RMIT is pleased to welcome asylum seekers to study vocational and degree level courses.
RMIT is pleased to welcome asylum seekers to study vocational and degree level courses.
Many students from a refugee background have completed RMIT studies and gone on to successful careers in a range of industries and organisations. RMIT is proud to support these students on their education and career journeys.
If you hold one of the following visas, you are eligible to apply as an Asylum Seeker for Vocational and Higher Education. Your visa must include study rights, and work rights are required for courses that include work placement.
If you are applying to study at RMIT you are required to provide evidence of your visa entitlement. When applying include your:
RMIT University reserves the right to verify and confirm your visa information through the VEVO system.
*VEVO generated within the last 30 days.
The application process depends on the applicant type and the type of study:
If you are currently undertaking an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent) then you are considered a Current Year 12 student.
Study type | How to apply |
---|---|
Vocational Education & Training (VET) (includes certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas) | Apply direct to RMIT |
Undergraduate degrees (includes associate degrees, bachelor degrees and four year honours degrees) | Apply via Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). |
One year honours degrees, and postgraduate degrees (includes graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and masters degrees) | Not available for Current Year 12 applicants |
VTAC considers Asylum Seeker visa holders as international applicants. If you receive a VTAC offer to study at RMIT and hold an eligible visa, an RMIT staff member must verify your visa entitlement before issuing a full-fee international offer for non-student visa holders.
If you are not currently an Australian Year 12 student, you are considered a Non-Year 12 applicant and you can apply direct to RMIT as a local applicant.
Study type | How to apply |
---|---|
Vocational Education & Training (VET) (includes certificates, diplomas, and advanced diplomas) | Apply direct to RMIT |
Undergraduate degrees (includes associate, bachelor and honours degrees) | Apply direct to RMIT |
Postgraduate degrees (includes graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and masters degrees) | Apply direct to RMIT |
Visit the Approved schedule of fees and charges (past and current) for all Vocational Education & Training and Higher Education courses.
If you hold an eligible visa, you can apply for VET courses and access Government support through the Asylum Seeker VET Program (ASVET). Apply direct as a local applicant.
ASVET includes access to domestic Government Subsidised Places* and Free TAFE when you:
*Asylum seekers living in Australia must pay domestic full-fee tuition for VE courses that are not government-subsidised.
Applicants eligible for the ASVET Program can receive a government concession on their tuition fees when they:
If you meet these requirements, you will be charged the concession rate. This rate is equivalent to 20% of the government subsidised VET tuition fee.
Asylum seekers living in Australia and studying onshore are required to pay international onshore fees for Higher Education courses. However, if you hold an eligible visa, you are exempt from the Educational Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) requirements and student visa-related conditions. This exemption allows you to apply for various courses at RMIT University without needing to pay a tuition fee deposit or have overseas student health cover when accepting your offer.
The RMIT Welcome and the Sam and Nina Narodowski Asylum Seeker Scholarships support both new and continuing students seeking asylum who hold eligible visas.
The scholarship covers full program tuition fees and Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF), paid each semester. Additionally, some recipients may receive a study/living allowance, paid fortnightly - up to $5,000 per year for Certificate and Diploma courses, and up to $15,000 per year for degrees.
These scholarships are available to current Year 12 and non-Year-12 applicants. Applications run from August to December each year and must be submitted directly to RMIT, as VTAC does not offer all scholarships. To finalise your scholarship application, you must first receive and accept an offer from RMIT.
RMIT’s Equity Access Schemes support students who have experienced significant educational disadvantages in gaining access to university. We encourage all eligible asylum seekers to apply for equity access when submitting their university course applications. You can apply for equity access through VTAC and direct to RMIT.
RMIT regularly offers free career workshops to support you into education, training or employment, including study advice, preparing resumes and cover letters, and insights into different industries.
If you need help deciding what direction to take your career before you study, RMIT’s Skills and Job Centre provides the local community and prospective students with free, independent advice on entering the workforce, re-skilling and more.
RMIT offers a variety of free and confidential support services to assist you during your time at university.
Student Welfare Advisors can assist you with general questions around RMIT studies and processes and refer you to relevant support services at RMIT and in the community. They can also assist you with financial advice and support, including emergency accommodation, food and travel vouchers, and Student Hardship Assistance.
Support for current students also includes study support, career support, health and wellbeing services, making friends, and more.
I often look back and think how funny it is that 14 years ago I couldn’t speak a word of English and now I’m graduating with a degree in journalism.
- Shamsiya Hussainpoor, Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)
Email inclusion@rmit.edu.au for more information or assistance.
Our friendly staff at Study@RMIT are also available five days a week to assist you.
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
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