Leaving ANU as an International Student: A Checklist for Accommodation Check-out, Account Cancellation and Transcripts

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When ANU international students complete their studies or leave mid-programme, they must work through a series of administrative and financial steps covering accommodation check-out, account cancellation, transcripts and visa compliance. According to the International Student Data Report published by the Australian Department of Education in 2024, Australia hosted 713,144 international students in 2023, around 20% of them from China; the Australian National University’s (ANU) 2023 annual report shows international students made up 44% of its enrolments, roughly 11,000 students. With the Australian Department of Home Affairs tightening student visa conditions in 2024 (including a stronger Genuine Student Test), getting the leaving process right directly affects future visa applications and qualification authentication, so a systematic checklist is a practical necessity.

Accommodation Check-out and Ending Your Housing Contract

ANU on-campus housing contracts are normally signed per semester or per academic year, and leaving early means following the contract terms to the letter. Students must give Accommodation Services written notice at least 28 days before their planned departure date, otherwise they may be charged a penalty equal to 4 weeks of rent. On-campus housing spans 12 residential colleges, including Bruce Hall and Ursula College, each with slightly different contract details, but all are governed by the ANU Accommodation Policy 2023.

Room Inspection and Bond Refund

Before checking out, students must complete a Room Inspection, in which residential staff verify the condition of the room. Bond refunds typically take 2-4 weeks; if there is damage or the room was not cleaned, ANU is entitled to deduct repair costs from the bond (usually 4 weeks of rent). Under ACT tenancy law (Residential Tenancies Act 1997), bond disputes can be taken to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). It is worth photographing the room when you move out and keeping the photos as evidence.

Cancelling Utility Accounts

Students renting off campus need to cancel their electricity, gas and internet accounts separately. ANU Student Central keeps a list of preferred providers such as ActewAGL and Origin Energy, and cancellation requires submitting final meter readings. Account cancellation should be completed 3-5 business days before the lease ends to avoid extra charges. If you cancel too late, providers may keep billing at default rates, which can turn into debt collection down the track.

Closing Your Student Account and IT Services

After you leave, your ANU student account (covering ISIS, the Wattle learning platform and your ANU email) will be automatically deactivated 90 days after graduation or departure. Before that happens, download everything you need, including transcripts, course materials and personal data. Once your ANU email (ending in anu.edu.au) is deactivated, all messages are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Data Backup and Migration

It is a good idea to back up to ANU’s OneDrive cloud storage (1TB of space) or to a USB drive. For ongoing academic projects, contact your supervisor or faculty office to confirm the data migration plan. The ANU IT Service Desk can guide you through exporting your data, but you need to lodge the request before your account expires. Data backup is the step students most often overlook: ANU’s 2023 IT service statistics show that around 12% of departing students lost lecture notes or thesis drafts because they never backed up.

Campus Card and Library Account

Your ANU Campus Card does not need to be returned when you leave, but it loses all functionality, including building access, print credit and library borrowing. Before you go, return every library loan — late fines accumulate against your financial account. Once your library account is closed, you can still apply for alumni library access (around $50 a year), though this does not include access to electronic resource databases.

Getting Transcripts and Academic Documents

ANU issues digital transcripts and testamurs through My eQuals, the official digital credential platform for Australian higher education institutions. You can log in to My eQuals and download PDF copies any time after you leave, but note that the verification link attached to a digital transcript expires after 30 days, so employers and institutions must check it within that window. Paper transcripts are ordered through ANU Student Central at $35 per copy (2024 rate), with 5-10 business days processing time.

Qualification Authentication and Translation

Chinese students planning to return home need to have their degree and transcript authenticated through the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). Authentication requires ANU’s degree certificate, a complete transcript and scanned copies of your passport and visa pages. Processing typically takes 10-20 working days and costs 360 RMB (2024 rate). ANU’s International Student Office recommends ordering one official transcript before you leave so you are not caught up in international mailing delays later.

Mailing Transcripts and Courier Options

If a paper transcript has to be posted overseas, ANU uses Australia Post international express services, costing $45 (standard) to $85 (express). You can also use private couriers such as DHL or FedEx, but you pay any extra yourself. Transcript mailing to major cities in mainland China usually takes 7-14 working days. Submit your mailing request at least 2 weeks before you leave to beat the graduation-season rush (June and December each year).

Visa Compliance and Departure Records

Once international students finish at ANU, their student visa (Subclass 500) automatically lapses 60 days after the course end date. If you withdraw early, you must notify the Department of Home Affairs within 28 days, or you risk a visa cancellation record that can affect future entry to Australia. Visa cancellation records stay on the Department’s file, and you must declare them when applying for later tourist or work visas.

