AUSTRALIA STUDENT VISA

Australia student visa Overview

The Australian Student Visa allows you to study and work in Australia for a period equal to the duration of your Course plus one month (28 days after the last day of class). The applicant needs to be at least 6 years old when making the application.

A Student Visa can be associated with:

  • Language Courses (eg: General English, IELTS Preparation et Cambridge, etc..);
  • Professional Courses (VET Courses, Vocational Education & Training);
  • Undergraduate Courses (Bachelor degree, Master’s and PhD).

To be granted a Student Visa, prospective students must meet requirements relating to their financial capacity, English language proficiency, and educational qualifications

To be granted a Student Visa, prospective students must meet requirements relating to their financial capacity, English language proficiency, and educational qualifications

Student Visas Requirements

The student visa you need depends on the chosen course of study. As a guide, the typical key requirements the applicant needs to meet are:

  • Issued an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) certificate
  • Meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement
  • Sufficient funds for airfares, course fees and living costs
  • English language proficiency
  • Meet health and character requirements
  • Acceptable Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

5 Easy Steps to Apply for your Australian Student visa

  • Decide on a course and institution
  • Apply for the course
  • Receive a letter of offer
  • Receive confirmation of enrolment
  • Apply for your visa

Changes to Australia student visa from July 1st, 2016

Migration legislation amendment has been made to simplify the student visa subclasses, new legislation will come into effect on July 1st, 2016.

If you intend to study in Australia you will need to apply for the Student Visa Subclass 500 visa.

If you plan to come to Australia to provide care to a student under 18 years, you can apply for the Student Guardian Visa Subclass 590.

Major changes of the Australian Student Visa include the following:

  • Place and Manner of Visa Application – Can I apply or renew my Australia Student visa when I am in Australia? The application will need to be made as an online application; The applicant could be in or outside of Australia when applying for the visa. If applying onshore, certain visa holders will NOT be entitled to make a valid student visa application.
  • The education provider’s immigration risk is taken into consideration in assessing the student’s genuine intention of temporary entry into Australia. The Department will assess the education provider’s immigration risk rating based on various risk indicators, such as the rate of visa cancellations, the number of previous refusals, and the rate of Australia Student visa holders becoming unlawful non-citizens after their arrival into Australia. The Department also indicates that it would NOT disclose the information on the education provider’s risk level due to commercial consideration. The students are encouraged to undertake thorough research before making the decision to enroll in the Australian education provider’s courses.
  • Visa conditions – Can I change my course (education sector)?Even though there is going to be ONE visa subclass for students, the students will only be able to change their course/s that are at the same level or at a higher level than the registered courses. For example, students may be able to change from a Diploma course into another Diploma course, or to a Bachelor course or Master course; Under the new policy, students will NOT be allowed to change courses from a higher level onto a lower level, for example, from a Bachelor course into a Diploma course freely; Changes from Ph.D. onto a Master degree would be the exception.
  • Genuine Temporary Entrant Requirement (GTE)The Department will take into consideration various factors in assessing the GTE:
  • The student financial eligibility student personal circumstances in the home country value of the proposed course in AustraliaThe immigration history of the students the relevance of the course to previous studies or employment
  • Financial capability Department will take into consideration various factors in assessing the GTE: travel expenses
  • living costs for the first 12 monthsAUD$19,830 for studentAUD$19,830 for student guardianAUD$6,940 for spouse or de facto partnerAUD$2,970 for each dependent child

annual course fees for the first 12 months

annual income requirement

  • AUD$60,000 for 1 x student application
  • AUD$70,000 for student visa application with secondary applicant included or for student guardian applicant

The financial capability will be accepted with evidence provided by applicants themselves, their spouses, or parents; the new policy has excluded the grandparents and other relatives from providing financial support for the student.

Frequently Asked Questions about Student Visas

1) Is there an age limit to apply for a student visa?

The Australia Student visa dent Visa doesn’t have age limits and can be acquired several times. The Australia Student visa can also be a good way to experience short-duration study and work experiences without necessarily requesting a Working Holiday Visa, which is only once in a lifetime.

2) Can I include my partner or child on my student visa?

You may include the following people in your visa application:

  • Your partner (married or de facto)
  • Your or your partner’s dependent children.

These family members must meet the requirements to be included in your application as your dependents.

They would be required to provide certain evidence of their relationship to you.

