If you fail to meet the attendance requirements, your student visa may be cancelled, so it’s important to attend your classes.

The National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (the National Code) prescribes minimum attendance requirements for international students on student visas. 

We are obliged by law to report breaches of attendance requirements to government agencies, including Australian immigration authorities.

Satisfactory attendance

‘Satisfactory attendance’ means you are going to enough classes to comply with attendance requirements. If you are absent due to illness, you will be marked absent, even with a medical certificate.

ELICOS

You must attend at least 80 percent of contact hours in a study period, or 70 percent if you were absent for compassionate and compelling circumstances and have documentary evidence to prove this. A study period is a maximum of 10 weeks. Attendance is taken every study period.

Foundation Year

You must attend at least 80 percent of contact hours in a study period (teaching period), or 70 percent if you were absent for compelling circumstances and have documentary evidence to prove this. If you withdraw from units in your Foundation Year, these will not count towards your attendance, no matter when you withdraw.

Attendance monitoring and warnings

Attendance will be monitored regularly and you will be notified via your student email if you’re in danger of falling below the 80 percent required in a study period. At our discretion, we may also contact you by additional means such as a verbal warning, letter, telephone or SMS.

Notices of intention to report non-compliance to Australian immigration authorities

If you can no longer achieve the required attendance, we’ll send official notification of intention to report to your student email address advising you that we must inform the immigration authorities of your unsatisfactory attendance. You will be given 21 days to apply for a review of the decision in accordance with the Review and Appeals Regulations 2012.

Five consecutive days' absence

Students absent for more than five consecutive days may be contacted by email, phone, SMS or letter, and counselled. If you cannot be contacted or continue to remain disengaged from your studies, your enrollment may be cancelled and the Department of Home Affairs will be informed, which may affect your student visa.

Advice and support

If you require support related to attendance and the attendance requirements, please see the Pathways Student Support Team at Swinburne College TD Reception on Hawthorn Campus. They can be contacted on pathwayssupport@swinburne.edu.au or +61 3 9214 5671. Contact the International Student Advisory and Support team for other advice and support.