The University of Divinity welcomes and provides overseas students with a safe, enjoyable and rewarding place to study. The University complies with Australia’s law to promote quality education and consumer protection of overseas students. Pastoral and academic support is offered to all students.
Support for Overseas Students
The University offers a range of services to support and help students to succeed in their studies. These include:
- A compulsory orientation program for all new overseas students
- Library orientation
- English language skills assistance
- Academic skills assistance
- Course advice and course planning
- Pastoral care
- Reference to other services and emergency contacts
These services are delivered by each College for their overseas students.
Overseas Student Support Resources
Details of a range of external providers offering services in Australia relevant to an overseas student.
Apply for Admission
Overseas students may commence studies in Semester 1 or Semester 2 each year. The closing dates for applications are 15 April and 15 November.
- Apply for a student visa
- Admission and Enrolment Forms
- Admissions Policy (including English Language Proficiency Requirements, Section 6)
Not sure if you should apply as an overseas student or a domestic student? Check out our Types of Students guide for more information and definitions.
Overseas Student Sponsor
Many of our overseas students are sponsored financially by a third party, such as a church or religious institution in their home country. If your church or religious institution would like to find out about becoming a sponsor of an overseas student, get in touch with us for more information.
Overseas Student Sponsor Statement
Fees and Charges
Tuition fees and how to pay are available on the Fees page.
Fees for overseas students are the same as those for domestic students. Overseas applicants are charged an application fee of AUD$300.
Enrolment and Student Details
Once successfully admitted into a course of study at the University of Divinity, overseas students must be enrolled in a full-time study load (contact your College Registrar or Course Advisor for more information on the requirements for your course).
The University of Divinity will not deliver more than one-third of the units in a course for international students on an Australian Student Visa (subclass 500) by online or distance learning (Standard 8.19 of the National Code) and must ensure that overseas students study at least one unit that is not by distance or online learning in each study period (Standard 8.20 of the National Code), with the exception of the last unit of their course.
All overseas students are required to enrol into the required number and classification of units for each study period of your enrolled course of study.
If you are unable to commence the course in the semester you applied for, you may be able to defer commencement. For more information, read our Deferring, Suspending or Cancelling Enrolment Guide for Overseas Students.
Living and studying in Australia
Accommodation
The Australian Government warmly welcomes international students to study and live in Australia and to have a positive experience while accessing a world class education.
We know finding suitable accommodation can be a challenge for international students at this time of year. Austrade publishes a range of tools and resources on the Study Australia website on accommodation options within Australia including:
- Tips on creating a strong rental housing application
- Tips to find the right home and house mates for you
- Know your rights as a tenant in Australia
Costs of accommodation will vary depending on your chosen state, city, and type of accommodation. The cost of living calculator on the Study Australia website helps students calculate their expenses.
Your wellbeing and safety in Australia
There are many health and wellbeing support services for international students in Australia. If you experience any difficulties such as stress, homesickness, culture shock, or illness, there are services available that can help. For more information, go to Study Australia.
International students are required to have an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and should ensure that they consult their provider for specific details about their plan and the mental health services covered.
For practical tips to help you stay safe while you are living and studying in Australia, please visit the Study Australia page on safety.
If you would like to speak with someone at your home college, you can find contact details here. Your first point of contact are the Registrar or a CRICOS Support Officer.
Young international students aged 15 to 25 are now also able to gain access to the MOST mental health app. MOST is an evidence-based digital service that connects young people with mental health professionals, therapeutic and vocational content and a moderated support community. It provides free, 24/7 digital and on-demand support. It’s a recognized service under the Medicare Mental Health initiative.
Getting a job and your work rights
Education providers have responsibilities to international students to support their health, wellbeing and adjustment to living in Australia including providing information about their work rights and how to seek support for workplace issues.
International students, have the same workplace rights as all other workers in Australia.
- You must be paid at least the minimum wage.
- You must pay tax on your income.
- You must receive a payslip.
- Casual work means you don’t have a fixed number of hours every week.
The Australian Government Department of Education has a range of videos (created by Fairwork Ombudsman) and resources for international students about workplace rights which have been translated into different languages.
International students have the same workplace rights and protections as anyone else working in Australia, but sometimes your work might not feel right. Feel free to contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for help if you are having workplace issues, without fear of your visa being cancelled. This could be for issues such as not getting the right pay or other entitlements, like leave or notice.
International students can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or phone 13 13 94 for help if they’re having workplace issues, without fear of their visa being cancelled.
Austrade’s Employability Hub provides international students with resources to enhance their employability and job readiness and information on their work rights.
- including Study Australia Career Matcher Quiz
- and employability resources
More information to support you can be found at: www.fairwork.gov.au/find-help-for/young-workers-and-students which has helpful tools for international students like a pay calculator, starting a new job guide and an international students fact sheet. In this section you will also find:
- Minimum working age
- Get ready for work
- Pay, entitlements and working conditions
- Dealing with workplace bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination
- Resolving issues and getting help
- Tax and superannuation
For 500 visa holders
The allowable work hours cap for student visa holders has been increased to 48 hours per fortnight. This ensures that student visa holders are able to focus on obtaining a quality Australian education and qualification, while remaining able to support themselves financially, gain valuable work experience, and contribute to Australia’s workforce needs.
