Withdrawing or taking a break

The National Code, Standard 8 requires student visa holders to be enrolled with an academic load that ensures the overseas student is in a position to complete the program within the expected duration specified on the overseas student’s CoE.

The registered provider must not extend the duration of the overseas student’s enrolment if the overseas student is unable to complete the program within the expected duration, unless:

• there are compassionate or compelling circumstances, as assessed by the registered provider on the basis of demonstrable evidence, or
• the registered provider has implemented, or is in the process of implementing, an intervention strategy for the overseas student because the overseas student is at risk of not meeting academic progression requirements, or
• an approved deferral or suspension of the overseas student’s enrolment has occurred under Standard 9 (Deferring, suspending or cancelling the overseas student’s enrolment).

A student visa holder must consult with an Enrolment Advisor at Student Assist prior to withdrawal from a subject/s, unless the student will replace the withdrawn subjects with an alternate subject with equivalent academic load that is consistent with the students’ academic program structure and sequence.  

A student visa holder must seek approval from the International Compliance team to study less than full time academic load in any ‘in session’ period of study to ensure the proposed academic load is in accordance with National Code Standard 8 & 9.

The National Code, Standard 8 outlines that student visa holders are not permitted to undertake more than one-third of a higher education program by distance learning or on-line learning. Student visa holders are not permitted to undertake subjects exclusively by online or distance learning in each compulsory study period. A student visa holder must study at least one unit that is not by distance or online learning in each compulsory study period, unless the student is completing the last unit of their program.

Student visa holders withdrawing from study entirely will no longer be meeting the 8202 condition on a student visa and may be required to leave Australia. If you are unsure about your student visa obligation following a withdrawal we strongly recommend you contact the Department of Home Affairs or a representative of the Bond University International Compliance team at [email protected].

The National Code standard 7 does not allow a registered provider to knowingly enrol an overseas student seeking to transfer from another registered provider’s program prior to the overseas student completing six months of his or her principal program, except where any of the following apply:

• the releasing registered provider, or the program in which the overseas student is enrolled, has ceased to be registered
• the releasing registered provider has had a sanction imposed on its registration by the ESOS agency that prevents the overseas student from continuing his or her program at that registered provider
• the releasing registered provider has agreed to the overseas student’s release and recorded the date of effect and reason for release in PRISMS
• any government sponsor of the overseas student considers the change to be in the overseas student’s best interests and has provided written support for the change.

The above standard requires student visa holders to complete 6 calendar months study in their principal program before they are eligible for a release letter. 

The Bond University Overseas Student Transfer Policy provides information relating to student visa holder requests for a release letter prior to the completion of 6 calendar months study in the principal program. 

Where a student visa holder lodges a full and complete release letter application to the Student Assist a relevant officer will conduct a review and provide an outcome in writing within 14 calendar days from the date of lodgement. 

The relevant officer may request further documents or evidence from the applicant, which may extend an outcome timeframe.  An applicant may request a stay on an outcome decision in order to gather and provide further evidence or documentation for the application.