1. Acknowledgement and Agreement

a. By submitting an Application in the VIEA 2025, you acknowledge and agree:

• (a) that you meet the Eligibility Criteria (see clause 3 of these Terms and Conditions);
• (b) that your Application will be assessed by the Judging Panel against the published Assessment Criteria for 2025 student award categories and 2025 industry award categories; and
• (c) to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

Acknowledgement of Privacy

b. By submitting an Application, you acknowledge that:

• (a) the Department’s Privacy Statement is available on the website; and
• (b) you have read and understood how the Department intends to manage Privacy for VIEA 2025 as set out in clause 10 of the Terms and Conditions.

2. Award Categories

2.1 Student Awards

There are eight (8) VIEA  Awards for Students in 2025. Each Award has specific Eligibility Criteria that are outlined in these Terms and Condition (clause 3). The Eligibility Criteria is also published on the Study Melbourne website and within the VIEA 2025 application portal. Assessment Criteria for each award are published on the Study Melbourne website and in the awards application portal. The awards categories for students are:

• International Student of the Year – Higher Education
• International Student of the Year – Research
• International Student of the Year – English Language Training
• International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training
• International Student of the Year – Regional
• International Student/Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year
• Emerging Leader – International Alumni Award
• Premier’s Award – International Student of the Year.

2.2 Industry Awards

There are six (6) VIEA 2025 Awards for Industry. Each Award has specific Eligibility Criteria that are outlined in these Terms and Condition (clause 3) and published on the Study Melbourne website and within the VIEA 2025 application portal. Assessment criteria for each award are published on the Study Melbourne website and in the awards application portal. The award categories for industry are:

• Excellence in International Student Experience
• Excellence in International Student Employability and Career Development
• International Student Employer of the Year
• Excellence in Transnational Education and International Partnerships
• Excellence in International Student Accommodation
• Premier’s Award – International Education Provider of the Year.

3. Eligibility Criteria for Student Awards

3.1 International Student of the Year – Higher Education

To be eligible to apply for the International Student of the Year – Higher Education award you must demonstrate that:

• you were studying an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework-based program with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider within Victoria as an international student between 1 January 2025 and 1 July 2025; and
• you studied in Victoria as an International Student and you were not an Australian citizen or permanent resident during your studies.

You will need to provide the following evidence to support your application:

• a copy of your Australian Student Visa or an Australian visa that provides you with study rights for the period of study relevant to your application
• a Confirmation of Enrolment document in your name with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider for the period of study relevant to your application
• up to two references to support your application - refer to clause 5.1 of these Terms and Conditions.

For more detailed visa eligibility criteria refer to clause 3.9 of these Terms and Conditions.

3.2 International Student of the Year – Research

To be eligible to apply for the International Student of the Year – Research award you must demonstrate that:

• you were studying a higher degree by research program at doctoral or masters (by research) level with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider within Victoria as an International Student between 1 January 2025 and 1 July 2025; and
• you studied in Victoria as an international student and you were not an Australian citizen or permanent resident during your studies.

You will need to provide the following evidence to support your application:

• a copy of your Australian Student Visa or an Australian visa that provides you with study rights for the period of study relevant to your application
• a Confirmation of Enrolment document in your name with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider for the period of study relevant to your application
• up to two references to support your application - refer to clause 5.1 of these Terms and Conditions.

For more detailed visa eligibility criteria refer to clause 3.9 of these Terms and Conditions.

3.3 International Student of the Year – English Language Training

To be eligible to apply for the International Student of the Year – English Language Training award you must demonstrate that:

• you were studying an English language training program with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider within Victoria as an international student between 1 January 2024 and 1 July 2025; and
• you studied in Victoria as an international student and you were not an Australian citizen or permanent resident during your studies.

You will need to provide the following evidence to support your application:

• a copy of your Australian Student Visa or an Australian visa that provides you with study rights for the period of study relevant to your application
• a Confirmation of Enrolment document in your name with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider for the period of study relevant to your application
• up to two references to support your application - refer to clause 5.1 of these Terms and Conditions.

For more detailed visa eligibility criteria refer to clause 3.9 of these Terms and Conditions.

3.4 International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training

To be eligible to apply for the International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training award you must demonstrate that:

• you were studying a vocational education and training program with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider within Victoria as an international student between 1 January 2025 and 1 July 2025; and
• you studied in Victoria as an international student and you were not an Australian citizen or permanent resident during your studies.

