Australia Student Visa Guide: Process, Requirements, and Age Limit

Would you like to obtain a visa to study in Australia as a student, then you are at the right place. In this guide we shall be explaining what Australia Student Visa Guide is all about and the Process, Requirements, Age Limit, and a lot more you need to know.

Australia Student Visa Guide

In this Australia Student Visa Guide, we shall be explaining the following;

  • What is an Australia Student Visa?
  • Upcoming Intakes in Australia
  • Top 20 Australian Universities
  • Eligibility & Documentary Proof
  • How to Apply for a Student Visa?
  • Cost & Processing Time

What is an Australian Study Visa?

An Australian study visa is a temporary visa, that enables you to remain in Australia for the duration of your study.

According to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, all international students planning to study in Australia are now required to apply for a visa under Subclass 500 and this effectively combines the erstwhile subclasses 571 – 576 into one.

Upcoming Intakes in Australia Study Visa

Australian universities Always have two intakes every year:

  • First Intake:  Extends from February/early March to late May/early June
  • Second Intake: Extends from July/early August through to November 

The first intake is usually treated as the main intake by most Indian students. The best thing to do is to prepare for the next upcoming intake.

Top 20 Universities in Australia

Australia ranks as per the following among the Top 500 universities in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings 2020

Rank in 2020University
29Australian National University (ANU)
38The University of Melbourne
42The University of Sydney
43The University of New South Wales (UNSW)
47The University of Queensland (UQ)
58Monash University
86The University of Western Australia (UWA)
106The University of Adelaide
140University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
207University of Newcastle
212University of Wollongong
224Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
230Curtin University
237Macquarie University
238RMIT University
271Deakin University
274University of South Australia (UniSA)
291University of Tasmania
377James Cook University (JCU)
383Swinburne University of Technology
400La Trobe University
424Flinders University
442Bond University
484University of Canberra

Documentary Proof Required for an Australia Study Visa

You will generally need the following basic documents while applying for an Australia Student Visa.

  • The Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment as proof of admission into a college or university.
  • A valid passport.
  • Your visa application fee.
  • Your GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) statement.
  • Academic and work experience documents.
  • Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses like tuition fees, living expenses, living costs for dependents, and return airfare.
  • Details of OSHC health insurance policy.
  • Statement of purpose.
  • Passport-size photographs.

You will also be required to provide additional documents like parental consent if you are under 18 years of age.

Application Process For Australia Student Visa

You have to make sure that you meet all the requirements before you fill up the Australia Student Visa application.

To fulfil the requirements, you would need to :

  • Meet Australian study requirements: You have to be enrolled in a full-time course ( undergraduate, masters or Phd) to be able to apply for a student visa. The course must be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses.  for Overseas Students (CRICOS). The university will provide an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) certificate which will serve as proof of enrolment. 
  • Meet Language Requirements: Authorities need to know that you have adequate language abilities. You can display this by taking a language proficiency test. The following tests scores are acceptable:
    • International English Language testing system (IELTS) : 5.5-6
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) : 46
    • Pearson Test of English (PTE) : 42
    • Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) : 162
    • Occupational English Test (OET) : A ‘b’ for each test component
  • Have a Genuine Temporary Entrant (gte) statement: This will state that your only intention is to study in Australia, and that you plan on returning.
  • Have adequate health insurance: In the event of something happening to your health in Australia, the authorities need to know that you will be able to pay your own healthcare bills. You usually have to purchase an Overseas Student Health Cover to prove this.
  • Meet health requirements: You must be in reasonably good health, and have no major illnesses that show up during medical tests.
  • Meet character requirements: You are only eligible to apply for a study visa if you do not have a criminal or terrorist background. You must have a clean record.

Cost/Fee Requirements for an Australia Study Visa

International students are required to pay visa fees as per the category they fall in below.

Visa SubclassBase Application ChargeAdditional Applicant Charges if 18 Years or AboveAdditional Applicant Charges if Less Than 18 YearsThe Subsequent Temporary Applicant Charge
Student Visa(Subclass 500)AUD 620AUD 460AUD 150AUD 700
Student Visa(Subclass 500) (Subsequent Entrant)AUD 620AUD 460AUD 150AUD 700
Student Visa(Subclass 500) Foreign Affairs or Defense SectorNilNilNilNil
Student Visa(Subclass 500)Postgraduate Research SectorAUD 620NilNilNil

Average Tuition Fees & Course Costs for Indian Students

These are the average tuition fees per year for international students according to the official government site.

  • International Undergraduate Students – AUD 15,000 to AUD 33,000
  • International Postgraduate Students (Masters Degree) – AUD 20,000 to AUD 37,000
  • Doctoral Degree – AUD 14,000 to AUD 37,000

These figures however do not include high-value courses like medical degrees or veterinary science. They cost significantly more.

Also Read: Study in America Without IELTS or TOEFL in These America Universities

Australian Student Visa Processing Time

Usually, the Australia Student Visa is processed within a month, however, the maximum time it could take is 3 months.

However, Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) streamlines the visa processing time. Processing Time for Student Visa is:

Stream75% Processing90% Processing
Foreign Affairs or Defense Sector20 days26 days
Postgraduate Research Sector39 days77 days
Independent ELICOS Sector23 days38 days
Vocational Education and Training Sector36 days52 days
Higher Education Sector17 days32 days

Since the SSVF process has been streamlined, the standard time taken is anywhere between 4 – 6 weeks. This also depends upon the education institution and outstanding documents can always be requested if required and desired by the visa officer.

It is recommended that you apply for the student visa at least 12 weeks before the day of orientation at the educational institution.

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