Student visa

Australia's "up the qualification scale only" rule: what it means for student visa course changes

Australia's new student visa course change principle explained: what is still allowed, what the rule targets, and what remains unknown. Learn how to check your options before enrolling in a new course.

4 min readUpdated 17 September 2026

The student visa course change rules announced on 17 September 2026 introduce an “up the qualification scale only” principle for students already in Australia. Under this approach, student visa holders can still extend where there is a legitimate reason and can still transfer courses, but can only progress by moving up the qualification scale, for example from a bachelor degree to a master degree. Sideways or downward moves are the target of the policy.

What the announcement actually says

On 17 September 2026, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke used a National Press Club address to announce a package of migration changes aimed at reducing net overseas migration and giving the government more control over who arrives, who stays and who leaves Australia. The reporting that day came from The Koala News, SBS and ABC.

The core idea for students is straightforward. If you are already studying in Australia and want to change course or provider, the move should represent genuine educational progression. Moving from a bachelor degree to a master degree is the example given for upward progression. Moving between providers or qualifications at the same level, or moving to a lower level, is what the government wants to stop when the real objective is migration rather than education. That behaviour is often called visa hopping.

Student visa planning levels have not been changed. The number of student visa applications the government expects to process is unchanged. This matters because some early commentary suggested a cut to student numbers, but the approved facts do not support that reading.

What is still allowed and what the rule targets

The distinction between legitimate extension and visa hopping is the practical question most students will ask. Legitimate extension remains possible where there is a genuine reason. Upward progression, such as bachelor to master, fits the stated principle. Transferring courses is still permitted, but the direction of travel matters.

The rule targets repeated movement between providers and qualifications when the real objective is migration rather than education. If a student finishes one course and enrols in another at the same or lower level mainly to maintain visa status, that pattern is what the announcement is designed to address.

What is not yet clear is how the government will assess whether a move is genuine. As of 17 September 2026, public reports did not give commencement dates for any of the measures. No point values, occupation lists, full exception lists or transition rules were included in the reporting. Details are subject to official Department of Home Affairs guidance.

What has not changed and what is still unknown

According to IEAA CEO Phil Honeywood, there are no changes to subclass 485 post-study work visa eligibility. The government did not require transferring students to go offshore and apply for a new visa, but the concept of a new transfer visa remains to be tested. That means the transfer visa idea is not yet a confirmed rule.

An expression of interest system for student visas and changes to the treatment of non-genuine protection claims remain dependent on legislation. According to ABC, the government is pursuing the changes mainly through regulation, visa conditions and application processes after legislative talks with the Coalition broke down.

Several things remain unknown. There is no commencement date for any measure. There is no published list of exceptions. There is no detail on how upward progression will be verified in practice. There is no confirmation of how the transfer visa concept would work if it is tested. Students should treat any specific timeline or exception list circulating online with caution until official guidance appears.

How to check before enrolling in a new course

Before enrolling in a new course, students should verify the institution and course on CRICOS, the Australian official register of institutions and courses for international students on a student visa. CRICOS allows you to check a specific provider and a specific course.

Study Australia recommends checking the education institution’s official website for its list of partner agents, and understanding the services and fees before signing anything. Study Australia also recommends comparing service fees across different education agents, and putting the agreement in writing so it states what you will pay and what services those fees cover. Before signing, ask the agent for a breakdown of fees and what is included.

Education agents can help compare courses and handle applications, but they usually cannot provide regulated migration law advice. For personal circumstances, consult a registered migration agent. The Department of Education explains that institutions must record their partner education agents in PRISMS and manage agents under the ESOS framework. PRISMS is not a public lookup tool for students to check education agents.

What to watch for in the coming months

The practical effect of the up-the-qualification-scale principle will depend on how it is implemented through regulation, visa conditions and application processes. Students already in Australia who are considering a course change should focus on whether the move represents genuine educational progression, and should keep records that show the reasoning behind the change.

Because commencement dates were not given in the 17 September 2026 reporting, any statement that the rule is already in force is premature. The announcement describes a direction of policy, not a fully operative set of rules with published transition arrangements. Official detail will come from the Department of Home Affairs.

For students weighing a course or provider change, the safest approach is to confirm the current status of the policy through official channels, check the course on CRICOS, and seek personal advice from a registered migration agent before making a decision that affects visa status.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still change courses on a student visa in Australia?

Yes, transferring courses is still permitted, but the move should represent upward progression on the qualification scale, such as bachelor to master. Sideways or downward moves are the target of the new principle.

Can I still extend my student visa?

Yes, student visa holders can still extend where there is a legitimate reason. The announcement did not remove the ability to extend.

Did the government cut student visa numbers?

No. Student visa planning levels have not been changed, and the number of applications the government expects to process is unchanged.

Did subclass 485 eligibility change?

According to IEAA CEO Phil Honeywood, there are no changes to subclass 485 post-study work visa eligibility.

Do I have to go offshore to apply for a new visa if I transfer?

The government did not require transferring students to go offshore and apply for a new visa. The concept of a new transfer visa remains to be tested.

When do these changes start?

As of 17 September 2026, public reports did not give commencement dates for any of the measures. Details are subject to official Department of Home Affairs guidance.

Where can I check official details?

Official detail is available from the Department of Home Affairs at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Course and provider checks are available through CRICOS.

References

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