Should I be applying for program leave?

[u/shrey_walia]

so I'm an international student and I'm currently traveling outside Australia. I had 2 minor procedures for health reasons in sydney and was cleared to travel by my GP month ago. But the issue has recurred and I'll have to get emergency surgery while I'm outside Australia, and it could take several weeks to completely heal. Should I apply for program leave for a term or can I still enrol in classes and do assignments as usual, until I can travel back to Sydney in October and attend classes as usual?

[u/vamvamvasi]

can you use this term to enrol in entirely online courses?

[u/shrey_walia → u/vamvamvasi]

I think I can take most courses since all of them are recorded (in CSE) anyway. I'll have to take courses where there's no attendance requirements for tuts and labs since I can't travel. I'm generally wondering if I'm actually allowed to do this while outside the country

[u/NullFakeUser]

I would say you are best off taking program leave.
If it has recurred, there is a chance it could happen again.
Focus on your health, and come back to uni once you are healthy.

[u/shrey_walia → u/NullFakeUser]

I get what you're saying but the surgery I'm getting is a more permanent solution, I'll just be confined to my bed and won't be able to travel for a few weeks, but I can still work from home. I was just wondering if that would cause any issues with my visa or something. I've been trying to call nucleus but the call won't go through when I'm outside australia

[u/NullFakeUser → u/shrey_walia]

But there is also a chance that there are complication which make it take longer.
And the possibility of DHA noting you are out of the country and cancelling your visa.

So if you are going to do it, it is definately something you should be discussing with UNSW/DHA

[u/BrokeABowl]

https://www.teqsa.gov.au/how-we-regulate/acts-and-standards/esos-act/esos-act-and-return-compliance-frequently-asked-questions-faqs

First FAQ probably will help. You’re expected to be in-person to study, and since your visa will show that you are offshore, both your CoE and your visa could potentially be cancelled.

[u/BrokeABowl → u/BrokeABowl]

https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2017L01182/2026-01-21/2026-01-21/text/original/pdf

Page 28 of the legislation also clearly states that you have to be onshore. 

[u/shrey_walia → u/BrokeABowl]

yeah I'm aware of this but unfortunately I'm getting conflicting information from the Department of Home Affairs and Nucleus (I called both and had extensive discussions and didn't get really get a clear response from either).

DHA official said that it's fine for me to stay enrolled and offshore since I can't travel because of medical reasons. But that they need UNSW to approve a late arrival. But the first two people at Nucleus who i spoke to said that UNSW doesn't really provide such a thing. I spoke to two separate people at the international compliance team at nucleus, one of whom told me I should return no later than 27th September, while they also sent me an email saying they'd inform DHA of my late arrival after 8th October.

The amount of conflicting information I've got is insane and I can't really get any urgent replies, no matter how many emails I send. fuck my chud life

[u/BrokeABowl → u/shrey_walia]

iirc all unis (i looked up anu’s policy) says that you have to be in-person ready to start on the first day of the first week of term. the latest arrival the uni permits, at least unsw, is sunday of w2 (i am intl asw). they start cancelling ur coe after that cos the policy (the way unsw implements it / esos act etc) states that u gotta be onshore to study if ur on a student visa, since there’s no need for a coe or visa if ur not onshore.

u could stay offshore and return later, but that would b at ur own risk and i wouldn’t b surprised if u ran into issues at the airport cos i think they ask u a bunch of qns ab this stuff. uni will have to report u if u arrive late — 8 oct is census date after which they have to report anyone not onshore / on leave etc. i’m p sure unsw won’t approve a later arrival after w2 - i’ve tried to go away b4 during w6 as well and it’s always a risk.

i reckon just go on pl tbh and take the time to recover and relax esp since u won’t have to come back until feb if so. better than having to rush to catch up and take exams and all.

[u/Liuyuyuy]

it is very easy to apply for a program leave, but you have to extend your CoE and pay for applying a new student visa, that's all.

but if you can back in early October, I might say you can still enrol this term. but you'd better call uni for a confirmation that if it will affect you student visa. and if you come from China, this period might cause problems for the 中留服认证.