Sports Nutrition Coach.
Looking to become an insured Sports Nutrition Coach in the health and fitness industry? With the 11046NAT – Certificate IV in Nutrition certification, you’ll be well on your way to a fulfilling career helping clients achieve their nutrition and fitness goals.
Start your career as an insured Sports Nutrition Coach.
The 11046NAT – Certificate IV in Nutrition is the entry-level qualification required to start working as an insured Sports Nutrition Coach in the health and fitness industry.
If you’re a Personal Trainer keen to broaden your scope, or an athletic coach wanting to start your own nutrition consulting business, this course is for you. Our cutting-edge Sports Nutritionist course equips you with practical skills and knowledge to create specialised nutrition strategies.
Additionally, you’ll be able to assist your clients in achieving their desired outcomes, such as losing fat, gaining muscle, or improving their athletic performance.
Career Outcome
Nationally Recognised Nutritionist
Study Mode
Online and self paced
No work placement required
Study Duration
Up to 12 months from date of enrolment
What will you learn?
- 1.Your Role as an Insured Sports Nutritionist: Understanding your professional identity.
- 2.Personalised Calorie and Macro Plans: Clients/athletes with fitness/performance related goals.
- 3.Mind-Body Connection: Exploring digestion's impact on holistic wellbeing.
- 4.Gut Health and Detox Science: Navigating the world of digestive health.
- 5.Holistic Health Relationship: Interconnecting health, fitness, and nutrition.
- 6.Optimising Client Results: Tailoring outcomes for specific athletic performance goals.
- 7.Maximise performance: Strategies for pre, during and post-exercise nutrition.
- 8.Structured Client Consultations: Conducting effective client sessions.
- 9.Evidence-Based Sports Supplementation: Prescribing supplements with confidence.
- 10.Anatomy and Physiology Mastery: Applying it to personalised nutrition.
- 11.Tailored Nutrient Planning: Individualising macro and micronutrients.
- 12.Results-Driven Programs: Creating plans for athlete peak performance.
- 13.Behavioural Psychology Insights: Understanding and improving fitness/sporting performance.
- 14.Customised Goal-Based Nutrition: Delivering tailored plans for specific athlete objectives.
What does the course cover?
Looking to become a Sports Nutrition Coach and take your expertise to the next level? Look no further than the 11046NAT – Certificate IV in Nutrition. This comprehensive course provides in-depth education specifically tailored to Sports Nutrition.
With this course, you’ll be able to put your knowledge to the test and develop personalised nutrition plans for athletes. These plans will help them meet their performance goals and achieve their full potential.
But what makes this course so special? For starters, it’s suitable for individuals of all levels of knowledge. Whether you’re brand new to nutrition or already have existing experience working with clients, this course has been designed to cater to everyone.
How do we accomplish this? By building on your knowledge through structured education. You’ll be able to build your nutrition knowledge base through nine core units that set the foundation for the program. These units cover biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, providing a deep dive into the human body’s inner workings.
As you progress in your sports nutrition education, you’ll delve deeper into macronutrients, micronutrients, and digestive health. You’ll learn how to assess your clients and create evidence-based programs that produce results for fat loss, strength performance, or general health.
And that’s not all. The 11046NAT – Certificate IV in Nutrition will also give you a deep understanding of supplements and their ingredients. This knowledge will enable you to select the most suitable supplement for your clients to help them reach their goals.
The course doesn’t stop at the physical aspects of sports nutrition. You’ll also learn about the impact of stress, motivation, and performance anxiety on a client’s nutrition. Additionally, you’ll learn psychological approaches to enhance their performance. This comprehensive approach is designed to cater to the specific needs of athletes, providing a well-rounded education.
As you progress through the course, you’ll learn how to design a diet that caters to each athlete’s specific sporting area, meal frequency/timing, and goals. This will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to deliver customised nutrition plans and client advice. You’ll be able to help your clients achieve their health, fitness, or performance goals, whether they are athletes or members of the general public.
