Changing your residency status

International student becoming a permanent resident

If you are an international student and are granted permanent resident status in Australia at the start of or during your time studying at Western Sydney University, you can be considered an Australian (domestic) student and your fees will change.

If you have become a permanent resident you will need to:

  • download and submit your VEVO letter to Student Central or send via email to enrolments@westernsydney.edu.au OR
  • submit your passport and visa to Student Central or send a certified copy via mail to:
    Enrolments
    Western Sydney University
    Locked Bag 1797
    Penrith NSW 2751
  • complete a Commonwealth Assistance form (eCAF) online through MySR before the following census date, after you receive email instructions from Enrolments
  • pay in full any fees that apply to your new status, by the relevant census date

Please note: Your permanent resident status is recognised from the date stamped on your passport or the Visa grant date on your letter, not the date you applied for permanent resident status. For fee purposes, you are recognised as a domestic student from the date you provide evidence of your residency status to the University.

As a permanent resident you will need to pay student contributions that apply to Commonwealth Supported students or Australian (domestic) student tuition fees, depending on the course you are studying. See the Commonwealth Supported students pages for more information. Other compulsory fees such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee also apply.

Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery students: Commonwealth supported places are limited and are fully allocated for each year cohort. This means that if you gain Permanent Residency you will be charged the current Fee Paying Domestic rate for local students, not the Commonwealth Supported rate.

We will apply the change to your fees from the next census date after you provide the University with proof of your permanent residency. If you are sending proof via mail, we need to be receive your documents before 5pm on the census date of your current teaching term. Please note, if this census date falls on a weekend, we need to receive your documents before 5pm on the Friday before the census date. If you do not provide your proof of permanent residency by the census date of your current teaching term, our records will still record you as an International Student for that term and no changes will be applied to your fees.

Permanent residents becoming citizens

If you are a permanent resident and you are granted Australian citizenship at the start of or during your time studying at Western Sydney University, you may be eligible for commonwealth support, which will change your fee options.

If you have become an Australian citizen you will need to:

  • produce your original Australian Citizenship Certificate at Student Central, email a certified copy to enrolments@westernsydney.edu.au or send a certified copy via mail to:
    Enrolments
    Western Sydney University
    Locked Bag 1797
    Penrith NSW 2751
  • complete a Commonwealth Assistance form (eCAF) online through MySR before the following census date, after you have been emailed to say your status has been changed
  • pay in full any fees that apply to your new status (if you have nominated upfront payment and have not provided us with your Tax File Number) by the relevant census date

Please note that for fee purposes, you are recognised as an Australian citizen from the date you provide evidence of your citizenship status to the University, not the date of the certificate.

As an Australian citizen you will need to pay Student Contributions that apply to Commonwealth Supported students or Australian (domestic) student tuition fees, depending on the course you are studying. In either case, you can either pay upfront or defer your fees. See the Commonwealth Supported students pages for more information. Other compulsory fees such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee also apply.

Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery students: Commonwealth supported places are limited and are fully allocated for each year cohort. This means that if you gain Permanent Residency you will be charged the current Fee Paying Domestic rate for local students, not the Commonwealth Supported rate.

We will apply the change to your fees from the next census date after you provide the University with proof of your citizenship. If you are sending proof via mail, we need to receive your documents before 5pm on the census date of your current teaching term. Please note, if this census date falls on a weekend, we will need to receive your documents before 5pm on the Friday before the census date. If you do not provide your proof of citizenship by the census date of your current teaching term, our records will still record you as a permanent resident for that term and will still have to pay your Student Contributions or fees upfront.