Completion within expected duration of study

International students on a student visa are expected to complete their program within the duration specified on their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

Your CoE is issued based on you studying 60 credit points each compulsory semester.

This means that if your program is 18 months in length you must complete it within 18 months. This will require you to undertake a 60 credit point load (four courses of study) per semester over three semesters. If you are studying a three year program you will need to undertake a 60 credit point load (four courses of study) over six semesters.

You should enrol in a full-time load of 60 credit points each semester to ensure you complete your studies within the expected duration of study.

Some programs such as the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), will require students to enrol in various credit points across a number of terms.

In limited circumstances, you may be able to enrol in less than the full-time load. Approval may be granted in the following situations:

Compassionate or compelling circumstances eg. illness (where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes)
Where the University was unable to offer a pre-requisite course
Your School has implemented an intervention strategy (known as a Success Plan) because you were identified as at risk of not meeting satisfactory program (course) progress (eg. load reduction at your School's recommendation)
An approved deferment or suspension has been granted.

Where the University is unable to offer a pre-requisite course for you at your current teaching location for you to be able to maintain a full-time course load, we recommend that you consider a cross provider or cross institutional enrolment. Cross provider enrolment is when a Federation University student studies at another Federation University teaching location for one or more individual courses. Cross institutional enrolment is when a Federation University student studies at another university in Australia for one or more individual courses.

If you do not have approval for any of the above you may not be eligible to receive a new CoE for your student visa extension and you will not be able to complete your program.

By not completing your studies within the expected duration, you will need to apply for a new CoE and may need to apply for a new student visa.

If you require a new CoE you must complete an Application for a New Confirmation of Enrolment form which can also be obtained from the International Student Compliance office or from your current teaching location.

If you complete your program early or receive credit exemption that reduces the duration of your studies, we must report this to Immigration and the duration of your student visa may be reduced.