In summary, the 11046NAT – Certificate IV in Nutrition is a comprehensive course that covers all aspects of sports nutrition. With this course, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills required to help your clients achieve their goals, both physically and psychologically. From personalised nutrition plans to supplement selection, this course has it all.
Get started as a Sports Nutrition Coach.
Course Delivery.
With Vast Fitness Academy, you can study the Sports Nutrition Coach course at your own pace, tailoring the experience to fit your lifestyle.
Our online Sports Nutritionist course design enables you to expedite your studies and complete fewer theory assessments, case studies, and practical tasks without sacrificing the quality of your education. We strive to make learning more efficient and effective, ensuring you acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the health and fitness industry.
Furthermore, our innovative course design is enhanced by pairing you with a Personal Assessor. Upon joining Vast, you’ll be assigned a dedicated Personal Assessor for the 11046NAT – Certificate IV in Nutrition course. Your Personal Assessor will be a highly qualified, university-trained Nutritionist or Dietitian with extensive industry experience, ready to provide you with support and guidance throughout your study.
Alongside email support and direct messaging, we also offer Live Virtual Support, allowing you to connect with one of our Assessors via Zoom and get answers to any questions, helping you stay on track and make progress quickly.
The course is delivered through a combination of theoretical and practical elements.
Theoretical Element.
Our state-of-the-art online learning portal delivers the theoretical element of the course. The course is interactive and engaging, featuring a variety of assessments, including true-false, fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, and short-answer responses.
Case studies and short scenarios are used to enhance your understanding of the subject before moving on to the practical requirements.
Your ‘Student Resource Guides’ are located within your online student portal and provide the necessary skills and knowledge required to successfully complete your ‘online theory tasks’ and ‘practical tasks’. VFA will also provide you with any other additional resources to assist your learning. These can all be located within your portal under the specific unit of competency.
Once you thoroughly understand your available resources, you are ready to complete all online theory tasks within your online portal.
For the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition, ‘online theory tasks’ comprise a variety of different assessment methods, examples include:
- Multiple choices questions
- True or false questions
- Fill-in-the-blank questions
- Mix and match questions
- Short answer questions
- Label image questions.
Case study assessments generally require you to take part in scenario-based activities that mimic a real-life situation in order for students to meet the performance requirements of a unit of competency.
Case study assessments can comprise the following types of assessment methods and differ from unit to unit:
- Written documents (including planning documents and nutrition plans) that outline the practical component
- The completion of templates which include referral forms, medical clearance requests and screening tools.
Practical tasks are required for each individual unit and are outlined in more detail once you begin your studies.
Practical tasks generally require you to partake in face-to-face ‘practical’ components of the units within the course. This is done with simulated activities where clients can roleplay a scenario for a specific task. Some (but not all) practical requirements will need to be completed in a simulated working environment and face-to-face with clients; you may use the comfort of your own home to complete these tasks, so long as they mimic a real consultation and the environment is in a professional setting.
Practical tasks can comprise the following types of assessment methods and differ from unit to unit. Examples include:
- Report style assessments that are the foundation of the practical component
- Written documents (including planning documents, programs, and templates) that outline the practical component
- Video submission evidence
- Self-evaluation checklists.
Practical Element.
Experience hands-on, practical learning from the comfort of your home with our online Sports Nutrition Coach course. All practical elements of the course are completed online, meaning you won’t have to undertake any in-person work placement.
Throughout the course, you will engage in a variety of case study-based practical tasks, providing you with the opportunity to practice consultations with mock clients, including friends and family. This will give you a practical and realistic understanding of how to work with clients and cater to their unique goals. By conducting effective consultations, you’ll develop strong communication skills and an understanding of the many variables in clients’ routines and training schedules.
Sports Nutritionist units.
When aiming to advance in a career as a Nutritionist, choosing a Nationally Accredited nutrition course that provides you with the expertise to excel is vital.
