Student Visa

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Student Visa

Australia is a great place to study – there’s no doubt about that! With a sunny climate, gorgeous beaches, and some of the finest universities and higher educational institutions in the world, it’s one of the globe’s premier student destinations.

To study here, though, you’ll need a student visa. Skill Migration can help you through the process – simple and easy!

To qualify for a student visa, you must:

  • Have been accepted and enrolled to study in a registered, full-time course at an Australian educational institution;
  • Have financial arrangements which cover the cost of your stay;
  • If you’re under 18, either have nominated a student guardian or have a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) in place.

 

Australian Educational Institutions

There are a large number of courses at all levels of education available for you to study, however, they must be CRICOS-approved to be eligible for a student visa. For an in-depth list of the types of study included, please see below:

Average Costs

Course prices vary depending on the type of study and length of the course. English courses can range from $200 to $350 a week, while certificates or diplomas they can range from $6,000 to $10,000 a year. However, Bachelors or Masters can range from $15,000 to $35,000 a year. Depending on the institution, you may have to pay all the fees upfront or they can be broken into three or six-month blocks.

Academic Requirements

All Australian educational courses are taught in English and in some circumstances, you will need to provide proof of a minimum level of English proficiency to be accepted into a course. This will vary depending on the institution and course level, so please be sure to check the requirements carefully when applying.

Depending on the course you’re applying for, you may also need to have a certain level of prior learning to be accepted. For instance, to complete a higher education undergraduate course, you will need to have the overseas equivalent of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. 

It may be beneficial to take a bridging or foundation course prior to arriving in Australia or prior to beginning your desired course.

Financial Arrangements

No matter which visa you apply for, you must be able to show you can support yourself while living in Australia. Please keep in mind the following items when budgeting for your time in Australia:

  • Cost of the visa itself;
  • Living costs such as rent, groceries, and utilities;
  • Public or private transport costs;
  • Insurances such as travel insurance or health insurance;
  • Overseas Student Health Cover (mandatory whilst you’re holding a student visa);
  • Airfares to get yourself both to Australia and back home;
  • Education costs including courses and materials.

 

Your Working Rights

As a student, you may only work up to 40 hours per fortnight (a 14-day period beginning on a Monday). Please keep this in mind when considering your financial situation, as you may not be able to earn as much money while here as originally planned.

Please visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website to find more specific details about pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, and notice and redundancy entitlements.

Your Family’s Working Rights

Family members of students studying a masters or a doctorate degree (on a subclass 500 visa) can work unrestricted hours once the primary student visa holder has started their course.

Unrestricted work rights also apply to family members of subclass 573 (Higher Education Sector) and subclass 574 (Postgraduate Research Sector) visa holders studying a masters by research or doctorate degree.

Be sure to advise your family members that they need to provide evidence of their relationship with you and proof that you have begun your course of study to prospective employers.

Student Guardians and CAAW

If you are under 18, you must either nominate a student guardian or have a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) in place. 

If you’re nominating a student guardian they must be over the age of 21 and have a visa to stay in Australia for the duration of your student visa or until you turn 18. 

In the case of a CAAW, your education provider will usually be able to handle these accommodations, but you need to make sure they are in place. At a minimum, they must cover the length of your course plus seven days at the end of your enrolment, or until you turn 18.

You must not enter Australia before your welfare arrangements start as it’s a condition of your visa and if not followed, your visa could be cancelled.

Types of Visas for Studying

  • Student Visa - Subclass 500

This covers the following types of study:

  • Independent ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students)
  • Schools (primary and secondary)
  • Secondary school exchange program
  • Vocational education and training (VET)
  • Higher education
  • Postgraduate research
  • Non-award courses
  • International students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs or Defence
  • Visitor Visa - Subclasses 600, 601, 651

This is for a maximum of 3 months of study providing your intention to visit Australia is genuine, you meet the health and character requirements, and you have sufficient money to support yourself during your stay in Australia.

  • Working Holiday Visa - Subclasses 417 and 462

This is for a maximum of 4 months of study providing you’re aged 18 to 30 years, hold an eligible passport, your intention to visit Australia is genuine, your principal reason for visiting is a holiday, you meet the health and character requirements, and you have sufficient money to support yourself during your stay in Australia.

  • Student Guardian - Subclass 590

This visa is provided when a student requires a guardian, i.e. when the student is under 18 years of age. You may study for up to 3 months or study ELICOS for 20 hours per week for the duration of the visa. You must meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirements, meet the health and character requirements, and have sufficient money to support yourself during your stay in Australia.

  • Temporary Graduate - Subclass 485

This visa allows eligible international students who’ve completed an Australian education to stay in Australia to gain work experience. You can work for a period of 18 months or up to 4 years, depending on your qualification. This visa does not restrict the type of work you may do or the number of hours you may work. You must meet Australian study, English proficiency, health insurance, health and character requirements, and the specific requirements of the stream in which you are applying for this visa.

Applications for this visa must be made in Australia and you must have held an eligible student visa in the last 6 months.

We maintain a global presence with offices around the world, including: Australia, Pakistan, Malaysia & Turkey. 

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Phone

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