The Australian Government wants overseas students in Australia to have a safe, enjoyable and rewarding
place to study. Australia’s laws promote quality education and consumer protection for overseas
students. These laws are known as the ESOS framework and they include the Education Services for
Overseas (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code 2018.
Protection for overseas students
As an overseas student on a student visa, you must study with an education provider and in a course that can be found on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) at http://cricos.education.gov.au/.au CRICOS registration guarantees that the course and the education provider at which you study meet the high standards necessary for overseas students. Please check carefully that the details of your course − including its location − match the information on CRICOS.
Your rights
The ESOS framework protects your rights, including:
- your right to receive, before enrolling, current and accurate information about the courses, fees, modes of study and other information from your provider and your provider’s agent. If you are under 18, to ensure your safety, you will be granted a visa only if there are arrangements in place for your accommodation, welfare and support.
- your right to sign a written agreement with your provider before or as you pay fees, setting out the services to be provided, fees payable and information about refunds of course money. You should keep a copy of your written agreement.
- your right to get the education you paid for. The ESOS framework includes consumer protection that will allow you to receive a refund or to be placed in another course if your provider is unable to teach your course.
The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) is a placement and refund service for international students, which is activated in the event that your provider is unable to teach your course. Visit the TPS website for more information, at www.tps.gov.au.
The ESOS framework sets out the standards Australian education providers offering education services to overseas students must obey. These standards cover a range of information you have a right to know and services that must be offered, including:
- orientation and access to welfare and support services to help you study and adjust to life in Australia
- who the contact officer or officers is for overseas students
- if you can apply for course credit
- when your enrolment can be deferred, suspended or cancelled
- what your provider’s requirements are for satisfactory progress in the courses you study and what welfare and support assistance is available if you are not progressing well
- if attendance will be monitored for your course, and
- a complaints and appeals process.
One of the standards does not allow another education provider to enrol a student who wants to transfer to another course, but has not completed six months of the final course of study you plan to undertake in Australia. If you want to transfer beforehand you need your provider’s permission.
Your responsibilities
As an overseas student on a student visa, you have responsibilities to:
- satisfy your student visa conditions
- maintain your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the period of your stay
- meet the terms of the written agreement with your education provider
- inform your provider if you change your address
- maintain satisfactory course progress
- if attendance is recorded for your course, follow your provider’s attendance policy, and
- if you are under 18, maintain your approved accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements.
Contact details
| Who? |
Why? |
How? |
| Your provider |
For policies
and procedures that affect you |
- Speak with your provider
- Go to your provider’s website
|
| Department of Education |
For your ESOS rights and
responsibilities |
|
| Department of Home Affairs |
For visa matters |
- www.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Phone 131 881 in Australia
- Contact the immigration office in your country.
|
The PDF version of the ESOS Framework is available at: https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/esosstudentfactsheetv3.pdf