Evidence may include but not limited to the following:

  • Marriage Certificate
  • Birth Certificates
  • Evidence of your de facto relationship (boyfriend/girlfriend may not be considered as a partner)

Family members would need to be declared in your application whether they are accompanying you or joining you later.

Your family member will also need to show the financial capability to support themselves in Australia.

3) What are the costs of studying in Australia?

The costs of studying in Australia depend on the institution and the level of study you choose. As an international student, your tuition fees are payable before you study. There may be additional costs for your course, including course materials and access to institution facilities. The list below gives you an indication of the range of course costs for different types of qualifications.

  • School – $7,800 to $30,000
  • English language studies – Around $300 per week depending on course length
  • Vocational Education and Training (Certificates I to IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma) – $4,000 to $22,000
  • Undergraduate Bachelor Degree – $15,000 to $33,000*
  • Postgraduate Masters Degree – $20,000 to $37,000*
  • Doctoral Degree – $14,000 to $37,000*

4) Can I change my course (education sector)?

Your Australia Student visa is linked to the type, of course, you are studying. Each student visa subclass covers specific types of course only. If you wish to change your principal course at any time to a course in a different education sector, you must first apply for a new Australia Student visa using form 157A. The academic requirements (including evidence of English language skills) you need to study in Australia will vary depending on the level of education you want to study. Institutions can have different entry requirements.

5) Can I apply or renew my student visa while I am in Australia?

Yes, you can apply form Australia, as long as your current visa does not have a any further stay? condition.

6) Can I work with a Student Visa?

This visa allows you to work legally in a part-time job (up to 40 hours every 2 weeks) during your course duration and full time during any course pauses that may occur. Part-time work in Australia (4-5 hours per day) allows you to partially cover the costs of accommodation, food, transport, and tourism.

7) What is an Assessment level?

Each Australia Student visa application is considered on its individual merits. Assessment levels facilitate this process, allowing us to deliver fast and efficient service to our clients while maintaining the integrity of Australia’s immigration program. There are three assessment levels in the Australia Student visa program. They align Australia Student visa requirements to the immigration risk posed by applicants from a particular country studying in a particular education sector. Assessment level 1 represents the lowest immigration risk and assessment level 3 the highest. The higher the assessment level, the greater the evidence an applicant is required to demonstrate to support their claims for the grant of a student visa.

 

HOW TO APPLY FOR AUSTRALIA STUDENT VISA

You may need to apply for an Australia Student Visa when studying at Estudyabroad. We can provide you with all the relevant information, and help guide you through the visa requirements and application processes to study in Australia.

We aim to answer any questions you might have, so please explore our answers below. If you cannot find the answer to your question, you can get more information by contacting a student advisor.

In brief: if you plan to study in Australia for less than 12 weeks, you will need a Tourist Visa. If you wish to study for longer, you will require an Australia Student Visa.

