What are the benefits of term-based enrolment?
Term-based enrolment provides commencing students with the utmost flexibility. This means no matter when borders reopen, you are in the best position to not delay your studies.
Can I transition to on-campus study in the middle of the semester?
Once you have enrolled in a semester, you should complete it online, even if travel restrictions are lifted and on-campus teaching becomes available. For example, if you begin Semester 1 online, you’ll continue online and then enrol in Semester 2 face-to-face.
What if I am onshore in Australia but live in another state?
La Trobe University is following the advice given by Federal and State Governments. If you are living in Australia but in another state and have plans to relocate to Victoria, you should follow advice enforced by State Governments.
Please follow the advice on the Victorian Government Coronavirus website. Additional information is also available on the Department of Health and Human Services website. The information available on these websites are accurate and up to date.
What if I applied to study at La Trobe before COVID-19?
Our International Admissions Team will be issuing revised Offer Letters for all current applications where applicable. If you’re eligible for our new scholarship schemes, you’ll receive this information in the revised offer letter.
Can I still apply for advanced standing?
Credit will be granted on a case-by-case basis as per our usual process. However, as there are limited first year subjects available each term, you are encouraged to review your options carefully.
How many subjects can I take per semester?
Commencing students can enrol in four subjects in each semester.
When are scholarships applied?
From Semester 2 2020 onwards, including for our Term intakes, La Trobe tuition fee scholarships will be applied as a deduction to the tuition fee deposit. Your Offer Letter will show the full tuition fee deposit, the amount of the scholarship (if eligible), and the resulting reduced tuition fee deposit you need to provide to accept your offer. One exemption to this is the Early Bird Acceptance Grant.
When is the Early Bird Acceptance Grant applied?
When you accept your offer prior to the early acceptance deadline noted for your specific intake, the Early Bird Acceptance Grant amount will be credited towards your second semester tuition fees.
How can I get connected with a current student?
We are glad to let you know that our international student ambassadors are online to answer your questions and share their study experiences at La Trobe University.
To connect with our student ambassador community, please click here.
When will I choose which campus I want to study at?
You will select your preferred face-to-face campus at the time of application. This is the campus you will study at when you transition to on-campus study.
Post-study work rights
The Australian Government has a range of visa measures to support international students. For the latest information, please check the Department of Home Affairs website.
The Australian Government announced a number of changes to student visa arrangements – including the recognition of online study for Temporary Graduate visa applications (post study work rights).
Free Visa Extensions – international students will be able to lodge a further student visa application free of charge, if they are unable to complete their studies within their original visa validity due to COVID-19.
Post Study Work Rights – existing and new student visa holders studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19 will be able to use that study to count towards the Australian study requirement for a Temporary Graduate visa. Furthermore, graduates who held a student visa will be eligible to apply for a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia if they are unable to return due to COVID-19.
Visa Applications – the Government will recommence granting student visas in all locations lodged outside Australia. This means when borders re-open, students will already have visas and be able to make arrangements to travel.
English language tests – Additional time will be given for applicants to provide English language results where COVID-19 has disrupted access to these services
For more information on the policy, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Please note: In some cases, a visa extension may be required. La Trobe University will provide advice to you on the process of extending your visa if this applies to you.
When will Australian borders open for international students and when can I come to the campus?
If you are waiting to travel to Australia to commence your studies on-campus, please note that the Australian Government and the Victorian State Government Plan to bring international students back is still under discussion with more details to be formalised. We continue to follow the advice of the Victorian and Australian Governments regarding travel restrictions into Australia.
We hope international students consider getting fully vaccinated with the vaccines approved by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA): Coronavac (Sinovac) and Covishield (AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India) in addition to Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna). These vaccines will be considered as ‘recognised vaccines’ for incoming international travellers.
We recommend you continue to monitor the Department of Home Affairs website for further Government advice.
Other useful resources for you to check updates:
Victorian Government's Study Melbourne FAQs
La Trobe University international FAQs
Classes continue to be delivered online to support learning for students who are unable to travel to Australia. Many students across different time zones have joined us online and will continue their studies on campus when borders re-open. We offer a comprehensive range of support services to all our students while they continue to study online and will support them through the process of returning to campus when that happens.
For more information on how online study works, please refer to our online study page.
We will contact you as soon as we know more about the possibility of travel to Australia to commence your studies on-campus.
If the Australian border opens in time for Semester 1 2022, will I have to follow a quarantine procedure? If so, what process and costs are involved?
For the latest information on travelling to Australia, borders re-opening, quarantine and vaccines, visit the Federal Government’s Department of Health.
The Victorian Government has put forward a proposal to the Federal Government that aims to allow a small number of international students and other groups to enter Victoria. We will update you if the plan is approved.
I am not in Australia. Does it mean that online study is the only option for me?
Classes continue to be delivered online to support learning for students who are unable to travel to Australia.
International students have been studying with us online across different time zones since 2020. Online recordings are made available wherever possible to accommodate students who might not be able to attend the live sessions due to time zone differences. Students can book one-on-one sessions with the Subject Coordinators if they need any guidance or support during the study.
