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Study Abroad in Australia
You can be granted a student visa only if you wish to undertake a registered course or part of a registered course on a full-time basis.

A registered course is an education or training course offered by an Australian education provider who is registered with the Australian Government to offer courses to overseas students.

Depending on your country of nationality and your principal course of study you may have to undergo a Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) before an Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) is issued by your Australian education provider.

Student visa requirements
To be granted a student visa you must satisfy the visa requirements and comply with a number of visa conditions for attendance and academic performance which come into effect after you have entered Australia. Your Student (Temporary) Visa will list the conditions that apply specifically to you. It is important to comply with your visa conditions to avoid visa cancellation.

Student visa information on this website is an outline only and subject to change. For more detailed, accurate and up-to-date information on student visas and visa requirements please check the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMIA) website.

The Student (Temporary) Visa has separate sub-classes for each education sector.  You should apply under the visa sub-class for your principal course of study.

Student visa sub-classes
Subclass 570
Independent ELICOS Sector
 
for international students undertaking 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 sector
 
for international students undertaking a course of study at a primary school or a secondary school, including both junior and senior secondary school
 
Subclass 572
Vocational education and training (VET) sector - covers Certificate I, II, III and IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma.
 
Subclass 573
Higher education sector - covers a Bachelor degree, Graduate certificate, and Graduate diploma
 
Subclass 574
Masters and doctorate sector - covers a Masters degree by coursework or by research, and a Doctoral degree
 
Subclass 575
Non-award foundation studies/other sector - 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 sponsored sector - 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

Common student visa requirements
(Check 'Applying for a Student Visa' information sheet Form 1160i)

• you are of good character
• you are of sound health
• you have acceptable health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for yourself and members of your family unit accompanying you to Australia
• you have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia, or have made arrangements acceptable to the Minister to repay such a debt

If assessed at level 1 or 2, or you are in Australia under any assessment level, an electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate is required before you lodge your application and a copy is to be provided with your application
 
If you are outside Australia and assessed at level 3, 4 or 5 you will need an 'offer of a place in a course' letter from your Australian education provider at the time you lodge your application.  If you are at Assessment level 3 or 4 you must apply for Pre-Visa Assessment.
 
An electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate issued by your education provider after you lodge your application if you are requested by the Australian embassy to do so
 

Common visa conditions

• you must satisfy attendance and course requirements and maintain a valid enrolment for your course
• you must not work unless you have been granted permission to do so
• you must maintain your Overseas Student Health (OSHC) cover while in Australia
• you must leave Australia before your visa expires
• you must remain with the education provider you originally enrolled with for the first 12 months of your course or, if the course is less than 12 months, for the duration of your course
• you must advise your education provider of your residential address within seven days of your arrival in Australia and must advise any changes of address within seven days

If you change education provider you must inform your current education provider within seven days of issue of an eCoE
 

Visa application forms
Application for a student (temporary) visa
Form 157A  
 
Application for an electronic student (temporary) visa
Form 157E
(eligibility restricted to US Study Abroad, Norwegian and Swedish students over 18 years of age)
 
Application for a student visa with permission to work
Form 157P
(only to be lodged after you have arrived in Australia and commenced study in a registered course in Australia)
 
Application for a student visa with permission to change education provider
Form 157C
 
Application for pre-qualified institution (PQI) status
Form 157Q
 
Short Term Visitor/Tourist Visas - Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
ETA
 
Visa information forms

Applying for a student visa
Form 1160i
 
Country Assessment Levels - Student Visa Processing
(you should read this document together with form 1160i)
  
