International students in Australia will be unable to change their subject of study unless they obtain permission from the Minister, according to the new Australian visa criteria.
The Australian government, according to NRI Affairs, has modified the Migration Act 1958, and the restrictions for Australian student visa (subclass 500) holders are set to change in July.
An explanatory statement issued by the federal home minister, according to the portal, states that the legislation includes a provision requiring Australian student visa (subclass 500) holders studying or wishing to pursue higher education to change their course of study unless they receive approval from the Minister.
According to the statement, “the Minister cannot sanction the amendment unless he is confident that there is no excessive risk of the visa holder sharing sensitive technology.”
The cancellation will also be voluntary for certain visas but necessary for all other sorts of visas, according to the government.
Visa requirements have changed. The Department of Home Affairs has added 8204A and 8204B to the list of student visa holders wishing to change their major, thesis, or research subject while enrolled in higher education or postgraduate research courses.
However, the new visa regulations will only apply to applications received after July 1, 2022.
Under condition 8204, students are not entitled to attend or amend a course of study, thesis, or research subject unless they have acquired the Minister’s permission for following.
graduate diploma graduate certificate
master’s degree, doctorate, or any bridging course necessary as a prerequisite to a master’s degree or doctorate course of study or research
“This authorization may only be given once the Minister has obtained an assessment from the appropriate Australian authorities that you are not likely to represent a direct or indirect danger to Australian national security,” the Department of Home Affairs notes.
Students who wish to change their course, thesis, or research topic must complete a form available on the Department of Home Affairs website and submit it to Adelaide.student.centre@homeaffairs.gov.au.
A subclass 500 student visa is a temporary visa that permits students to study in Australia for up to 5 years, travel in and out of the country, and work an unlimited number of hours in any sector.
Previously, with the approval of their educational institution, international students in Australia may change their degree after six months or more.