Study in the Australia

The Australian education system is distinguished from many other countries by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF is a national policy that covers qualifications from the tertiary education sector (higher education, vocational education, and training) in addition to the school leaving certificate, called the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.

The AQF has 10 levels and links school, vocational, and university education qualifications into one national system. This allows you to move easily from one level of study to the next, and from one institution to another, as long as you satisfy student visa requirements. It allows for choice and flexibility in career planning. All qualifications in the AQF help prepare you for both further study and your working life.

If you are studying for an AQF qualification, you can be sure that your institution is Government-authorised and nationally accredited, and that your degree or other AQF qualification will be genuine.

Our institutions are linked across the country and across the world, which makes it easy to move throughout the education system between courses or institutions, and formal agreement and recognition frameworks mean every step of the path will contribute to your future no matter what your study or career goals.

Universities in Australia have vocational courses that focus on practical skills and industrial training.

Documents Needed to Start Your Student Visa Application for Australia

So, you are all set for Australia. Getting into the college of choice is only the first step. What lies beyond the extensive application process is equally important – the visa application for Australia. So, once you have selected which type of student visa applies to your intended study in Australia, there are a few basic documents you must have before you start the Visa Application Process. Since the process is online for Indian Students, it is important to have all the documents ready. Here’s what all:

• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

Confirmation of Enrolment is a certificate issued by the University/ Institute you would have applied to. The certificate essentially marks out that you are a registered student for the course. It is also the certificate that validates that the course you are applying for is approved and registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions of Courses (CRICOS). This is mandatory for getting a Visa.

Also, in case you are intending to take up an English Language Course or a bridging course, or any foundation course as a precursor to your main degree program, you need to provide an independent CoE for each of the courses you are intending to take.

• Valid Passport

At the time of application, you must have a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity at the time. For example, say you are applying for a Visa on July 1, 2015. At the moment of your application, you must have a visa that is valid till at least about January 1, 2016. Also, you would need a valid passport during the time of your stay. In that instance, you can apply for a new passport after making your application for Visa and intimate the embassy when you receive a new passport as well as update your account with the new passport number and details.

• English Language Proficiency

Australian Visa mandatorily requires English Language Proficiency Certificates by Indian Students. Irrespective of the requirement of the course you are applying for, you would need to provide proof of English language proficiency at the time of filling out the Visa Application Form.

The Australian Immigration Department accepts 5 English Language Proficiency Tests, namely

• International English Language Testing System with a band of 6 in each of its sections as well as an overall score of a minimum of 6.
• Occupational English Test (OET) with a score of at least B in each of its sections
• Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) with a minimum score of 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing, and 18 for speaking
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic with a score of a minimum of 50 in each of its sections
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test with a minimum test score of 169 in each of the four sub-sections

• Health Check-up and Insurance

To receive a student visa for Australia, you need to provide proof that you are in good health. You can do so by providing a certificate of good health. The health check-up and certificates can only be provided by impaneled doctors. You can make an appointment with the one closest to you for the same. Here’s a link for the Empanelled Doctors for India. You would be provided with a HAP id which you would need to provide at the time of filling out the form.

At times, you can also apply for a health check-up after starting the visa application. However, this would be required for processing your visa. Getting it beforehand would ensure quicker processing.

Apart from a health check-up, you would also need Health Insurance or an OSHC (Overseas Students Health Cover). At the time of visa application, you should have an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa. Depending on the duration of your health coverage, your visa tenure would be settled so make sure that it covers the duration of your course. The average cost of OSHC is AUS$ 437 for 12 months for a single student.

• Proof of Funds

Like many other counties, you would be needed to show proof that you have enough funds to cater to your education and living expenses while you are in Australia. You would be required to provide documents that declare that you have sufficient funds to cover the duration of your stay in Australia. Essentially, the funds should cover:

• Travel costs to and from Australia
• Living costs
• Tuition costs

This is necessary and in case you are applying for a student loan to cover your expenses, you would need the letter from the bank to validate your financial capacity.

• Penal Clearance

Penal Clearance or police clearance is also required by students planning to go and study in Australia. To validate your character and that you do not have any criminal record, you would need to provide a document, duly signed and attested by the regional passport office. For more information and address you can refer to this link.

• Certified Copies of Academic Transcripts and Passport

You would also need true copies of all your academic documents and transcripts.

• 4 Passport Size Photographs

You would be required to submit 4 passport-sized photographs. When submitting the same, you should ensure that

• • These photographs are of the head and shoulders only against a plain background.

• Your name is printed on the back of each photograph.

• Credit/ Debit Card

Last but not the least, you would need access to a debit or a credit card to make an online visa fee payment. At present, the visa fee for Student Visa (573) is AUD 535. This, however, is subject to change, and students are advised to check the official website before they start the application process.

Student VISA to Australia

If you are going to study in Australia for a longer period you will need to apply for a student visa. Here we guide you through the application process step by step.

