International students studying or planning to study a Master’s degree in Western Australia should review their family arrangements ahead of an important change taking effect later this year.

Under the current WA Government information, from 1 December 2026, dependent children of international students undertaking a Master by Coursework will be required to enrol in WA government schools as full fee-paying overseas students.

For families with school-aged children, this could add a significant education cost to an existing study and living budget.

However, there is an important transition period for applications received before the change takes effect.

What Is Changing From 1 December 2026?

Currently, eligible dependent children of international students undertaking a Master by Coursework at a recognised WA university may access a mainstream tuition fee waiver while their parent completes their postgraduate studies.

From 1 December 2026, this arrangement will change for new applications.

The WA Government currently states that:

Applications for dependants of Masters by Coursework postgraduate students received prior to 1 December 2026 will continue to be considered under the current fee arrangements.

From 1 December 2026, dependants of Masters by Coursework postgraduate students will be required to enrol as full fee-paying overseas students.

This makes the timing of a family’s application particularly important for students planning to commence or continue postgraduate study in WA.

Does Having a University CoE Before December Secure the Current Arrangement?

Not necessarily.

This is one of the most important points for affected families to understand.

The current official wording refers to “applications received prior to 1 December 2026”.

At this stage, the publicly available information does not fully clarify which specific stage of the dependant school application process must be completed for an application to fall within the transitional arrangement.

A university offer or Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) should therefore not automatically be treated as confirmation that your child has secured the existing school fee arrangement.

The current official wording refers to “applications received prior to 1 December 2026”.

At this stage, the publicly available information does not fully clarify which specific stage of the dependant school application process determines whether an application has been “received” for the transitional arrangement.

A university offer or Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) should therefore not automatically be treated as confirmation that your child has secured the existing school fee arrangement.

If your family hopes to be considered under the current arrangements, it would be sensible to review the relevant dependant school application process and your timeline well before 1 December, rather than waiting until the final weeks.

Who Should Review Their Plans Now?

This change may be particularly relevant if you:

• are currently studying in WA and plan to bring your children to Australia;
• are planning to commence a Master by Coursework in WA;
• have received a university offer or CoE but have not finalised your children’s schooling arrangements;
• are comparing postgraduate study options between WA and other states;
• plan to commence your course in late 2026 or 2027;
• are budgeting for a partner and school-aged children to live with you in Australia; or
• are reviewing your study plans as part of a longer-term Australian visa or migration strategy.

For families, the cost of the university course itself is only one part of the overall financial picture.

School fees, accommodation, living expenses, health cover and visa costs can all affect whether a particular study plan remains financially practical.

What About Master by Research and PhD Students?

The December change should not be interpreted as WA removing school fee waivers for every postgraduate student.

Under the current published arrangements, dependent children of international students undertaking a Master by Research or PhD remain subject to different fee waiver arrangements.

The distinction between Master by Coursework, Master by Research and PhD is therefore important.

However, choosing a course purely because of a school fee concession may create other problems. Your academic background, career objectives, course progression, visa circumstances and longer-term plans should all be considered before changing your study strategy.

What Should Affected Families Do Before December?

If you are already planning postgraduate study in WA and have school-aged children, now is a good time to review the full timeline rather than focusing only on your university application.

Start by confirming exactly which type of Master’s degree you are undertaking and when your course will commence.

You should then consider where you are up to with your university offer and CoE, your children’s school arrangements, your Student Visa or subsequent entrant strategy, and the expected timing of each application.

It is also worth recalculating your family budget on the assumption that school tuition fees may apply. This gives you a clearer picture of whether your existing WA study plan remains suitable if you do not fall within the transitional arrangements.

Most importantly, do not assume that obtaining a CoE before December automatically resolves the issue.
It is also important not to treat the university CoE, Student Visa and dependant school application as the same process. Publicly available information indicates that the main student’s CoE is used as part of the dependant school placement process, so families should not simply assume that they must wait until the Student Visa is granted before considering their child’s schooling arrangements.

At the same time, having a CoE does not itself mean that a dependant application has been “received” before the 1 December cut-off.

Already in Australia? The Change May Still Affect Your Family

This update is not only relevant to students applying from overseas.

If you are already studying or living in Australia but your children have not yet joined you, or you are planning a new postgraduate course in WA, the timing of your family arrangements may still matter.

For example, changing courses, commencing a new Master’s degree, bringing dependants to Australia later, or moving interstate can involve several separate education and visa considerations.

Looking at each step in isolation can make it easy to miss how one decision affects another.

Planning to Study in WA in 2026 or 2027?

With 1 December 2026 approaching, families who already have a genuine plan to study in WA should avoid waiting until the final weeks to work out how the change applies to them.

There is still an important point requiring clarification around exactly what constitutes an application being “received” for the transitional arrangement. For that reason, families should not assume they are protected simply because a university offer or CoE has been issued before the deadline.

If you are studying in Australia, planning a WA Master’s degree, or preparing for your partner and children to join you, this is a good time to review your course, Student Visa, dependant arrangements, school planning and longer-term pathway together.

Riverwood Migration can review your course type, intended commencement date, family circumstances and current application progress to help you map out the relevant study, dependant schooling and visa timelines, and identify which steps should be prioritised now.

If you are planning to study a Master’s degree in WA with school-aged children, do not wait until the final weeks before 1 December to review your arrangements. The earlier your timeline is mapped out, the more room you may have to respond to any further clarification of the transitional requirements.

Planning a WA Master’s degree with school-aged children? Review your timeline before the 1 December change takes effect.

This article is based on WA Government information available as at 28 August 2026 and relates specifically to Western Australia. School fee arrangements differ between Australian states and territories. Transitional arrangements and application requirements may be updated or clarified. Individual eligibility should be checked against the latest official requirements. This article provides general information only and does not constitute personal migration or legal advice.

The content of this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and subject to change. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a registered Australian migration lawyer. For full terms governing use of this website and its content, please refer to our Website Terms and Conditions.

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