The Sports Nutrition Coach course presents an unparalleled opportunity to become a Nationally Recognised Nutritionist without attending university. This program includes 9 out of 14 units specifically crafted to address topics that were once only accessible through university education. These distinctive units are not found in any other course throughout Australia, making this program truly exceptional.
During this unit, we utilise foundational anatomy and physiology principles. This helps you understand how the body functions and how food works within it. By learning the structure and function of each human body system, you can recognise your clients' health status. With this knowledge, you gain a comprehensive understanding of how the body works. Therefore, you can provide personalised nutrition advice and guidance to your clients.
Through the study of foundational anatomy and physiology principles, our program equips students with the knowledge of how the human body functions and processes food. This enables students to recognise their clients' health status by understanding the structure and function of each human body system. By having a comprehensive understanding of how the body works, students can provide personalised nutrition advice and guidance to their clients.
At the outset of this unit, we explore the fundamentals of nutrients. We introduce the six essential nutrients, discussing what they are, how they can be classified into macro and micronutrients, where they are found, how they are processed and utilised within the body, and the recommended quantities for each. With this understanding, students will be able to identify various nutrient deficiencies, recognise their signs and symptoms, and provide appropriate assistance to clients within their scope of practice.
In this unit, students have the opportunity to apply foundational nutrition principles to develop customised meal plans for five (5) case study clients with different needs and goals. The unit provides a step-by-step process for developing meal plans, including analysing the client's current nutritional intake, calculating their recommended nutritional requirements, and identifying areas that require change. Students will also learn how to make flexible nutritional recommendations if a client is unwilling to follow a structured meal plan.
This unit elucidates the significance of comprehensive knowledge of digestive health for both successful practice and client success. Students will acquire a thorough understanding of the physiology of the digestive system, the organs that play a role in digestion, the importance of fibre and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, bowel transit time, and pH levels. Furthermore, students will be able to recognise factors that negatively impact the digestive system and identify when it is not functioning as it should.
This unit provides an overview of basic psychological and behaviour management principles, allowing students to acquire skills to foster positive change in their clients' lives. Students will understand the complexities of behavioural change and the essential elements required to facilitate successful implementation. Furthermore, the unit explores the impact of food and nutrients on behaviour and emotions, helping students understand how specific nutrients can improve or worsen mental health. By providing this knowledge, students can advise clients on the relationship between food and mood.
Throughout this unit and the whole Certificate IV in Nutrition, the student will learn the ‘food first’ approach, where it is encouraged to always look at the client’s diet first, incorporating more whole foods before turning to supplements. However, there will be some instances where clients will require supplementation – even with a food-first approach; as such, this unit teaches the student how to decipher the supplement market and make safe and suitable recommendations.
This unit builds on nutrition principles introduced in earlier units in the course; however, it provides further education on tailoring nutrition principles and strategies to support clients participating in regular physical activity. The student will learn how to manipulate a physically active client’s diet depending on their activity level. The student will also learn the importance of having a robust network of support personnel to support their client.
This unit enables students to expand their knowledge of nutrition for physically active clients, building on the information provided in the previous unit. Through this unit, students will acquire the ability to tailor their nutritional advice based on different sporting, physique, training, and timing requirements, ultimately increasing their athlete's likelihood of achieving peak performance. By the end of the unit, students will design a meal plan for an athlete of their choice.
n this unit, students will be introduced to the world of sports psychology, which may assist clients in achieving peak performance. The unit explores principles such as mental rehearsal, visualisation, guided imagery, motivation, arousal, and aggression, providing students with a deeper understanding of how to incorporate these principles into their nutrition practice.
Free ebook download.
Nutrition Council Australia.
Nutrition Council Australia (NCA) is a collaborative industry association that promotes positive nutritional information and healthy lifestyle practices within Australia.
NCA has developed the Nationally Recognised and accredited 11046NAT – Certificate IV in Nutrition qualification and the associated Scope of Practice and Risk Stratification Screening Tool.