You will need to provide the following evidence to support your application:

• a copy of your Australian Student Visa or an Australian visa that provides you with study rights for the period of study relevant to your application
• a Confirmation of Enrolment document in your name with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider for the period of study relevant to your application
• up to two references to support your application - refer to clause 5.1 of these Terms and Conditions.

For more detailed visa eligibility criteria refer to clause 3.9 of these Terms and Conditions.

3.5 International Student of the Year – Regional

To be eligible to apply for the International Student of the Year – Regional award you must demonstrate that:

• you were studying a with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider located within regional Victoria* as an international student between 1 January 2025 and 1 July 2025; and
• you studied in Victoria as an international student and you were not an Australian citizen or permanent resident during your studies.

You will need to provide the following evidence to support your application:

• a copy of your Australian Student Visa or an Australian visa that provides you with study rights for the period of study relevant to your application
• a Confirmation of Enrolment document in your name with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider for the period of study relevant to your application
• up to two references to support your application - refer to clause 5.1 of these Terms and Conditions.

For more detailed visa eligibility criteria refer to clause 3.9 of these Terms and Conditions.

*Regional Victoria locations are defined as outside metropolitan Melbourne and include the following regions:

• Barwon South West (includes Geelong and Warrnambool),
• Grampians (includes Ballarat)
• Loddon Mallee (includes Bendigo and Mildura),
• Hume (includes Shepparton),
• Gippsland (includes Churchill).

You can check if your education provider is located in regional Victoria on the Regional Development Victoria website. Applicants who are studying with an eligible Victorian education provider may be living outside regional Victoria during their studies.

3.6 International Student/Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year

To be eligible to apply for the International Student/Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year award you must demonstrate that:

• you were studying with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider as an international student within the five-year period from 1 June 2020 and 1 July 2025*.

You will need to provide the following evidence to support your application:

• a copy of your Australian Student Visa or an Australian visa that provided you with study rights for the period of study relevant to your application
• a Confirmation of Enrolment document in your name with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider OR a valid Letter of Completion issued by your education provider OR evidence of study completed in Victoria to the satisfaction of the Department for the period of study relevant to your application
• up to two references to support your application - refer to clause 5.1 of these Terms and Conditions.

For more detailed visa eligibility criteria refer to clause 3.9 of these Terms and Conditions.

*students and graduates who are now permanent residents or citizens are eligible to apply for this award provided they can demonstrate that they were enrolled as an international student during the five-year period from 1 June 2020 and 1 July 2025.

3.7 Emerging Leader – International Alumni Award

To be eligible to apply for the Emerging Leader – International Alumni Award

you must demonstrate that:

• you were studying with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider as an international student within the five-year period from 1 June 2020 and 1 July  2025
• you studied in Victoria as an international student within the five-year period from 1 June 2020 and 1 July 2025*.

You will need to provide the following evidence to support your application:

• a copy of your Australian Student Visa or an Australian visa that provided you with study rights for the period of study relevant to your application
• a Confirmation of Enrolment document in your name with a Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider OR a valid Letter of Completion issued by your education provider OR evidence of study completed in Victoria to the satisfaction of the Department for the period of study relevant to your application
• up to two references to support your application - refer to clause 5.1 of these Terms and Conditions.

For more detailed visa eligibility criteria refer to clause 3.9 of these Terms and Conditions.

*students and graduates who are now permanent residents or citizens are eligible to apply for this award provided they can demonstrate that they were enrolled as an international student during the five-year period from 1 June 2020 and 1 July 2025.

3.8 Premier’s Award – International Student of the Year

The Premier’s Award will be awarded to the most outstanding student award Winner across all assessment criteria and selected from the Winners of the following student awards:

• International Student of the Year – English Language Training
• International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training
• International Student of the Year – Higher Education
• International Student of the Year – Research
• International Student of the Year – Regional.

3.9 Visa eligibility

Applicants can demonstrate that they are or were studying in Australia as an International Student by verifying they hold, or previously held, a valid Australian Student Visa - or an Australian visa that provides them with study rights as specified under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 Cth (ESOS Act) - during the period of study relevant to the application eligibility period.

• (a) These Terms and Conditions define a Student Visa as having the same meaning as set out in the ESOS Act, which refers the reader to the Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2019 (Cth) (ESOS Regs) and the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) for a list of student visas and exceptions.
• (b) For most Applicants, this will be a Subclass 500 (Student) visa. If your study rights are granted under a different visa subclass, you can check section 6 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) at regulation 1.03 to determine if your visa is included in this definition of ‘student visas’.  You will need to download the first-listed file in Word or PDF format and word search for the term ‘student visa’ (ctrl + F) to find the list of student visas.
• (c) The Department may consider Applications from Applicants who hold a current bridging visa which provides study rights, at the Department’s absolute discretion. Such Applicants are required to meet all other Eligibility Criteria for the relevant award.

