When you return to Australia, you will need to update your address once again to reflect your Australian address. This is to make sure that any important correspondence sent by Deakin reaches you at your current location.

You must maintain valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of your course(s) and until your visa expiry date. You must not let your OSHC cover lapse at any time while you are studying in Australia. It is your responsibility to renew and maintain your OSHC for the full duration of your course(s). It is important that you provide your OSHC provider with your up-to-date contact details, particularly your email address.

If you purchased your OSHC through Deakin, your OSHC provider is BUPA. You can change your address by sending an email to OSHCDeakinUni@bupa.com.au with the subject ‘Update my details’. In your email message, provide your full name, date of birth, membership number and new address and telephone number.

Once you have started your studies, you can work up to 48 hours in a fortnight (every consecutive 2 weeks) when your course is in session.

Undergraduate and masters by coursework students can only work up to 48 hours per fortnight once you have started your studies, or when your course is in session, unless you are taking a work placement – Work Integrated Learning (WIL) unit – which is part of your course. Masters by Research and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students have no work restrictions. However, it is recommended that you feel confident and comfortable about your studies before pursuing work.

Outlined below are some exceptions to these obligations.

• There are no work limits applied during Trimester 3, as Trimester 3 is not a compulsory study period, unless you are enrolled in one or more units in this trimester (including zero credit point units), or you commenced your course in Trimester 3, in which case you are then only allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight.
• Family members of students studying a masters by coursework or research, or a doctorate (PhD), can work unlimited hours once the primary student visa holder has started their course.
• You can take part in volunteer work outside of the 48 hours per fortnight work limitation if it fits within the description of volunteer work. Unpaid work that does not fit within this description is counted towards the 48 hours per fortnight limitation.

Depending on your circumstances, you may apply for permission to leave Australia during your studies, but it’s important to understand what conditions apply. There are two types of leave:

Short-term leave of absence (up to 10 working days)
You can apply for a short-term leave of absence if you need to attend a wedding overseas, return home to visit a sick relative or have a minor medical procedure during a compulsory study period. You will need to apply for a short-term leave of absence if you intend:

• to take up to ten days during a compulsory study period
• to return to Australia within 10 days from the start of the trimester.

Please speak with a student adviser about applying for a short-term leave of absence.

An intermission
An intermission is an approved break from study for a whole trimester, or in special circumstances, up to 12 months. As an international student, you must contact Student Central to discuss your application for an intermission. You should be aware that an intermission can only be approved on compassionate and/or compelling grounds.

View more information on the intermission webpage

HDR students who apply for intermission during their study period are not bound by trimester periods to determine the length of their break in their studies. It is important to note that the maximum intermission period allowed is 12 months.

For HDR student looking to intermit please refer to information on changes to candidature.

If you have dependent children staying with you in Australia, you need to be aware of the following conditions.

• If you have school-aged children staying in Australia on a dependent visa for more than three (3) months, you must ensure they are enrolled in school at all times.
• It is compulsory for all school-aged children to be attending school. Children aged between five (5) and 17 years old are defined as school-aged children.
• You should make arrangements for your school-aged children’s school enrolment before bringing them to Australia. Find more information on the StudyVIC website.

Government school fees

Tuition fees are the same for all Victorian government schools. There may be an exemption for your children’s school fees at a Victorian government school if you’re an HDR student or on a fully-funded scholarship provided by the Australian government. To see if you qualify for an exemption from school fees, see the Victorian Government Schools International Student Program website.

Non-government school fees

If you want to enrol your children in a non-government school, visit the Independent Schools Victoria website for a list of schools and for more information.

Other school education expenses

In addition to your children’s school fees, you’re also responsible for other expenses such as textbooks, stationery, uniforms and excursions, etc. It is recommended you get an upfront estimate of all the fees you will need to pay when you’re liaising with schools about enrolment.

If you are under 18, you must keep us informed of any changes in your circumstances

If you’re aged under 18 years, your accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements must be approved by Deakin and the Department of Home Affairs. You must also gain written approval from Deakin for any changes to your living arrangements.

You must not start or change your course of study, or your thesis or research topic, unless approval is given by the Department of Home Affairs after it has obtained an assessment from the relevant Australian authorities.