Vast Fitness Academy is the current authorised Registered Training Organisation responsible for delivering this qualification.
Nationally Recognised Nutritionist.
A Nationally Recognised Nutritionists (NRN) is qualified to provide detailed nutritional advice and meal planning support to clients in support of their unique needs and goals.
Nationally Recognised Nutritionists are frontline advisory staff who work with clients that are otherwise 'healthy' yet are looking to improve their health and wellbeing through a positive approach to nutrition. Nationally Recognised Nutritionists work in gyms, sporting clubs, supplement stores, and as independent health and wellness coaches across Australia, to make evidence-based nutritional advice readily accessible for the community.
In order to become a Nationally Recognised Nutritionist, students must complete the 11146NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition qualification.
This qualification provides detailed knowledge for a thorough understanding of nutritional theory and comprehensive training on the analysis of client needs for the provision of accurate nutrition advice.
A Nationally Recognised Nutritionist can work with clients to identify their specific needs and goals and provide them with detailed nutritional advice, and tailored meal plans to assist the client in achieving those needs and goals.
Whether a client aims to lose weight, improve their general health, enhance immunity, reduce stress, or improve their physical performance, a Nationally Recognised Nutritionist has the skills and knowledge to help a client achieve their goals.
Those who who wish to register with Nutrition Council Australia and operate as a Nationally Recognised Nutritionist (NRN’s) and work directly with clients within the limitations of the NCA endorsed Scope of Practice, are required to have Professional Indemnity and Public Liability and Products insurance.
A Nutritionist provides advice and counselling in relation to diet, food, and nutrition. Most clients will take on this advice and achieve great results. However, there is always a chance that a client may experience an unforeseen reaction to the advice or misinterpret part of the plan, which could lead to them holding the Nutritionist legally liable and ask for payment for damages. For example, the Nutritionist may have meticulously researched an eating plan for a client but a previously undiagnosed allergy to a food type activates an allergic reaction.
Professional Indemnity insurance is intended to help protect the Nutritionist if something goes wrong whist providing professional services to the client. For example, a third party alleging that the Nutritionist has been negligent in performing services or giving advice, and as a result, they have suffered injury or financial loss.
Aon is the approved insurance broker for Nutrition Council Australia, and can provide graduates with insurance cover, risk advice and claims support.
The Aon Health Combined Professional Indemnity and Public and Products Liability insurance for Nutritionists includes:
– Flexible Professional Indemnity cover limits
– Unlimited retroactive date
– Run off cover
– 2 hours complimentary legal advice per policy, annually.
Learn more about the AON insurance policy and cover here
Course FAQs.
How quick can a student complete the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition?
We don’t like to provide students a set number of hours they should allocate each week to their study to see their course completed, as it does differ greatly from student to student depending on their experience and academic ability. Instead, we’ve developed study guides that students can follow to keep them on track to complete the course within 6 or 12-month timeframes. These have been developed by using a guideline of completing 1-2 units per month.
- With one elective stream, there are 11 units in total
- With two elective streams, there are 14 units in total.
So, 1-2 units per month keeps the student on track to complete the course within the 12-month timeframe. The amount of hours required by the student to complete the 1-2 units per month is essentially dependent on the individual.
We are here to support students with fast assessment marking and Live Virtual Support.
Is this nutritionist course suitable for someone who has studied since high school?
Yes, the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition course is suitable for individuals who haven't studied since high school. No prior learning or experience is required to enrol in this online nutrition course. With the support of our in-house assessors and state-of-the-art online learning portal, all students have the resources they need to be successful, regardless of their education or experience level.
What is the difference between this course and other nutrition courses?
Frequently asked by students, the distinction between 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition and other courses on the market is significant, as it offers superior educational value and career outcomes. When comparing the units of competency within the courses and ANZSCO Identifier (a code classifying occupations for which a student would qualify upon completing a training contract), the advantages become clear.
