International Centre

1. The ESOS framework

The ESOS legislative framework is designed to ensure that Australia's reputation for delivering quality education services is maintained and that the interests of overseas students are protected. It sets minimum standards and provides tuition and financial assurance. Together with Australian immigration law, the ESOS framework also imposes visa related reporting requirements on both students and educational institutions. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has produced an Easy Guide to ESOS.

What is an International Student?

If a student is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen, then they are an International Student, and must pay UWA's international tuition fees. Temporary residents must pay international fees until they have permanent residency.

Does the ESOS framework apply to all International Students?

The ESOS framework only applies to those International Students who have Student Visas. The ESOS Act refers to these students as Overseas Students.

Can International Students study part-time?

If the student does not have a Student Visa, they may study part-time. If the student has a Student Visa, they must complete their course within the standard full-time completion period, unless certain circumstances apply (see Student Visa conditions). They can choose to study part-time in a particular semester, as long as they are allowed by their faculty to overload later, or can catch up by studying Summer School units, if available.

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2. Student visa conditions

If Student Visa holders do not uphold their visa conditions, their visa may be cancelled and they may have to leave Australia. A full list of conditions is available from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship with the most important listed below:

• The Student Visa holder must remain enrolled in a course registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
• The Student Visa holder must make satisfactory course progress according to UWA's rules.
• The Student Visa holder must advise UWA of their Australian address within seven days of arriving in Australia, and within seven days of any change of address.
• The Student Visa holder must maintain enough money to pay for travel, tuition and living expenses for themself, their spouse and their dependent children for the duration of their stay in Australia.
• Any family members of school age (between 5 and 18 years) living in Australia must attend school in Australia. The International Centre's Pre-departure Guide contains more information about this.
• The Student Visa holder must maintain health insurance for themselves and their family members while in Australia.
• Student Visa holders cannot undertake work until they have commenced their course in Australia. Coursework students cannot work more than 20 hours per week during semester/trimester teaching periods. Research students cannot work more than 20 hours per week except when on annual leave.
  

3. Pre-enrolment information 

Standard 2 of the National Code requires UWA to give students detailed information about their course and about studying at UWA before the student accepts the offer of a place in a course. All marketing material for prospective Student Visa holders should refer students to the StudentNet page on ESOS, which provides links to this information, and should be sent to David Norman, International Quality Assurance Officer, for approval prior to printing.

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4. Satisfactory course progress 

The National Code requires UWA to have an Intervention Strategy to identify and assist students at risk of not meeting their course progress requirements. This Intervention Strategy is described below:

Identifying students at risk of not meeting course progress requirements

Students can be identified in one of three ways:

1. At the end of each semester, Student Visa holders who have failed 50 per cent or more of the units attempted are identified as at risk. The students receive a letter requesting that they meet their faculty adviser to discuss their progress.
2. A student can be identified as at risk by an academic staff member, for example on the basis that coursework is not submitted or is not to standard, or by a support staff member who has identified a risk factor. The staff member contacts the faculty adviser, who contacts the student to discuss the student's options.
3. A student can identify themselves as at risk, by contacting their faculty adviser and explaining why they are having difficulty with their course.

Strategies to assist identified students to achieve satisfactory course progress

UWA's Intervention Strategy offers a range of different kinds of assistance for students to choose from, and also allows for a reduction in study load, if agreed by the Faculty.

1. Faculty Assistance

The faculties provide help and assistance to their students through the Course Advisers, Programme Coordinators and their Sub Dean/Associate Dean/Academic Student Advisers. Faculty web pages give more details of assistance provided.

A reduction in study load can be approved by the student's Sub Dean/Associate Dean/Academic Student Adviser, if course rules permit and it is relevant to the student's situation, and as long as the National Code requirement for the student to study at least one unit face-to-face per teaching period is met. If a reduction in study load is permitted, the Sub Dean/Associate Dean/Academic Student Adviser saves the details of this load in the student's file.

2. Study Smarter

Student Services' Study Smarter team offer a range of programs and services aimed at helping students improve their academic skills. They can be contacted by email at study.smarter@uwa.edu.au or by phone on 08 6488 2423.

3. Uniskills

First year undergraduate students can join UniSkills, which offers academic support through Study Share study groups, where small groups of students study together with a more senior student in a supportive and informal group. Information is available from UniSkills, and by contacting the coordinator, Dr Judy Skene , telephone (+61 8) 6488 2424.

Students who do not make satisfactory course progress

If a Student Visa holder does not make satisfactory course progress according to UWA's rules, they are sent a letter informing them of this, and of the University's intention to report this breach of their Student Visa conditions to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), unless they lodge a formal appeal against their course Progress Status within 20 working days of the date of the letter, and their appeal is successful.

If they are reported to DIAC for failure to meet course requirements, this may result in their visa being cancelled and their being unable to re-enter Australia for a period of three years.

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5. Completion within the expected duration of study

Standard 9 of the National Code requires UWA to ensure that, at all times, Student Visa holders are in a position to complete their studies within the duration specified in their CoE, unless certain circumstances apply. If a Student Visa holder chooses to study at less than a 100 per cent load in a particular teaching period, they will have to make sure that they can still complete their course in time.

