Can I change to another education provider?
In accordance with Standard 7 of the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007, if a student holds a student visa for study in Australia, the student must remain with the education provider with whom they originally enrolled for the first six months of their course, or if the course is less than six months, for the duration of the course. If a student is undertaking a pre-requisite course, they must remain with the provider of the pre-requisite course for the length of that course, and then with the education provider providing the principal course of study for the first six months.
Circumstances
Only in the following circumstances will a student be allowed to change education provider during the period described above. A student must demonstrate extenuating circumstances which can be broadly categorised as either academic and personal reasons or be sponsor endorsed.
An academic reason could be:
• Murdoch University does not offer a suitable course for the student, either in regards to the course content, the student’s expectations or career opportunities
A personal reason could be:
• A family member is living in a different city or state and changing to another provider would result in better social and cultural support for the student
Sponsor endorsed:
• Government sponsored students may transfer before completing six months of their principal course if their government sponsor considers the change to be in the student’s best interest and has provided written support for that change (This does not apply to AusAID students. International students on AusAID visas should contact iss@murdoch.edu.au for more information).
An approval is always evaluated on a case by case basis.
Murdoch University will not issue a release letter if the above has not been met or if the release is not in the student’s best interest. That is:
• If the student has not commenced study at Murdoch or has only recently started studying and has not experienced the full range of academic and support services available at Murdoch
• If the transfer may jeopardise the student’s progression through a package of courses
• If the transfer is considered detrimental to the student in some other way, including where the transfer does not represent a clear educational progression to a higher level program in the student’s academic discipline.
• To minimise incentives for students to deliberately arrive under AL 1 type arrangements and then purposely transfer out of or downgrade their University course to take advantage of the SVP Arrangements
An application for a release letter will not be considered if a student has outstanding debts to the University.
Process
If a student intends to change education providers, they must inform their current education provider.
If a student wishes to transfer to another education provider within the first six months of commencing their course with Murdoch University they must request a "Letter of Release" from Murdoch International and provide:
- a letter addressed to the Murdoch International Student Liaison Coordinator outlining the basis of the request (see above) and
- an offer letter from the educational provider they wish to transfer to.
This request will be assessed by the International Student Liaison Coordinator of Murdoch International; the Coordinator has a maximum of two working weeks to assess a request for a letter of release.
If a student is declined this request an appeal may be made to the Vice President Educational Partnerships.
If a student wishes to change education providers after six months of completing their principal course with Murdoch, a Letter of Release is not required and the student is free to transfer.
If after arrival in Australia, a student wishes to study a new principal course, in a different education sector to their current principal course, they must apply for a new student visa using Form 157A.
For accurate visa application charges, please check the Fees and Charges section on the DIAC website.
