Contact details

It's important we have your correct contact details in case we need to get in touch with you. These include your current mobile number, email address and residential address (place where you live). You must:

• Notify us of your Australian contact details within 7 days of arriving in Australia.
• Notify us within 7 days if you change any of your contact details.

Log in to your Student Portal to update your address.

• You must maintain adequate arrangements for Overseas Student Health Cover during your stay in Australia.
• Here is an urgent update from our partner provider ahm regarding Overseas Health Cover during the COVID-19 Pandemic:
  • Coronavirus Health Information Line: Call 1800 020 080 if you are seeking information. The line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.
  • A Student Mental Health support line is also running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  If you are an ahm member, call 1800 006 745

• You cannot work until you have started your course in Australia.
• You cannot work more than 40 hours per fortnight during a Study Period.*
• No work limits apply during college or university breaks.

* Update - Student Visa Work Allowances

The allowable work hours cap for international students was relaxed during the pandemic to help meet workforce shortages.

The Government has announced that the cap will be reinstated on 1 July 2023 and will be raised from its previous level of 40 hours per fortnight to the new level of 48 hours per fortnight.

This revised cap will help international students to support themselves through their studies, while maintaining study as the primary purpose of their visa.

For more information, read the International student working hour cap factsheet.

More information for students and employers can be found on the Home Affairs website.

Any questions do not hesitate to email your International Student Wellbeing Coordinators.

• Full time study load = enrolment into a minimum of 8 subjects over 3 trimesters. 
• Pay course fees on time. 
• You must enrol into at least one face to face subject each trimester.*
• No more than one third of your course can be completed online.*
• Maintain satisfactory course progression - pass minimum of 50% of subjects.
  • Refer to the Torrens University Academic Progression Policy
  • Refer to the Think Education Academic Progression Policy
• ELICOS students must attend a minimum of 80% of scheduled contact hours within a study period.

Home Affairs is taking a flexible approach where COVID‑19 restrictions have prevented Student visa conditions being met. You will not be in breach of your Student visa conditions if you:

• have an approved course deferral
• are studying online.

Please stay up to date with student visa restrictions and requirements by regularly checking the Department of Home Affairs website.

All International students and Temporary Graduate visa holders are once again welcome to travel to Australia.

Check the latest travel and visa advice.

For more information on current state/territory based requirements, please click here. Check the latest information on travel restrictions.

What do I need to do before arriving back in Australia?

Please make sure that you have all the required documents to enter Australia and understand the requirements you will need to meet once arriving. Find out more about what to expect at the border and what you can bring into the country.

You will need to:

• Have a valid student visa
• Organise your accommodation and transport for when you arrive in Australia
• Make sure you follow any current restrictions or conditions for entering Australia

Will I need any documentation from Torrens University before booking my flight to Australia?

We won’t require any documentation beyond what the Australian government requests from you.

Your family members may need to provide an invitation letter when they apply for a visitor visa to visit you in Australia. The invitation letter is a letter that you write, not a letter from the University.

We can supply you with a Confirmation of Enrolment Letter to confirm your enrolment with us by contacting Student Services.

Please contact your Agent and refer to the Department of Home Affairs website, Student Visa - including family process.

The Department of Home Affairs has introduced the Student Visa Fee Waiver initiative. They will waive the visa application fee to allow students to submit a further student visa application if you held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and couldn’t complete their course in their original visa validity because of the impacts of COVID-19. This includes students who:

• deferred study as they were unable to enter Australia because of travel restrictions
• were forced to reduce to a part-time study load
• were unable to complete their work-based training or placements.

This measure is not intended for students who are applying for a new student visa because of ordinary reasons (including if you have failed a course or a unit of study, deferred for personal reasons or voluntarily reduced your study load.)

For the Torrens University Enrolment Policy,  Procedure for Requesting Completion of the Department of Home Affairs Form 1545; Student Visa Extension; go to the Torrens University Policies and Forms page.

The Department of Home Affairs changed temporarily the requirements for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa for those who have been affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions:

• online study undertaken outside Australia will count towards the Australian Study Requirement for existing and new student visa holders
• graduates can apply for and be granted a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia (where they have met all the requirements).