3.10 Applying for multiple award categories

You can apply for more than one award but you must submit a separate Application for each award category and demonstrate that you can meet the Eligibility Criteria for each award that you apply for.

4. Eligibility Criteria for Industry Awards

Entry for the VIEA 2025 is voluntary and open to Victorian-based Education Providers and Organisations who hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and meet any specified Eligibility Criteria outlined against the relevant award category.

4.1 Excellence in International Student Experience

To be eligible to apply for the Excellence in International Student Experience award you must demonstrate that your organisation:

• holds a current Australian Business Number (ABN)

AND

• is an accredited, registered or otherwise recognised provider of post-secondary education with a CRICOS number under state or federal legislation to international students;

OR

• is a business operating under Australian law without a CRICOS number, including not-for-profit organisations.

Applicants may have operations in more than one state or country location, however only the operations and services for international students in Victoria will be considered in the assessment of your application.

4.2 Excellence in International Student Employability and Career Development

To be eligible to apply for the International Student Employability and Career Development award you must demonstrate that your organisation holds a current Australian Business Number (ABN) AND EITHER:

• it is an accredited, registered or otherwise recognised provider of post-secondary education with a CRICOS number under state or federal legislation to international students;

OR

• it is a business operating under Australian law without a CRICOS number, including not-for-profit organisations.

Applicants may have operations in more than one state or country location, however only the operations and services for international students in Victoria will be considered in the assessment of your application.

4.3 International Student Employer of the Year

To be eligible to apply for the International Student Employer of the Year award you must demonstrate that your organisation holds a current Australian Business Number (ABN) and is a business or non-profit organisation operating under Australian law, including not-for-profit organisations.

Applicants may have operations in more than one state or country location, however only initiatives delivered for international students in Victoria will be considered in the assessment of your application.

4.4 Excellence in Transnational Education and International Partnerships

To be eligible to apply for the Excellence in Transnational Education and International Partnerships award you must demonstrate that your organisation holds a current Australian Business Number (ABN) AND EITHER:

• it is an accredited, registered or otherwise recognised provider of post-secondary education with a CRICOS number under state or federal legislation to international students;

OR

• it is a business operating under Australian law without a CRICOS number, including not-for-profit organisations.

Applicants may have operations in more than one state or country location, however only the operations and services for international students in Victoria will be considered in the assessment of your application.

4.5 Excellence in International Student Accommodation

To be eligible to apply for the Excellence in International Student Accommodation award you must demonstrate that your organisation holds a current Australian Business Number (ABN) AND EITHER:

• it is an accredited, registered or otherwise recognised provider of post-secondary education with a CRICOS number under state or federal legislation to international students;

OR

• it is a business operating under Australian law without a CRICOS number, including not-for-profit organisations.

Applicants may have operations in more than one state or country location, however only the operations and services for international students in Victoria will be considered in the assessment of your application.

4.6 Premier’s Award – International Education Provider of the Year

To be considered for the Premier’s Award – International Education Provider of the Year, applicants must be accredited, CRICOS registered or otherwise recognised as a provider of post-secondary education to international students under State or Federal legislation.

The Premier’s Award – International Education Provider of the Year does not have a separate published Eligibility Criteria or Assessment Criteria and the Winner will be selected from the Winners of the following industry categories:

• Excellence in International Student Experience
• Excellence in International Student Employability and Career Development
• Excellence in Transnational Education and International Partnerships.

Other category Winners are not eligible to be considered for this award.

5. Submission of Applications

5.1 Conditions for lodging an application

Applications must be submitted online via the VIEA 2025 portal linked on the Study Melbourne website within the application period. The closing date and time for submitting applications is Friday 12 September at 11:59 pm AEST (Closing Date). Applications will not be accepted after the Closing Date and time without the written consent of the Department, which may be given or withheld at the Department’s absolute discretion.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have selected the correct Category and submitted a fully completed online Application through the VIEA 2025 portal together with relevant supporting material and evidence addressing each of the relevant Assessment Criteria before the Closing Date.

Student Category Applications must be original and written by you, the Applicant. You must provide evidence of enrolment as a student from the relevant Victorian education provider in accordance with the Eligibility Criteria at clause 3 of these Terms and Conditions.

