Student Visa

Exploring Australia's Student Visa

Australia stands out for its esteemed international education system, welcoming students from around the globe. These visas open doors for pursuing courses in Australia and offer opportunities to extend one’s stay post-studies.

The Temporary Graduate Visa serves as a pathway to further enrich one’s Australian experience by allowing for an extension post-study. This extension facilitates gaining valuable Australian work experience, which holds significance for future skilled migration or employer-sponsored visas.

To embark on this educational journey, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Criteria:

- The minimum test score for a Student visa has increased from International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score 5.5 to 6.0 (or equivalent).
- The minimum test score for students undertaking an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) course before their main course of study has increased from IELTS score 4.5 to 5.0 (or equivalent).
- The minimum test score required for students undertaking university foundation or pathway programs that deliver reputable English language training is IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent). These recognised courses will be listed on the Department of Home Affairs website.

As of 10^th of May 2024 update – 12-month living costs are:
Students (Primary applicant) – AUD29,710
Spouse or de facto partner, an additional AUD 10,394
For each child, an additional AUD4,449 (plus tuition fees if child is of school age)
One year Tuition fee
Travel expenses which can vary from AUD 1000 to AUD 3000 depending on your country and location when you lodge the application.

Hold adequate health insurance for the whole period of stay in Australia.
Meet the Australian health requirements.
Meet the character requirements (a police certificate may also be required).
If under 18 years old, social welfare agreements must be in place for the duration of the student’s stay in Australia.

Genuine Student requirements to be addressed:

Give details of the applicant’s current circumstances. This includes ties to family, community, employment and economic circumstances.
Explain why the applicant wishes to study this course in Australia with this particular education provider. This must also explain their understanding of the requirements of the intended course and studying and living in Australia.
Explain how completing the course will be of benefit to the applicant.
Give details of any other relevant information the applicant would like to include.

Navigating the student visa application process can be challenging, which is why having the support of Migrations Agents is always advisable. A small wrong decision can ruin your career.

At The Immigration Whizz, our experienced migration professionals are well-equipped with the immigration law knowledge to provide you genuine advice and assistance throughout the visa application process.

Benefits of Australia's Student Visa:

Pursue an Australian educational course:

Access to High-Quality Education: Australia is renowned for its world-class education system, offering a wide range of academic programs and courses across various disciplines.
International Recognition: Completing a course in Australia enhances one's credentials and opens doors to opportunities globally, as Australian qualifications are highly regarded by employers and academic institutions worldwide.

Opportunity to engage in work alongside studies

Financial Independence: Working part-time while studying allows students to cover living expenses, reducing the financial burden on themselves and their families.
Skill Development: Holding a job while studying helps students gain practical skills, valuable work experience, and a better understanding of the local job market, enhancing their employability upon graduation.

Access to diverse types of Australian visitor visas, catering to various needs

Flexibility: Australia offers a range of visitor visas tailored to different purposes, such as tourism, visiting family and friends, attending conferences, or participating in short-term courses or cultural exchanges.
Extended Stay Options: Depending on the type of visa obtained, students may have the opportunity to extend their stay in Australia beyond their initial study period, either for further studies, work opportunities, or leisure purposes.

Types of Australia's Student Visa Available

Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500):

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is intended for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution. This visa allows you to live, study or work in Australia temporarily. It gives you an opportunity to gain Australian experience in your occupation to plan your journey for Permanent residency visas and utilize your time wisely.

You can include your partner and children to this visa.

NOTE: The age requirement for this visa will change from under 50 to 35 inclusive from 1^st of July 2024.

There are two different streams under this visa category and your eligibility for the stream depends on your qualification level which is explained below:

Graduate Work Stream: This stream is for graduates with skills and qualifications that are in demand in Australia’s labour market. It allows them to live, study, and work temporarily in Australia. To obtain a visa within this stream, you must be nominated for a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list. This stream lets you live, study and work in Australia temporarily for up to 18 months.

Eligibility for Graduate Stream:

the United Kingdom
the United States of America
Canada
New Zealand or
the Republic of Ireland.

In the 12 months before you applied for the visa, you scored one of the following:

English Test	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Listening	Overall
IELTS	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	6.5
PTE	48	51	42	43	57
OET	B	B	B	B
Cambridge C1 Advanced test	162	162	162	162	176

nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List(MLTSSL)
hold a degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to that occupation.
be assessed by a relevant assessing authority as having skills suitable for your nominated occupation.

Post study work Stream: This stream is for graduates who have completed a higher education degree (bachelor’s or higher) in Australia from an Australian CRICOS approved institution. It provides an extended stay in Australia to gain valuable work experience related to their field of study. This stream lets you live, work and study in Australia temporarily for up two years for an Australian bachelor’s degree or master’s degree, three years for a research-based master’s degree, and four years for a Doctorate.

Eligibility for Post study work stream:

You are a citizen of and hold a valid passport from:

the United Kingdom
the United States of America
Canada
New Zealand or
the Republic of Ireland.

In the 12 months before you applied for the visa, you scored one of the following:

English Test	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Listening	Overall
IELTS	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	6.5
PTE	48	51	42	43	57
OET	B	B	B	B
Cambridge C1 Advanced test	162	162	162	162	176

If you have any concerns about not meeting the age requirements under new rules, contact us. We may be able to find other visa options for you.

Student Guardian Visa

Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590)

The Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590) is indeed designed for individuals who wish to accompany and provide care for students who are under 18 years of age studying in Australia on a student visa. It allows the guardian to stay in Australia for the duration of the student’s course. You are advised to apply for this visa at least 6 weeks before the course start date of the student.

This visa is particularly useful for parents or legal guardians who want to support their children’s education in Australia by being physically present. It’s an important option for families considering sending their children to study abroad but want to ensure they have adequate support and supervision during their time away from home.

To be eligible for this visa, you must:

Be the Student’s parent, custodian or relative. The relative includes Parent, stepparent, grandparent, step-grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, aunt, uncle, step-aunt, step-uncle, niece, nephew, step-niece, step-nephew, partner, child, stepchild.
Genuine access to funds to support yourself and the student during your stay in Australia. You need enough money to pay for:

travel costs for you and the student visa holder(s)
12 months of tuition fee for the student visa holder(s) or on pro rata basis if course in Australia is less than 12 months.
12 months of living costs for you, the student visa holder(s) and accompanying family members on pro rata basis if intended stay in Australia is less than 12 months. For you or students it is AUD 29,710 and for a child AUD 4,449.
school fees for school-age children who accompany you. If under 6 years of age, schooling cost of at least AUD 13,502 per year depending on the state, territories, and schools in Australia.

Evidence you can provide includes:

- Savings in a bank account or a loan.
- Scholarship or financial support by someone from the family.
- A support letter from your spouse or de-facto partner with an annual income of AUD 102,500 or more in the 12 months prior to visa application.

- your personal circumstances in your home country
- your potential circumstances in Australia
- your immigration history
- anything else that relates to your plan to remain in Australia temporarily.