About > Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Australia has a number of legal and regulatory requirements specific to overseas students. To receive a student visa, you must be enrolled in a full-time course of study.  Continued validity of that visa is dependent upon your making sufficient academic progress. 

1. Work rights:  Students studying for the Master of Entertainment Technology (MET) may only work for 10 hours a week during the semester.  There are no such hourly limits during vacations.  If you are accompanied by family members they may work up to 20 hours a week provided they have a valid visa.  As a master’s student, you can apply for permission to work for unlimited hours after your course work has begun, however given the extensive time commitment required to successfully complete the MET program, approval is unlikely.  It is important to note that employment will not be accepted as an excuse for absences nor as a reason for the non completion of assignments.
   
   Should you wish to work whilst studying, you must have a Working Visa from the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).  Additional information about employment matters can be found at: http://www.immi.gov.au/study/working/index.htm
   

2. Health cover:  See, for example, http://www.oshcworldcare.com.au.
   

   All overseas students are required to maintain health insurance.  Compulsory insurance is available via the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) plan, which assists in the payment of medical care during the duration of your stay in Australia.  OSCH pays 85% of the fee for consultations with medical practitioners, radiologists and pathologists.  Details on the OSCH plan and its requirements are available at:
   
   http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/StudyCosts/OSHC.htm
   

3. Changing or commencing a new course:

   All student visas are initially granted for a specific course of study (e.g. a Master of Entertainment Technology) with a specific educational provider (e.g. Carnegie Mellon University).  Before changing courses, qualifications levels or providers, you must seek prior approval from DIMIA.  Such approvals are rare, especially during the first 12 months of enrolment.  In such cases, you will be required to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that would justify the change.  Details on the approval process and its conditions can be found at:

   http://www.immi.gov.au/study/changing/index.htm
   

4. Education of dependents:
   
   School-aged dependants accompanying international students to Australia are required to pay full fees if enrolled in either a government or non-government school.
   
5. Overseas student entry and residency in Australia:

   All overseas students who wish to attend Carnegie Mellon in Australia must have a student visa.  To be eligible you need to be enrolled in a full-time course of study, apply for Visa Subclass 574 (Masters and Doctorate sector) and satisfy specific government requirements. In order to retain your visa you must comply with conditions relating to attendance and academic performance.

   Accurate, up-to-date information on student visas is available at the DIMIA website:
   
   http://www.immi.gov.au/study/index.htm