You can apply for more than one award but you must submit a separate Application for each award category, as outlined at clause 3.

Student Category Applicants must submit up to two valid referees to:

• (a) confirm that you are, or were, living in Australia as an international student for the time relating to the period of study reference in your application; and
• (b) confirm that you were involved in the accomplishments submitted in the Application; and
• (c) verify the details of your Application.

The Department reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of an Application and to disqualify any Applicant who tampers with the entry process or submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

You, the Applicant, warrant to the Department that you are the author of the Application and that the Application:

• (a) is not offensive, defamatory or inflammatory;
• (b) does not contain any incorrect, misleading or fraudulent information; and
• (c) does not infringe any third party’s intellectual property rights or breach any law.

5.2 Enquiries

Please note: Email support for the VIEA program is available during ordinary business hours of Monday to Friday from 9.00 am – 5.00 pm. After hours and weekend enquiries will be viewed on the next business day.

5.3 Application costs

Applying for the Awards is free, however you are responsible for your own costs in relation to preparing and submitting the Application and attending the Award Ceremony including travel from regional areas if you are selected as a Finalist.

5.4 Requirements for winners and finalists

You, the Applicant, agree that if you are selected as a Finalist or Winner, you will work collaboratively with the Department and its representatives to promote Study Melbourne and the VIEA 2025 through a range of publicity and promotional media (including via the internet and social media) to be distributed and published by the Victorian Government. Finalists and Winners may be requested to participate in media interviews.

6. Assessment of Applications

Applications will be assessed by a Judging Panel. The Judging Panel’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback on applications after the judging process.

All valid Applications will be assessed by a Judging Panel in accordance with the Assessment Criteria and in a competitive framework.

The Judging Panel may in its absolute discretion refuse to accept or reject an Application that is incomplete, indecipherable, does not address the specified Assessment Criteria or meet the relevant Eligibility Criteria, or otherwise fails to comply with these Terms and Conditions.

Where applicable, the Judging Panel may in its discretion, offer an Applicant the opportunity to reallocate their Application to a more suitable Award Category.

The Department reserves the right to make no Award in any or all Categories.

The Judging Panel will create a shortlist of Finalists for each Category. Finalists may be requested to attend an interview with the Judging Panel via video conference.

The Winner of each Category will be announced by the Department at an Awards Ceremony which will take place in October 2025.

7. Award Prizes

7.1 All awards winners and finalists will be recognised at the Awards Ceremony with an official certificate. Prize money is also awarded to winners of the following student awards to support their studies and professional development:

• International Student of the Year – English Language Training
• International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training
• International Student of the Year – Higher Education
• International Student of the Year – Research
• International Student of the Year – Regional
• International Student/Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year
• Emerging Leader – International Alumni Award

a) Each of these Winners selected by the Judging Panel in a Student Award Category will be awarded Prize Money up to AU$3,000 to support their studies;

b) The Winner of the “Premier’s Award - International Student of the Year” will receive an additional prize of up to AU$5,000 to support their studies.

There is no Prize Money applicable for Industry Award Categories.

The Prize Money will be made as a payment to the Winners by depositing the funds directly into a nominated bank account with an Australian-owned Authorised Deposit-Taking Institution, held in the Applicant’s name.

7.2 Each Winner must only use or spend the Prize Money as agreed in writing by the Department and wholly towards the cost of their studies and professional development. Where a student has no cost of studies (e.g. scholarship) or has already paid their tuition fees, the Prize Money can be towards learning and professional development materials, or further learning and development activities including professional development such as industry conferences or job application skills development. Prize Money is non-transferable and non-exchangeable.

7.3 Any amount of Prize Money not claimed within 24 months from the date of the Award Ceremony will be forfeited. The Department accepts no responsibility in the event the Applicant is unable to use the Prize Money or where the funds are lost or stolen upon payment to the nominated bank account.

7.4 Each Winner and Finalist authorises the Department to include their name, image, details of your Application and the provision of the Award and any applicable Prize Money awarded in any activities publicising the Victorian International Education Awards (including without limitation on Victorian government social media and websites that are accessible worldwide).

7.5 Each Winner and Finalist agrees to participate in media and/or promotional activities organised by the Department to promote Study Melbourne and the Victorian International Education Awards and Victoria’s international education sector at no cost to the Department (reasonable prior notice will be provided).

7.6 Each Winner and Finalist permits the Department to use their image in photographs and video footage as part of any promotional activities for the Victorian International Education Awards, without requiring any compensation or remuneration and without the right to inspect or approve such promotional material prior to publication.