For the Torrens University Enrolment Policy, Procedure for Requesting Completion of the Department of Home Affairs Form 1545; Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) go to the Torrens University Policies and Forms page.

At this stage no supporting letters will be issued to students for travel exemption applications. This is a decision made by the Australian Government and not Torrens University. For updated travel restrictions and exemptions please continue to check the Department of Home Affairs website for more details.

COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone in Australia, even if you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident. This includes people without a Medicare card, overseas visitors, international students, migrant workers and asylum seekers.

Find out at how and where to get the vaccine at the Department of Health vaccination site.

Q: Do I need to be vaccinated to travel to Australia?

A: For up to date information on traveling to Australia from overseas vaccination information visit the Department of Home Affairs Page.

Q: How do I know if my vaccine from outside of Australia is acceptable and approved in Australia?

A: To qualify as fully vaccinated, you need to have received the recommended schedule of doses of a vaccine that Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved or recognised. 

Vaccination certificate and Vaccines currently recognised and approved in Australia information can be found here.

Q: What evidence do I need to provide to show that I have been fully vaccinated?

A: You will require a International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate for more information view the Australian Passport Office.

Q: What if I have a mix of vaccines?

A: Students who have received two different TGA approved vaccines will be considered as fully vaccinated at this stage, view smartraveller.gov.au

Please check the Department of Home Affairs regularly for any changes.

Q: What if I don’t have a recognised vaccine?

A; If you are unable to meet the proof of vaccination requirements, you will not qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller.  You will need to follow the current border processes when leaving or coming to Australia.

No, it will not affect your current student visa. You can continue studies in the online learning environment according to advice from the University.  Any remote/online study done due to COVID-19 will also be counted towards the Australian study requirements for a Post-Study Work Visa (PSWR) as long as you have a valid visa during this study.

This means that if you start studying online it will be counted towards your study requirements for PSWR as long as you hold a student visa whilst undertaking this study.  The Australian Government has recently advised that study completed Online Offshore will count towards the requirements for a Post-Study Work Visa for existing and new student visa holders. 

For further information, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs - General Student Visa Information

Check the Australian Government updates to Australia's immigration and border arrangements  during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

If your student visa is about to expire, you are unable to return home, you do not meet the requirements for another visa or you do not have access to sufficient funds to pay a further visa application then you may be eligible for the COVID-19 Temporary Activity Visa. Please contact your Agent for more details.

Read the latest updates on your student visa working restrictions.

Check with your state or territory for the most recent information:.

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales 
• Northern Territory 
• Queensland 
• South Australia 
• Tasmania 
• Victoria 
• Western Australia

For students to succeed in their studies academic skills are crucial. To help you develop the academic skills you need:

• Time management and organisation
• Critical reading and thinking skills
• Research and writing skills
• Understanding assessment briefs
• Referencing and academic integrity

Torrens provides you with free online resources, study success workshops and the PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) program. You can access all resources including the Academic Writing Guide and the APA 7th Referencing Tool via the Academic Skills page.

Your International Student Guide has helpful hints for before you arrive in Australia, such as:

• COVID-19 Torrens University Australia advice
• Arriving in Australia
• University life
• Living in Australia
• International student visas
• Returning home
• Accommodation list
• Before leaving home checklist
• Getting started checklist
• Study planner

Download the guide today!

Torrens University International Student Guide

Think Education International Student Guide

• access digital learning resources
• access video and audio recordings
• submit and complete online assessments
• participate in classroom discussion and collaboration via online communication and collaboration tools.

The Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is an official document issued to international students who intend on studying at an Australian education provider. It confirms that you have accepted a place in a course, and have paid your tuition fees and Overseas Student Health Cover premium (OSHC).

When do I get my CoE?

Once you have confirmed your enrolment. First, you will need to sign your Offer Letter, pay your tuition fees and purchase your OSHC, then you will receive your CoE.

Who do I contact about my CoE?

Before you commence your studies with us you will need to refer to your agent. Once you have commenced your studies you can contact Student Services for more information. 

