Centre for English Language Teaching

If you are an international student, there are several specific issues you need to be clear about.

These are

• Visas
• Employment
• Tax File Number
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Student visas

All international students must obtain a student visa before they travel to Australia.

Student visas are issued for the duration of the course and only for full-time study; international students cannot choose to study part-time. However, if you have a temporary resident visa, you can study part-time, but you will still have to pay international student tuition fees.

You will receive a Confirmation of Enrolment form from the University once you have formally accepted an offer of a place and paid your first semester's fee and overseas student health cover. This will enable you to start your visa application processing.

Contact the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for details on student visas and DIAC offices around the world. Information is also available from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including a list of Australian Consulates and Embassies around the world.

Employment

Under the terms of the student visa, international students must apply for a work rights visa (application charge of AUD$60) after starting studies. This allows students to work up to 20 hours a week during academic semesters and full-time during vacation periods. You should be aware that part-time and vacation work are not always readily available, and that the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship may decline applications for work rights visas if they suspect the student is depending on this income for support.

Research students receiving scholarships from the Australian government or from UWA may only work up to eight hours during a normal working week.

Tax File Number

A tax file number (TFN) is a unique number issued to individuals and organisations to help the Tax Office administer tax and other Australian Government systems. It’s one of your most important forms of identification in Australia. It’s yours for life and keeping it secure is a good defence against identity theft.

While it is not compulsory to quote a TFN, without one you may:

• pay more tax than necessary, or
• not be able to get government benefits you are entitled to receive.

A TFN will also help you:

• lodge a tax return
• ask the Tax Office about your tax affairs
• start or change jobs
• limit the amount of tax you pay on interest or dividends earned if you have savings accounts or investments that earn income.

Applying for a TFN

If you are a permanent migrant or temporary visitor to Australia you can apply for a TFN online after you arrive in Australia if you have a:

• visa that allows work rights
• visa that allows permanent migration
• valid overseas student visa, or
• valid visa to stay in Australia indefinitely.

To apply complete the Online individual tax file number (TFN) registration. When applying online, you do not have to physically provide proof of your identity.

For more information about TFNs visit the Tax Office website.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

It is an Australian Government visa regulation that all international students pay and be registered for OSHC for the duration of their student visa.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your health insurance is current at all times. Expired health cover is a violation of your student visa and exposes you to potentially high medical costs.

The University of Western Australia's preferred health provider for all international students is OSHC Worldcare. From 2006 all international students are required to purchase program length cover health cover.* Payment of OSHC is to be paid together with the first semester tuition fee. UWA is only able to process new health insurance cover for international students who wish to join OSHC Worldcare for the first time.

The advantages of program length health cover are:

• You achieve a substantial discount
• You will be insured against high medical costs
• No annual price rises
• No annual renewing
• No lapse of cover
• You can be sure that you have health cover for the duration of your study in Australia
• Student Visa condition 8501 is fully applied (you will be fulfilling the requirement of your student visa to maintain your overseas health coverage).

All health insurance renewals must be done by the individual student directly with their health insurance provider. You can renew your health insurance with OHSC Worldcare on-line.

*This is not applicable to students from Sweden and Norway who are covered under a separate arrangement.