Unique Student Identifier (USI)
A USI is your individual reference number for your education journey in Australia.
All higher education students (including Higher Degree Research) will need to have a USI in order to graduate and receive their award from 1 January 2023. This includes all students who started studies before 2021, as well as all international students studying onshore.
Please ensure that your personal information (e.g. Name, Date of Birth) at the USI Registry Office is exactly the same as the information you have provided UTS and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). This will avoid the risk of having an unverified USI which will have an impact on your enrolment and graduation.
UTS (My Student Admin – Personal Details) | USI Registry | Australian Taxation Office (ATO) |
---|---|---|
First Given Name | First/Given Name | First Given Name |
Other Given Name | Middle Name | Other Given Name |
Family Name (surname) | Family/Last Name | Family Name (surname) |
Date of Birth | Date of Birth | Date of Birth |
Tax File Number (TFN) | N/A | Tax File Number (TFN) |
Residential Address | N/A | Residential Address |
International students studying offshore won't be able to get a USI until they come to Australia – this also applies to New Zealand citizens. If you're traveling to Australia to study, you need to land in Australia and go through customs before you can create a USI, using your non-Australian passport and visa as a form of ID.
Domestic Students studying overseas with an Australian education or training provider still need to get a USI when they arrive in Australia.
What happens if I don't provide a USI?
1. You won't be able to graduate and receive your award (testamur) from 1 January 2023 unless you have provided your USI to UTS, unless you are studying offshore.
2. If you are a Domestic Student, you need a USI to be eligible to apply for:
a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
Commonwealth financial assistance (HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, OS-HLEP, SA-HELP)
If you are seeking Commonwealth support for the first time, you will need to provide your USI on your electronic Commonwealth assistance form (known as an eCAF).
If you do not provide a USI by the Census session date you will be withdrawn from your subjects.
UTS will apply a USV sanction to your student account if you have provided a USI that is unverified. Your exam results and academic records are withheld, study plan amendment may be blocked until your USI is provided or verified.
Unique Student Identifier (USI) sanctions come under two categories depending on whether you are a Commonwealth supported student or not;
To check for active sanctions, access 'Sanction Details' under the 'Personal' tab in My Student Admin.
When do I need a USI?
We suggest you apply for your USI straight away. Domestic and onshore international students are able to submit their USI during enrolment.
If you belong to one of the following cohorts, you must provide your USI no later than the census date of your first enrolled session.
- Anyone in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
- Anyone seeking Financial Assistance (HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, OS-HELP, SA-HELP)
- Onshore international students
- Higher Degree Research students
If a USI is not provided by Census Date, the Commonwealth supported student will be withdrawn from their enrolment as they cannot access Commonwealth Assistance or defer their fees, unless they are enrolled as a Domestic Fee Paying.
How do I get a USI?
It is free and easy to create your USI. Go to www.usi.gov.au and click 'Create a USI'.
You will require documentation to prove your identity. The following are acceptable forms of ID to create a USI. You will need at least one of the identity documents listed below:
- Australian Passport
- Non-Australian Passport (with Australian Visa)
- Australian Birth Certificate
- Australian Driver's Licence
- Medicare Card
- Certificate of Registration by Descent
- Centrelink Concession Cards
- Citizenship Certificate
- ImmiCard
How do I tell UTS what my USI is?
Commencing students can provide their USI during the offer acceptance process in My Student Admin.
All students can provide their USI at any time by going into My Student Admin.
I’m an international student, do I need a USI?
Yes. If you are going to be located in Australia while studying, you will need to provide a USI (Unique Student Identifier). Please note international students cannot create a USI until they have arrived in Australia.
I am currently studying in Australia
International students (including New Zealand Citizens) studying onshore, in Australia, will need a USI. Once you arrive in Australia you can use your Australian visa as a form of ID when creating your USI. The visa will only validate when you enter the country and go through customs. The Australian visa will not verify if you have not entered the country and therefore you cannot create a USI.
I completed some of my studies in Australia but I have now left and I don’t have a USI
If you commenced your studies before 1 January 2023 and you are not in Australia to receive your award, you will be automatically exempt from needing to have a USI and do not need to apply for a USI exemption. If you plan to return to Australia before you complete your degree, you must create a USI and provide it to the University at that time.
If you commenced your studies after 1 January 2023 and you did not get a USI whilst in Australia, you will need to apply for a USI exemption^^ using the USI exemption form in order to be eligible for the conferral^ of your award. Please provide email receipt or a screenshot of your exemption outcome letter to AskUTS.
^ Conferral is the administrative process by which your degree is awarded. You are considered a graduate of UTS once your conferral date has passed. Every student who fulfils the requirements for completion of an award course is eligible for formal conferral of the award by the University Academic Board.
^^Please note the Department of Education is currently seeking an amendment to the Student Identifiers (Higher Education Exemptions) Amendment (Education Minister Exemptions) 2022 (legislation.gov.au) so that students in the above cohort are automatically exempted by the Education Minister.