For more information on how online study will look, please refer to our online study page. Please be assured that you are not by yourself. We have a large community of international students who are studying online with us from their home country due to the current travel restrictions.
Can I apply for a Leave of Absence from my studies?
If you're experiencing significant difficulties in your personal or academic life (this could be financial, emotional, medical, employment or study related), you can apply for a Leave of Absence for up to 12 months (depending on the circumstances).
My international student visa has been approved but I don’t want to study online. How many times can I defer my offer?
You can defer your course for up to two semesters or one year, but deferring your course may affect your eligibility to travel. For more information on visas, please visit the Department of Home Affairs.
What English language admissions policies have changed in response to COVID-19?
We’ve updated some of our English language policies and processes to respond to COVID-19. Please note that these changes only apply to La Trobe University’s English language admission criteria for our courses. You will be required to check and abide by the English requirement for your student Visa as advised by the Department of Home affairs.
Updated tests:
TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
IELTS
Duolingo.
For more information on the English language, admission
Can I apply directly, or do I need to apply through an agent?
La Trobe University may require students from certain regions to apply through an authorised agent. If you are unsure whether this is required for you, please check with the Recruitment & International Operations team via email: LTUglobal@latrobe.edu.au. Please kindly specify your country of citizenship and country of residence when you enquire.
If you are unable to find any agents in the drop-down list of your home country, you may try contacting agents in neighbouring countries. Many of our agents offer virtual consultations and they can communicate with you via emails or videos calls if required.
How do I submit my application?
For direct applicants, the preferred way to apply with La Trobe is through our online international application portal. In the online application form, please fill in as much detailed information as possible regarding your prior study and English proficiency.For single unit or cross-institutional applicants, please contact the Recruitment & International Operations team via email: LTUglobal@latrobe.edu.au.
There is no application fee when you apply directly through La Trobe. However, if you are from a region where application is required via an authorised agent, the agent may charge a service fee to assist you with the course and student visa applications.
What if I have a technical issue with the online application?
If you are experiencing any technical issues during the online application process, please first check if all “incomplete mandatory fields” have been filled out.
Please check every single field, especially the “yes/ no” questions and the drop-down fields in the English proficiency, educational background and qualification (secondary and tertiary qualifications), and passport and visa information sections. The error most likely lies within one of these sections.
If the issue persists, please contact the Studylink IT Support team directly via email: support@studylink.com (Please include your full name and Application ID in the email subject). You are also highly recommended to include a screenshot of the error message when you enquire.
What documents do I need to include in the application?
In general, the following documents (PDF or JPEG) will be required to support your application:
- Copy of passport
- Current visa (if applicable)
- Academic qualifications including completion certificate and academic transcripts (in English)
- Evidence of your English language proficiency
- Any other information specified in the entry requirements for your course (please see course page for a list of supplementary forms as required per course)
- Course syllabus for completed subjects if you are applying for Advanced Standing (credits)
Please note: all supporting documents where a copy is made must be certified.
A certified copy is a copy of a document that has been confirmed by an approved/authorised person as an authentic copy of the original. Our International Admissions team will require you to provide certified academic documents before the offer acceptance can be finalised. If you submit a translated document, you must also provide a certified copy of the original with a certified translation.
Scanned documents must be clear, easy to read and in full colour.
See examples of acceptable and unacceptable documentation.
La Trobe University will accept copies certified by one of the following:
Is there an application deadline?
La Trobe University assesses applications on a rolling basis which means you can apply for the next upcoming intake or available future intakes.
Please refer to the application deadlines for international students. Please note the dates provided are the latest dates to submit your application. To allow yourself sufficient time to accept your offer and to apply for a student visa, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as you are ready to do so.
Postgraduate courses in Allied Health normally follow a different application selection process, with applications closing on 30th September for the following year intake.
How can I apply for advanced standing/credits?
Detailed course syllabus/ course outlines will be required if you wish to apply for credits based on your previous study. Course syllabus/outlines must include course content, assessment mode, contact hours, prescribed texts, etc.
If you are a direct applicant, please tick “YES” for the “Advanced Standing” section of your online application and provide the course syllabus (preferably in the pdf form).
If you are applying through an agent, your agent will assist you with applying for credits.
The previous study must be completed within the last eight years, in order to meet the current requirements. For some courses, this period is shorter (for example, in professional areas where there are often changes to practice requirements).
You can do a credit search based on institution and previous study. Any credit assessment outside the articulation agreement will be assessed on an individual basis. This can only be determined once your application is assessed by the appropriate academic faculty.
I am an international student studying the Australian secondary curriculum (VCE or others) and currently in Year 12. Can I apply to La Trobe University directly?
Onshore international Year 12 and international students studying VCE offshore will have to apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).
Semester 1 application is normally open via VTAC from early August every year. Please keep an eye on the VTAC website for the key dates (once published).
I have completed a Bachelors degree and want to study an Honours year. How can I apply?
You will first need to check if there is a stand-alone Honours program (1 year full-time) in your field of study. Please refer to our Course Finder. If unsure, please contact the Recruitment & International Operations team via email: LTUglobal@latrobe.edu.au and we will confirm for you.
