STUDY VISAS

Compared to other countries, it is easier to get a student visa for Australia. Students wanting to study in Australia must meet certain requirements to qualify for a visa. Once you are enrolled in a full-time study course you can apply for a visa under Subclass 500

• Enroll in a course participate in an eligible course of study
• Bring family members to Australia
• Apply for the visa online in or outside Australia
• Travel to and from the country
• Work for up to 40 hours every two weeks once your course starts The duration of the visa is for five years, you can apply for an extension.

Processing Time

Before you submit your visa application ensure that you meet all the eligibility requirements. The processing time for your visa is usually four weeks. You can apply for the visa 124 days before the start of your course and you can travel to the country 90 days before the commencement of your course. If you have any dependents, they can apply for the same Subclass 500 visa. Even if they may not come with you immediately, you must declare your dependents in your visa application. Otherwise, they may not be eligible for a dependent visa later.

• Step 1: Before you even submit your application, you must first gather the required documents.
• Step 2: The documents you must submit are proof of your identity, character, and other documents that prove that you have fulfilled the visa conditions.
• Step 3: Apply for the visa online.
• Step 4: You will be notified by the authorities that they have received your visa application.
• Step 5: You will be notified of the outcome of your visa application.

Ways to apply

Australia provides multiple options when you want to apply for a university

• Directly by you through the university’s website
• By a local university
• By an external agent

Clear your English language exam

If English is not your native language, then you need to take an English language proficiency test. You need to take the IELTS test and keep the results of the tests ready when you are making your visa application.

Apply to the universities to get your CoE

Once you are selected for a course, you will receive an offer letter from the college. You will have to give a written confirmation accepting the offer and pay the tuition fees. Subsequent to this you will receive a Confirmation of Enrolment or CoE. This document is required to process your visa application.

• Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) certificate
• Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement
• Financial Requirements that you can fund your studies (funds to cover your return airfare, tuition fees and a sum of AU$18,610 per year)
• Your English Proficiency test results
• Australian approved health insurance cover.
• Verification of your criminal records.

COST OF STUDYING IN AUSTRALIA

Usually, courses in Arts, Education, and Humanities are cheaper while subjects like Engineering and Medicine are expensive. Studies at the Post Graduate level have higher tuition fees typically and costs are diverse based on the program

Sr No	Study Program	Average Tuition Fees in AUD$
1	Undergraduate Bachelor Degree	$15,000 – $35,000 yearly
2	Postgraduate Master’s Degree	$20,000 – $40,000 yearly
3	Doctoral Degree	$14,000 – $37,000 yearly

WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR STUDENTS:

Student Applicant:

• Students must be over 18 years of age
• International students in Australia on a valid student visa can work for up to 20 hours per week
• An exception is, working as an academic assistant. There is no limit to how many days academic assistants may work
• They are not allowed to be self-employed or work as freelancers

After graduation students can apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). The visa will be granted based on the coursework and the category under which the student has applied.

In general, spouses are given the same rights as the spouse is already in Australia. Therefore, if the spouse in Australia has the right to work, the spouse who comes to join him or her will also have that right. But also note that only work permit holders can apply for the dependant visas.

AUSTRALIA STUDENT VISA REQUIREMENTS:

• The student visa for Australia falls under Subclass 500.
• You will be eligible for a student visa only if you wish to pursue a registered course or part of it on a full-time basis.
• The maximum validity of the visa is five years.
• A registered course is an education or training course offered by a university/ institute registered with the Australian government.
• The course you wish to pursue must be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
  • Issued an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) certificate – this is to confirm your enrolment in an Australian University
  • Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement – this is proof of your intention to come to Australia only to study and not to settle down here.
  • Four recent passport-sized photographs
  • Certified or notarized copies transcript/document of academic results
  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) – approved by the Australian government, this health insurance provides basic medical and hospital cover. You can purchase this insurance through your university.
  • Results of tests in the English language like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE if you are a non-native English speaker
  • Evidence of monetary means for covering all expenses during the period of study
  • If applicable, proof of civil status
  • Your University will make you aware of additional requirements if any prior to your application
  • Financial Requirements – to get your student visa you must prove that you have the funds to cover your course fees, travel, and living costs.
  • Character Requirement – you must submit a certificate to prove you have no criminal record.
  • Proof of visa fees payment – proof that you have paid the required visa fees.

If there any other additional requirements, the university you have been selected for will let you know about them.

AFTER YOU GRADUATE:

If you completed a Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral degree, you may be eligible for the Post-Study Work stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa

Graduate Work stream: International students with an eligible qualification who graduated with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). A visa in this stream is granted for 18 months from the date of grant

POST-STUDY WORK OPTIONS:

Post-Study Work stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa grants post-study work rights to international students who have completed a can work in the country for two to four years to gain international work experience.

Students can also work under the Graduate Work Stream. They are eligible for this stream if they have graduated with the skills and occupation that is related to an occupation which features in the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). This visa is valid for 18 months.