All That You Need to Know about Australia Student Visa

If you wish to study in Australia, make sure you do some research about student visas.

Australia is always a favourite destination for many students worldwide. According to the Department of Education and Training, the number of international students studying in Australia broke the record in 2016 with 554,179 international students enrolled in courses in Australia, an increase of over 10% from 2015. Also, the 2016 International Student Survey revealed that nine out of ten students were pleased with their study experience in Australia.

There are multiple reasons why international students are attracted to Australia. If you desire to study in the country, make sure you research about your student visa for Australia.

Australia study visa

On the 1st July 2016, the Australian Government put in place a new simplified student visa framework (SSVF) for international students.

The changes have made the process of applying for a student visa simpler for international students. The changes mean:

• A reduction in the number of student visa subclasses from eight to two, and
• The introduction of a simplified single immigration risk framework for all international students

The two new student visa subclasses are:

1. Subclass 500 (Student)

2. Subclass 590 (Student Guardian)

Subclass 500 allows you to stay in Australia to study full-time in a recognised education institution. To apply for this visa, you must have:

• applied for and been accepted to study in a registered full-time course at an educational institution in Australia
• organised appropriate welfare arrangements for the duration of your intended stay in Australia if you are under 18 years of age.

A subclass 500 visa allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of your course.

​You can apply to undertake two or more courses on your Student visa (subclass 500) where there is clear progression from one course to another. This is known as course packaging.The final course that you will undertake as part of your package of courses is your main (or principal) course of study. Your main course of study will be used to determine your financial and English language evidentiary requirements.

Now that you have known about the student visa subclass, you may proceed to the next step.

When and how can I apply for the Australia student visa?

The best time to apply for your student visa for Australia is right after you receive the Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) issued by an education provider located in Australia as a confirmation of acceptance to students. 

Start gathering and scanning all the documents you need for your visa application. The document checklist tool can be found at Student visa (subclass 500).You will apply for the visa online. 

Know more about the student visa for Australia

• You must fulfill some conditions during your studies, for example, to attend classes, to have satisfactory results, and to have adequate health insurance while in Australia.
• If you are a student visa holder, you and your dependent family members have permission to work based on the hours stipulated in your visa. You and your family members must not breach the work conditions that apply to your visas. You cannot work until you have commenced your course in Australia. Once your course has commenced, you are permitted to work in Australia a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight when your course is in session, and unlimited hours when your course is not in session.

English language requirement

You must meet the English language requirement to be granted a student visa.

If you are looking for an English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) before commencing higher level studies in Australia or to improve your English language skills for work or life back in their home countries, don’t hesitate to contact Scots English College (Scots). We are committed to the highest quality of educational outcomes and the provision of quality student services evident through the delivery of a range of ELICOS courses to international students.

Students at Scots’ Intermediate class

What happens after graduation

If you wish to remain in Australia after your graduation, you have some options:

• Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417): This visa allows students from certain countries, with ages from 18 to 35 to last for a maximum of one year.
• Skilled Graduate Temporary Visa (subclass 485): With this visa, you are allowed to stay in Australia for up to 18 months to work full-time only if you have completed at least two years of study in Australia.
• Training Visa (subclass 407): This visa is for students to enhance their work skills for up to two years while being sponsored by an organisation.
• Skilled Regional Residence Visa (subclass 887): This visa allows you to live and work in Australia permanently. To be eligible for the visa, you must live in Australia for two years, have a year of work experience and have sufficient points.

Cr: http://scotsenglish.edu.au/student-visa-for-australia