If you’re planning to study in Australia and work part-time, it’s essential you understand the work conditions attached to the Subclass 500 Student Visa for 2025. You’ll learn how many hours you may work during term and breaks, what rights you have at work, how to stay compliant, and how changes in policy might impact you.
In this article you will discover your work rights, employer obligations, the risks of non-compliance, and practical tips to balance work and study.
Understanding Your Student Visa Work Rights
When you hold a Subclass 500 Student Visa in Australia, your primary purpose must be study. Working is permitted, but under rules designed to ensure you remain focused on your course. From 2025 the key number to remember is 48 hours per fortnight during your academic sessions (unless you fall into a special category).
This fortnightly limit means you can work across one or more jobs, but the total combined hours must not exceed 48 hours in any 14-day period while your course is in session. Although it is common to think in terms of weekly hours (e.g., 24 hours/week), the regulation uses a fortnight.
Your work rights are outlined in the visa grant notice and can be verified in the government’s Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.
How Many Hours Can You Work While Studying?
During your enrolled course session you must not exceed the 48-hour per fortnight limit. For example, you might work 30 hours in week one and 18 in week two, totaling 48 hours in that 14-day period. You may work more in one week so long as the combined hours over two weeks don’t exceed the cap.
The limit applies:
- During semesters, including exam periods
- For all paid work across all jobs
- Even if you have more than one employer
You must start working only after your course has officially commenced. Course-related work (such as mandatory placements that count for credit) generally does not count toward the 48-hour cap.
Unlimited Work During Official Breaks and Special Courses
Good news: during scheduled breaks such as semester holidays, you are typically allowed to work unlimited hours, provided your course is in a break period as defined by your education provider. Also, if you are enrolled in a research-based course such as a master’s by research or doctorate, you may be exempt from the fortnightly cap and permitted to work unlimited hours at any time.
Your Rights as a Worker in Australia
Holding a student visa does not reduce your employment rights. You enjoy the same legal protections as any other worker in Australia. That means:
- You must be paid at least the minimum wage (in 2025 this is around AUD $23.23 per hour)
- You must receive payslips and tax is deducted properly
- You have the right to a safe workplace and must not be exploited
- You may lodge complaints with the Fair Work Ombudsman if you believe your rights are violated
Understanding your rights helps you avoid unfair practices such as being paid cash in hand below the minimum wage or working excessively.
Employer Obligations When Hiring International Students
If you are an employer intending to hire an international student, you must check the student’s visa work conditions via the VEVO system. If the visa states the 48-hour per fortnight cap, you must not allow the student to exceed that. Employers should clearly schedule hours, avoid exploitative overtime and support the student’s study commitments.
Consequences of Breaching Work Conditions
Exceeding the 48-hour cap during term time, or working when you are not entitled, can lead to serious consequences:
- Your visa may be cancelled
- You may be deported
- Future visa applications may be refused or you may become ineligible
Even if your employer is at fault, you as the visa holder carry responsibility for complying with your visa conditions.
For example, a student visa was cancelled after the holder admitted to working 50–60 hours per week while their course was in session.
Recent Policy Changes Impacting Students in 2025
The Australian government continues to adjust visa policy. Some relevant changes for 2025 include:
- Increased student visa application fees (from approx. AUD $710 to AUD $1,600 and proposed higher)
- A cap on new international student commencements (e.g., 270,000 by 2026) to manage enrolment numbers
- Reinforced requirement for genuine study and compliance
- Updated work hour caps confirmed: 48 hours per fortnight remains the standard unless exempt
Such changes signal that authorities are tightening oversight of student visas and work conditions.
How to Balance Work and Study Effectively
To make the most of your student visa while staying compliant, follow these practical tips:
- Track your hours carefully across all jobs to ensure total work does not exceed 48 hours per fortnight during term time
- Plan your schedule with the academic calendar in mind—during breaks you may work more
- Prioritize your study commitments: keep enrolment active, attend classes, make satisfactory progress
- Seek work that offers flexibility around your class schedule
- Understand your employment rights and do not accept poor working conditions
- Keep accurate records of your work hours and employment documents—these might be requested in audits or if your visa is reviewed
Work Opportunities for Dependents and Family
If your visa allows dependents (e.g., partner or spouse) to accompany you, they may also have work rights. Their work hours may be linked to your study level and visa conditions. For example, if you are enrolled in a higher-level course (such as a doctorate) your partner may have fewer restrictions. Always check the specific entitlement via VEVO.
Navigating the Post-Study Scenario
After completing your course, you may qualify for a temporary graduate visa (Subclass 485) which allows you to live and work in Australia for a set period. While this is not strictly part of the 2025 work-condition topic, understanding the pathway helps you gauge longer-term planning: your work while studying builds experience, and staying compliant during your student visa keeps your options open.
Key Takeaways You Should Remember
- During term time you may work up to 48 hours per fortnight.
- Work during official course breaks is typically unlimited.
- Research-based programs often allow unlimited work hours at any time.
- Regardless of your visa, you retain full worker rights—minimum wage, payslips, safe conditions.
- Exceeding your work rights can lead to visa cancellation and future bans.
- You must keep your enrollment active, attend classes and meet academic progress requirements.
- Policy changes in 2025 reflect stricter regulation of student visas and the work rights attached.
Staying well informed and strictly compliant ensures you can benefit from the opportunity to work in Australia while safeguarding your visa status. By balancing your study and work commitments and respecting the rules, you’ll set yourself up for a successful and rewarding international education experience.