Frequently Asked Questions

In response to COVID-19 situation, RMIT University and its educational partners have suspended all face-to-face events until further notice.

In the interim, we are organising online events including webinars and chat where staff and student ambassadors are available to answer your questions. Please refer to the Meet RMIT Virtually page to find all virtual event options.

Our friendly team is here to support you all the way. Start a chat with one of us to find out about your study options, RMIT program structures, entry requirements, fees, life in Melbourne and more.

RMIT has been working to deliver blended learning – a mix of online and face-to-face learning, depending on the course requirements – for some time. This has been accelerated due to the current climate.

Flexible study allows students to study online by participating in lectures and tutorials via Canvas, our online learning and teaching platform, to ensure continued learning throughout this period. The majority of classes and assessments have been rearranged to suit this learning format.

Face-to-face learning, work placements and practical assessments will be arranged at a later date.

Yes. Face-to-face learning and teaching activity on our Australian campuses have been suspended until further notice. Courses have been transitioned to online delivery wherever possible, and we are continuing to implement flexible study measures that enable us to provide a quality digital experience as an alternative to face-to-face delivery.

Yes. It will most likely be held online, the details will be finalised closer to the date. RMIT University currently has a range of webinars open to prospective applicants. Please see the Events page for updates regarding future events.

Students can check the Study with us page, or look at the Programs for International students page to confirm program availability.

RMIT uses Canvas, a learning and teaching platform, to record and store lectures so you can go back and re-watch them at any point and review tasks set by your lecturer.

Tutorials, workshops and seminars are being held online via a video-based system that allows teachers to present interactive content during classes. You’ll login and join your teachers and classmates, participating as you would when attending face-to-face classes. Your subjects may require group work, online discussion, or other interactive activities as required for assessment, all of which can be done online.

RMIT University and all students need to follow Australian government advice on this matter. Please visit the Department of Home Affairs for latest updates.

Yes. You can start studying online from home and once the borders open and is safe to travel you can join RMIT in Australia.

Department of Home Affairs has recently made some announcements on a number of changes to student visa arrangements to support international students.

Where can I get more information?

Information for international students is available across a range of Government agencies, including:

• the Department of Home Affairs' COVID-19 website, and also on the Study Australia resource hub for the latest visa information and travel advice regarding COVID-19
• the Study Australia website for information about support services available for international students
  
• the Australian Government website forthe latest news, updates and advice
  
• the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website. You can also contact them directly for international student enquiries on international.students@dese.gov.au or 1300 981 621 (9am to 5pm AEDST Monday to Friday) 

Yes, we are accepting applications for all future intakes. Learn more about how to apply.

Once you have submitted your application, you will be able to communicate with International Admissions team about your application via the Applicant Portal.

It is recommended that international students apply for advanced standing/credit exemptions at the same time of the application. There is a section in the application where you can indicate you are applying for credits (advanced standing). If you are eligible for credits, this can change the total duration required to complete a program, therefore affecting the duration of your eCOE and visa.

Yes, RMIT offers a range of scholarships to commencing international students across all areas of study. To find a scholarship you may be eligible for, please visit the Scholarships for commencing international students page.

Interim arrangements can be found on the Students under 18 years of age page.

Your plans to travel to Australia for study will be impacted by the Australian Government travel restrictions currently in place.

For information on visa applications and updates, please refer to Department of Home Affairs website.

RMIT has approved the following Higher Education courses for the Semester 2 2020 and 2021 intake (including first year entry).

Students can apply for/defer Foundation Studies to Semester 2 2020, which can be packaged with the relevant Bachelor courses commencing in Semester 2 2021.

Please refer to our list of 2020 Programs, intakes and fees for international students for up to date information on intake availability.

There are temporary provisions in place for most qualifications:

RMIT will accept online / uncertified documents from all countries to issue full offers.

Online transcripts must have details of the institution, student’s detail and the title of the qualification. Applicants will be required to provide certified copies of official academic documents as soon as they are available and by no later than census date.

Indonesia qualifications:

For admission into a bachelor's degree for Semester 2 2020, applicants from Indonesia will no longer need to provide the National and / or School Examination results for Indonesian Year 12. Applicants with Indonesian Senior High School qualification can apply for admissions based on SMA 3 results and / or School Examination.

Vietnamese qualifications:

To remove the requirement of Vietnamese National High School Graduation Examination for admissions to Diploma, Advanced Diploma, and Undergraduate Degree. Applicants will be required to provide a certified copy of official National High School Graduation as soon as it is available and by no later than census date.

Hong Kong qualifications:

Applicants with Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) qualification can apply for admissions based on trial HKDSE results.

Applicants will be required to provide official results after enrolling in their programs.

GCE O and A Levels and International Baccalaureate (IB):

Forecast results from GCE O Levels / IGCSE will be accepted to issue a full offer for Foundation Studies for an immediate intake.

Forecast GCE A Level and Predicted IB Diploma results will be accepted to issue a full offer for a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree and Bachelor’s Degree for an immediate intake if applicants’ forecast / predicted results are 3 points higher than the actual program’s entry requirement.