Further information about this can be found on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.
You must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is flexibility in the number of hours you can work. Students must still:
- maintain their course enrolment
- ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
- ensure satisfactory course progress.
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Post-Higher Education Work stream
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Post-Higher Education Work stream is an Australian visa designed for international students who have recently completed a higher education qualification in Australia. This stream was previously called the Post-Study Work stream, and it allows eligible graduates to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily after finishing their studies.
You must be 35 years of age or under when you apply for this visa. Masters (research) and doctoral degree (PhD) graduates and Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders are eligible if they are under 50 years of age.
This is a temporary visa. The length of your stay in Australia will depend on the level of your Australian study qualification:
- Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
- Masters (coursework and extended) – 2 years
- Masters (research) – 3 years
- Doctoral degree – 3 years.
The default Graduate Diploma stay period is 2 years, but may be longer where previous study would have attracted a longer stay period.
The length of stay for Indian nationals, as agreed in the Australia India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), is as follows:
- Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years
- Bachelor degree (with first class honours in STEM, including ICT) – 3 years
- Masters (coursework, extended and research) – 3 years
- Doctoral degrees (PhD) – 4 years.
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay up to 5 years.
For further information, please visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/post-higher-education-work#About
Overseas Student Health Cover
As an international student in Australia, you and your dependents (including spouse and children under 18) are required to have Overseas Studies Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of your study in Australia.
OSHC insurers provide a range of different plans. The compulsory minimum (basic) OSHC plan will usually cover:
- visits to the doctor (GP)
- some hospital treatments
- emergency ambulance, and
- limited pharmaceuticals (medicines).
OSHC doesn’t cover treatments such as dental, optical or physiotherapy. You can consider purchasing Extras OSHC from a health cover provider if you want those to be included.
Not all OSHC policies include non-emergency ambulance transport. You can consider purchasing additional ambulance insurance in addition to your OSHC. Find out more about OSHC and compare providers on the Study Australia website.
Public transport
Each state or territory in Australia has a public transport network. Visit the website for your location and explore their ticketing systems, pricing, timetables and how to plan your journey from one location to another.
- Melbourne: Public Transport Victoria
- Brisbane: Translink
- Perth: Transperth
- Adelaide: Adelaide Metro
- Sydney: Transport NSW
- Darwin: NT Department of Transport
- Hobart: Metro Tasmania
- Canberra: Transport Canberra
Most of these sites also have apps that you can download to your phone.
Other cities and regions: If your area isn’t included on one of the above networks, search online for public transport options in your city or town.
As a student, you may be eligible to receive discounted public transport. It will depend on which state you are living in and what type of course you are studying. Contact the Registrar at your Home College for more information.
Driving in Australia
Most Australian states and territories (except the Northern Territory) allow student visa holders to drive with their overseas licence as long as it is current. When driving, you must always carry your overseas licence with you, with either an international driving permit or an accredited English translation if your licence is not in English. Check the licensing rules in your state or territory to avoid a fine.
It’s also important to familiarise yourself with Australian road rules to keep yourself, your passengers, and other road users safe.
For more details about driving in Australia, consult:
- Victoria — VicRoads
- Queensland — Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Western Australia — Department of Transport
- South Australia — Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure
- New South Wales — Roads and Maritime Services
- Northern Territory — Department of Transport
- Tasmania — Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
- Australian Capital Territory — Road Transport Authority
Student ID card
Upon admission to the University of Divinity, you become eligible for a University of Divinity Student ID Card. This card is can be used as evidence of your student status and provides access to a wide range of campus services (across all Colleges and University of Divinity Libraries). You will need it to borrow books, enter certain facilities, apply for public transport concessions, and even receive student discounts at various shops and venues off-campus. Contact the Registrar at your Home College to organise your Student ID card once your admission is confirmed. Keep your Student ID card safe and carry it with you at all times. If it is lost or stolen, report it immediately to the Registrar or front desk at your College, and request a replacement.
Useful links for more information
Study in Australia
Education Services for Overseas Students
- Australian Government Education Services for Overseas Students Framework
- Australian Government Education Services for Overseas Students Factsheet
- Australian Government International Students Factsheet
- National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018
- National Student Ombudsman
- University of Divinity Transfer between Registered Providers Policy
- Tuition Protection Service (TPS) – an Australian Government initiative that assists international students on student visas in the event of an education provider default or a student default.
Additional links
- Immigration and citizenship (including 500 visa subclass) – Department of Home Affair’s home page
- Your visa is expiring or has expired – Information to avoid becoming unlawful and how to apply for a Bridging visa E
- Status Resolution Support Service – It’s a governmental program that provides needs-based support to eligible non-citizens who: a) are unable to support themselves, b) can demonstrate hardship, c) are engaged with the DHA to resolve their immigration status. This immigration status resolution service can help you if you can’t resolve your immigration status through “Your visa is expiring or has expired”.
- Protection visas are for asylum seekers – Free legal advice on Protection Visas
- Search for registered migration agents (OMARA) – Advice regarding registered migration agents