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Higher Degree Research (HDR) Students - Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) FAQ's

What is a CoE?

A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) provides evidence of a student’s enrolment with the University of Wollongong. This evidence is required before the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will issue a student visa. The CoE contains information about the Provider, course and duration of study in which the student has enrolled. By the University issuing a CoE we are verifying that the University has accepted the student. It is an offence under section 19 of the ESOS Act to provide false or misleading information about accepted students, therefore the information provided on an CoE must be true and correct at the time of issuing.

All international students must have a CoE for each course they apply for. An extension CoE can only be issued if you can demonstrate that you have been unable to submit your thesis on time or an approved leave of absence.

Why Do I Need a New Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)?

Any time that there is a change in your course duration, you will need a CoE that reflects the change. This means that during your study at the University of Wollongong, you may have multiple CoE's. You should always keep the latest COE. Please find below all the reasons that you will need a new CoE:

• You are unable to submit your thesis on time. You will need to consult your supervisor and complete the Academic Advice form which you can download from your SOLS account.
• Leave of Absence
  If you wish to take a break from your studies and have an approved Leave of Absence, it will lengthen the time that you need to complete your degree. DIAC will be informed of the break in your study and you will be automatically issued with a new CoE for the appropriate timeframe.

How do I apply for a new CoE?

You only need to apply for a new CoE if your student visa is about to expire, you still have to submit your thesis and the University has not issued you with a new CoE.  To obtain a new CoE, students must apply online via SOLS. You should be enrolled in the current session before applying for a CoE.

Student visa applications can take some time so it is best to apply for a new CoE at least one (1) – two (2) months before your student visa expires.

If you wish for your new CoE to reflect payment of fees for the current or upcoming session, or renewal of your overseas student health cover (OSHC), please make your payments before applying for a new CoE.

How to Apply for a CoE via SOLS?

• Log into SOLS Click on “Student Forms”
• Then select HDR - Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from drop down box and click “continue”
• Download the 'Academic Advice Form'. Consult supervisor.
• You will then need to fill in the following compulsory information:
  • Visa Expiry Date
  • Which country will you process the Student Visa in?
  • Passport Number
  • Expected Course Completion Date
  • Reasons for extending your course duration

You must submit a completed Academic Advice form to Student Central in Building 17 with 7 days. When the COE has been processed it will be emailed to the your University email address. It cannot be emailed to any other account. If there is a problem regarding the COE application you will be contacted by the COE officer directly via SOLSMail.

What happens to my visa once I submit my Thesis?

Once you submit your thesis, you will receive a Thesis Submission letter from the Research Student Centre. You must take this to DIAC and apply for a Thesis Marking Visa which will enable you to stay in Australia for 6 months whilst your thesis is being marked. 

If you have any further questions regarding your student visa, you may need to contact DIAC directly.

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