Charges (fees)
Form 990i
 
Student Dependant Nomination
Form 991
 
Health requirements for temporary entrants
Form 1163i
 
Making and processing visa applications
Form 1025i
 
Bridging visas
Form 1024i
 
Short Term Visitor/Tourist Visas - Electronic Travel Authority 
ETA
  

Temporary Entry Overseas Students Booklets
 
Independent ELICOS
Form 1173
 
Schools
Form 1174
 
Vocational Education and Training
Form 1175
 
Higher Education
Form 1176
 
Masters and Doctorate
Form 1177
 
Non-award Foundation Studies/Other
Form 1178
 
AusAID or Defence Sponsored
Form 1168
 

Country assessment levels
Each education sector in each country is ranked according to four Assessment Levels based on the levels of students not complying with their visa conditions. The visa requirements or Evidentiary Standards you must satisfy are increasingly stringent from Assessment Level 1 through to Assessment Level 4.  A fifth Assessment Level is available for emergency use and has the most stringent requirements.  Further information on country assessment levels can be found at the DIMIA website.

Evidentiary standards/Assessment Factors 

• financial ability to cover air fares, tuition fees and other expenses associated with your education and stay in Australia
• English language proficiency likely compliance with visa conditions any other relevant matters such as age, academic background and usefulness of course for employment and
• immigration historycapacity to support any family unit members for the duration of your stay in Australia
• the specific provisions for each of these depend upon the country assessment level and are described in the Student Booklets provided by DIMIA for each sector
   

Pre-Visa Assessment
A Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) determines a student's eligibility for a student visa and is necessary if your country is at Assessment Level 3 or 4.  This involves obtaining a letter of offer from your chosen institution and submitting your visa application with all supporting documentation to your local DIMIA office for assessment. If the assessment is favourable, you will be issued with a PVA approval letter to give to your education provider authorising them to issue you with an eCoE. You will be also advised to pay the tuition fees and OSHC premium, and undergo medical tests. The student visa will be granted when the Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) and all other requirements are satisfied.

Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment

An Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) is issued by your Australian education provider and is the only accepted evidence of enrolment for processing student visa applications. Depending on your country of nationality and your principal course of study you may have to undergo a Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) before an institution issues an eCoE. The institution will advise you of its requirements but generally it will require payment of at least one semester of course fees before issuing an eCoE. A copy of your eCoE must be submitted to your local DIMIA office before a student visa can be issued.

Information collected through the eCoE process includes the student visa application, visa grant and visa compliance data from a student's arrival in Australia and course commencement through to their departure from Australia.

Requirements
Financial Ability for Masters and Doctorate Courses
Sponsors are required to provide evidence of cash assets for the first year of tuition, living expenses and access to additional funds to cover the remaining cost of study and living expenses in Australia.

Health
Students intending to study in Australia are required to meet the health requirements as stated in the Migration Regulations. Any additional family members or dependents are also required to meet these requirements. Students applying from low risk countries such as Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino and Sweden are generally exempted from meeting these requirements. The forms and requirements for health checks are as follows:

form 26, Medical examination for an Australian visa, with a passport photograph attached;  form 160, Radiological report on chest x-ray of an applicant for an Australian visa, with a passport photograph attached;  your passport for identification;  any prescription spectacles or contact lenses that you may wear; and where you have a known medical condition, any existing specialist reports.

International students are required to pay Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for themselves and their dependents.

Student Health Cover for AusAID Students
AusAID students are exempted from paying OSHC but are required to provide proof of sponsorship.

Student Health Cover for Students from Norway and Sweden
Students from Norway and Sweden are not required to cover OSHC if they are covered by acceptable health insurance countries back in their home countries. 

Character
Anyone entering Australia must be of good character.. The information provided at the 'Character Declaration' section of the application form 157A, Application for a student (temporary) visa (PDF file, 158KB) is for character assessment purposes.

Debts
In order to enter Australia, you must have no outstanding debt obligations to the Australian government or have made suitable arrangments to repay them.

If you are under 18

Approval for accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements
If you are under the age of 18 and intending to reside in Australia with a custodian, then you are required to provide evidence of the relationship and that they hold a visitor visa of 11 months stay, or of a shorter stay if you seek to study for less than 11 months or turn 18 years before 11 months. 

Australia Visa Requirements: http://www.australia-visa.net.au/