On this page
- Can an international student change course in Australia?
- What happens if I change to a lower-level course on a student visa?
- Can I change course in Australia after 6 months?
- Does changing course affect my next student visa in Australia?
- What should I check before I change course on a student visa?
- Do you want help with your own situation?
Yes, you can change your course in Australia on a student visa when the new course is at the same level or a higher level. The Department of Home Affairs says no new visa is needed when “studying at the same or higher AQF level”.1 A lower-level course needs a new student visa before it starts. Since 2 October 2026, most students apply for that visa from outside Australia.13
Can an international student change course in Australia?
Yes. An international student can change course in Australia. Three things decide whether the student keeps the current visa:
- The level of the new course. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) ranks Australian qualifications “from level 1 to level 10”.58
- The college. A move to another college has its own time rule.
- The end date of the visa. A course that ends after the visa ends needs a new visa.3
Find your change in the table below12
| The change | Can the student keep the current visa? |
|---|---|
| To a course at the same AQF level | Yes |
| To a course at a higher AQF level | Yes |
| From a Doctoral degree (level 10) to a Masters degree (level 9) | Yes |
| From a course with no AQF level, such as English, to a course with an AQF level | Yes |
| To a course at a lower AQF level | No, a new visa before the new course starts |
| From a course with an AQF level to a course with none, such as English (ELICOS) | No, a new visa before the new course starts |
The AQF level of the most common courses8
- Certificate I = AQF Level 1
- Certificate II = AQF Level 2
- Certificate III = AQF Level 3
- Certificate IV = AQF Level 4
- Diploma = AQF Level 5
- Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree = AQF Level 6
- Bachelor Degree = AQF Level 7
- Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma = AQF Level 8
- Masters Degree = AQF Level 9
- Doctoral Degree = AQF Level 10
What happens if I change to a lower-level course on a student visa?
A lower-level course needs a new student visa before the course starts. A student visa carries a condition: the student “must stay enrolled at the same or higher course level”.12
A student who moves to a lower-level course needs a new student visa before the new course starts, even at the same college. The Department of Home Affairs says: "This applies even if the new course is with the same education provider."1
Most student visa holders can no longer apply for that visa in Australia. A student who must apply from outside Australia must also be outside Australia when the Department grants the visa.6 The Department may cancel the visa of a student who breaks the condition.1
Two examples from the Department of a student who must apply outside Australia1
- Bachelor of Science (level 7) to a Diploma of Accounting (level 5), at the same college.
- Certificate IV (level 4) to an English course (ELICOS), at another college.
Planning a move to a lower-level course? Talk to Studyaway before you enrol.
Request a free appointmentNo. The college tells the Department of Home Affairs about a change of course or college. The Department says: "You do not need to send us a form or update your ImmiAccount."1
There is one exception. The Department says: "Before you start critical technology related studies, you must get approval from the Minister of Home Affairs."1
Can I change course in Australia after 6 months?
The 6-month rule is now 12 months, and it is about changing college. Until 30 June 2027, a student must complete 12 months of the main course with the current college before a new college can enrol the student. The current college can agree to a release sooner.4
For a change of course inside the same college, ask the college. The course level rules above still apply.1
Does changing course affect my next student visa in Australia?
Yes. The two main exemptions for applying in Australia both look at the course history37:
- Up to 12 more months to finish. The course must be with the college the visa was granted for. The Department of Home Affairs says: “you can have changed courses but the course you changed to must be at the same AQF level or higher”.
- Moving up after finishing. The student has completed the main course, or a changed course at the same or a higher level. The next course is one course at a higher AQF level. After a higher education course, the next course is a higher education course with a higher education provider.
What should I check before I change course on a student visa?
The Department of Home Affairs says: “You need to make sure that you continue to meet the conditions of your visa or your visa may be cancelled”.1
Before you enrol in another course, make these five checks.136
- Check both course levelsFind the AQF level of the current course and the new course.
- Check your visaRead the visa conditions and end date on VEVO.
- Compare the datesA new course that ends after the visa ends needs a new visa.
- Check where to applyIf a new visa is needed, check whether you must apply from outside Australia or an exemption applies.
- Start the new courseStart a lower-level course only after the Department grants the new visa.
VEVO, the Department's online visa check, shows the conditions and end date of your current visa.
Do you want help with your own situation?
Each case turns on the level of both courses, the college and the dates on the visa.
Studyaway tools to check your eligibility, find a course and get help
This article is general information only, not migration advice. In Australia, immigration assistance may only be provided by a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner - Studyaway provides all students with access to a Registered Migration Agent.