How do I get a copy of my CoE?

You should be given a copy of your CoE from your agent when you commence your studies. If you cannot find it or never received it please contact your International Student Advisor and they will be able to issue you with a copy. 

How do I extend my CoE?

We require the following information and documents to submit your CoE extension application for review.

You will need to provide:

• Copy of your Passport.
• Copy of your current Visa.
• Personal written statement explaining why you need a COE extension, how many subjects you have left to complete and why you haven’t completed your course in given time frame.
• Study plan provided by your Success Coach - you can request one via email.

Please submit all the above together to Student Services.

Please note, once this has been submitted it may take up to 10 business days for an outcome.

This insurance helps you meet the costs of medical and hospital care you may need while in Australia such as:

• Visiting the doctor
• Ambulance and emergency treatment in hospital
• Some hospital treatment
• Some medicines

You must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa at the time of admission into your course.

OSHC must be purchased from an approved Australian insurance provider.

Different insurers may offer different levels of cover, so compare policies to choose the one that is right for you. You may want to take out extra insurance such as dental, physiotherapy and optometry services.

For more information and a list of insurance providers visit the OSHC page on the Department of Health website.

Having issues converting your lecture or workshop times to your current time zone?

If yes, please use the Time Zone Converter.

With a landmass close to 7.7 million square kilometres, Australia is the world's sixth-largest country and is divided into three separate time zones.

Time zones during daylight saving Time (first Sunday in October – first Sunday in April)

Studying in Australia can be exciting and offer new experiences. Unfortunately, sometimes international students are targeted by scammers. Study Melbourne has a great guide to what to look out for and how to protect yourself against student scams.

Recently we have seen a spike in International student threat of arrest scams which have seen victims losing serious amounts of money. 

A scammer speaking the student's language will call directly or leave an ‘urgent’ voice message to call back. When you return the call, the scammer may pretend to be from a Chinese authority such as the police, a government or immigration official. The scammer may claim that you are in serious trouble and the Australian Government will arrest or deport you due to a problem with your visa. They may threaten that you’ll be extradited to face criminal charges unless money is sent to them.

How to protect yourself:

• If you ever receive a call from someone making threats about arrest or deportation don’t believe it, it is a scam!
• Hang up the phone immediately and report it to your local police or to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
• If you think the scammer has your bank account details, contact your bank immediately.
• Never send money to someone you don’t know or ever met and don’t buy any gift cards.

For more info visit- Chinese authority scams | Scamwatch

There are tuition fee payment scams being reported at the moment.

Find out:

• How to avoid tuition payment scams
• 6 steps to avoid payment scams

The COVID-19 vaccination free, however scammers will seek to exploit South Australians during the rollout, so be on the lookout for fraudulent phone calls, messages and advertisements. Do not give out your personal information.

Learn how to protect yourself.

Torrens University has been made aware of an Instant Study Loan Scam. Please only use the official and safe channels that are available on the bottom of your Offer Letter to pay your tuition fees.

If you have any concerns that you maybe being scammed, please email us or visit the SAPOL site.

You will receive a special Under 18 email, prior to arriving on campus, that will provide you with details on where to find and how to contact the people listed below. This email will also contain important information to keep with you at all times in case of an emergency.

Your point of contact during campus business hours is Student Services, who will provide you with all areas of guidance and support in settling you into your studies and Australia. Please contact your Campus Director, whose number is located on your under 18's email, if you are in an emergency situation outside of normal campus business hours.

If you arrive before your course start date or orientation day, please feel welcome to visit the campus and contact your Campus Student Services team.

If you have any problems with your homestay, study, or life in Australia, you can get help from any of the following people:

• During usual business hours: Your International Student contact person is your Campus Director or Senior Student Services Advisor and their team of student services advisors
• Outside of usual business hours, in case of an emergency or a critical incident, your contact is the Campus Director
• Success coaches
• Academic learning support and learning advisors
• Student Counsellor

Popular accommodation options for international students in Australia include:

• Purpose built Student Accommodation – private rooms or share rooms
• Homestay
• Private rental or share houses
• Short term accommodation - hotel or hostels

Accommodation costs will depend on the city you'll live in and what type of accommodation you choose. Visit Study in Australia for more information about accommodation for international students.

