Visa Options for Studying in Australia – Students Visa

Despite having a population of just 23 million, Australia is the third highest country in terms of international students studying in the country. First and second are the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively.

Australia also has seven of its universities in the list of the world’s top 100 universities.  With up to 22,000 courses available across 1,100 universities, students get ample options to choose from.

The Australian government also invests up to $200 million, which is solely used for providing scholarships to international students. Therefore, if you are planning to move to Australia to pursue your educational dream, here is some valuable information that will help you travel to Australia to pursue your studies and avail yourself of much better Visa options for studying in Australia.

As a student, you will want to explore the visa options that best fit your category. Most likely, you will be opting for a student’s visa. As you read ahead, you will understand how to apply for a student visa and the documents required for the same.

How to Apply for a Student’s Visa

Before applying for a valid Visa, you need to decide on a course and an institution to pursue your course. Now, it is time to apply for the course and the institution. There are two ways to do this: the first is directly with the education provider, and the second is through an Australian education agent.

• Applying Directly with the Education Provider

To apply for a course directly with the education provider, you will need to download the application form from the website of the education service provider.

In case you are applying to more than one institution, you need to submit your application form to all the institutions that you choose to use.

• Applying Through an Education Agent

Many Australian institutions have made tie-ups with education agents across Australia. These agents typically have their websites, where you can find their contact details or contact them directly through the website.

The agent will assist you with the documents that you will need to send along with your application form concerning your course and institution.

The most important documents required in this case include:

• Any previous study or qualification documents
• Proof of your English competency level
• Evidence that shows your qualifications and work experience

If these documents are not in English, you will need to get them translated.

Letter of Offer

Once your application is successful, you will receive a ‘Letter of Offer’ from the institution. You will need to sign the letter and return it to the institution, which will signify your acceptance. This can be either done through email or, in some cases, by scanning the letter and emailing it.

Think of the ‘Letter of Offer’ as a contract between you and the institution. The ‘Letter of Offer’ consists of the course you will be enrolled in, your enrollment conditions, the payable fees and the refundable fees by the education provider if you do not complete the course. This is a critical letter, and this will only determine if you will receive a refund if you start or finish your course.

Essential tips about the Letter of Offer:

• Please read the ‘Letter of Offer’ carefully before accepting it
• Understand all your rights and refund arrangements
• If you disagree with the ‘Letter of Offer’, do not accept it
• Always keep a copy of the ‘Letter of Offer’ so that you are aware of your rights.

Course Enrollment Confirmation

 After accepting your acceptance of the ‘Letter of Offer’, the institution will send out an email copy of your course enrollment confirmation. This confirmation will outline your course start date, payable fees and course length.

Visa Application

If you are applying for a student’s Visa, you will need the details of your electronic confirmation of enrollment to lodge your Visa application. You must ensure that you meet the requirements for a student’s visa before you accept an offer and pay any fee.

Visa Option for Studying in Australia

Since July 1, 2016, the Australian government has introduced a simplified student visa framework (SSVF). Visa applications applied under SSVF by international students and education agents will be processed online by creating an account on ImmiAccount.

Student Visa (Subclass 500)

The following programs are included in this Visa category:

• Independent ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students)
• Schools (Primary and Secondary)
• Secondary school exchange program
• Vocation education and training (VET)
• Higher education
• Postgraduate research
• Non-award course
• International students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs or Defence

Other Visa Options

If you are going to pursue a short-term course, you can opt for a visitor visa or a working holiday Visa.

Here are the eligibility requirements for these visa categories:

Visitor Visa (Subclass 600, 601, 651)

• Maximum study time of 3 months only
• Your intention to visit Australia is genuine
• You meet the health and character requirements
• You have enough funds to support your stay in Australia

Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417 and 462)

• Maximum study time of 4 months only
• Be in the age group of 18-30 years and hold an eligible Australian passport
• Have a valid purpose for spending a holiday in Australia
• You enter and exit Australia as a genuine visitor
• You meet the health and character requirements
• You have enough funds to support your stay in Australia

Student Guardian (Subclass 590)

• This visa allows a person to reside with the student in Australia, where a student requires a guardian.
• Meet the genuine temporary entrant requirement
• You have enough funds to support your stay in Australia
• You meet your health and character requirements
• You must have acceptable health insurance

Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485)

• Through this visa, international students who have completed an Australian education can live in Australia and gain work experience.
• Depending on your qualification, you can work in Australia for a period of 18 months and up to 4 years.
• With this visa, you are not restricted to a kind of work or the hours you may work during your stay in Australia.
• You must meet Australian study, English proficiency, health cover, health and character requirements.

Entry Requirements

To begin your scholarly journey in Australia, you will need to fulfil specific entry requirements as given below:

English Language Requirements

In many cases, you will need to provide the results of an English language test. Different institutions will have different English proficiency level requirements. So, you must be aware of these requirements before applying to any institution.

Academic Requirements

The academic requirements include an eligible level of English proficiency. This proficiency requirement level will vary across different institutions in Australia.

