International Students Transfer Request Assessment Policy

Policy

1.  Overseas students are restricted from transferring from their principal course of study for a period of six months, except where an exception applies under 7.1 of the National Code 2018.
2.  Students can apply for a letter of release to enable them to transfer to another education provider. Students should use the Transfer Out Process and the Transfer Out Request forms to ensure they meet all the criteria for requesting a transfer and are in possession of all the documentation requested.

Transfers Out:

3.  PLC will only provide a letter of release to students in the first six months of their principal course in the following circumstances:

a) The student has changed welfare and accommodation arrangements and is no longer within a reasonable travelling time of the school.

b) It has been agreed by the school the student would be better placed in a course that is not available at PLC.

c) Any other reason stated in the policies of PLC.

4.  PLC will not provide a letter of release to students in the first six months of their principal course in the following circumstances:

a) The student’s progress is likely to be academically disadvantaged.

b) PLC is concerned that the student’s application to transfer is a consequence of the adverse influence of another party.

5.  In order to apply for a letter of release, students must have a letter from the receiving provider that a valid offer of enrolment has been made.

6.  Students under 18 years of age must also have;

a) Written confirmation that their parents or legal guardian supports the transfer.

b) Where the student is not being cared for in Australia by a parent or suitable nominated relative, the receiving provider must confirm it accepts responsibility for approving the student’s accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements in accordance with Standard 5 (Youngers overseas students).

c) Evidence that the student is always in DIAC approved welfare and accommodation arrangements.

7.  All applications for transfer will be considered within 10 working days and the applicant notified of the decision.

8.  Where students whose request for transfer has been refused, PLC will provide the student in writing the reason/s for the refusal. Where the student wants to lodge a formal complaint or appeal the decision, the student can access PLC’s comprehensive, free and easily accessible complaints handling and appeals process (details on the PLC website and in the International Student Handbook) within 20 working days. PLC will not finalise the student’s refusal status in PRISMS until the appeal finds in its favour or the overseas student has chosen not to access the complaints and appeals process within 20 working days or the overseas student withdraws from the process.

9.  If a release is granted, a letter of release will be provided at no cost.

Transfers In:

10.  PLC will consider applications from students who wish to transfer in from another education provider, provided points 1), 2) and 6) above are met.

11.  PLC will guide decision making by pointing to the range of factors that ought to be taken into account. It will also take into account the individual circumstances of the student to be considered in order to determine if the transfer will be to the detriment of the student. The range of factors may include:

a)  If the course the student wishes to transfer to:

i)  better meets the study capabilities of the student

ii)  better meets the long term goals of the student, whether these relate to future work, education or personal aspirations

b)  If the student wishes to change course in order to get access to greater support (may be through the services offered by another provider, commercial or non-for-profit services or through access to family, friends or a cultural support network)

c)  If the student claims or can provide evidence that his or her reasonable expectations about the current course are not being met.

12.  Factors that may be considered to the student’s detriment, but which should be considered in light of the student’s individual circumstances and a broader range of factors, such as those outlined above, include:

a)  If the transfer may jeopardise the student’s progression through a package of courses

b)  If the student has recently started studying the course and the full range of support services are yet to be provided or offered to the student (it is good practice to revisit the issue within a timeframe negotiated with the student); and if the student is trying to avoid being reported to DIAC for failure to meet the provider’s attendance or academic progress requirements.

13.  To facilitate a transfer between providers, PLC will issue a letter offering the student enrolment. PLC cannot formally enrol the student if they have not yet been enrolled with their principal education provider for more than six months until it has seen a letter of release from the student’s original provider (the provider the student is transferring from). PLC will keep a copy of the letter of release for compliance purposes.

Records:

14.  PLC undertakes to maintain records of all requests from overseas students for a release and the assessment of, and decision regarding, the request for at least two years after the student ceases to be enrolled at PLC.