Australia visa information

If you plan to study less than 12 weeks in total, you will need to apply for a Tourist Visa. If your length of study is over 12 weeks, you will need a Student Visa. For more information about obtaining an Australia visa, please visit the Australian Immigration Services website http://www.border.gov.au , or visit the Australian Embassy or Consulate in your region.
A Student Visa is issued to students who are going to study full-time in Australia. The time it takes to obtain one depends on the Australian Embassy from which you apply. The average time is 4-8 weeks.
If you are applying for a visa you should give yourself from 1 - 2 months until your desired starting dates, especially if you need accommodation.
We need to have a start date in order to process an application. Enough time should be given for your visa to be processed and accommodation secured.
As per the Terms and Conditions, fees paid will be refunded on receipt of written notification and proof that your visa application was denied prior to your start date.
No. All visas are issued by the Australian Immigration Service or Embassy/Consulate abroad.
You must first apply to study at Estudyabroad. If you are eligible for admission, Estudyabroad will issue an Enrollment Agreement (EA) and invoice to you. Estudyabroad issue you a receipt and ECOE (Electronic Confirmation of Enrollment) for student visa when the completed and signed EA and full payment is received for your booking. You should send these documents to the Australia Immigration Service or Embassy/Consulate as evidence of your course.
Usually you are expected to visit the Australian Embassy/Consulate in the country for which you hold citizenship (i.e. the country that issued your passport). If your country does not have an Australia Embassy/Consulate or if you are currently located in a different country, you should contact the closest Australia Embassy to see if they can accept your application for a visa. To find your local Australia Embassy, visit http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/index.htm
As per the Terms and Conditions, fees paid will be refunded on receipt of written notification and proof that your visa application was denied prior to your start date.
Estudyabroad does not issue your visa and therefore cannot confirm for how long it will be valid. Visas are typically given for the length of your course + 4 weeks. However this is dependent on providing the Immigration service with the proper documents. You should confirm this information with your local Australia Embassy/Consulate.
Estudyabroad is able to provide you with the documents to prove you are a confirmed student at our school (Enrollment Agreement, Accommodation Guarantee, and/or Receipt). However, prior to arrival, it is the student's sole responsibility to complete all government documents. Once you are at Estudyabroad, we can give you the necessary information on how you can change your visa or apply for a visa extension if necessary.
Estudyabroad does not issue visas and therefore cannot confirm the likelihood of approval. However, you should note that the granting of a visa is not guaranteed.
If denied your visa, you should ask the Consular Officer for the reason of denial before you leave the Embassy. You have the right to request the denial in writing as well. If no reason or a reason due to your personal submission is stated, Estudyabroad will be unlikely to be able to assist you further. In most cases, the government's decision is final and there is little Estudyabroad can do to change their decision.
Yes, if you would like to continue your studies with eStudyabroad, our Student Services will be glad to assist you with your Student Visa extension. You should notify Student Services of your plans to extend at least 4 weeks prior to your last day of study.
The bank statement/letter should show that you and/or your sponsor have enough funds to cover the cost of study. In addition, it must show that all funds are readily available without penalty for withdrawal. For this reason, statements from checking and/or savings accounts are best. Income statements, property deeds and other similar forms of investments are typically not acceptable. You can show funds through multiple accounts and/or multiple sponsors, if necessary.
Estudyabroad recommends that all students arriving into the country carry with them proper documentation as stated on the DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) website: http://www.immi.gov.au/Help/Locations/Pages/our-offices.aspx.
Australia Immigration Service needs to see that you have sufficient funds to cover your living requirements while in Australia. You must also show you have a return air ticket on arrival into Australia.
You can change your start date any time before entering Australia. Simply contact Estudyabroad to confirm your new start date as soon as you know about the change. At that time, Estudyabroad will mail you a revised Enrollment Agreement to show your new study dates. A failure to notify Estudyabroad about these changes can cause problems for you at the Port of Entry and/or Australian Embassy. If you want to begin before your start date, this is acceptable. Simply go to the school and let them know you want to start early.
You may change your school any time before you apply for your Student Visa at no additional charge. Estudyabroad has four schools to choose from in Australia, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Cairns. Simply contact Estudyabroad to confirm the new location and a new Letter of Acceptance will be mailed to you for the new location. If your visa has been issued, you can change locations, but you will need to submit a Change of Provider application before arriving in Australia. This may cost an additional fee. Please check with your Australia Embassy/Consulate regarding this fee. If the names do not match because you changed school locations after getting your visa, you may be denied entry to Australia.
The Student Visa issued to you by the Department of Immigration and Boarder Protection will notify you of the dates your Student Visa is valid. You should adhere to these dates. If you travel to Australia after your start date, you will probably face problems at the Port of Entry, since it appears you failed to meet the requirement of reporting to the school by your start date. To prevent problems at the Port of Entry, you should contact Estudyabroad and ask that we postpone your start date if you are unable to arrive before your start date. At that time, Estudyabroad will mail you a revised Letter of Acceptance with a postponed start date.
In general, you must show the Port of Entry Officer the following documents. If these documents are missing or incomplete, you may be detained, questioned or denied entry altogether:
  • A valid (non-expired) passport
  • Valid (non-expired) Student Visa (if applicable)
  • Bank statement
  • Proof of outbound travel (if arriving on a visitor's visa)
  • Documents from Estudyabroad:

    • - Letter of Acceptance

    - Receipt

For more information visit http://www.immi.gov.au/Help/Locations/Pages/our-offices.aspx
Students on a Student Visa must study full time. Full time study is 21 hours of English tuition per week Intensive English,English for Business,Supplementary,Cambridge Exam preparation courses. If you do not meet Estudyabroad's full time study requirements while studying with a Student Visa, Estudyabroad will be obliged to notify the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of your status and you risk falling out of legal status.
Students with a valid STUDENT visa may work up to 40 hours every two weeks after starting their course and work unlimited hours during their course holidays. This work right is included automatically for all students coming in on a student visa. Students may also work on a working holiday visa, but not on a tourist visa may not work.

If your question is not answered here, please contact a student advisor.

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