Overseas students on exchange programs in a third country
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The following information aims to assist education providers in understanding their obligations under the Migration Regulations 1994 and Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (the ESOS Act), in relation to international exchange programs.
This department and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) have agreed to the following policy and procedures for students going on international exchange.
Requirements applying to the student and the exchange program
Overseas students in Australia on a student visa are allowed to participate in an international exchange program provided where:
- the study or training to be undertaken under the program is an assessable part of the student's course in Australia and has been approved as part of the registration process for the course
- the exchange is no more than 12 months in duration, and
- dependants of the student who are in Australia accompany the student if the student spends more than 6 months outside Australia for the exchange.
Reporting and recording the exchange
The education provider offering the exchange must issue the student with a letter (on genuine provider letterhead) advising:
- that the student is going on exchange
- the student’s name
- the student’s date of birth
- the student’s course of study including Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) code and eCoE number
See: CRICOS website - the student’s dates of departure from Australia and return to Australia.
The student must visit a department office in person at least 28 days before departure and present the original of the letter from their education provider, together with their current passport.
The department will enter the relevant information on its systems. This process will assist the student in the immigration clearance process when they depart and return to Australia.
Education providers’ responsibilities while the student is outside Australia
The education provider must report in the Provider Registration and International Students Management System (PRISMS):
- any non-compliance with student visa condition 8202 which relates to attendance and satisfactory academic performance, and
- any cessation of the student’s studies.
Information can be located from the Provider Registration and International Students Management System (PRISMS) website.
See: PRISMS
Education providers are required to report the above-mentioned events under the ESOS Act to enable appropriate compliance action to be taken for students who breach visa condition 8202.
A guide on education providers’ reporting responsibilities can be found in the following documents:
- Reporting Overseas Students for Course Non Attendance or Unsatisfactory Academic Results, and
- Recording Student Course Variations in PRISMS.
Both are available on the Help Menu in PRISMS. These guides do not replace the provider’s legislative requirements under the ESOS Act.
The provider must also maintain an accurate record of the student’s overseas address in accordance with section 21 of the ESOS Act.
Providers are not exempt from the National Code’s Standard 6 requirement to give students access to support services that help them meet course requirements.
Student’s responsibilities while on exchange overseas
The student must:
- complete their course within the expected course duration as per National Code Standard 9 requirement,
- comply with visa condition 8202 which relates to attendance and satisfactory academic performance, and
- comply with condition 8517 which requires the student to maintain adequate arrangements for the education of school-aged dependants - those who are allowed to be left behind in Australia where the student is outside Australia for 6 months or less.
Further information
For further information on the:
- provider’s responsibilities, please contact the ESOS Helpline on (02) 6240 5069.
- student’s responsibilities, please contact an Immigration office.
See: Office and Contact Details in Australia
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