La Trobe University > International students > Applying > Visas

Student visas

No matter what you choose to study, you’ll be required to have a student visa issued by the Australian Government. 

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Student visa eligibility criteria

Before you apply for a student visa, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

  • have been accepted to study full-time at La Trobe University
  • hold a passport that has been valid for at least six months
  • have valid Overseas Health Insurance for the entire duration of your studies
  • have a valid visa if you are onshore at the time of application
  • if you are under 18 years of age, you’ll also need to demonstrate appropriate welfare arrangements for your time in Australia.

Once you’ve applied for a student visa, you will receive an outcome in writing from the Australian Government. If successful, you’ll be notified of your visa grant number, date of expiration and visa conditions.

Applying for a student visa

A student visa is a temporary visa that allows you to come to Australia for a specified period to study at an Australian educational institution.

All international students will need to apply for a student visa (subclass 500) and enrol in a Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registered course.

You can apply for a student visa online at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) website. The DHA will assess your student visa application against a range of criteria which is specified on their document tool checklist. If you applied to La Trobe via an authorised agent, they may be able to apply for the student visa on your behalf.

You are strongly encouraged to submit all required documentation with your student visa application to reduce the visa processing time. Failure to do so might lead to processing delays or visa refusal. We recommend applying for your student visa three months before travelling time or your current student visa expires.

Bringing your family

You can apply to bring your family to Australia on your initial student visa application, or to have your family join you after your course begins. You will be asked to provide evidence showing your relationship with your dependent family members, and your ability to provide financial support.

Find out more at the Department of Home Affairs website.

What you need for your visa application

Confirmation of enrolment

Once you have accepted your offer, then you will be issued with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You will use this for your student visa (subclass 500) online application.

A CoE is an official document issued by La Trobe that contains your study details such as where you will study, fees and dates. If you are applying from outside Australia, you must include a CoE for each intended course of study with your visa application. A letter of offer from your education provider will not be accepted.

If you are applying for more than one course in your student visa application, you must include all CoE codes in the application form or the visa may only be granted for the CoE provided.

Financial capacity

To study in Australia, you’ll need to have enough money to cover your course fees, travel and living costs for you and your accompanying family members while you are in Australia.

You will need to provide evidence of your capacity to pay these costs. For the exact details on what documentation and financial evidence is required, please refer to the Australian Government’s document checklist tool.

English language and health requirements

The DHA may require you to provide evidence of English with your student visa application. While the DHA accepts a minimum English Language test score, you can use the document checklist tool to find out if you are required to provide evidence of English.

You may also be required to complete a health assessment as part of the student visa application process. The health assessment process can take several weeks to complete. To help avoid delays, you can choose to undertake your health examination before lodging your visa application.

You can learn more about eligibility on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Overseas Health Insurance (OSHC)

As a condition of your student visa, the minimum level of health insurance for international students and any dependents in Australia is known as Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

La Trobe has an partnership with Medibank to provide health cover for our international students. If you purchase OSHC through us, Medibank will be your OSHC provider. Medibank Overseas Student Health Cover meets the requirements set out by the Australian Government and is 100% compliant for applying for or renewing a student visa.

Cover benefits and how to apply

Your Medibank OSHC coverage includes:

  • 100% of ambulance callout costs or emergency transportation to a hospital
  • 24/7 student health support line
  • access to online consultations with medical doctors.

You can find out the most up-to-date information about eligibility, costs, periods of cover, exclusions and more on the Medibank website.

To purchase your OSHC, you can do it through La Trobe or by arranging it on your own with any government-approved OSHC provider. If you purchase your OSHC through us, you will need to pay the OSHC premium for the entire length of your course with your first tuition fees payment. This means you are covered from the day you arrive in Australia. We will also advise the Department of Home Affairs of your OSHC status on your behalf.

Alternatively, you can choose to purchase OSHC from an approved Australian health insurance provider. You’ll need to contact the provider directly to set up your policy with them. When you complete your Offer Acceptance form, you must provide documentation as proof of OSHC coverage.

Working with your visa

As an international student, you are permitted to work a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session and unlimited hours when your course is out of session.

Your work rights on a student visa can change depending on whether your course is in session (during semester, including exam periods) or out of session (during scheduled course breaks). Check the Department of Home Affairs website for more details about what constitutes in and out of session and how they may impact the number of hours you can work.

If you are on a different visa, your work requirements might be different so it’s important to check your individual visa requirements.

If you need to confirm the dates for La Trobe's study periods, you can provide this letter [PDF 130.7 KB].

For the most up-to-date information on visa details and conditions, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

Practical work experience is a valuable part of many La Trobe courses. We offer this through:

  • work-integrated learning (WIL)
  • industry-based learning (IBL)
  • placement subjects.

If your course doesn’t offer work-integrated learning (WIL), industry-based learning (IBL) or placements as a part of your study plan, you can add them as electives.

Any work that is part of your course may count towards the 48-hour limit depending on whether it is a course requirement according to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS):

  • If the work is specified as a course requirement with CRICOS, then the work won’t count towards your 48-hour limit.
  • If the work isn't specified as a course requirement (for example, as part of an elective subject), then the work will count towards your 48-hour limit.

