Student Visas
Studying in Australia requires you to obtain a student visa. The student visa is issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Here are some points to note.
Australian Visa requirements for Students
The Australian student visa application is done online. There are minimum requirements that you need to meet to be eligible for the student visa. These are:
- State of Health: The Australian Immigration Department reserves the right to test students that want to pursue careers in the medical field, particularly those in direct contact with patients like nurses or doctors. Medical tests are mandatory, and these extend to body x-rays. These tests must be carried out by doctors that are recognized by the Immigration Department. Once in Australia you, as a student, are required to procure the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It can be acquired through nib OSHC, Australian Health Management, Allianz Global Assistance, BUPA Australia, Medibank Private or through your university. Costs vary per provider, and they are also determined by the duration of your stay in Australia. There is an exception to students from Norway, Belgium and Sweden that already have insurance from their parent countries.
- Proficiency in English: Proof of proficiency in English is another key requirement. This is necessary when you come from a country that is not English-speaking. Conversely, if you have not studied in an English-speaking country for at least five years, the same rule applies. Among the tests you can sit for are Cambridge Advanced English Test, TOEFL iBT, Pearson Test of English, and IELTS. You need to have a minimum score depending on the course you intend to pursue like English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students, foundation course or undergraduate studies.
- Financial Resources: You must show proof of having enough resources to pay for your living expenses, travel and tuition fees. A minimum of AU$20,290 annually is required for your living expenses. If you are accompanied by your wife and children, there must be evidence of your ability to support them while in Australia and this includes tuition fee for schooling of your child. Other options include the capability of your spouse or parents to provide for you having a minimum annual income of AU$60,000.
- Good Character: Your good conduct will enable you to get a student visa. A background check is conducted to ascertain if you have a criminal record or not. Your local police may need to certify that you do not have a criminal record. In this regard, the Australian Embassy may make a request for the local police to fill in a Character Statutory Declaration Form about your person.
How to fill in an Australian student visa application form?
Foreign students require the Subclass 500 Australian Student Visa. Prior to your student visa application, you must have received a Letter of Offer commonly known as Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) from the institution of learning of your choice. The university must be registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions of Courses or CRICOS. The COE is actually, an online code that guides you to your area of interest during application for the student visa. On some occasions, a tuition fee deposit is necessary.
If you opt to change the course, you will need to apply for a new visa. The only exception to this requirement is if you opt to change your course for PHD to a post-graduate course.
Student visa documentation
Knowing what documents to have can be a daunting task when applying for a student visa. Fortunately, the Australian Department of Home Affairs has provided a checklist of the same. Here it is:
- Duly filled Australian student visa application form (157A)
- Most recent passport-sized photographs (4)
- Proof of health insurance cover
- English proficiency test score
- Letter of Offer or Certificate of Enrolment
- Copy of passport biodata page and in some case the hard copy
- Criminal record check score
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Payment of visa AU$560 application fee
In order to submit all the necessary supporting documents, you will go to the Immi Account application module online, create your account and submit the application. Thereafter, you will wait for you application to be processed for up to four weeks. You will get an allowance of up to three months validity on a successful student visa application once you have completed your course.
Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)
The Genuine Temporary Entrant is a document that declares your genuine intention to live and study in Australia on a temporary basis as a student, dependent or guardian of the student. Here are some of the factors that are taken into consideration by the Department of Home Affairs while assessing your GTE:
- Immigration Profile
- Significance of the course you are pursuing in Australia.
- Adapting to local environment
- Current conditions in country of origin
The Australian Embassy, High Commission or consulate may request you to attend an interview whereas, in other cases, a straightforward visa application form is all you need.
Using your student visa
On landing in Australia, you have the option to arrive three months prior to the commencement of your course. However, you must provide your residential address to your institution of learning within a week. Conversely, in case of a change in your address, you must inform them within a week.
The Australian student visa allows you to work for forty hours within a two-week period when your academics session begins. During the holidays, you can work full time. However, you should not use the income to finance your education or support your family. That must be from separate financial resources as stipulated in your visa.
There are no work restrictions on post-graduate or PHD students. If you have to be interned during your course, then, there are no limits to how many hours you can put in to meet your course requirements. This rule applies to voluntary work or organizations that are not commercial by nature as well.
Once you have obtained your student visa and begin attending classes at a local institution, you must stick to all the rules and requirements as mentioned in the visa, by the Department of Home Affairs and your university. Any violation of the rules could result in the cancellation of your visa. Any deviation from the rules can create a lot of problems not only for you but your family or guardian.
Gaining access to a learning institution in Australia is not as difficult as some may want to belief. In fact, the benefits of earning an income through employment as a student arise. However, you must adhere to all the rules and regulations to gain the maximum from your stay in Australia.