Changing Courses on a Student Visa in Australia

You may be able to change your course while studying in Australia without changing your university or college. For example, you might want to move from one bachelor's degree to another at the same university, or choose a different diploma at your current college.

The process depends on the course you want to study, its qualification level and the conditions on your Student visa (subclass 500). Your education provider also needs to approve the change and update your enrolment details where necessary.

This guide focuses on changing courses with the same education provider. Moving to a different university or college is a provider transfer, which has separate requirements.

Updated for the 2 October 2026 changes: New rules introduced on 2 October 2026 restrict when Student visa holders can apply for another Student visa while in Australia. They may affect you if changing courses means you need another visa or more time to finish your studies. This article explains what to check under the updated rules.

Can You Change Courses at the Same Education Provider?

Generally, yes. If your current provider offers the new course and accepts your application, you may be able to change without applying for another Student visa. However, the course must be suitable for your visa conditions, and your existing visa must still cover the period you need to study.

For many Student visa holders, condition 8202 requires enrolment in a full-time registered course at the same Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level as the course for which the visa was granted, or a higher level. An exception allows a change from a doctoral degree (AQF Level 10) to a master's degree (Level 9). You must also meet the relevant course progress and attendance requirements.

The Department of Home Affairs explains condition 8202. The course also needs to be registered on CRICOS, the government register of courses available to overseas students.

How to Change Your Course at the Same University or College

Start by speaking with your provider's student services or admissions team. Different institutions have their own deadlines, entry requirements and processes for students changing courses.

A practical sequence is:

1. Check the new course. Confirm that your provider offers it, that you meet the admission requirements and that it is registered on CRICOS.
2. Compare qualification levels. Check the AQF level of your existing course and the course you want to take. Do this before withdrawing from your current course.
3. Ask about credit and timing. Find out whether you can receive credit for subjects already completed, when the new course starts and whether changing will delay your completion date. Also ask whether there will be a gap between your current and new courses, and check if that gap is permitted under your visa conditions.
4. Apply through your provider. Follow its internal course-change process and wait for its decision. A new offer or course approval may have conditions to satisfy.
5. Check your updated enrolment. Ask whether your existing Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be updated, cancelled or replaced. Check the course details and dates before proceeding.

A CoE records your enrolment in a registered course; it does not itself extend the expiry date of your visa. Our Confirmation of Enrolment guide explains how to check CoE details and what may happen when enrolment changes.

Will You Need a New Student Visa?

Changing courses at the same provider does not always mean applying for a new visa. The qualification level, your visa conditions and the time remaining on your visa are the main things to check.

Changing to the Same or a Higher AQF Level

If you move to a registered course at the same or a higher AQF level, you generally do not need a new Student visa solely because of that course change. The doctoral-to-master's exception also applies. You must still comply with any other conditions on your individual visa and ensure it remains valid for your studies.

For example, a student changing from one bachelor's degree to another bachelor's degree at the same university may be able to keep their existing visa, provided the new enrolment meets the conditions and the visa remains valid.

Changing to a Lower-Level Course or an English Course

Changing to a lower AQF qualification, or to an English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) course instead of your current principal course, is different. Home Affairs guidance states that students in these situations generally need to apply for and be granted a new Student visa before making the change.

Under the rules introduced on 2 October 2026, you may also need to apply for that Student visa from outside Australia. Check where you can apply before withdrawing from your current course.

Do not assume that being accepted into the new course means your visa permits you to study it. Check your visa conditions first. Some students, including certain research students, may have additional restrictions requiring permission for a change in their study arrangements.

You can review the conditions attached to your visa using VEVO or read our VEVO guide.

What if Your New Course Takes Longer to Finish?

A new course may have a different finishing date. If your current Student visa will expire before you complete it, you will need to check whether you are eligible to apply for another visa and where you are allowed to lodge that application.

Since 2 October 2026, existing Student visa holders cannot automatically apply for another Student visa while in Australia. Specific exemptions apply. For example, some students may qualify if they can finish their original principal course, or an eligible alternative principal course with the same provider, within 12 months of the end date shown on the CoE for that course, subject to the other requirements. Changing to a different course does not, by itself, establish that you meet this exemption.

Before agreeing to a new study plan, compare your visa expiry date with the new CoE dates. Read our guide to applying for another Student visa while in Australia or check the Home Affairs application rules.

Changing Education Providers Is a Different Process

Changing your course with the same provider is different from transferring to a new provider. If you want to move to another university or college, you need to consider provider-transfer restrictions as well as your visa conditions.

From 2 October 2026 to 30 June 2027, the restricted transfer period for most non-school students is 12 months of their principal course, although exceptions may apply. This is separate from changing courses internally at your existing institution. For the transfer restrictions, release process and exceptions, read our guide to changing education providers on a Student visa.

What to Check Before You Change Courses

Before you accept a new course, make sure you understand its entry requirements, AQF level, CRICOS registration, start and end dates and how the change affects your current enrolment. Check whether your provider can recognise any study you have already completed.

Most importantly, check the conditions and expiry date on your Student visa before you withdraw from your existing course. If your course change requires another visa, establish whether you are eligible to apply before changing your enrolment.