Updated 5 October 2026: these rules came into force on 2 October 2026. Most current students who want a further Student visa must now apply from outside Australia, unless they are moving up a qualification level or need up to 12 more months with the same provider.
92 weeksof study needed for post study work
Upward onlycourse changes will need to move to a higher level
Providerswitching early can put your visa at risk
2027plan your course choice before you apply
The rules today
Same or higher level: you can change to a course at the same or a higher Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level without a new visa, as long as you keep a valid enrolment (visa condition 8202).
Lower level: moving down, for example from a master’s to a diploma, already needs a new student visa. The only exception is moving from a doctorate to a master’s.
First 12 months: from 2 October 2026 to 30 June 2027 you generally cannot leave your principal course provider in the first 12 months without a release letter from that provider. From 1 July 2027 this returns to six months.
Always tell Home Affairs: a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) must be in place before you stop the old course.
Pick a course you can finish with the same provider.
What is changing
At the National Press Club on 17 September 2026, Minister Tony Burke said: “You can go up the qualification scale, but only up the qualification scale. So, at the end of a bachelor’s degree if you want to then do a masters, that’s up the scale; that’s okay.”
The government is targeting what it calls visa hopping: moving sideways or down between providers to stay longer in Australia rather than to study. The new rules came into force on 2 October 2026. Most current students who need a further Student visa must now apply from outside Australia. The main exceptions are moving up to a higher qualification level, needing up to 12 more months to finish with the same provider, PhD study, DFAT or Defence sponsorship, and a provider closing. Moving from higher education down to a VET course is not allowed from inside Australia.
What this means in practice: if you enrol in a university master’s and then want to move to a cheaper private college at the same level, expect that to be much harder now: if it needs a new visa, you apply from outside Australia, with a new genuine student assessment.
Not sure how this applies to you?Send us your details and a Westside adviser will tell you honestly where you stand. Free 30 minute assessment.
Pick a course you will finish. Look at the full cost of every year, not only the first semester, and check it against your family’s funds.
Check the provider’s risk level. Under Ministerial Direction 115, providers near or above their allocation are processed more slowly. A lower priority provider can mean long waits.
Match the course to your background. A course that follows logically from your previous study and work is easier to justify under the genuine student requirement, and you are less likely to want to switch.
Think about the 485 visa now. Post study work needs at least 92 weeks of study at the right level. Switching later can break that plan.
Avoid packages you do not need. If you only need a master’s, a long packaged pathway can create more points where things go wrong.
Can I change my course on an Australian student visa?
Yes, today you can move to a course at the same or higher AQF level while keeping a valid enrolment. Moving to a lower level needs a new visa. Since 2 October 2026, a new Student visa from inside Australia is generally only possible when you move up the qualification scale or need up to 12 more months with the same provider.
Can I change university in Australia in my first year?
Generally not without a release letter from your current provider. From 2 October 2026 to 30 June 2027 the restricted period is 12 months.
When did the new course change rules start?
They came into force on 2 October 2026.
Can I move from a bachelor’s to a master’s?
Yes. The Minister gave this as an example of an allowed move up the scale.
This guide is general information from Westside Visa Consultants, not legal advice. Visa rules change often, so always confirm the latest position on the official government website before you apply.
Since 2 October 2026 most new Australian Student visa applicants cannot bring a partner or children. Who is exempt and the options for married Pakistani students.
Choosing where to do your PhD is one of the biggest decisions of your academic life, and the four leading English speaking destinations each offer something different.
The Home Office has raised the money you must show for a UK Student visa. From 30 November 2026 the monthly figure goes up to £1,570 in London and £1,203 outside London. If you are aiming for a January 2027 start, the date you apply now decides which…
Canada has cut the number of new international students hard since 2024. But the door has not closed evenly. Master’s and PhD students now get an easier path, while college diplomas face the steepest cuts.
Saad was living in Tbilisi and felt stuck. Westside handled his KEDGE Business School admission and French student visa from Lahore. Why France beats Georgia for 2027.
Australia plans to stop most students bringing family. New Zealand is widening post study work from 16 November. An honest comparison for married Pakistani students.
Fully funded UK master’s and PhD for 2027/28. HEC nominates 26 master’s and 30 PhD candidates. HAT 60, two portals, deadline 20 October 2026 at 4:00 pm.
Some UK universities have paused Pakistani applicants under stricter Home Office rules. Here is why, and how to choose a university that will issue your CAS for 2027.
