
International students seeking to study in Australia need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) to access Commonwealth financial assistance and receive their award. The USI is a free, lifelong, individual education number that acts as an online record of VET training undertaken in Australia. International students can only create a USI once they have arrived in Australia and must use their non-Australian passport and Australian visa as forms of ID. International students who have completed their studies outside of Australia do not need a USI.
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What You'll Learn
- International students need a USI if they are in Australia
- International students must use their non-Australian passport and Australian visa to create a USI
- International students don't need a USI if they completed their studies outside of Australia
- A USI is required for Commonwealth financial assistance
- International students need a USI to receive their award

International students need a USI if they are in Australia
International students need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) if they are in Australia. A USI is a student's individual education identifier issued by the Australian Government and is free to create. It is required for international students who are accessing Commonwealth financial assistance or receiving their award in Australia. International students must be in Australia to create a USI and will need their non-Australian passport and Australian visa as forms of ID.
International students who have completed all their studies outside of Australia do not need a USI. Additionally, international students who commenced their studies before 1 January 2023 and are not in Australia to receive their award also do not require a USI. For those who are in Australia, it is important to have a USI to avoid enrolment issues, access training records, and graduate without delays.
The USI is a student's individual education number for life and provides an online record of VET training undertaken in Australia. It is important to note that a USI is not always a mandatory requirement at enrolment for international students, but it may impact their ability to access certain benefits or services during their studies.
To create a USI, international students can use their non-Australian passport and Australian visa as forms of ID. It is recommended that students use the same identification document for their USI, Tax File Number (TFN), and myGov account. Students should ensure that their name matches their USI to avoid any issues.
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International students must use their non-Australian passport and Australian visa to create a USI
International students need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) if they are located in Australia while studying and accessing Commonwealth financial assistance. International students who have completed all their studies outside of Australia do not need a USI.
The USI is a student's individual education identifier issued by the Australian Government. It is a free, lifelong education number that gives students an online record of VET training undertaken in Australia. International students need their non-Australian passport and Australian visa to create a USI once they have arrived in Australia. They must go through customs before creating a USI. Both documents are required to create a USI.
International students can face issues during enrolment without a USI. They may also be unable to access their training records or graduate without delays. Additionally, students without a USI may not receive their award.
To create a USI, students must use verifiable identification in the USI portal. They should ensure their name matches their USI and other identification documents to avoid any issues. It is recommended that students use the same identification document to create their USI, Tax File Number (TFN), and myGov account.
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International students don't need a USI if they completed their studies outside of Australia
International students do not need a USI, or Unique Student Identifier, if they have completed their studies outside of Australia. The USI is a student's individual education identifier issued by the Australian government, and it is required for any international student located in Australia while studying. International students who are in Australia need their non-Australian passport and Australian visa to create a USI.
A USI is necessary for international students who are physically located in Australia and accessing Commonwealth financial assistance. It is also required for international students in Australia to receive their award. However, international students who have completed their studies outside of Australia and are not in the country do not fall under this category.
The University of Sydney, for example, asks international students during enrolment whether they are currently located in Australia. This is because a USI is only necessary for those who are physically present in the country while studying.
It is important to note that international students cannot create a USI until they have arrived in Australia. They must enter the country and go through customs before creating a USI with their non-Australian passport and Australian visa. Therefore, if an international student has completed their studies outside of Australia and is not planning to travel to the country, they do not need to obtain a USI.
Additionally, international students who commenced their studies before 1 January 2023 and are not in Australia to receive their award are also exempt from needing a USI.
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A USI is required for Commonwealth financial assistance
International students studying in Australia with an Australian education or training provider need to obtain a Unique Student Identifier (USI) to receive Commonwealth financial assistance. The USI is a free, lifelong, individual education number that gives students an online record of their vocational education and training (VET) undertaken in Australia.
To create a USI, international students need to be physically present in Australia and have their non-Australian passport and Australian visa. Both documents are required to create a USI. International students who have completed all their studies outside of Australia are not required to obtain a USI.
Students receiving Commonwealth assistance must lodge the form themselves. However, a provider may accept a form signed by a person exercising a legal power of attorney on behalf of the student. The provider must ensure that the details provided on the form match those on other enrolment documents.
Students applying for Commonwealth financial assistance or a Commonwealth Supported Place must have a USI and cannot apply for an exemption. Commonwealth financial assistance includes:
- HELP loans, which allow students to defer their tuition fees
- FEE-HELP, which provides eligible fee-paying students with a loan to pay their tuition fees
- OS-HELP, which provides loans to assist with the cost of studying overseas
- SA-HELP, which covers student services and amenities fees
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International students need a USI to receive their award
International students need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) to receive their award if they are studying in Australia. The USI is a free, lifelong, individual education number issued by the Australian Government. It is required for international students who are physically located in Australia and studying with an Australian education or training provider. This applies to both higher education and vocational education and training (VET) students.
To create a USI, international students in Australia need their non-Australian passport and Australian visa. It is important to note that international students cannot create a USI until they have arrived in the country and must use these specific documents as forms of ID. Both documents are required, and it is recommended to use the same identification document for creating a USI, Tax File Number (TFN), and myGov account.
The USI is necessary for international students seeking Commonwealth financial assistance, such as a HELP loan or enrolling in a Commonwealth Supported Place. Without providing a USI, institutions like UNSW cannot offer Commonwealth-supported places or assistance with tertiary studies. The USI will replace the Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN).
Additionally, the USI provides benefits such as an online record of VET training undertaken in Australia since 2015. It is important for international students to be aware of the requirement to obtain a USI while studying in Australia to ensure they can receive their award and access relevant services and benefits. However, it is not a mandatory requirement at enrolment, and there are exemptions for students who completed their studies outside of Australia or before 1 January 2023 without returning to Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, international students who are studying in Australia need a Unique Student Identifier (USI). This applies to international students at university or vocational education and training (VET).
International students need to be in Australia and have cleared customs before creating a USI. They can then use their non-Australian passport and Australian visa to create their USI online.
Yes, international students who have completed all their studies outside of Australia do not need a USI. Additionally, international students who commenced their studies before 1 January 2023 and will not be returning to Australia also do not require a USI.











