7.7 Each Winner and Finalist undertakes not to enter into any activity, action or speech which will bring the Department, a Minister or the State into disrepute.

7.8 Each Winner and Finalist acknowledges that if any of the Terms and Conditions are breached, the Department may require repayment of the whole or any part of the Prize Money awarded as the Department may determine, and that the amount must be repaid as a debt due to the Department.

8. Promotion of VIEA 2025

8.1 By submitting an Application, an Applicant irrevocably grants the State of Victoria permission to freely use the content of their Application, information obtained during the application process and any image of the Applicant provided or taken during the Award Ceremony, for the purpose of publicity and promotion of the VIEA. The permission granted includes without limitation reproducing, publishing, adapting and communicating the whole or any part of the Application online, in any broadcast and print media, and in a range of materials by the Victorian Government (without the need to attribute authorship to the Applicant).

8.2 For the purposes of clause 8.1, the Applicant will not have the right to review or preapprove the Department’s use of the Application or information obtained during the application process (including without limitation use of the Applicant’s image or likeness) and the Applicant will not make any claim for payment or fees in relation to such use by the Department and releases the Department, its employees and agents from any liability arising out of such use.

9. Award Cancellation and Liability

9.1 The Department may at its discretion cancel (in whole or in part), modify or terminate the VIEA 2025 if in the opinion of the Department, the VIEA 2025 is interfered with in any way or cannot be conducted as anticipated by the Department.

9.2 The Department will not be liable for any loss (including, without limitation, any consequential or indirect loss), cost or damage, personal injury or death which is suffered (whether or not due to the negligence of any person) in connection with the Applicant entering the VIEA 2025 or in connection with the acceptance of Prize Money by a Winner or successful Finalist, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law (and, if so, that liability is limited to the minimum permitted by law).

9.3 The VIEA 2025 is governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia and these Terms and Conditions survive the conclusion of the VIEA 2025.

10. Privacy

10.1 By making an Application, to the extent that the Application includes any personal information (including without limitation an image capable of being identified as the Applicant’s likeness) the Applicant consents to the collection, use and disclosure of the Applicant’s personal information by the Department for the purpose of administering the VIEA 2025 and for the uses described in clause 6, 7, 8  above.

10.2 The collection, use and disclosure of the Applicant’s personal information is subject to the Department’s Privacy Statement which the Applicant must read prior to making their Application.

11. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions the following definitions apply:

Applicant means the person (Student or Provider) applying for an Award Category in the VIEA 2025;

Application means the information submitted by the Applicant for the VIEA 2025;

Assessment Criteria means the set of criteria that the Application is assessed against by the Judging Panel to determine if the Applicant is shortlisted;

Australian-owned Authorised Deposit-Taking Institution has the same meaning as in section 5 of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth);

Award means the discretionary grant program under which the VIEA 2025 is granting funds to successful Applicants;

Awards Ceremony means the VIEA 2025 Awards Ceremony where the Finalists and Winners are announced and Prize Money is awarded;

Category means one of the Award Categories for eligible Students for the VIEA 2025;

Confirmation of Enrolment means an official document issued by the Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider to an International Student who intends to enrol and study with that institution;

CRICOS means the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students;

Eligibility Criteria means the criteria the applicant must meet for each Category in order to submit a successful Application and are located at clauses 3 and 4 of these Terms and Conditions;

ESOS Act means the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (Cth);

Finalist means an Applicant that isshortlisted by the Judging Panel for each Award Category;

International Student means a Student who holds a Student Visa;

Judging Panel means a panel of government and industry representatives appointed by the Department to assess the Applications;

Letter of Completion means an official document issued by the Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider within the eligibility period, or evidence of study completed by the Applicant;

Prize Money means the grant funds awarded to the award Winners;

Student means students who are eligible to apply for the VIEA 2025 under one or more of the Award Categories;

Student Visa has the same meaning as in the ESOS Act;

You means the Applicant submitting an Application for the VIEA 2025;

Victorian Post-Secondary Education Provider means a registered under CRICOS and based in Victoria, Australia;

Victorian International Education Awards 2025 (VIEA 2025) means the Victorian Government awards initiative to support the international education sector and raise awareness of the benefits that international students bring to the broader Victorian community;

VIEA 2025 Terms and Conditions means these Terms and Conditions; and

Winner means the Finalist selected from each Award Category, by the Judging Panel to be granted the Award and Prize Money where applicable.