Student visa conditions

If you are applying to extend your student visa, you must apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) form via AskMQ at least three months of your visa expiring.

You will be asked to outline the units you are planning to enrol into for each remaining study period in your program of study. For further help with your study plan, please see the Course Guidance page. You will also need to provide a copy of your:

• Visa
• Passport
• Health Cover/OSHC

CoE applications may take up to 15 business days.

As per student visa conditions, an international student visa holder must maintain full enrolment. However, you may be eligible to reduce your study load if you experience academic difficulties, or situations which are compassionate and compelling in nature.

Submit the Reduced Study Load (RSL) form via AskMQ along with supporting evidence for further assessment of your eligibility for RSL.

Processing of RSL requests can take up to 15 business days.

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 program, you are required to contact the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) to ask about your student visa status.

For more information, please visit the Suspension of Studies (SoS).

Processing of SoS requests can take up to 15 business days.

If you wish to cease your studies at Macquarie University, you can submit a Withdrawal and Release form via AskMQ.

International students on a student visa who wish to discontinue their studies at MQ can do so if:

• You are transferring institutions within 6 months of study at MQ and require a release letter which can be granted in exceptional circumstances
• You are transferring institutions after 6 months of study at MQ
• You are returning home, then you are required to provide evidence such as copy of your air ticket with your application.
• Your visa has been cancelled or refused

If you wish to return to your studies later, you will need to apply for a new admission.

Processing of Withdrawal and Release requests can take up to 15 business days.

If your student visa has expired and you are residing in Australia without a valid visa, then you will be considered to have stayed unlawfully. You must take steps to become lawful as soon as you can or leave Australia. You can consider doing the following:

• Read through the visa expiration information available at the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA)
• Consider applying for a Bridging Visa E (BVE) as soon as possible. A BVE is a short-term visa that lets you remain lawful whilst making arrangements to leave Australia
• Consider engaging the assistance of a registered migration agent
• If applicable, you may also like to contact the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of the decision made by DoHA. Check your visa outcome notification about your review rights

If you are unable to get a valid visa, you must leave Australia. If you fail to leave, the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) may take the following actions:

• Detain you
• Remove you from Australia
• Bill you for the cost of removing you from Australia

More information regarding invalid visas is available at the Department of Home Affairs.

You must remain enrolled in your course and satisfy course requirements. You are required to be a full-time student and enrol in compulsory study periods to complete your studies within the stated timeframe on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

It is mandatory to remain enrolled in your course and meet the course requirements throughout your studies.

If you are at risk of not satisfying the course progression requirements, we strongly recommend seeking Course Guidance to address any concerns.

Failure to maintain satisfactory course progress may result in reporting to the Department of Home Affairs, potentially affecting your student visa.

For more information, please refer to our Academic Progression webpage.

You are allowed to study up to one-third of your course online and/or through distance learning.

However, 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 (excluding Session 3). The only exception is if you are completing the last unit of your program that is only available online.

You can refer to our enrolment 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.

You must notify Macquarie University via eStudent regarding any updates to your address or contact information within 7 days in the following situations:

• Upon your arrival in Australia, provide your address details and phone number
• If you change your address or contact information, such as phone number or email address at any point during your stay in Australia

If you do not update your details, you may miss important updates which could include changes to your visa, etc.

Macquarie University will contact you via your official Macquarie student email address. You should regularly check your student email for important updates.

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, support, and welfare arrangements without consulting Dean of Students Operations Team via email at dos@mq.edu.au. For more information, please refer to the  Students under 18 years of age section.

You must study with Macquarie University for at least six (6) calendar months if your visa was obtained for study at this institution. If you have come to study an English course (eg. ELC), or a preparatory course (eg. Macquarie University College Foundation program) on a package offer, you must complete this course and then continue your studies at Macquarie University for at least six calendar months. Find out more about transfer and release conditions.