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Study in Australia
 Basic
requirements for study
New
Student Visas
Assessment
Factors
Visas
Conditions
Basic requirements
for study
The arrangements introduced on 1 July 2001 replace the gazetted/non-gazette
country system and special entry arrangements for students from the People's
Republic of China, which ceased on 30 June 2001 for student visa applications
made after that date.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language TOFEL test has been gazetted as an
alternative test of English language proficiency to the International Language
Testing System ITELS test for student visa applicants in select countries.
The student visa re-structure is one of a package of measures undertaken by the
Australian Government to reform Australia's education export industry.
Extensive consultations were undertaken with representatives of the
international education industry in Australia.
New Student Visas
The biggest change to the program on 1 July 2001 was the
introduction of seven visa subclasses. Students must apply for a visa in the
visa subclass that relates to the principal course of study they wish to
undertake:
Subclass 570 - Independent ELICOS
This visa subclass is for overseas students undertaking an ELICOS (English
Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) as a stand-alone course, and
not as a prerequisite to commencing another course (for example, a degree
course)
Subclass 571 - Schools
This visa subclass is for foreign students undertaking a course of study at a
primary school or a secondary school, including both junior and senior
secondary school.
This visa subclass is also for overseas school
students participating in a formal registered secondary exchange program. The
period of exchange may vary from a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 1 year.
To apply for a student visa, secondary
exchange students must present an official Acceptance Advice of Secondary
Exchange Student (AASES) form. The relevant State/Territory education
department issues this form to organizations that satisfy requirements for
exchange registration and are approved to operate their programs.
Subclass 572 - Vocational Education and Training (VET)
This visa subclass covers certificate I, II, III and IV, Diploma, Advanced
diploma and Advanced Certificate.
Subclass 573 - Higher Education
This visa subclass covers a Bachelor degree, Associate degree, Graduate
certificate, and Graduate diploma.
Subclass 574 - Masters and Doctorate
This visa subclass covers a Masters degree by coursework or by research, and a
Doctoral degree.
Subclass 575 - Non-award Foundation Studies/Other
This visa subclass covers foundation, bridging or other courses that do not
lead to the award of a degree, diploma or other formal award.
Subclass 576 - AusAID or Defence
This visa subclass covers full-time study undertaken by AusAID or Defence
sponsored students for the whole or part of an education or training course
offered by an Australian education provider.
Assessment Factors
Another significant change to the student visa program on 1 July 2001 was the
introduction of assessment levels. Students must provide evidence that
satisfies the assessment factor applicable to them before they can be granted a
student visa.
This includes proof that they have appropriate financial funds, (for example
the capacity to meet expenses such as air fares living costs in Australia and
tuition fees), the ability to support any family members, English language
proficiency, and that they will comply with the conditions of their visas.
There are five Assessment Levels (AL), which are prescribed according to the
country of nationality and the education sector in which a student intends to
study.
For example, Malaysia and Sweden are AL 1 for all sectors; Brazil, Brunei,
Cyprus, and Egypt are AL 2 for all sectors; Argentina, Israel, and the Russian
Federation are AL 3 for all sectors; PRC, India, and Pakistan are AL 4 for all
sectors.
AL 1 represents the lowest assessment level and AL 5 the highest. Currently, no
countries or sectors are ranked AL 5.
Most countries have a mix of assessment levels across sectors. For example, the
United Kingdom is AL 2 for all sectors except the Schools sector, which is AL
3.
Assessment level 3, 4 and 5 applicants must make their initial student visa
application whilst they are outside Australia.
All students must also be of good character and sound health and have
acceptable health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover, (OSHC)
including for their accompanying family members. (Students from Norway and
Sweden may not need OSHC if they have acceptable national health cover offered
by those countries.)
Package Courses: Students in all subclasses and Assessment levels may
"package" their studies so that they combine a first course with
their principal course of study. For example, they may take a short English
language proficiency course or a foundation course before their main course
begins.
