MY AUS VISA — PRIVATE STUDENT 500 COURSE CHANGE CHECKLIST
Course-change guide reviewed: 4 October 2026; GDML course notice checked: 5 October 2026

Keep this completed worksheet on your own device. It does not decide whether a transfer is allowed or replace your provider, grant notice or Home Affairs instructions.

MY CURRENT VISA AND ENROLMENT
[ ] Read my grant notice and VEVO. Record condition 8202 and any additional 8203, 8204, 8208 or welfare condition.
[ ] Record my current CRICOS course, provider, AQF level, CoE end date and visa expiry date.
[ ] Ask my current and proposed providers about transfer, enrolment and reporting requirements before withdrawing.

PROVIDER TRANSFER — TEMPORARY 12-MONTH RULE
[ ] If changing education providers, record when I commenced my principal (main) course and how many months I have completed. From 2 October 2026, non-school overseas students are generally transfer restricted until 12 months of that course, with exceptions.
[ ] If I completed six but not 12 months before the change, ask my current provider if I am restricted again. The 12-month clock does not restart on 2 October.
[ ] Ask my current provider whether an exception or early release applies, and keep its written decision. A new offer or CoE alone does not establish permission to transfer.
[ ] Check the school-student exception and the scheduled return to a six-month period on 1 July 2027 if those dates affect me. Separately check condition 8202 and any new-visa requirement.

BSB80120 COURSE NOTICE — IF RELEVANT
[ ] Check the exact course code, my actual commencement status and the 5 October 2026 GDML change with my provider. An offer or future CoE is not the same as having started the course.
[ ] Save my CoE, the actual commencement date and written provider notices. If I have not started the GDML, ask my provider to confirm the current status of its CoE and what happens to any other courses in my package.
[ ] Ask my provider in writing about another suitable course or a refund of unspent tuition fees, and whether a provider default applies to me. Check any replacement course against my grant, AQF level and visa expiry before accepting.
[ ] If GDML is later in my package, ask about the other courses and a replacement CoE; check AQF level and visa requirements before changing.
[ ] If a provider default affects me, record its actual date, placement/refund options and the official TPS and Home Affairs steps.

THE PROPOSED CHANGE
[ ] Check the proposed course and provider on CRICOS. Record the new AQF level, CoE, start and finish dates.
[ ] If moving to a lower AQF level or from an AQF course to a non-award course, check the requirement to obtain a new Student visa before changing courses.
[ ] If I need a further Student visa, record whether I am currently the primary Student visa holder or a dependant. A dependant seeking primary status must apply offshore; the onshore exceptions below do not apply.
[ ] If I am the current primary Student holder, compare the complete Home Affairs onshore criteria with my records: up to 12 more months to finish my original principal course with the same provider; DFAT or Defence sponsorship; a PhD; primary or secondary school; completed principal AQF course progressing higher (and the special higher-education qualification); completed school moving to non-AQF study; completed non-AQF study moving to AQF; or provider default.
[ ] Record which possible exemption I am checking and the actual course, sponsor, level, provider or default evidence. A course change, new offer, CoE or provider-transfer release is not by itself a valid onshore Student visa application.
[ ] If relying on more time to finish, check that I commenced the principal course (or permitted same-provider alternative), have not completed it and will finish within 12 months after its CoE end date.
[ ] If relying on provider default, record whether I was enrolled on the default day, the alternative registered study, the 12-month application window and whether I already applied because of that same default.
[ ] If relying on course progression, check that the principal course was completed and I am enrolled in no more than one further course, as well as its AQF and higher-education restrictions.
[ ] For an onshore further-Student application, check the packaging limits: the stated packaging exceptions are primary/secondary school, a PhD or provider default. Course-progression applicants cannot package courses.
Completed principal course and completion date:
Each future enrolment and its AQF level (check the one-future-course rule for course progression):
First available intake after completion and provider evidence:
Course gap start, finish and length:
[ ] Check the onshore next-intake guidance: the gap should be minimal and, in most cases, no longer than two calendar months during the teaching year or four calendar months between standard academic years. These are not an automatic entitlement to remain or stop studying.
[ ] If I must apply offshore, plan to be outside Australia at lodgement and grant; an offshore application has no linked Bridging visa.
[ ] If moving from a doctoral degree (AQF 10) to a masters degree (AQF 9), read the official stated exception and my other conditions.
[ ] If condition 8203 or 8204 applies to a thesis, major or research topic change, check the Home Affairs assessment-request form.
[ ] If condition 8208 applies to proposed critical-technology postgraduate research, check whether approval is needed before starting.
[ ] Compare the course gap with the usual two-month rule and its narrow official exceptions.

AFTER THE CHANGE
[ ] Check whether the new course ends after my visa expiry and whether I need a new visa before expiry.
[ ] If the provider has defaulted, ask about replacement enrolment or a refund, Tuition Protection Service help and any visa-charge exemption.
[ ] Keep the new CoE, provider correspondence and any Home Affairs approval or visa decision with my records.

Official provider-transfer Student fact sheet: https://www.education.gov.au/esos-framework/resources/extension-overseas-student-transfer-restriction-period-12-months-students
Official GDML Student fact sheet: https://www.education.gov.au/esos-framework/resources/2026-fact-sheets-graduate-diploma-management-learning-course-cancellation
Direct official GDML Student PDF: https://www.education.gov.au/download/20611/2026-fact-sheets-graduate-diploma-management-learning-course-cancellation/45578/student-fact-sheet-graduate-diploma-management-learning-gdml-course-cancellation/pdf
Our guide and onshore criteria: https://myausvisa.com/student-visa-500-change-course-condition-8202#further-student-onshore
Official condition 8202: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/see-your-visa-conditions?vcid=182
Official changing-course rule: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/education-program/what-we-do/simplified-student-visa-framework
Official provider default: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500/education-provider-default
Official further-Student application rules: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/changes-to-student-visa-application-rules-500-590/applying-in-australia
Registered detailed onshore classes, LIN 26/087 sections 17-19: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01349/asmade/2026-10-01/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html
