Changing Education Providers on a Student Visa in Australia

You may be able to move to a different university, TAFE or college while studying in Australia on a Student visa (subclass 500). However, you cannot always transfer immediately. The rules depend on how long you have studied your principal course, whether an exception applies and whether the change would affect your visa.

There is also a difference between changing your education provider and changing your course at the same provider. This article deals with transfers to another registered provider. If you only want to change what you study within your current institution, read our guide to changing courses on a Student visa.

What Changed on 2 October 2026?

From 2 October 2026 to 30 June 2027, the Australian Government extended the provider-transfer restriction for most non-school international students from six to 12 months of their principal course. Before completing that period, you generally need a release from your existing provider or another applicable exception to transfer. School students continue under a separate six-month restriction.

The 12-month period is temporary. The restriction is set to return to six months from 1 July 2027, alongside a separately announced Student visa transfer stream. The rules that apply to transferring now are not the same as the full arrangements announced for July 2027.

You can check the Department of Education's student transfer factsheet and the amendment to Standard 7 of the National Code.

When Can You Change Education Providers?

The important date is when you started your principal course with your current provider, not when you first arrived in Australia or when your Student visa was granted.

Your principal course is generally the main course for which your Student visa was issued. If your visa covers a package of courses, it is usually the final course in that package. The provider-transfer restriction also affects students completing preliminary courses before their principal course.

For example, if you arrived in Australia to study an English course followed by a bachelor's degree, completing the English course does not automatically mean you have completed 12 months of your principal course. You need to check the course package and the relevant commencement dates.

Under the rules applying until 30 June 2027:

• Before 12 months: The receiving provider generally cannot enrol you as a transfer student unless a release or another exception applies.
• After completing 12 months: The transfer restriction under Standard 7 is generally satisfied. You still need admission to the new provider and must check your Student visa conditions.
• If you are in the school sector: The separate restriction remains the first six months of your first registered school course.

The 12-month restriction can also affect students who had already completed six months of their principal course before 2 October 2026. If you were previously free to transfer but had not yet transferred, you may now need to complete 12 months in total or qualify for an exception.

Example: Priya Wants to Change Universities After Eight Months

Priya has completed eight months of her bachelor's degree and wants to transfer to another university in October 2026.

Although she has studied for more than six months, the temporary 12-month transfer restriction now applies. She cannot assume that completing six months under the previous rule means she is free to transfer.

Unless another exception applies, her new university generally cannot enrol her as a transfer student without a release from her current provider.

Completing the restricted period does not by itself guarantee that a new course or provider is suitable for your visa.

Can You Transfer Before Completing 12 Months?

Yes, but only where an exception applies. One common route is obtaining a release from your current education provider. That provider must follow its documented transfer policy and assess the request according to the student's circumstances.

The National Code's Standard 7, as amended in October 2026, also permits transfers during the restricted period in certain situations, including where:

• The provider or relevant course has ceased to be registered.
• The provider has been sanctioned and cannot continue delivering the student's course.
• The current provider has agreed to release the student and recorded the release in PRISMS.
• A government sponsor supports the transfer in writing because it considers the change in the student's best interests.

When Might a Provider Grant a Release?

Registered providers must have a policy setting out when a transfer is in the student's best interests. Standard 7 gives examples, including compelling or compassionate circumstances, failure to deliver a course as agreed, misleading information about a course, reasonable expectations not being met, or serious course-progress difficulties despite support.

These are grounds to be assessed, not an automatic entitlement to a release. A preference for a cheaper college or a change of mind does not, on its own, establish that a release must be granted. The provider's policy, supporting evidence and individual circumstances matter.

Example: Karan Wants to Transfer Because His Course Has Changed

Karan has been studying at a college for four months, but the college is no longer delivering several subjects according to the study plan he was originally given.

He receives an offer from another registered college and submits a transfer request with supporting correspondence showing the changes to his course.

His current provider must assess the request under its transfer policy. The changes to his course may support his application, but they do not automatically guarantee a release.

How Do You Request a Provider Transfer?

If you are still within the restricted period and do not meet another exception, the starting point is your current provider's written transfer policy.

