If you’re an international student on a student visa, you must maintain a full-time (usually 24 credit points) study load per half-year and complete your degree by the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) end date. If you wish to take less than a full-time study load in any half-year, you must make sure to complete your degree by your CoE end date or apply for permission to reduce your study load.

Am I exempt from applying for a reduced study load?

You do not need to apply for permission to reduce your study load if any of the following apply:

  • You are in your final session of study and are enrolled in all subjects required to complete your course;
  • You have been granted a non-student temporary visa and have notified the UTS Student Centre or
  • You are enrolled in a course which requires you to enrol in less than 24 credit points in the relevant half-year. Refer to the UTS handbook for information about your course program.

The first half-year includes all sessions that commence between January and June, while the second half-year includes all sessions that commence between July and December. For example, if you enrol in 18 credit points in the Autumn session and 6 credit points in the January session of the same year, you do not need to apply for permission to reduce your study load for the first half-year.

Why do I need to apply for permission to reduce my study load?

To meet your student visa requirements, you need to be enrolled in a 100 per cent study load per half-year which is usually 24 credit points. Therefore, you need to have formal approval to reduce your study load in any half-year unless you qualify for an exemption.  

What happens if I do not apply for a reduced study load?

If you enrol in less than 24 credit points in any half-year without formal approval or an exemption, the university may not be able to issue a new CoE to extend your student visa to complete your course. 

Reasons for applying and supporting documentation required


How do I apply for a reduced study load?

Application period

Applications for the first half of 2027 can be submitted from Tuesday 8 December 2026 to Monday 22 February 2027.

Applications submitted outside this period will not be accepted.

 

Apply to reduce study load (PDF, 2.9MB)

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