Upon graduating from 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition, students receive the ANZSCO Code 251112 | Classification Value Nutritionist. Other Nationally Accredited Training providers offer courses with career outcomes such as Health Promotion Officer or Weight Loss Consultant, and in some cases, the courses may be non-accredited. Choosing a non-accredited course could adversely impact students' career goals and leave them without the necessary education and insurance.
Designed by the Nutrition Council Australia, the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition aims to bridge the training gap in the Australian nutrition landscape below university level. Nine of the fourteen units within this course focus on areas previously unavailable to students without attending university. These exclusive units are not found in any other course in Australia.
By concentrating solely on nutrition knowledge and skills, unrelated units that do not pertain to nutrition or client interactions have been eliminated. This focused approach ensures a comprehensive nutrition education, enabling students to work with diverse clients with varying goals, such as promoting healthier food relationships, achieving body composition targets, or improving athletic performance.
Students should carefully examine the course units breakdown to gain a clear understanding of the well-rounded nutrition education offered by VFA.
It is crucial to remember that the knowledge acquired is far more valuable than any title earned upon completion. When evaluating any course, prioritise understanding the units contained. The 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition is Australia's only Nationally Accredited and recognised Certificate IV, qualifying graduates as Nationally Recognised Nutritionists with the Nutrition Council Australia.
For those not seeking to use the nutrition course for their career, non-accredited options on the short courses page offer more affordable personal development opportunities.
What is the difference between this course and a university qualification?
Students who wish to work with patients who may be pregnant, have food intolerances, have chronic diseases, or are diagnosed with an illness should stop looking at all nutrition courses online and contact their local university about researching their pathway to becoming a Dietitian.
To be qualified to treat pregnant patients or those with intolerances, chronic illness, or disease undertaking 4 - 5 years of study to become a Dietitian is what is required.
However, the Certificate IV in Nutrition is designed to allow graduates to support the general population to support their health and nutrition-related goals. This course would be perfect for those looking to improve results for their health and wellness coaching or personal training clients or work with the generally otherwise healthy population.
Graduates of this advanced nutritionist course will possess the hands-on skills and in-depth knowledge required to provide customised nutrition plans and personalised advice to help clients achieve their health and wellness goals.
Gone are the days of generic plans that don't work. Graduates will be equipped with the necessary tools to develop tailored solutions that yield client results.
Is there work placement requirements for the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition?
Work placement is not required when completing the Certificate IV in Nutrition. The course contains theory and practical tasks that can be completed at home.
Is experience in the health and fitness space required to complete this course?
Not at all. The Complete Nutritionist course is an entry-level course and a stand-alone qualification. Whether a student is adding to an existing skill set or starting a new one, we have no expectation of prior learning in the area.
Graduates will stand out from their colleagues after learning cutting-edge lifestyle, nutrition, training, and business techniques. By properly assessing the clients, graduates will prescribe evidence-based, results-inducing programs for fat loss, hypertrophy, strength, and performance for clients of all ages, goals, and training experiences.
Lastly, graduates will learn how to effectively set up their nutritionist business with systems and methods in marketing, sales, and retention designed to help turn their passion into a profitable career.
Is enrolling in the course only for those seeking employment in the nutrition industry?
No, enrolling in the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition is not limited to students seeking employment. Our online nutrition course is designed for individuals with a wide range of goals and motivations. Whether a student is looking to take their own nutrition to the next level or help their family improve their health, our course will help achieve that goal.
However, it's worth noting that many students who initially enrol for personal development fall in love with the subject and pursue a career in the nutrition industry.
Can an older student enrol in this online nutrition course?
Absolutely! Our program welcomes students as young as 17, and there is no upper age limit. In fact, our students are made up of a diverse group of individuals ranging from young adults to adults in their 60's. This variety in age is beneficial as it allows students to gain experience working with clients of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and preferences.
It's worth mentioning that many gyms and personal training studios actively seek experienced nutrition professionals in the older age bracket, as the over-60 population is the fastest-growing segment in the health and fitness market and may feel more comfortable with coaches who have a wealth of life experience.