If you are taking a short program, for example, a language course, of a maximum of 12 weeks you can use a tourist visa. If you have a Working Holiday visa you are allowed to study for 16 weeks. For university studies and all longer programs, you will need to apply for a student visa by following the steps below:

1. Apply to a school in Australia and get a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

Before you can apply for a student visa to Australia you must be enrolled at an Australian school. After you have received an offer letter from a school, accepted the offer in writing, and paid their tuition deposit the school will send you a CoE, Confirmation of Enrolment. You will need this document to begin your visa application. If you will take several programs, for example first take a preparatory language course and then study at college, you will need one CoE for each program.

We have a partner who can help you free of charge with the application to all universities in Australia fill out an information request so we can help you!

2. Create an account with the Australian immigration authorities

Nowadays you normally apply online for Australian visas. Before you start your visa application you have to create an account at https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/register

They will ask you to submit your name, phone number, and e-mail address. Then you get to create a password and accept their conditions.

3. Make sure that you have all the needed documents in digital format

To apply for a student visa, you will need the following documents:

• Your CoE
• An OSHC health insurance. See our study abroad insurance FAQ
• The passport that preferably should be valid for your whole stay in Australia since it will be troublesome to exchange your passport there when you study on a student visa
• Proof of temporary stay: on your application, you will have to certify that you only plan to stay temporarily in Australia. You can support this claim by attaching proof of employment or a letter from your school in your home country or similar documents.

Depending on where you apply from and where you will study additional documents will be needed. Some common documents you might need are:

Additional id documents such as a birth certificate

• Proof that you can finance your studies, such as a bank statement
• Proof that you have enough knowledge to pass your intended studies, such as certified grade reports and IELTS-test results.
• Proof of previous employment such as an employment contract, paychecks, etc.
• Documentation of criminal offenses if you have ever been convicted.
• To get a more complete document list go to https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/web-evidentiary-tool and use the Document Checklist tool. There you fill in your nationality and school and get a detailed list of needed documents. You also need to choose who your sponsor is and choose “None of the above” unless you are sure that you belong to one of the other categories.

If you apply online all documents should be uploaded in a digital format. So, it is good if you have access to a scanner when you do the application or you can scan everything in advance. All documents should be translated into English by a certified translator. You can save your application and continue later if you miss some documents.

4. Complete the visa application online

You should apply for a student visa subclass 500. The application can be made at the earliest 124 days before your course starts (according to the date on your CoE). You apply online. Read more and follow the instructions at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500

On the first page, you fill in your nationality and your CoE code(s). You should also choose your education sector, for example, ELICOS for language courses or Higher Education for courses that lead to a university degree. More information is available on the form.

Thereafter you will be asked to submit personal details, and family details, answer questions about your previous education and work experience and submit details about your health and criminal record. You can save the application and take a break if you want.

5. Pay the visa fee and get a TRN-number

When you have completed the application, you should pay the application fee which currently is 575 AUD. The easiest is to pay it with a credit card online. Read more about the payment here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online/how-to-pay

When the application and payment are done you will get a receipt with a TRN number (Transaction Reference Number). Make sure to save it so you can check the status of your application.

6. Pay the visa fee and get a TRN-number

Depending on where you will study and where you live you might also need to do a health check-up and/or a visa interview. You will receive this information about this when you complete the application above if it applies to you.

Don’t do the health check-up before you have completed the application as you will need your TRN number and you will get instructions on what you need to check. On this page, you can find doctors in your country that are approved by Australian Immigration to do this check-up.

7. Get your visa decision

How long it takes to get your visa decision depends on where you are applying from and how busy the Australian immigration authorities are. In our experience, you usually get your decision within one or a couple of weeks once your application is complete. You can check the status of your application by logging in to the immigration website (with the account you created in step 2) and if needed enter your TNR number. Log in at: https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login

Normally the Australian authorities will notify you by e-mail once your visa decision is ready. Your visa is electronic so if you want physical proof you can print the grant letter that you receive online once your visa is approved.

8. Travel to Australia

Once you have received your visa you can enter Australia at the earliest 90 days before the course start date printed on your CoE. If you have not booked accommodation through your school, you should inform them of your address in Australia within 7 days of arriving there.

Usually, you have the right to stay in Australia for 30 days after your course ends or 60 days if your course lasts longer than 10 months. All these date limits should be written on your visa and if that information differs from what we write here you should always follow the instructions on your visa.

Read more about studying in Australia!

Australia is an island country in the Southern hemisphere and belongs to Oceania/Australia. Australia is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Australia/Oceania is the smallest continent of the seven continents and although some consider Australia the largest island in the world, Australia is commonly referred to as a country and a continent. (Greenland is the biggest island in the world).

Australia is also the driest inhabited continent in the world.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, after Russia, Canada, the USA, China, and Brazil.

The country is divided into six states (Southern Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania) and two self-governing territories: Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory (which is around Canberra, the capital city).

The country’s interior consists of arid and semi-arid areas which are referred to as ‘outback’. About 70% of Australia is outback, while the coastal plains are more fertile and house the majority of Australia’s population. About 35% of Australia’s land area is covered by deserts.

Most of Australia’s population lives in the eastern and southern parts of the country and along the coastline.

To become an international student at Australia’s leading universities contact us now!