1. Find a suitable new provider and course. Check the provider and course on CRICOS, and confirm entry requirements, fees, course level and commencement dates.
2. Obtain a valid offer from the new provider. Standard 7 requires students requesting a release to provide a valid enrolment offer from another registered provider.
3. Submit a written transfer request. Follow your current provider's process, explain why you want to transfer and provide evidence that supports your request.
4. Wait for the decision. The provider should assess your request against its published policy and notify you of the outcome. Do not withdraw or stop attending your current course simply because you have applied for a release.
5. Confirm the enrolment and visa arrangements. If a release is granted, the releasing provider records it in the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS). Check what the receiving provider needs for your new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), and whether any visa action is required before you start. Also check whether there will be a gap between your current and new courses and whether that gap is permitted under your visa conditions.

A physical letter of release is generally not required because the release is recorded in PRISMS. However, keep the provider's written decision and related correspondence.

What If Your Transfer Request Is Refused?

Your provider must tell you in writing why it intends to refuse your release and explain your right to use its internal complaints and appeals process within 20 working days.

The provider cannot finalise the refusal in PRISMS while the relevant appeal arrangements under Standard 7 are still pending. The result depends on the appeals process and whether the original decision is upheld or changed.

If you remain dissatisfied after the internal process, you can look into the appropriate independent complaints body. For higher education courses, this may be the National Student Ombudsman. For a private vocational education and training (VET) provider, it may be the Overseas Student team at the Commonwealth Ombudsman. If you study a VET course at a public provider, such as a TAFE, the relevant state or territory ombudsman may be the appropriate external complaints body. The correct external review body depends on your provider and course.

A refusal of an education provider's release request is not the same as a Student visa refusal. Do not assume you can appeal the provider's release decision to the Department of Home Affairs.

Will Transferring Providers Affect Your Student Visa?

A release from your provider and permission to study under your Student visa are different things.

Your visa may have condition 8202, which generally requires you to remain enrolled in a CRICOS-registered course at the same or a higher Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level as the course for which your visa was granted. There is a specific exception for changing from an AQF Level 10 doctoral course to a Level 9 master's course. Other visa conditions may also apply.

Before transferring, check:

• Whether the new course is at an appropriate AQF level and registered on CRICOS.
• Whether your current visa covers the new course's completion date.
• Whether any other condition requires prior permission for the study change.
• Whether you would need another Student visa and, if so, where you are permitted to apply.

From 2 October 2026, most existing Student visa holders can no longer apply for another Student visa while in Australia unless they meet a specified exemption. If you need a new visa because of your planned transfer, check the Home Affairs rules for further Student visa applications first.

You can also read our guide on applying for another Student visa while in Australia. Do not assume that receiving a new CoE extends your existing visa.

Example: Nina Has Completed 12 Months but Needs More Time to Study

Nina has completed 14 months of her bachelor's degree at one university. She receives an offer to continue studying at another university in a course at the same AQF level.

Since she has completed the restricted period, she generally doesn't need a release under Standard 7. However, her new course is expected to finish six months after her current Student visa expires.

Although the transfer restriction is no longer an obstacle, Nina still needs to check whether she requires another Student visa and whether she can apply from within Australia before changing her enrolment.

What Changes From 1 July 2027?

There are two separate developments to keep in mind.

First, the provider-transfer restriction returns to six months. This change is already set out in the October 2026 amendment to the National Code.

Second, the Government has announced a new Student visa transfer stream from 1 July 2027. Under the arrangements announced so far, students transferring providers would need the new visa granted before starting with the new provider. The new visa would retain the expiry date of the original visa. The Government has also announced restrictions on transfers to lower AQF levels, from higher education to VET, and into larger packages of courses.

These are the Government's announced future visa arrangements. The detailed visa requirements and operational instructions should be checked against Home Affairs guidance closer to commencement rather than treating an announcement as a complete application guide today.

What Should You Check Before Transferring?

Start by establishing whether you are still within the restricted period for your principal course. Then compare the proposed course with your current enrolment, confirm the receiving provider's offer and review your current provider's transfer policy if a release is required.

Also check the financial and practical consequences: tuition fees already paid, possible refunds, credit for previous study, accommodation or relocation costs, course commencement dates and your visa expiry date. Where a transfer may affect your visa, seek individual advice before you cancel your current enrolment.