Departure and Bridging Visas

If you plan to stay in Australia after your course ends (for example, to attend graduation), you need a Bridging Visa B (BVB) or a tourist visa (Subclass 600). A BVB lets you stay lawfully while your visa is being processed, but you must apply through ImmiAccount before leaving the university. Department of Home Affairs data from 2024 shows around 15% of departing international students ended up with unlawful-stay records because they did not apply for a bridging visa in time. Start the visa transition about 30 days before your course finishes.

Cancelling Health Insurance

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) usually runs until your student visa expires. After you leave, contact your insurer (such as Medibank, Allianz Care or Bupa) to cancel the policy and claim a refund of unused premiums. Under OSHC rules, if you withdraw early the insurer refunds the premium pro rata for the remaining days, minus an administration fee (usually $50-100). Refunds take 4-6 weeks and you will need proof of withdrawal or your degree certificate.

Financial Settlement and Tax Returns

Before you leave, settle every outstanding ANU charge, including unpaid tuition, library fines and accommodation break fees. Your financial account can be checked through ISIS; if anything is outstanding, ANU can hold your transcript or degree certificate. Pay at least 2 weeks before you go so your graduation clearance is not delayed.

Tax Returns and TFN Status

International students who worked in Australia need to lodge a final tax return before departing. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) lets you keep filing returns from overseas, but you need to keep an Australian bank account to receive any refund. Your tax file number (TFN) does not need to be formally cancelled — if it goes unused for more than 4 years, the ATO automatically marks it dormant. You can also engage a tax agent (roughly $100-150) to handle post-departure filings.

Closing Bank Accounts

Australian bank accounts (with Commonwealth Bank, ANZ or NAB, for example) can be closed online from overseas, but the balance must be zero first. Some banks charge monthly fees (Commonwealth Bank’s Smart Access account is $4 a month), and a balance that falls too low can tip you into overdraft. After closing the account, keep the final statement as a financial record. When it comes to paying tuition across borders, some families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payments to convert and remit funds, but once you have left the university there is no further need for such services.

Alumni Resources and Staying in Touch

ANU’s Alumni Office gives departing students a lifetime alumni email alias (anu.edu.au) and access to the alumni network. Alumni benefits include ANU library access, career development talks and job referral services. Register through the ANU Alumni Portal before you leave to keep your alumni status. ANU’s 2023 alumni survey found that about 68% of graduates used alumni career services within a year of leaving.

Long-term Transcript Archiving

ANU offers permanent digital credential archiving through My eQuals, which you can log into at any time. If you lose access to your My eQuals account, contact ANU Student Central to verify your identity and regain it. Long-term archiving is the key safeguard for qualification authentication — check that your account still works every 3 years or so after you leave.

Post-departure Support Services

ANU’s International Student Office provides online support for 6 months after you leave, covering visa, employment and mental health questions. You can access these services through the ANU Global Support Hub, which operates across time zones from UTC+8 to UTC+11. Support services end automatically after 6 months, but you can pay to extend them to 12 months (cost: $150).

FAQ

Q1: Can I still order ANU transcripts after I leave?

Yes. ANU provides permanent digital transcripts through My eQuals, which you can log into and download at any time. Paper transcripts are ordered through Student Central at $35 per copy, with 5-10 business days processing. The verification link on a digital copy is valid for 30 days, so download your copy before you apply for qualification authentication.

Q2: How much notice does Home Affairs need if I withdraw early?

Under Department of Home Affairs rules, students who withdraw early must notify the Department through ImmiAccount within 28 days of the course ending. Failing to notify in time can result in a visa cancellation record that affects Australian visa applications for the next 5 years. Department data from 2024 shows around 22% of violation cases stemmed from failing to report a withdrawal on time.

Q3: Can I keep my Australian bank account after leaving?

Yes, but the balance must stay above zero and you must not owe monthly fees. Some banks (Commonwealth Bank among them) charge monthly fees on accounts with balances below $2,000. Before you leave, consider switching to a fee-free savings account such as NetBank Saver, or simply close the account and keep the final statement.

参考资料

• Australian Department of Education, 2024, International Student Data Report
• Australian National University, ANU Annual Report 2023
• Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024, Student Visa Conditions Guide
• ACT Government, Residential Tenancies Act 1997
• Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), 2024, Guide to Overseas Qualification Authentication