VISAS TO STUDY IN AUSTRALIA

If you are not citizen or a permanent resident of Australia and if you wish to undertake a full-time course in Australia, you need to apply for a student Visa. The Australian Government welcomes people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to study in Australia and has a set number of requirements that operate to regulate and protect the industry and intending students.

The Visa related information provided in this section has been obtained from DIMIA (Department of Immigration and Indigenous Affairs) and students should visit the DIMIA website before applying for a student Visa.

There are seven subclasses in Australian Student Visa program depending on the education sector. In other words, you will be assessed in relation to the study you wish to undertake.

The main course you wish to undertake in Australia

Subclass applied for this course

  • English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS), undertaken as a stand-alone course, not leading to an Australian award
  • ELICOS undertaken as a stand-alone course, not leading to a certificate I,II,III or IV

…570- Independent ELICOS

  • Primary school course,
  • Secondary school course, including junior and senior secondary, or
  • Approved secondary exchange program,  

…571- Schools

  • Certificate I, II, III or IV (except ELICOS),
  • Diploma, or
  • Advanced diploma,

Note: Former RATE system qualifications: Certificate, Advanced certificate and Associate diploma.

…572-Vocational Education and Training

  • Bachelor Degree,
  • Associate Degree,
  • Graduate Certificate
  • Graduate Diploma, or
  • Masters coursework

…573-Higher Education

  • Masters Research, or
  • Doctoral Degree,

…574-Postgraduate Research

  • Enabling course: non-award foundation studies, or
  • other full time course or components of courses not leading to an Australian award

…575-Non-award
  • full-time courses of any type undertaken by an AusAID or Defence student sponsored by the Australian Government

…576-AusAID and Defence
Each student Visa application is assessed according to an assessment level. The assessment level is determined by the:
  • passport held, and
  • Visa subclass.

Assessment Level 1 represents the lowest assessment level and assessment Level 5 the highest.

The higher the assessment level, the more evidence you will need to provide to demonstrate your financial capacity, understanding of the English language and other relevant matters. The List of Assessment Levels can be obtained from DIMIA website .