Enrolment load requirements for student visa holders

It is a condition of holding a student visa that you must complete your program within its expected duration, which is the end date of your current Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) issued by RMIT. 

To complete within your expected duration, you should remain enrolled at a full-time load throughout your program.

As you are expected to complete within the duration of your CoE, you cannot enrol at a reduced load (study part-time) without approval and RMIT may only approve a reduced enrolment load based on compassionate and compelling circumstances.

What is a full-time enrolment load?

For higher education students (bachelor and post graduate programs), a full-time enrolment load is 96 credit points per year. You’ll find the credit point allocation of each course listed in the course guide.

Most vocational education students (certificate I-IV and diploma programs) will automatically be enrolled in a full-time enrolment load based on their program enrolment.

You must generally enrol in at least one course in Semester 1 and Semester 2 as these are compulsory terms for most programs. You can also choose to enrol in courses in the optional Spring/Summer Semester and/or flexible terms.

How do I check my enrolment load?

You can view your current enrolment load by checking your Statement of Enrolment in Enrolment Online. Any time you change your enrolment (add or drop classes) your statement will be updated within 24 hours to reflect your current enrolment.

Your statement will show your enrolment divided into two study periods:

• first half of the year, showing all enrolment between January to June; and
• second half of the year, showing all enrolment between July to December

If you are enrolled full-time for the study period, your 'Aggregated Load' will be '100% of a Full Load'.

If your Aggregated Load is less than 100% of a Full Load you are NOT enrolled at a full-time load and need to add more classes via Enrolment Online.

Can I apply to reduce my enrolment load (study part-time)?

Student visa holders can only reduce their enrolment load (study part-time) on grounds of compassionate and compelling circumstances. 

Compassionate and compelling circumstances are defined as circumstances outside a student’s control that impact the student’s ability to study. See the compassionate and compelling circumstances page for examples and evidence requirements.

Deadline to apply

You must apply to reduce your enrolment load before your class census date/s. Your class census dates are shown on your Statement of Enrolment and in Enrolment Online.

You should NOT change your enrolment until after you have received formal approval to reduce your enrolment load (see application process below). If you reduce your enrolment load without approval, RMIT may reject your application and you may not be issued with a new CoE.  

How to apply to reduce your enrolment load

If you feel you meet compassionate and compelling circumstances and you wish to apply for a reduced load, you must:

1. Contact your Program Manager or College to discuss your situation as soon as possible
   Please note: You should NOT change your enrolment as you must continue to remain enrolled in a full-time load until you have formal approval to reduce your enrolment load
2. After discussion with your Program Manager or College, download and complete the Application to Reduce Enrolment Load Form (PDF, 526KB)
3. Submit your completed form and evidence to support your application to Student Connect.

If your application is approved, you may then reduce your enrolment by dropping classes in Enrolment Online.

Need help?

For more information, please contact Student Connect.

Related links

• Compassionate and compelling circumstance
• Prove your enrolment
• Changes to your study plans
• Apply for a new COE

Status and details

Last updated August 2022

By Academic Registrar's Group (ARG)

In accordance with National Code 2018 Standard 7, Standard 8, Standard 9