These guidelines may apply even if you're not being paid for the work. To confirm whether your course has a registered work component, visit the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) website. If you are looking for more information about unpaid work, view the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Unpaid Work Fact Sheet. 

Under the legislation, the University is not permitted to provide further advice about migration or visas. However, the Department of Home Affairs, a Registered Migration Agent, or a Migration Lawyer are permitted to do so. You can search for a Registered Migration Agent on the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) website.

ESOS: Protecting your rights

Understand La Trobe’s and your rights and responsibilities regarding Education Services for Overseas Students.

Learn about ESOS

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Most international students will be on a Student Visa (Subclass 500). If you are commencing your course on another visa type, such as a bridging visa or other temporary residence visa, it's important that you know what type of visa you are on so that you can meet the requirements of that visa.

If you currently hold another visa that has study rights, you will be required to apply for a student visa if you intend to study a course longer than the study right granted on that visa.

The Department of Home Affairs website can provide the most current and accurate information about visa types, eligibility and requirements.

After you’ve accepted your offer, you’ll receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You need to submit it to the Department of Home Affairs with your student visa application. It includes important information about your course and will reflect the details outlined in your Letter of Offer from La Trobe.

A student visa (subclass 500) is a temporary visa that allows you to come to Australia for a specified period to study at an Australian educational institution. You will need to apply for a course and accept the full offer then you will be issued with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) which you can then use to apply for a student visa (subclass 500).

Your CoE will include the date you’re expected to finish your course. The duration of your student visa will be based on this date.

You must complete your course within the time granted by your student visa. Except in extremely limited circumstances, you cannot stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date.

If your visa expires and you don’t have a valid CoE, you need to contact the Department of Home Affairs urgently to check what you should do.

To apply for an updated CoE, you’ll need to submit a CoE application. This can take up to seven working days in peak periods.

To apply for an updated Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), complete the online Application for Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) form and provide:

  • a copy of your passport
  • a copy of your current visa page or e-visa
  • a receipt showing that you have extended your OSHC
  • coursework student - your Agreed Progression Plan (APP)
  • research student - progress review report.

If you need further information about the CoE process, please contact International Operations and Compliance team.

You’ll need to submit an application for visa extension with the Department of Home Affairs. Make sure you have all the required documents before applying for your Student Visa (subclass 500). You must begin the process at least three months before the expiry date of your current visa.

Be aware of the expiry date of your student visa as you must either depart Australia before it expires or lodge a new visa application.

If your visa expires you need to contact the Department of Home Affairs immediately. If your visa has expired for more than 28 days an exclusion period may be imposed which means you cannot return to Australia for three years.

If your residency status changes before or after you commence your studies, you must notify the University immediately.

If you apply as an international student but become an Australian permanent resident before you enrol, your full-fee paying place will be withdrawn and you will have to re-apply for your course as a local student.

If you start your course as an international student, but become an Australian permanent resident after the census date of your current teaching period, you will be considered an international student until the end of that teaching period.

Please complete the Change of citizenship or residency status form. You will need a certified copy of your Australian Citizenship Certificate or residency change document and a copy of your passport with the change reflected.

If you are on a temporary visa and wish to apply for a new student visa to continue your enrolment, you will need to apply for a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

An application for CoE will be subjected to a Genuine Student requirement check which may include a financial capacity assessment. Once your Genuine Student requirement has been assessed and completed, meeting the University's assessment criteria, you will be issued with a CoE which you can then use to apply for student visa (subclass 500).

To apply for an updated Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), complete the online Application for Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) form.

On a student visa, you must be enrolled and studying in Australia, studying on-campus in each compulsory study period until the end of the examination period.

As international student on a student visa, you must comply with the following:

  • Maintain enrolment in a CRICOS registered course (maintain a valid Confirmation of Enrolment CoE in the same AQF level your visa was granted).
  • Complete your course in the time duration listed on your CoE.
  • Maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole time you're in Australia.
  • Inform your education provider your residential address within 7 days of arrival, including any change of your contact details within 7 days of the change.
  • Not exceeding allowable work hours. Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information about working in Australia.
  • Complete 6 calendar months in your principal course as per the commencement date of your CoE or apply for a release before transferring to another education provider. Please see rour release procedure and refund procedure pages for more information.
  • You can take up to one third (or equivalent) of your course subjects online as long as you have at least one on campus subject in each compulsory study period.
  • Maintain adequate arrangements for the education of your school-age dependents.
  • There may be other conditions, depending on what type of visa you have. You will need to check your conditions and make sure you always meet them so that your visa stays valid while you are in Australia.

If your residency status changes before or after you commence your studies, you must notify the University immediately.

If you apply as an international student but become an Australian permanent resident before you enrol, your full-fee paying place will be withdrawn and you will have to re-apply for your course as a local student.

If you start your course as an international student, but become an Australian permanent resident after the census date of your current teaching period, you will be considered an international student until the end of that teaching period.

Make sure you complete the Change of citizenship or residency status form. You will need a certified copy of your Australian Citizenship Certificate or residency change document and a copy of your passport with the change reflected.