Here are some general entry requirements for different study levels:

• English Proficiency – Meet the required English proficiency requirements for your institution
• Schools – Academic performance and ability are considered during the application process
• Vocation Education and Training – Although there is no test for Vocational Education and Training, some courses may ask you to face some tests.
• Higher Education Undergraduate – Proceed with an undergraduate program, you will need to have an Australian senior secondary certificate of Education or equivalent.
• Higher Education Postgraduate – You will need to have a satisfactory completion of at least one degree at undergraduate level, and your research and work experience may also be considered.

Visa Requirement

Here are the key requirements you must meet –

• You will need an electronic confirmation of the Enrolment certificate
• Meet the temporary entrant requirement
• You have enough funds to support your stay in Australia
• Meet the necessary English proficiency level
• Meet health and character requirements
• Acceptable overseas student health cover (OSHC)

Overseas Student Health Cover

Australia offers a special health cover for international students called the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). This health cover will help you pay for medical or hospital care you might need while you are studying in Australia. The health cover will also contribute towards the cost of your medicine and ambulance in an emergency.

Education Agents

After making your decision to study in Australia and finalising the course and study location, you can enrol in the institution directly. If you need help with admission, you can choose to hire an education agent.

An education agent can guide you through the course you can undertake and assist with your visa and the institution’s application form.

Here are some tips for choosing an Education Agent:

• As per the Australian government law, every Australian Education institution using the services of an education agent needs to have a contract with the organisation
• Many Australian educational institutions have tie-ups with more than one educational agent. It is wise to consult multiple agents to compare information further.
• According to the Australian government law, all institutions in contract with Educational agents must list the agents on the institutions’ websites.
• It is always wise to choose a reputable educational agent
• Check if the educational agent is an authorised representative of the institution. You can verify this by seeing their letter of appointment
• Always ask about the fee that the educational agent will levy
• Do keep in mind that Educational agents cannot confirm a work permit or a permanent visa in Australia after your graduation

Course Fee for Foreign Students in Australia

Institutions in Australia have their fee structure. This depends on the course, its length and some other factors. It also depends on whether you are studying at an undergraduate or postgraduate level.

1. Average tuition fees for international students in 2017/18 are between 15,000 and 33,000 AUD/year for undergraduates.

2. Average tuition fees for domestic students in 2017/18 are between 14,000 – 37,000 AUD/year for postgraduates.

3. Average tuition fees (divided in bands) for domestic students in 2017/18 are AU$ 0- 6,349 (~US$5,060) for Band 1; AU$ 0- 9,050 (~US$7,200) for Band 2; and AU$ 0- 10,596 (~US$8,440) for Band 3 postgraduates and undergraduates.

Limitations of a Student’s Visa

• Students can work in Australia while on a study permit for only 40 hours per fortnight.
• There are no medical or social benefits. You will need to obtain an overseas health cover.
• After completing the course, the government offers a work permit but only for one or two years, depending on the pursued course.
• Individuals with the study permit or a work permit cannot apply directly for citizenship.
• The pay scale is not as high as that of holders of permanent residence status.
• Some educational programs are primarily designed for Australian citizens and permanent residents.
• Cannot avail of any loan from the Australian government
• Individuals are required to pay the international student tuition fee, which is significantly higher than the tuition fee for Australian citizens or permanent residents.
• Individuals on a study permit can bring their dependents with them, but the dependents are limited to studying 20 hours per week.
• Individuals will have to secure an IELTS overall band score of 5.5, 46 in TOEFL and 42 in PTE-Academic.

Other Options for Individuals to Study in Australia

If you are an experienced worker who pursued an occupation for one or two years that is relevant to your education, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence. Permanent residence is the most sought entry to Australia by many skilled workers and eligible students.

You are required to meet the permanent residence criteria to be eligible for a permanent residence status. After being a permanent resident status holder, you are given all the rights that a normal Australian citizen enjoys. This includes the exemption of international students’ fees from your tuition fee. This is one of the best Visa options for studying in Australia.

Benefits of Permanent Residency

• As a permanent residence status holder, you can study in Australia without limitation as if you were on a study permit visa.
• You are entitled to all medical and social benefits except for voting rights until you choose to apply for Australian citizenship.
• After completing your course, you can choose where you want to work. You can hunt for jobs for yourself and work and live for an indefinite period in Australia.
• After completing 3 years of stay in Australia, you can easily apply for Australian citizenship.
• Since you are already skilled and experienced in your profession, you can expect to earn a monthly income of anywhere between AUD8,000 and AUD12,000.
• As a permanent resident, you can participate in or take up any educational programs run by the Australian government.
• You can request a loan from an Australian bank at 0% interest.
• You do not have to pay for any international student fees for the course you pursue. You will be paying the regular tuition fee as that of an Australian citizen.
• As a permanent resident, you can bring your spouse and children along with you. Moreover, if your spouse meets the eligibility criteria, she or he can also work in Australia on a full-time basis.