Visas Conditions
Work Rights: There has been no
change to the work rights of students, but work rights for dependants of
students have changed.
Students and their dependants applying for student visas for the first time are
not automatically given permission to work in Australia. They can only apply
for permission to work after they arrive in Australia and the student has begun
his or her course of study.
Students granted a student visa with work rights on or after 01 November 2000
are limited to 20 hours work per week while their course is in session; they
may work full-time during holiday periods.
Work rights are intended only to provide a student's income rather than be the
sole source of funds. Students found to be working in excess of their limited
work rights are subject to mandatory visa cancellation.
Dependants' Work Rights: From 1 July 2001, dependants of overseas students are
only permitted to work for 20 hours per week, except dependants of Doctorate
and Masters students who are not AusAID or Defense sponsored students. They
have unlimited work rights after the principal student visa holder has
commenced his or her course in Australia.
No Extension of Stay: Assessment Level 3, 4 or 5 who intends to study for 10
months or less in Australia, must leave Australia before their student visa
expires.
They may not lodge an application for another visa while in Australia, other
than for a student visa with permission to work, a Protection visa or a
Graduate Skilled (Temporary) visa.
Students who are sponsored by the Commonwealth of Australia or the government
of their home country must also leave Australia before their student visas
expire. They will only be able to extend their studies in
Students in Australia if the sponsoring government gives wrote consent to this.
Change of Education Provider: Students who have the words "no change of
provider" on their visa label may not change the education provider of
their preliminary or principal course within the first 12 months without
obtaining permission from the Department before they change.
They will be required to provide evidence that exceptional circumstances exist
justifying their change in enrolment.
Students who, at any time after arrival in Australia, wish to change their
principal course of study must apply for a new visa in the subclass appropriate
to their new principal course, if the new course is in a different education
sector. This is because their existing visa does not cover their new course.
Change of Address: Students must inform their education providers of their
current residential address within seven days of arrival and of any change of
address in Australia within seven days of the change. Students must also notify
any change of enrolment to a new provider.
Family Members: Family members aged 18 years or over who are in Australia on a
student dependant visa may only study up to three months during the life of
their visa. If they wish to undertake a course of study that exceeds three
months, they must apply for a student visa in their own right.
School age children of student visas holders who join their parent(s) in
Australia for more than three months must attend school, and the student must
meet any education or tuition costs.
A fiancé is no longer regarded as a family member and cannot join a student
visa holder in Australia as a student dependant.
Student Internet Processing: Since July 1999, overseas students in Australia
have been able to apply for permission to work over the Internet.
From August 2001, DIMA plans to expand the facility so that students outside
Australia can apply for a student visa over the Internet without needing to
visit an Immigration office or an Australia diplomatic office overseas.
(Note: Students will still need to apply for permission to work after commencing
study in Australia).
Initially, a trial will be undertaken with higher education students from
Norway and Sweden as well as US Study Abroad students, as these students are
considered very low risk in terms of bona fides and health. If the trial is
successful, the range of countries may be expanded.
On-Campus Processing: A traveling unit enabling electronic visa processing for
students was introduced by DIMA in March 2001. The mobile facility allows
immigration officials to visit university campuses to accept and process
student visa applications. The majorities are finalized "on the
spot".
Some 8000 applications for permission to work have been processed through 34
campuses.
Statistics: A record number of visas, 146,577, were given to outside students
in 2000-2001. This was a 23% increase over the 1999-2000 figure of 119,103.
Major source countries for students applying offshore were the People's
Republic of China (8886 - 46% increase), the United States (7426 - 16% up),
Malaysia (6236 - 6% up), Indonesia (6070 - 12% up) and Hong Kong SAR (5740 - up
26%).
The undergraduate sector showed particularly strong growth with an increase in
offshore visa grants of 47%, from 26,233 to 38,555.
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