Current Students

Modes of study for international students

Understand the different modes of study you can take as an international student

Students doing presentations in a classroom on Paddington Campus

Modes of study include full-time and part-time study, distance learning, online learning and Summer term.
  • If you are an international student holding a Student Visa (subclass 500):
    • You must enrol in 48 units of credit (UOC) per year or eight courses over the three terms of the academic calendar year. 
    • You need to be enrolled full-time to ensure you can complete your program within the duration specified on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and the length of your student visa. 
    • If you study less (or more) than 48 UOC, it will have an impact on your completion date and your student visa. 

    See Changes to your study situation for further details.
  • If you are an international student holding a Student Visa (subclass 500):
    • You can undertake one-third of your total program by online learning
    • You must be enrolled in at least one in-person course in a compulsory term.
    • You  must be in Sydney, Australia studying on campus or an approved UNSW location

    How do I know if my class is in-person?

    • You can check the type of class you are registered on your class timetable or by directly clicking the courses in your enrolment basket.
    • Please note:
      1.  A multi-modal course is only considered an in-person course, if you are registered in at least one in-person class component.
      2. A hybrid course is considered an online course not an in-person course.

    Research students may be permitted to undertake research at an approved UNSW-affiliated institution. Contact Graduate Research School for more information. 

    Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3 are compulsory study periods. Note that Summer Term is a non-compulsory study period.

  • You may enrol in Summer Term but this is a non-compulsory study period. 

    You can study in-person or online and you are not required to maintain a full-time enrolment during this Term.

    Note that any completed Summer term units of credit (UOC) will be credited in the following year. 

    Studying during Summer Term gives you the opportunity to fast-track your degree and may make you eligible for early completion.

    See Changes to your study situation for further details.

See also

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