I completed all of my studies outside of Australia
International students who completed all their study outside of Australia do not need a USI and do not need to apply for USI exemption.
Am I eligible for an Exemption from the USI?
International students are automatically exempt from needing to have a USI if they meet all the criteria below:
- they studied with an Australian education or training provider in Australia
- they did not access Commonwealth financial assistance for their studies
- they commenced their studies before 1 January 2023
- they are currently offshore and will not return to Australia.
International students who completed all of their studies offshore through an Australian education or training provider do not need to have a USI to receive their award.
If you are eligible to be automatically exempt but have received a USP or UNP sanction, please submit an AskUTS enquiry with an attached Request for International Movement Records to prove you have not entered or exited Australia during your studies.
Domestic students can apply for an exemption from having a USI. However, this will impact your study options.
Higher education students who do not have a USI will not be able to apply for Commonwealth financial assistance or a Commonwealth supported place. Students wishing to apply for an exemption must provide reasons for doing so and accept the listed consequences of not having a USI.
I’m an international student, what happens if I only have one name?
If you are an international student who has a single name, your USI will be created using your home country passport and Australian visa. Your USI will reflect the name as it appears on your Australian visa. If your passport has a single name, but the Australian visa has recorded that single name under First and Last name OR entered 'no name' under Last name, the USI Registry System will reflect the same.
If your details do not match at UTS and the USI registry, we will be unable to verify your USI.
To resolve this, please take the following steps:
- Correct your visa name by contacting the Department of Home Affairs. You should be able to enter your single name(s) in the 'family name' field only, and leave the 'given name(s)' field blank.
- Update your name through the USI Registry by clicking the “Update” button to the right of the detail you wish to change
- Submit an Ask UTS enquiry to request re-verification of your USI
What do I do if I have an unverified USI?
Common reasons why your USI may not be verified
- You have a preferred name listed instead of your formal name (e.g. Alex instead of Alexandra)
- You have another given name or middle name listed on one portal and not the other, or the name appears in a different field.
- You have changed your family name due to marriage
- You have chosen a new name that reflects your identity
- You have a chosen English name that is different to your native language name. Your name should be the same in both portals and should match your identify documents, like your passport.
- There is an error in your Date of Birth
- Your name has special characters, for example O’Brien vs Obrien. The USI Registry typically supports the extended characters, but some systems do not.
- You only have one name, you will need to record your name against the student surname field in the system to avoid USI errors.
- You have minor errors in your details such as extra spaces or characters. E.g. D C Smith vs D.C Smith
UTS will contact your student email account if you have an unverified USI and will need to take the following steps.
Steps you need to take:
1. Log in to USI Registry Student Portal and navigate to the “Update Personal Details” page.
2. Log in to My Student Admin and go to the “My Details” tab.
3. Carefully crosscheck the details you have recorded against your “First Given name/Given name”, “Last/Family Name” and “Date of Birth” under both the USI registry and My Student Admin. When checking these details, you must ensure that they are an exact match (e.g. the first name you have provided with the USI registry and in My Student Admin are spelt exactly the same – including any special characters and spacing).
4. To correct your information you need to:
- Update your USI registry details by clicking the “Update” button to the right of the detail you wish to change and/or
Complete the UTS Change of Student Details application
5. Once your details are updated in the USI Registry or My Student Admin, please send a screenshot of your correct USI, Full Name and Date of Birth to Ask UTS.
6. If you believe the details are identical in the USI Registry and My Student Admin, please send screenshots from both systems showing your USI, Full name and Date of Birth to Ask UTS.
If you have not taken the above required action, UTS is required to cancel your enrolment with the following
1. Lock your Account
As we are unable to verify your USI, your UTS account will be locked, meaning that you will not be able to log in to any UTS systems (including your email, My Student admin, My Student Portal, Canvas, and any other systems)
2. Cancellation of Enrolment
If UTS is still unable to verify your USI, this will result in your enrolment being cancelled. Cancellation of enrolment means you will be withdrawn from any subjects you have enrolled for current and upcoming sessions.
3. Liability for Tuition Fees
An un-verified USI means you are not eligible to receive any Commonwealth Support at UTS. This means you will be liable to pay all tuition fees at the full fee-paying rate.
4. Withdrawal from your course
Your course status will change to "Withdrawn" and you will permanently lose access to UTS systems (except My Student Admin). If you wish to study at UTS in the future, you will need to make a new application to study via normal admissions channels and provide a verified USI at enrolment.
What if I already have a USI and I have forgotten it?
If you have undertaken any education training in Australia since 2015, you probably already have a USI. If you are unsure, or if you have forgotten, please go to the Find your USI page to check.
Can someone help me apply for a USI?
Someone can create a USI on your behalf, as long as they have your permission and meet one of the roles or relationships outlined by the Office of the Student Identifiers Registrar.
Questions?
If you have any questions please contact us at ASK UTS or visit the USI website.