For the Honours application to be assessed, it is important that applicants have a written supervision approval from their Course Coordinators.
Does La Trobe University accept under 18 students?
If you are under 18 at the time of your course commencement, you will need to provide evidence of having an approved legal guardian in Australia. Our International Admissions team will require you to fill out the 157N form.
A suitable relative is defined by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) as, a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew, or a step-grandparent, step-brother, step-sister, step-aunt, step-uncle, step-niece or step-nephew. A suitable nominated relative must be over 21 years of age and of good character.
If you don’t have an approved legal guardian in Australia, your alternate options are:
- Apply for a later intake when you are above 18 by the course commencement date
- Or, apply for a packaged course with our partner – La Trobe College Australia (LTCA), which has homestay & guardian arrangements for under 18 students
What are the academic entry requirements?
Academic entry requirement varies from course to course. Please first find the course that you are interested in via our Course Finder.
Undergraduate courses - Most of the common international secondary qualifications and required scores are listed under the 'Entry requirements' section of our course pages. Please select your respective country and qualification in the drop-down list. Apart from meeting the required entry score based on your secondary qualification, please also take note of the subject pre-requisites.
If your country and qualification are not on the drop-down list, our International Admissions team can still assess your application. To find out your eligibility, please submit a fully documented application so that our Admissions can assess your case properly.
If you don’t meet the academic requirements for the undergraduate course that you wish to study, you may be eligible to undertake a pathway program leading to the degree. Find out more about Foundation and Diploma programs with our pathway program provider La Trobe College Australia (LTCA). All on-campus pathway programs are packaged with a La Trobe University degree, so students will have one offer letter and one student visa for the duration of their studies.
Postgraduate courses - Most of our postgraduate courses require students to complete an Australian Bachelors degree or international equivalent. Some courses have compulsory work experience requirements, while a few limited others can be assessed based on substantial professional work experience. Therefore, please refer to the specific course page for relevant information.
If you don’t meet the academic requirements for the postgraduate course that you wish to study, Postgraduate Enabling Program (PEP) is offered by our partner La Trobe College Australia (LTCA). It provides a pathway into a range of La Trobe Masters courses in Business and IT, for students who may not have the academic and/or English requirements to gain direct entry.
La Trobe College Australia (LTCA)can be contacted at study@latrobemelbourne.edu.au or +61 (0)3 9479 2417.
What is the English language requirement?
English language requirement varies from course to course. Please first find the course that you are interested in via our Course Finder.
We have minimum language requirements for undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate research study at La Trobe. However, some La Trobe courses need a higher level of English language proficiency than these minimum scores.
- Minimum English language requirement for undergraduate courses: Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0 or equivalent score of other approved tests
- Minimum English language requirement for postgraduate courses: Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 or equivalent score of other approved tests
For more information, please refer to our Language requirements page.
It is important to know that not all of the approved English language tests can be accepted for our courses with higher English requirements (i.e. IELTS 7.0/ 7.0 or higher). If you are unsure whether you will have to take IELTS (Academic) for your course, please check with the Recruitment & International Operations team via email: LTUglobal@latrobe.edu.au
What is the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement?
The genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement is an integrity measure to ensure that the student visa programme is used as intended and not as a way for international students to maintain ongoing residency in Australia. All students applying for an Australian student visa must meet the Australian Government’s Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirements.
Who needs to complete a La Trobe University GTE assessment?
International students applying to study at La Trobe University may also need to complete an additional GTE assessment as part of the La Trobe University application process. If you need to complete this assessment as part of your admission process, our team will include the “GTE and Financial check” condition on your offer letter and provide instructions on the requirements and the forms that must be filled and returned.
You won’t be able to accept your offer to study at La Trobe until the GTE and financial assessment is completed, and we remove the conditions from your offer letter.
My offer letter is conditional on meeting the GTE requirement, what do I need to do?
La Trobe’s assessment is divided into two steps. Please note you might undergo both assessments or only one, depending on your circumstances.
Students are required to upload supporting documentation to back their claims via the admissions portal. You can find more information on the Home Affairs website, under Step 2 Gather your documents.
Step 1 - Financial assessment - In this step, we assess the student’s financial readiness as outlined in the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF).
You are required to provide:
- a completed GTE Assessment Form – You will receive the link
- a completed Financial Declaration Form – You will receive the link
- evidence of your financial capacity
Step 2 - Candidate interview - Once the financial check has been completed, our admissions team may contact you to set up an interview with one of our staff.
What is acceptable evidence of your financial capacity?
If required, you must demonstrate you have access to funds to cover travel expenses, the first 12 months of living and tuition costs for yourself and for your dependents. There are a few options to prove you have enough money for your stay.
Filling an electronic Financial Declaration form is mandatory along with your financial documents.
You can find more information on the required documentation on the Home Affairs website under Step 2 Gather your documents > Evidence you have enough money for your stay.
Who can provide support if I have any questions about the GTE/financial requirements?
If you wish to discuss your circumstances or have any questions about the requirements you can contact us at LTUglobal@latrobe.edu.au and provide your full name and La Trobe student ID or application number.