Can a graduate start their own nutrition business upon completion of this course?
We find most students choose to start up their own consultation business within this field, so they aren’t restricted in who they consult. Many graduates will also work from local allied health facilities, gyms and even beauty salons. Most businesses like this have rooms available to rent to serve a mutual benefit to both parties.
Ensuring graduates have the correct insurance policy cover is critical in business. Nutrition Council Australia has created an Allied Health Professional Indemnity / Public Liability insurance policy with AON Insurance. This insurance allows graduates to legally practise as Nutritionists under the Nutrition Council Australia Scope of Practice in their nutritionist business.
For further information regarding this policy, follow the below link.
AON INSURANCE POLICY
What are the career opportunities following completion of the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition?
Upon completion, graduates will be qualified Nutritionists which can open up potential career opportunities as:
- Sports Nutrition Coach
- Functional Nutrition Consultant
- Recipe Developer
- Food Blogger or Content Creator
- Hospitality Consultant
- Online Store Owner
- Market Stall Holder
- Health food store or supplement store retailer
INDUSRTY READY NUTRITIONIST Upgrade
Welcome to the Nutritionist Playbook. This comprehensive program will guide you through the steps required to start and grow your nutrition business.
We will cover essential topics, provide practical advice, and offer resources to ensure you have a strong foundation for your new venture.
Nutritionist Playbook benefits.
- Business planning and set up
- Services & client management
- Sales & marketing
- Legal requirements
- Masterclass webinars
- Networking & professional development
- Ready to launch checklist
Course fees and
payment plan options.
Please use the toggle to switch between the Paid In Full and Direct Debit Instalment Plan payment options for the Sports Nutrition Coach OR Complete Nutritionist courses.
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Sports Nutrition Coach
Complete Nutritionist
Sports Nutrition Coach
PAID IN FULL-
No set classroom intakes
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Up to 12 months study duration
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Personal Assessor
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Instant message and email support
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Live virtual support sessions
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24/7 access to learning resources
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Masterclass webinars
Sports Nutrition Coach
INSTALMENT PLAN-
No set classroom intakes
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Up to 12 months study duration
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Personal Assessor
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Instant message and email support
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Live virtual support sessions
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24/7 access to learning resources
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Masterclass webinars
Pricing FAQs.
Can a student pay their payment plan off quicker?
Yes, a student can add additional payments or pay off their payment plan at any time during their study period.
Can a student receive their certificate if their course fees are not paid in full?
No, the student must pay the balance of their tuition fees before receiving their Statement of Attainment and certificate.
Is the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition government funded?
The 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition offered through Vast Fitness Academy is not eligible for government subsidies.
The 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition is classified as full-time study with Austudy. If a student believes they are eligible for this through Centrelink, it is recommended that the student directly speaks with Centrelink regarding their potential payments whilst completing study.
Can a student withdraw from their studies if they change their mind?
Yes, Vast Fitness Academy offers a 5-day cooling-off period from the day of enrollment. The details of this policy can be found in the Student Handbook.
Can a student obtain credit for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)?
If a student has previously completed online nutrition courses or nutrition qualifications that they believe could be credited towards their online nutrition course, they can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). For more information, it is recommended that the student speak with one of the Careers Advisors.
What is the minimum age a student can enrol in the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition?
The minimum age requirement to enrol in the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition is 17. For students under 18, Vast Fitness Academy has a process where the Academic Manager will speak with the student's parent or guardian. During this call, the Academic Manager will discuss the student's enrolment and study requirements to ensure the additional study load does not interfere with regular schoolwork and hobbies.
Can a student enrol in the 11046NAT - Certificate IV in Nutrition on a student visa?
No, Vast Fitness Academy is not a CRICOS Registered Training Organization and cannot enrol international students on a student visa.
However, they may be able to enrol on an alternate visa. For more information, it is recommended that the student speak with one of the Careers Advisors.
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