If a Student Visa holder does not complete within the expected duration of their course, UWA can only issue them another CoE if

(a) their faculty adviser agrees that there are compassionate or compelling circumstances;
(b) their faculty adviser has previously agreed to a reduced study load as part of UWA's Intervention Strategy; or
(c) they did not complete as the result of an approved deferment or suspension of their study.

Supporting documents should be saved on TRIM, and the faculty adviser should make a brief note in the course notes section of the student's internal academic record.

If a Student Visa holder completes their course early, UWA must report this to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), and the duration of the student's visa will most likely be reduced.

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6. Mode of study

The National Code permits Student Visa holders to enrol in a limited amount of distance/online learning.  No more than 25% of the point load of their entire course may be studied by units which are delivered 100% in distance/online mode, and they must study at least one unit face-to-face in each compulsory teaching period.

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7. Change of course

If an International Student changes course (or major in a Life and Physical Sciences BSc) they should contact the International Centre, because it is possible that they will have to pay a different fee. Students who change course will be asked to sign a new Acceptance of Offer and will be issued a new CoE.

If a Student Visa holder intends to transfer to another university within the first six months of their final course at UWA, their request will be assessed using the criteria in UWA's Student Transfer Request assessment policy and procedure, which is available from the International Centre.

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8. Complaints and appeals

International Students have access to the same procedures for complaints and appeals as all other UWA students.

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9. Deferring, suspending or cancelling study 

If a Student Visa holder wants to suspend their research enrolment or take leave from a coursework degree, they must complete the International Centre's Approved Leave Form and have their leave approved by the International Student Adviser or Director, who can approve if compassionate or compelling circumstances apply.

They must also complete either the

• Approved leave form (PDF, from the Student Administration site, used for all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework courses) or the
• Application for Suspension of Scholarship/Award and/or Candidature (PDF, from the Graduate Research & Scholarships Office site, used for research courses only).
  

Compassionate or compelling circumstances are generally those beyond the control of the student and which have an impact upon the student's course progress or wellbeing. These could include, but are not limited to

• serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes;
• bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents;
• major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the student's studies;
• a traumatic experience which could include involvement in, or witnessing of a serious accident; or witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime;
• where UWA was unable to offer a pre-requisite unit;
• inability to begin studying on the course commencement date due to delay in receiving a student visa.

The University's misconduct rules allow for the suspension of a student's enrolment for one or two semesters, or their expulsion from the University. UWA is required to notify DEEWR and DIAC of any suspension or expulsion for reasons of misconduct, and it is most likely that the student's visa will be cancelled and that they will be banned from returning to Australia for a three-year period.

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10. Course credit

If a Student Visa holder is granted course credit, and this results in a shortening of their course, UWA will report their new expected course duration to DIAC, who may then reduce their visa duration.

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11. Under 18 students

If a Student Visa holder will be under 18 when they start their course, they must have accommodation and welfare arrangements approved by UWA or by DIAC.

UWA will only approve the accommodation and welfare arrangement if the student is staying in UWA college accommodation or in a UWA-approved guardianship arrangement. UWA issues a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare letter (CAAW) when the student has a confirmed place in approved accommodation. The CAAW states the date from which the UWA-approved welfare arrangement begins, and the student cannot arrive in Australia before this date, unless they have other welfare arrangements approved by DIAC.

If the student's welfare arrangements change after their visa has been granted they must inform DIAC of these changes.

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12. Useful links and definitions 

Useful Links

• Department of Immigration and Citizenship: Information about all visa issues.
• Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS): DEEWR information about the ESOS Framework, including an Explanatory Guide for the National Code
• CRICOS: The official Australian Government website that lists all Australian education providers which offer courses to Student Visa holders, and the courses offered.

Definitions

• ESOS Framework: the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Acts and regulations set out the legal framework governing delivery of education to Student Visa holders.
• National Code: the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007. The National Code provides standards and procedures that institutions which provide education to Student Visa holders must adhere to.
• DEEWR: the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
• DIAC: the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
• CRICOS: institutions that offer courses to Student Visa holders, and the courses they offer, are listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.
• PRISMS: the Provider Registration and International Students Management System (PRISMS) is the web-based system that lists registered courses and is used to create CoEs or to report on changes in student enrolments.
• International Student: a student who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen, and who must pay the international student fee for their course. International Students generally have Student Visas, but may have one of a range of other visas.
• Overseas Student: this term is used in the ESOS Framework to mean an International Student who has a Student Visa. The ESOS regulations only apply to these students.
• CoE: the Confirmation of Enrolment or CoE is a document that UWA creates on PRISMS for a prospective Student Visa holder when the student has signed their Acceptance of Offer. The student uses the CoE as proof of enrolment when applying for their Student Visa.
• Enrol: the words "enrolled" and "enrolment" are used in the ESOS Framework in the broad sense to mean that a student is undertaking a course.
• Suspend: in the ESOS Framework, "suspend" is used to mean any break in studies, for whatever reason, whether it is initiated by the student or the institution.

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