Australia’s New Student Visa Rules: CoE Now Mandatory from 2025
TL;DR
From January 1, 2025, Australia’s student visa process has changed significantly. The government now mandates a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) instead of a simple Letter of Offer. This new rule means international students must first secure admission and pay a tuition deposit before applying for a visa. The change aims to ensure student commitment but may discourage applicants due to financial and administrative burdens. Additionally, Australia has introduced a cap on international student numbers, making admissions more competitive. Rising living costs further impact affordability, pushing students to consider alternative destinations like New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Learn more about the new rules, costs, and how they compare to other study destinations in this detailed report.
With effect from January 1, 2025, the Australian government will consider only those student visa applications that are accompanied by a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). Formerly, submission of a Letter of Offer was sufficient. This came just after the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Amendment Bill 2024 introduced a national cap on international student enrolments, limiting them to 270,000 students per year across higher education and vocational education sectors. For more information refer here.
A Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) is an official electronic document issued by an Australian educational institution. It confirms that a student has been accepted into a registered course, has paid the required tuition fees, it records vital information about the student, the course of study, programme duration and associated costs. The previously accepted Letter of Offer merely outlined the admission offer, tuition fees and course details; it was not a binding commitment.
The list of Australian government-approved education providers can be seen on the website of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. The visa authority of the Australian government will accept CoEs only from education providers that are registered and appear on the TEQSA list. You can see the list here. This website also has a list of education providers that are NOT approved.
If a study visa applicant submits papers that, on scrutiny, are found to be incomplete or invalid in any way (including a Confirmation of Enrollment Certificate from an unauthorized education provider) that is simply the end of the process. No “bridging visa” will be issued.
The Australian government justifies the insistence on a Confirmation of Enrollment Certificate on the grounds that it shows a student’s greater dedication to their university of choice.
Australia’s new regulations have the potential to dissuade students from studying in Australia and opt for universities in other countries where the visa process is less cumbersome and restrictive. New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia are likely to benefit from Australia’s increased stiffer requirement. This is especially true in light of the stark contrast in living costs in these countries.
Comparison of living costs for international students (figures in US$ per month) | ||||||
| Accommodation | Food & Groceries | Transportation | Utilities & Internet | Entertainment | Total | |
| Australia | $2000 – $3000 | $400 – $600 | $100 – $200 | $100 – $150 | $200 – $300 | $3500 – $5000 |
| New Zealand | $500 – $1500 | $300 – $500 | $100 – $200 | $100 – $150 | $100 – $200 | $1500 – $3500 |
| Singapore | $800 – $1000 | $300 – $500 | $100 – $150 | $100 – $150 | $100 – $200 | $1400 – $2000 |
| Malaysia | $300 – $600 | $200 – $400 | $50 – $100 | $50 – $100 | $100 – $200 | $700 – $1400 |
For more precise figures, refer to the following links
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Four main reasons explain why the requirement to submit a CoE may result in fewer Indian students choosing to study in Australia:
Financial
A CoE is issued only after a student has accepted the offer of admission and paid a tuition fee deposit. This means students need to make a financial commitment upfront, which can be a significant burden for many Indian families
Increased Costs
The new regulation coincides with other changes, such as an increase in visa fees and stricter financial requirements
- Administrative Burden
- Submitting a Letter of Offer was a relatively simple matter.
- The process of obtaining a CoE is neither smooth nor quick
- Uncertainty and Risk
Since an education provider can issue a Confirmation of Enrollment Certificate only after the student has paid the tuition, it effectively ties the student to that particular institution and closes the door on all others. If another institution to which the student has applied subsequently offers him a scholarship or other benefit, he can’t switch his enrollment to take advantage of the better deal.
Officially, Australia says that it continues to welcome international students and wants to remain a top study destination globally. The government denies any intention of trying to dissuade international students from studying in Australia.
Nevertheless, on August 27, 2024, the Australian government announced a cap on international student commencements. The cap is part of a larger programme called the National Planning Level (NPL). This cap, which took effect from January 1, 2025, limits the number of new international student commencements to 270,000 for the 2025 calendar year.
For complete details see:
- https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en_in/tools-and-resources/news/national-planning-level-2025
- https://agentcis.com/understanding-australias-national-planning-level-cap-what-the-new-student-limit-means-for-2025/
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-27/international-student-caps-higher-education/104274056
According to the National Planning Level document, the cap was set for the purpose of balancing the number of students with the capacity of educational institutions and the job market, while still maintaining high-quality education and support services for students.
Actually, international student caps are applied to various education providers based on their type and size.
Australian Education Minister Jason Claire told the media that the change would make the international student sector “better and fairer“.
For a sample of government language, it doesn’t get better than this:
The Australia government has declared that, while it is focused on sustainable growth, diversification, and alignment with national skills needs, it also holds the contributions of international students to Australian society, economy, and cultural diversity in high regard.
The Australian government’s remarks on welcoming international students and valuing their contributions are certainly heartening. The connection between policy regarding higher education for international students and policy regarding immigration is undeniable. Policies are set by governments and, in democratic countries at least, the mandate to govern is bestowed by the people, aka, the voters. Surveys of voter opinion are published frequently. For example:
“Significantly more Australians believe reducing immigration is important. This sentiment more than doubled among voters of most parties.
From 2022 to 2024, support for reduced immigration increased from 25% to 50% among Coalition voters, from 11.8% to 22.4% among Labour voters, from 5.2% to 17% among Greens voters. Support increased from 28.3% to 50.7% among voters from other parties (which include, for example, independents, One Nation and the United Australia Party).”
YUNO LEARNING’s discussions pertain strictly to higher education abroad and the requirements for travel and employment abroad as they apply to international students. While we discuss particular countries, we steer clear of political developments in those countries, even though they may have an impact on international students. About Australia, we will say no more, except to note that the Labour government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be seeking re-election to a second term on or before 17 May 2025. Opposing Labour will be the Liberal/National Coalition under Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton, minor parties such as the Greens, and independents.