From October 2, 2026, Australia applies new regulations on school transfer for study abroad international students. During the transition period until June 30, 2027, most international students must complete at least 12 months of their main course before transferring to another institution. From July 1, 2027, international students transferring schools will have to apply for Student new visa according to transfer stream and visa issued before starting to study at the new school.
These changes make choosing a school and course from the start even more important for international students planning to study abroad in Australia.
Transferring schools to study in Australia, what will change from October 2, 2026?
According to the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students, the transfer restriction period has been adjusted. For non-high school students:
- From October 2, 2026 to June 30, 2027: must complete at least 12 months of principal course before switching to another provider.
- From July 1, 2027: the 12-month transition regulation ends and the Student visa transfer stream mechanism begins to apply.
For high school students, the 6-month mark of the first high school course before transferring schools still applies.
1. From October 2, 2026 to June 30, 2027: Must study 12 months before transferring
During the transition period, training institutions are not allowed to accept international students transferring from another provider if the student has not completed at least 12 months of principal course. This regulation applies to providers outside the general sector.
Example
You start: Bachelor of Business – School A
If you start the principal course in October 2026, during the transition period, the transfer to School B will generally have to wait until you have completed the required time.
However, this does not mean that in all cases you must wait the full 12 months.
2. Some cases can still be transferred early
National Code still stipulates some exceptions. Students can be transferred ahead of time if, for example:
- Provider or the current course is no longer registered.
- Provider has taken measures that prevent students from continuing the course.
- The current provider agrees to allow the student to transfer and follow the correct release process.
- The student’s government or sponsoring agency confirms that the transfer is in the best interests of the student.
Therefore, “12 months” should not be understood as an absolute ban on all cases of transferring schools before the deadline.
3. From July 1, 2027: Transferring schools will require a new Student visa
This is a more notable change. According to the announcement of the Australian Government, from July 1, 2027, international students who want to transfer to another education provider after arriving in Australia will have to apply under Student visa transfer stream.
The important point is: Students must be issued a new Student visa before starting studies at the new provider. This means that transferring schools will no longer be as simple as: School A → apply for CoE School B → start studying → process visa later. Instead, the new visa must be issued before the student begins their course at the new institution.
4. New visa does not mean extended stay in Australia
One point many international students need to note is that being granted a new visa through transfer stream does not mean the stay period is recalculated from the beginning. According to information announced by the Government, the expiration date of the new visa will remain the same as the expiration date of the current visa. Therefore, transferring schools does not mean that students can “reset” their visa time.
5. Do not transfer to a course with a lower AQF
The new Student visa transfer stream mechanism also aims to limit students from transferring to lower level courses after entering Australia. According to the Australian Government, transfer stream will only allow transfer: Same AQF level or higher.
For example:
- Bachelor → Bachelor: same level.
- Bachelor → Master: higher level.
- Higher Education → VET: not transferred under the new mechanism.
The government also said students will not be able to use this mechanism to move onto more packaged courses.
6. Why did Australia change its school transfer regulations?
According to the Australian Government, the reforms are intended to increase the integrity of the Student visa system and limit the use of student visas by students that are not suitable for their original purpose. One issue highlighted by the Government is the situation of students starting with a Higher Education program and then transferring to VET once they arrive in Australia. The new regulations aim to limit downgrading to courses with lower AQFs and admission models that rely on attracting students to lower-cost programs once they have entered the country.
7. Timeline for transfer regulations to study abroad in Australia
| Time | Regulations |
|---|---|
| Before October 2, 2026 | Applying pre-reform transfer regulations |
| 02/10/2026 – 30/06/2027 | Most non-high school students must complete 12 months principal course before switching providers |
| 01/07/2027 | Start of Student visa transfer stream |
| From July 1, 2027 | Must be granted a new visa before starting studies at the new provider |
| From July 1, 2027 | Only transfer to or up AQF level; do not transfer from Higher Education to VET via transfer stream |
What do international students need to prepare?
With these changes, choosing a course before coming to Australia is increasingly important. If you are preparing a Student visa application, you should consider:
1. Choose a major that matches your background
Don’t just choose a major because of low tuition or easy admission.
2. Clearly determine the AQF of the course
This is especially important if you plan to change majors or programs after coming to Australia.
3. Find out the provider’s transfer policy
The school’s transfer conditions and visa conditions are two different issues.
4. Do not arbitrarily drop out of school or transfer to a new school
Having a new CoE does not mean you have met all visa requirements. Especially from July 1, 2027, transfer stream students must be issued a new visa before starting to study at a new provider.
What if I’m in Australia and want to change schools?
This is the case that needs the most careful examination. You shouldn’t just ask: “Will the new school accept me?” You need to see at the same time Current Course → Principal course → time studied → Current Provider → Release → new CoE → AQF → Student visa status → regulations applicable at the time of transfer. In particular, the regulations applied in the period October 2, 2026–June 30, 2027 are different from the mechanism starting from July 1, 2027. Regulations for transferring schools to study in Australia are changing significantly from October 2026.
During the transition period until June 30, 2027, most non-high school students must complete 12 months of principal course before transferring to another provider. From July 1, 2027, the Student visa transfer stream mechanism will be applied. Students switching providers must be issued a new visa before starting studies at the new school, the new visa retains the expiration date and transfers can only be made horizontally or higher towards AQF.
Therefore, if you are preparing to study in Australia or are already in Australia and planning to change schools/majors, please check the regulations that apply to your own application before making a decision.
