STEP 1:
Application and Offer

Undergraduate:

Applications to universities in Australia can be made directly to the education providers by international students who are pursuing their pre-university qualifications such as A-levels, IB or foundation. 

Students who are pursuing an Australian grade 12 qualification whether in Australia or offshore, such as the AUSMAT or SACE programme, may be required to submit their application via a centralised application portal. Examples are UAC in New South Wales, VTAC in Victoria or QTAC in Queensland. 

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Students who are pursuing a diploma or degree outside Australia can also apply to continue their education in Australia with advance standing or credit transfer. 

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If an application is successful, the student will receive a Letter of Offer from their chosen education providers stating their programme details, course fees and start date. 

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Postgraduate:

Postgraduate courses in Australia are processed by universities directly. You can either lodge an application yourself or work with an education agent so you can benefit from free visa application guidance. 

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STEP 2:
Proof of English Proficiency

If you are not a native English language speaker, you’ll need to supply a certificate of results from an approved English language test. 

There are varying minimum requirements for each education level, and institutions sometimes set these requirements higher for certain courses. Most foundation courses will ask for an IELTS score of 5.0 while a score of 6.0 to 6.5 are required for most bachelor degree level courses. Specialised programmes such as medicine, dentistry, education, law, nursing or health sciences may require a 7.0 or higher. The other generally accepted test scores are TOEFL or PTE. 

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Many education providers in Australia will accept IGCSE or SPM English scores in lieu of IELTS or TOEFL. 

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STEP 3:
Acceptance and Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is a document that will be issued by your education provider that verifies your enrolment in a specific course. The CoE will be sent to you after you have accepted your offer and paid your deposit.

You must include a copy of this document in your visa application so that the Australian immigration has proof that you are registered in your declared course.

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​STEP 4:
Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Requirement

To meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement, you must write a statement that addresses two criteria:

1) That you are genuinely coming to Australia to study and not for any other reason

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2) That you will only be residing in Australia temporarily for the purpose of pursuing your intended course

In your statement, include details on your ties to home (such as your friends and family, or a job that you have to return to) as well as the value of the course to your future career or academic goals. State your intention to return home at the end of your visa.

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STEP 5:
Proof of Funds

To receive an Australian student visa, you must prove that you have enough money to support yourself for at least 1 academic year. The funds must be sufficient to cover your course fees and living expenses. The estimated living expenses is approximately AUD18,000 to 25,000 per year depending on the location of the educatin provider. 

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You can provide bank statements of your account, your parents' bank account or evidence of grants or scholarships to fulfil this requirement.

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​STEP 6:
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

As an international student in Australia, you must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa. 

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OSHC will help you:

• Pay for medical or hospital care while studying in Australia.

• Pay for most prescription medicines.

• Provide you with ambulance cover in emergencies.

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You can purchase OSHC via your education provider, directly from an approved insurance provider or with the help of an education agent. 

​STEP 7:
Health Requirement

The Australian Government requires all international students to be in good health before entering the country. As a result, you may need to undergo a health examination and provide a medical certificate confirming that you meet these health requirements. The medical examination is usually carried out at an approved panel clinic after submission of student visa application online. 

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​STEP 8:
Character Requirement

There are also character requirements that you must meet if you wish to pursue certain courses in Australia. In some cases, you may need to provide a police check clearance.

​STEP 9:
Apply for a student visa

Once you have your COE, OSHC and funding in place, you are ready to lodge your student visa application. The lodgement of student visa is done online via the Australian immigration website. 

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The cost of visa application is AUD650 for lodgements made outside Australia. 

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After lodging your visa online, you may proceed to arrange your medical check and biometrics lodgement at the Australian visa centre in your location. 

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Once your biometrics are lodged, it can take anywhere between 1 week to 3 months to obtain your visa grant. There is no need to surrender your passport to the visa centre while you wait for your visa outcome. Hence, you are still able to travel in the meantime. 

​STEP 10:
Prepare your stay

While you are waiting for your visa grant, you should make arrangements for accommodation. Very often, early confirmation is essential to ensure you secure a place in university accommodation as they run out quickly. 

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However, you should only purchase your flight tickets once your visa is approved as Australian student visa processing times can be unpredictable at times.