Student Visas - Study Visas

Australia has become a major exporter of education at all levels, from primary school to tertiary education. Many people come here from overseas to take advantage of our excellent trade and vocational colleges, also the academic qualifications gained through universities and post-graduate courses.

In the 2000 -2001 period, 146,577 visas were granted to overseas students, a 23% increase on the previous year. The major source countries were the Peoples' Republic of China (8,886 visas granted), United States (7,426), Malaysia (6,236), Indonesia (6,070) and Hong Kong (5,740). In the undergraduate sector there was a 47% increase in offshore (overseas) visa grants to a total of 38,555 students coming here to study.

Enrolment for a Student Visa

To apply for a Student Visa, you must be enrolled in a full-time course of study at a registered education provider in Australia. This is step one for all those wishing to apply for a visa.

For a list of registered courses, go to The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students

Main Eligibility Factors

Student visas are granted when a student can prove that they have adequate funds to support themselves in Australia, pay for their tuition and care for dependant family members included on the visa. As a student in Australia, you will only have a limited working allowance on your visa, so adequate funding to pay for living expenses and tuition are important and must be evidenced to gain the visa. If you take time off from study to work, this will mean you fall below full-time study levels, you exceed your work allowance on the visa, or you will fail academically. Any of these things can lead to visa cancellation.

Other requirements are that you be a genuine student, have good health and be of good character - without a criminal record. Because Medicare, the Australian national health system, is not available to overseas students, you must take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Lastly, your English language ability must be adequate to study in Australia at your selected course. If your English is not good enough, most education providers can arrange for you to take an intensive English course prior to the commencement of your main tuition.

Student visas are available in 7 categories, depending on the principal course of study.

1. Independent English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Student Visa (Subclass 570).
   English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students. This visa is for those who are only coming for the English course, but it is not a visa to study English prior to further courses.
   

2. Vocational Education and Training Student Visa (Subclass 572).
   A VET course is at Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Certificate level, as is taken in Australia at a Government Funded Technical and further Education (TAFE) college, or a privately funded college.
   

3. Higher Education Student Visa (Subclass 573).
   A University bachelor degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma.
   

4. Masters and Doctorate Student Visa (Subclass 574).
   A Masters degree by coursework or by research, and a Doctorate (PhD).
   

5. Schools Student Visa (Subclass 571).
   A primary or secondary school course of study, or a secondary exchange student program.
   

6. Non-Award Foundation Student Visa (Subclass 575).
   Any study course where there is no formal educational award or certificate.
   

7. AusAID or Defence Sponsored Student Visa (Subclass 576).
   You must provide evidence that you are sponsored by either AusAID or a Defence scholarship.