Learn more about the types of work and internship opportunities you can get while completing your studies.
As an international student at Deakin College, you can work part-time while you are studying, but it is important to be aware of the rules on your student visa.
If you are on a student visa, you are limited to 48 hours of work per fortnight during the trimester and unlimited hours during holidays. (International students already working in the aged care sector will be exempt from the 48-hour per fortnight work limit until 31 December 2023.)
You won’t be able to work until after your course has commenced. If your employer requires confirmation of the Deakin College holiday period, you can lead them to our website or ask us for an official letter from Deakin College.
Be aware that your visa requires you to be a full-time student (studying at least 3 units per trimester) and complete your course within the duration specified in your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE).
If you have dependent family members included on your student visa, they are also eligible to work.
Make sure you are aware of all the working conditions for international students on the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website.
If you are working in Australia, you will need a Tax File Number (TFN) so that your employer can pay you and you can pay the right amount of tax. This is a number - unique to you - that stays the same even if you change your job, personal details or residency status.
When you start work, your employer will ask you to fill out a Tax File Number declaration to provide them with your TFN.
You can apply for a TFN on the Australian Taxation Office website.
International students have the same workplace rights as all other workers in Australia.
The Australian Government Department of Education has a range of videos and resources for international students about workplace rights which have been translated into different languages.
International students can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or phone 13 13 94 for help if they’re having workplace issues, without fear of their visa being cancelled.
Austrade’s Employability Hub provides international students with resources to enhance their employability and job readiness and information on their work rights.
Once you start your studies at Deakin College, you may wish to think about getting some real-world experience by working part-time, undertaking an internship or volunteering for a cause. Working or volunteering while you study is a fantastic way to expand your life skills and make new friends.
Find out more about working and studying at Deakin.
Once you are a Deakin University student, you will have access to the best university careers service in Australia (Graduate Recruiters Industry Association in 2017 and 2018), DeakinTalent.
Deakin Talent provides an online jobs database and other online careers tools and resources to increase your chances of finding part-time work while you study.
If you’re enrolled to study at Deakin College, you will most likely be regarded as an Australian resident for tax purposes. This means:
It is important that you provide your employer with your Tax File Number and that you receive payslips detailing the amount you have earned and the tax you have paid.
The Australian Government’s Education Services for Overseas Students Act, or ESOS Act, provides consumer protection for international students on a student visa, aims to enhance the quality of the student experience and protects the student visa program.
Find out more about your rights and responsibilities as an international student under the ESOS Act.