ANU will admit international students under the age of 18 where acceptable living arrangements have been made as outlined below. These arrangements must be finalised before visa application documentation can be issued.
These stipulations are informed by Part D Standard 5 of the National Code, which requires that:
- students aged under 18 must have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements in place prior to applying for a student visa
- the arrangements must be approved by the University
- the arrangements must remain in place for the duration of the period of enrolment plus seven days or until the student turns 18.
Acceptable living arrangements
Scenario one
The student will live with a parent or eligible relative who is over the age of 21 and of good character.
This arrangement must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs, and will not require a confirmation of appropriate accommodation and welfare (CAAW) letter from ANU.
Further information on student guardian visas can be found on the Department website.
Scenario two
This scenario is possible only if the student turns 18 prior to the census date of their commencing semester.
The student lives in one of the approved University student residences on-campus. The following residences are approved for this purpose.
- Bruce Hall
- Burton & Garran Hall
- Fenner Hall
- Toad Hall
- Ursula Hall
- Wamburun Hall
- Wright Hall
- Davey Lodge
- Kinloch Lodge
- Warrumbul Lodge
- Lena Karmel Lodge
This option will require ANU to provide a CAAW letter to the Department of Home Affairs as part of your visa application (see details below).
Further information on the residences and the application process can be found in the Accommodation section of this site.
Scenario three
This scenario is possible only if the student turns 18 prior to the census date of their commencing semester.
The student organises accommodation with the Australian Homestay Network and guardianship arrangements with either Professional Student Care Australia or the International Student Alliance Student Care & Welfare Services. The student is responsible for any fees and costs associated with these arrangements.
This option will require ANU to provide a CAAW letter to the Department of Home Affairs as part of your visa application (see details below).
Further information can be found on the relevant websites.
Confirmation of appropriate accommodation and welfare letter (CAAW)
By issuing a CAAW ANU accepts responsibility for the accommodation, support and welfare of international students commencing their degree programs. A CAAW will only be issued if you meet the following conditions:
- You will be 18 years of age by census day of the commencing semester.
- You accept your academic offer and meet all conditions by 10 January if commencing in Semester 1 (February) or 20 June if commencing in Semester 2 (July)
- Your parent/guardian has agreed in writing to accept responsibility for your welfare by completing and signing the ANU international student under 18 agreement.
- You continue living in the approved accommodation until you are 18 years of age and not change that accommodation unless written agreement is obtained from your parent/guardian and the Registrar.
- You complete the online transition module, ANU1001, and the WATTLE module, Consent Matters. Attendance at Orientation is strongly recommended.
- You make contact with the Access and Inclusion Office (Access and Inclusion) as requested.
- You at all times act responsibly, including being aware of your responsibilities under Australian law, and not participate in illicit activities or take part in risk-taking behaviour.
- If you are living at an ANU student residence, you attend regular schedule meetings with the relevant staff member within the residential hall/college until your 18th birthday.
- You obey a curfew of 10pm and do not stay away overnight from the approved accommodation address, including travel outside Canberra for the purpose of returning home or tourism, without written approval from the student's parent/ legal guardian and without first notifying the Registrar, Student Administration & Academic Services.
- You act responsibly including being aware of their responsibilities under Australian Law by not participating in illicit activities, and not partake in risk-taking behaviour. The University reserves the right to rescind the welfare arrangements of any student found to have breached these conditions.
The University will nominate the start and end dates of responsibility for welfare on the CAAW letter. The start date will be the Saturday prior to Orientation week, and the end date will be the duration of the period of enrolment plus seven days, or the student's 18th birthday.
The Registrar has the sole discretion in accepting the welfare arrangements for students under the age of 18. The decision of the Registrar is final and in some cases will be dealt with on a case by case basis. ANU reserves the right to rescind the welfare arrangements of any student found to have breached these conditions.
How to apply
Complete the International Student Under 18 Agreement (PDF, 138.34 KB)
For semester 2, 2021 the student and their parent/guardian will be required to complete the form and return it by 15 February 2021 for Round 2 or 30 April 2021 for Round 3 to be considered for an offer.
The parent/guardian will nominate on this form whether the student will be residing in an approved ANU student residence or the student will be residing with the parent/guardian.
On receipt of the completed agreement we will record in the student system the parent/guardian's name, home address, email address and contact phone number.
Where the student will be residing with a parent/guardian (ie. circumstance one above), we will proceed with finalising the student's acceptance into the program.
Where the student will be residing in approved ANU student residence (ie. circumstance two above) or the Australian Homestay Network (ie. circumstance three above), the request will be considered by the Registrar.
If approved, we will issue a CAAW letter with the confirmation of enrolment.
Reference documents
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