Confirmation of enrolment (CoE) and knowing your visa conditions
If you are an international student holding a Student Visa studying at Macquarie University, you’d require a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from MQ and a valid visa from Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) for duration of your course.
Once you have accepted your offer and have been issued with a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), you will be able to apply for a student visa. As an international student visa holder, you are required to comply with your visa conditions. If your CoE is ever cancelled due to a breach of University rules or visa requirements, this may have an impact on your student visa.
For information on the different visas available for Australia, you should view the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) website. Please note that the University can’t provide advice on other types of visas or provide migration law advice.
Changes to your course and CoE
As an international student studying on a student visa, you are required by the Australian Government to complete your course within the CRICOS registered duration. This course duration in also mentioned on your CoE.
The Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) will only allow to extend your visa where:
- Compassionate and Compelling circumstances have occurred and there is evidence to support that
- An Academic Intervention Strategy has been or is being implemented for an international student who is at risk of not meeting course progress requirements
- An approved suspension of studies has occurred
These reasons are broadly defined by DoHA and must be of a nature that would prohibit you from studying to your maximum capacity.
If you are applying to extend your student visa, you must apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) via Service Connect. If your current visa is set to expire in less than 3 months or your current CoE has ended, and you have not yet completed your current course, please take the necessary steps promptly to secure your new CoE.
For further information read our below articles
As an international student studying on a student visa, you must maintain full-time enrolment. A full-time study load for international students is:
For Macquarie University session-based students: 40 credit points (4 units) in each compulsory study period (Session 1 and Session 2)
For Macquarie University term-based students: 20 credit points (2 units) each term.
However, you may be eligible to reduce your study load if you experience academic difficulties, or situations which are compassionate and compelling in nature.
For further information read our below articles:
A Suspension of Studies (SoS) allows students who are experiencing compassionate or compelling circumstances to take a break from study and return to their home country. If approved to suspend your course, you are required to contact the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) to discuss your student visa status.
For further information read our below articles
If you are an international student visa holder and you want to permanently discontinue your studies at Macquarie University, you must submit a Student Withdrawal and Release form.
Course withdrawal: International student visa holder who wishes to return home permanently or have studied for more than 6 months of their principal course at Macquarie University and wishes to transfer to another provider.
Release approval: An international student visa holder wishing to transfer to another provider prior to completing six months of the principal course need to apply for a release. A release will only be granted in exceptional and specific circumstances. Refer to the Transfer and Release Policy for International Students.
For further information read our below articles
Student visa conditions
You must follow your visa conditions to ensure you satisfy its requirements. Visa conditions are set by Australian law and in case of breaching these conditions, this could lead to the cancellation of your visa by the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA). Full list of student visa conditions can be found on the Department of Home Affairs webpage.
The University has a legal obligation to provide information to DoHA in specific circumstances, such as changes to your enrolment and breaches to University rules.
Maintain a full study load, enrolment and course progression
It is mandatory to remain enrolled in your course and meet the course requirements throughout your studies. You are required to be a full-time student and enrol in compulsory study period to complete your studies within the stated timeframe on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
If you are at risk of not satisfying the course progression requirements, we strongly recommend seeking Course Guidance to address any concerns. For more information, please refer to our Academic Progression webpage.
ELICOS or Foundation Program student must also maintain the minimum requirement for attendance is 80 per cent. For more information, please refer to our Macquarie University College Governance webpage.
Online Learning – external/distance study
As per The National Code 2018 (Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000) Standard 8, an international student visa holder must be onshore and can only do one third of their course online and/or through distance learning.
It is important to note that you must be enrolled in at least one unit offered in-person (internal study mode) per compulsory study period. The only exception is if you are completing the last unit of your course that is only available online.
You can refer to our plan your course webpage to understand unit offerings and modes. This will help you ensure that you are compliant with this visa requirement and enrolled in the correct unit offering.
**From 30 June 2023 all international student holding a student visa must return to Australia to study on-campus ie. face to face learning.
Changing your address, phone number and email address
You must notify Macquarie University via eStudent regarding any updates to your details within 7 days of your arrival in Australia or whenever you change your details during your stay in Australia.
Macquarie University will contact you via your official Macquarie student email address. You should regularly check your student email for important updates.
Changes to welfare arrangements – under 18 years of age
If you are under 18 years of age, and do not live with a parent or legal guardian in Australia, you cannot change your accommodation and welfare arrangements without consulting Dean of Students via email at dos@mq.edu.au. For more information, please refer to the Under 18 Welfare and Accommodation Procedure and Admission of Students under 18 Procedure.
For further information read our articles regarding Student Visa Conditions.
Whilst we can provide general advice about your CoE and student visa conditions, we are unable to provide further specified advice. If you have further questions, or need advice regarding non-student visas, please contact the Department of Home Affairs.