Applicants must also meet English requirement, other additional requirement and SSVF assessment.

Applicants will not be required to provide official final results when applying for an immediate intake.

In response to COVID-19 which has caused a number of cancellations and delays in English language testing, RMIT will temporarily accept the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and IELTS Indicator for programs that require up to IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with no band less than 6.5 (or equivalent) for semester 2 2020 and semester 1 2021. The requirements are the same as for their respective traditional tests.

We will also temporarily extend the validity period for an approved English proficiency test for admission from two years to three years prior to the RMIT program commencement date for semester 2 2020 and semester 1 2021 intakes (some exclusions apply where required for accreditation purposes such as Nursing programs).

Please refer to the English language proficiency tests for international students page for detailed information.

No. You must pay the full amount indicated in your offer letter plus required Overseas Student Health Cover, when accepting your offer. An eCOE will only be issued based on the full payment.

There are no payment plans currently available for applicants. For more information on how to accept your offer, please refer to your offer letter or the Accept your offer page

RMIT will accept IELTS Indicator and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition for entry into REW ELICOS programs. This means students can apply for EAP package offer based on these tests in addition to REW's OOPT, TOEFL iBT, IELTS (Academic), PTE (A) and CAE.

However, please note that these tests are currently NOT recognised for entry into RMIT formal programs.

For entry into ELICOS program, validity for IELTS, TOEFL iBT and PTE (A) has changed from 12 months to 24 months.

Flexibility when accepting English proficiency tests, i.e. a 2-month grace period for main program direct entry (not applicable for ELICOS entry and excludes programs with accreditation requirement such Diploma and Bachelor of Nursing)

RMIT English Worldwide (REW) now can deliver the REW Placement test online for both onshore & offshore candidates.

All placement test bookings (onshore & offshore students) can be sent to RMIT English Worldwide. There will be a $60 AUD testing fee, but this will be refunded to each candidate when they enroll.

Once a test booking has been made, the candidate will receive important information about the test and instructions on how to log in via the candidate’s personal email address. Hence it is essential to provide REW with the candidate’s personal email address so that they can access the test.

To book the OOPT placement test, please email REW. Staff will reply with a request to submit the following:

• Application form
• Copy of candidate’s passport
• Expected test date
• Candidate’s personal email address for further communication
• Payment form (online payment function will be made available shortly)
• Confirmation of required setup (internet, suitable browser, headset, microphone & web camera)

At present, the placement test will run Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:00pm (AEST), with the exception of selected Fridays and the first day of each module, when the placement tests are reserved for commencing students. REW will review this availability regularly in order to cater for demand

Students can do the test from home as long as they have a stable and reliable internet connection. It will be invigilated on camera by staff in Melbourne. If the student does not have a strong internet connection at home, we would recommend that they go to their agent’s office to complete the test.

Free sample questions are available on the Oxford English Testing website.

The test results will be released within 48 hours.

The results are valid for the purpose of issuing an offer for up to 12 months. However, if the results are more than 6 months old when the student arrive for enrolment, they will have to sit the placement test again.

If a student is unsatisfied with their results, they will have to wait 6 months to sit another placement test as the test results are valid for 6 months for placement/enrolment purposes.

It is generally a condition of your student visa that you hold OSHC for the duration of your visa. When you accept an offer from RMIT University, you are required to purchase OSHC before RMIT can issue you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE).  

By organising your OSHC membership at the time of accepting your RMIT offer, the process will be simpler when you are ready to submit your visa application, as your COE will indicate that you have already organised your OSHC membership.  

We understand that nobody wants to be paying for something they can’t use. If you have purchased your insurance through our OSHC partner Medibank, you can extend your OSHC expiry date to the equivalent period that you are outside Australia at no additional cost. When you arrive in Australia, contact the Medibank OSHC service team with evidence of your arrival date and of the time you spent outside Australia. They will arrange for the suspension of your OSHC membership for the period you were outside Australia, as long as it is for a continuous period of at least 3 months. When you complete your studies and are returning home, you can then apply for a refund of any unused period of cover.

 If you have purchased your OSHC through a different provider, we encourage you to check with them.

Medibank exclusively offers Comprehensive OSHC to students at partner universities only. Comprehensive OSHC meets your student visa health insurance requirements for all course types, helps towards your hospital and medical needs, and provides a range of added value services above Essentials OSHC.

Additionally, Medibank OSHC allows you to access services such as:

• On-Campus Medibank Support  Student at RMIT City Campus*
• Medibank 24/7 Student Health and Support Line

Learn more about Comprehensive Medibank OSHC coverage.

*Please refer to https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/alerts/coronavirus for updates on on-campus activities affected by COVID-19

How does Medibank benefit me when I am offshore?

As a Medibank OSHC member, you have access to many online resources designed to support your health and well-being and help you prepare for life in Australia.

Medibank is encouraging all members to join their eat, move and feel activities that will help you stay active, stay healthy and Live Better at Home.