Student Visa Reforms - FAQ
On 2 October 2026, several reforms were announced by the Government that impact our international student cohort.
This FAQ is to address the questions we're receiving from our current students, noting that Kaplan Business School is legally unable to provide advice regarding visa matters. Students should seek guidance from the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
We appreciate that this is an extremely stressful and uncertain time for many of our students. Please know that we understand the concerns these changes may raise, and we are committed to supporting you as best we can.
If the FAQs do not answer your question, please contact your local Student Experience team with your specific enquiry. These FAQs are accurate as of Friday 9 October.
Changes to Student visa application rules
Q: My KBS course is due to finish before my current Student visa expires. Am I impacted by these changes?
A: No, the new rules do not affect any student’s current visa. However, if you need to extend your visa in future, you may potentially be impacted by these reforms.
Q: If my student visa expires during Trimester 3, will I have to leave Australia to apply for an extension?
A: According to the latest information available found on the Home Affairs website, the answer depends on whether an exemption applies to your circumstances.
If KBS is not the education provider your visa was granted for, yes, you will need to leave Australia to apply for an extension. We are actively reviewing the small number of students who are impacted in Trimester 3.
Q: If I leave Australia to apply for a visa extension, can I continue to study in Trimester 3, or do I have to apply for a Suspension of Studies?
A: If you wish to continue to study in Trimester 3, we will explore options for students to study online where possible. Options such as Reduced Study Load and Suspension of Studies remain available to students.
We're currently reviewing the Trimester 3 timetable and subject offerings, with the aim of assisting as many students as possible who are impacted by these changes.
Q: If my visa isn't approved in time for Trimester 1 while I am outside of Australia, what will happen with my enrolment?
A: For these situations, we will need to assess each student’s situation on a case-by-case basis before providing advice on enrolment in a future study period. Where possible, we will aim to provide our students with options and flexibility to enable they are still able to study with us. Our ability to do so will be dependent on several factors, which would be part of assessing each case separately.
Q: My visa expires in mid-March or during Trimester 1. Can I overload in Trimester 3 to finish my studies earlier?
A: Overloading is heavily dependent on a student's academic capabilities. Each request for overloading is reviewed by the Registrar and decisions are based on several factors, including prior academic performance, evidence of compassionate and compelling grounds, and the risks of overloading to the student. With these recent changes, we'll review overload requests in the context of this delicate situation, but these principles will still apply.
Extension of the overseas student transfer restriction period to 12 months
Q: I am thinking about transferring to another institution before the start of Trimester 3, and I have received a Letter of Offer, but I am still within the new 12-month transfer restriction period with KBS. Can I still withdraw and transfer to another provider before the start of Trimester 3?
A: If you have not received a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from another institution prior to October 2, you will be unable to transfer. From October 2, you must have studied in your principal course at KBS for 12 months before you are able to transfer to another provider. We have recently updated our International Student Transfer Policy to reflect recent changes announced by the Government.
Other questions
Q: If I am submitting a request on Kaplink, such as for course extension, withdrawal or overloading, because of changes to the visa conditions, what should I include in my request?
A: Provide a detailed reason for your request and any relevant supporting documents. If you think your request may affect your student visa, include any relevant visa information or advice you have received from the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
Q: My visa expires before the Trimester 2 2026 results release date. What documentation can I get prior to this date?
A: A pre-conferral completion letter confirming your course completion date can only be issued after your final results have been released. For Trimester 2 2026, final results will be released on 31 October 2026.
Before results release, you can obtain an Expected Completion Letter, which confirms your expected end date. Where appropriate, this letter can also be updated to confirm that you have completed all required assessments and to include the scheduled results release and conferral dates.
The Expected Completion Letter does not confirm that you have successfully completed your course, as this can only be confirmed once your final results have been released.
If you require documentation for a visa application, you should check the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or seek advice from a registered migration agent to confirm whether the available documentation will meet your circumstances.
Q: This is an extremely stressful situation. What is KBS doing to support me during this period?
A: Following the announcement, we've been working to explore options and flexibility within these new rules. We're reviewing our subject offerings, exploring more online classes and working closely with the regulatory bodies to provide advice and clarity for many of our students. Our Student Counsellors are available to book an appointment with, even during the trimester break.