Scape offers short stays or long-term student accommodation in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. They offer private or share rooms. Each Scape property is central located and has a regular event calendar, hosting events and activities to help you explore your new city and meet your fellow residents.

With residents from countries from across the globe, you'll meet a diverse network of friends who will enrich your Scape experience.

We have a number of rooms available to Torrens University students.

For an incredible trimester accommodation room prices for Torrens University students only:

• Under 18 years old students
• Over 18 years old students

Some Scape properties do offer dual occupancy:

• Sydney - Darling Square, Darlington and Glebe accept dual occupancies
• Melbourne - Swanston Street
• Brisbane - South Bank, Scape South Bank and Atira Merviale.
• Adelaide – North Terrace

With the homestay option, you’ll have the opportunity to live with a local family, experience Australian culture and get to know the area you’ll be living in. Your Homestay host will also help you with important things such as airport pickup, local networks, shopping, banking, transport, culture and improving your English skills.

Host families are thoroughly screened to ensure they can provide a suitable living environment for students.

2Stay is a well-respected accommodation provider and has offered accommodation solutions for international students to the major cities in Australia.

Providing a home away from home and offering an outstanding and enriching experience to all guests are our main goals.

Or Homestay accommodation can be organised through the Australian Homestay Network (AHN). Australian Homestay Network provides the highest quality homestay experiences in Australia, ensuring that each of our guests begins their Australian experience on the right foot.

Once you have settled in Australia you may choose to share an apartment or house with other students. These are normally rented through a real estate agent.

Search for rental accommodation on websites like realestate.com.au or domain.com.au. Search for share houses at Flatmates.com.au.

In Australia, you always inspect a property before renting it.

Attention: Please be safe at all times, take a friend with you to view private or shared accommodation.

Read the Top 9 tips for sharing a house with others

Things to know about renting a property from a real estate agent:

• When you find a place you like, you must fill out and submit a rental application form - this can often be done online through the agent's website. You will usually have to sign a lease for a minimum of 12 months.
• The agent may require a reference letter, proof of identification and evidence of your ability to pay rent.
• Most rental properties are unfurnished. You will need to pay for household goods, gas, electricity and telephone connection.
• Rent is usually priced per week and the cost will depend on the type of property, number of bedrooms and location.
• You will need to pay a month's rent (bond) in advance and a bond equivalent of up to six weeks rent when renting a property.
• Permanent accommodation usually takes three to four weeks to arrange, depending on the type of accommodation required.
• For further information on renting a property please refer to the Tenants' Union, Authority for Information Service in your state.

Hotels can be an expensive choice but allows you privacy in your own room while you familiarise yourself with your new city in a safe environment before exploring other accommodation options.

• Hotels.com
• Bookings.com
• Tripadvisor

Hostels are a much cheaper option but this often comes with shared rooms, cooking and laundry areas.

• Hostelworld
• YHA Australia
• Tripadvisor

Things you should consider when choosing where to live include:

• How far will you have to travel to campus? Is it easily accessible by public transport, such as bus or train?
• Find out what shopping centres, hospitals and emergency services, and other facilities are nearby.
• Always confirm the total cost and any other expenses you may be required to pay, such as a bond and utility fees.

Remember:

• Don’t rely on photos on a website, make sure you visit the accommodation
• Avoid paying a deposit on a place you have never seen
• Never give out personal details to someone you’ve never met in exchange for more information about a property
• Be aware of your rights as a tenant and get advice from the proper channels

Your responsibilities include:

• paying your expenses on time
• day to day cleaning and maintenance
• notifying the landlord or host of any issues with water, power or gas supply, or any other damage to the accommodation.

You have the right by law to:

• feel secure in your property
• have a home with properly maintained and working facilities

If there are any problems with your accommodation talk to your agent or landlord (if renting), your international student support staff for on-campus living or the service where you found your homestay.

If you are renting, organisations such as Tenants' Unions and consumer advocates can help. Find your state's Fair Trading and Tenants' Services.