Hi everyone,

This question has been bothering me for a few days and I am sure someone here can help me with an answer.

Before September 1 changes, international students could take 3 courses in a semester and still qualify as full time students. From Sep 1, DIMIA wont allow international student to take less than 4 courses per semester and also for the onshore immigration, they require a full 2 years study with 4 courses each for 4 semesters.

Does this apply to students who will now graduate under new laws but have taken 3 courses in any of their previous semesters when the law was not there. I am sure this must be a popular query as most international students try to get exemptions and do 3 courses per semester to save money.

Will appreciate any help

Hi guys,

This is to highlight the thread again. Hopefully someone will have an answer to the above query.

Thanks

Dear Impulsive,

With your investment in Australian education at risk I wouldn't want to answer your question without seeing your transcript - the change you describe is well documented and if unsure you should contact an agent.

Cheers,

George Lombard

With regards to the 2 year study rule, I have been advised that i need to do 16 courses over the 2 years to qualify for the 2 year requirement.

I am currently doing a 2 year degree programme (had advanced standing for 2 years) and was awarded further credit and subsequently only enrolled on 3 courses this semester. The university class 3 courses as full time study, however this appears to differ from DIMNA. Due to the new changes from sept i need to retract my credit and have been advised to catch up by enrolling on 5 courses next semester.

I have been advised this will be okay, as at the end of my course i will have satisfied both the universities full time study rule and will have completed 100% of the course.

I really hope this will suffice, if anyone has any different info, please help as i am seriously panicking about it all now.

Thanks

Thanks George,

I will contact you for initial consultation soon but luckily I have few months before my degree finishes and I can catch up on lost courses.

Thanks for your advice.

Dear mango4,

This is a wonderful reply and clarifies most of my doubts. I will now try to re-tract my credit exemptions and if I take 2 more courses in summer semester, I should be safe.

Can you please tell if it was easy to retract the credit? I have been told that it's quite a struggle to convince your uni to do so. Please tell me about your experience.

Can anyone also tell me that I have already a civil engineering skill assessed by the relevant authority but my experience has been in management, human resources, business analysis etc. Does this sound like a close related experience to my skill or I should try to get my skill assessed based on my current Australian degree.

Thanks

Currently on a 2 year study diploma course have recently reviewed the changes (September 1st) and it is my understanding that you need to attend a 2 year course of 104 weeks CRICOS registered course. You can however complete the course before 2 years in a minimum of 16 months as long as you complete all of the modules for the course. There are 12 subjects for the 2 years and this equates to 3 units per semester. Students would be required to complete all 12 subjects to meet the 2 year study requirement.

For an example of a graduate course CRICOS registered - 156 weeks (3 years) and consists of 24 subjects 100% of full-time enrolment would equate to 4 units per semester. 2 academic years are completed when 16 subjects have been successfully completed.

The above information comes direct from the DIMIA website

I have jusy signed up to study horticulture, it's for 2 years, will I be safe doing this? My aim is pr in the end.
thank

Hi Werty1,

Its my understanding that if its a Diploma course or higher then you would be ok. Would need more info to advise you.

Hi,

I think student visa is never a safe route to PR and I have seen a lot of people spend thousands of dollar only to discover in the end that DIMIA changed something and their course of study is not relevant anymore or there is some other new condition attached to their eligibility.

However, if its your only option, then you should go ahead and hope for the best.

Thanks