With a student visa, students can live, work and study for five months or according to their course duration. On this visa, students can do jobs for 40 hours in two during term time, and the working hours are unlimited during study breaks. Nowadays, students can start work on arrival in Australia and do not need to wait until the course commences.
Why apply for an Australia Student Visa?
International students have a wide variety of choices for studying in Australia. The quality of education, various courses to choose from, and post-study work opportunities make it one of the most desirable destinations among Indian students. Australian universities are strong in research, excelling in areas such as arts and humanities, education, and sciences.
It is easier to get an Australian student visa than other countries. Students wanting to study in Australia must meet certain requirements to qualify for a visa. Once you are enrolled in a full-time study course, you can apply for a visa under Subclass 500.
With the Student visa (Subclass 500) visa, the visa holder can:
Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) Validity:
Course Duration | Australia Student Visa Validity |
Longer than 10 months and ending in November/ December | For Instance, your course ends in December 2023, and your visa will be valid until March 15, 2024. |
Longer than 10 months but finishing between January and October | Your visa would be valid for two months longer than the duration of your course. For e.g., if the course ends in Feb 2024, your student visa will be valid until April 2024. |
10 months or less | Your visa will be valid for one month longer than the duration of your course. |
Intakes in Australia:
Australia generally has two intakes in a year.
However, few universities offer multiple intakes, even in September and November. Hence, starting your admission process around six months before the application deadline is highly advisable.
Higher Study Options |
Duration |
Intake Months |
Deadline to Apply |
Bachelors |
3-4 Years |
Feb, July (Major) & Nov (Minor) |
4-6 months before the intake month |
Masters (MS/MBA) |
1.5-2 Years |
Feb, July (Major) & Nov (Minor) |
Here we will mention the essential guidelines that the Australian Government gives for International students:
In the immigration process, getting a student visa from the Australian embassy is crucial. Getting your student visa now will enable you to prepare for on-campus studies in Australia in the future, regardless of whether you are starting your studies online. Entry requirements are varied from person to person because documents are a must to complete for visa process. For applying for a student visa (subclass 500), an English language subject is a must to have in previous studies.
With a student visa, students can also get ready for a post-study work visa (Visa subclass 485). If you want to apply directly to an Australian education provider, download the application form from official websites.
Here is a list of documents students need to apply for an international student visa.
If your application is genuine, the college or universities you have applied to give you a letter of offer.
A Confirmation of enrolment is a document the education provider will give you that verifies your enrolment in a specific course. You will receive your Coe after you have accepted your offer letter and paid the fees. Your visa file requires a copy of this document so that the Australian Government has proof that you are registered in your course.
If English is not your native language, you must give English Proficiency tests. Some tests are available for English Proficiency such as IELTS, PTE, etc. This certificate will prove to the Australian Government that you have complete access to the English language. The bands' requirements vary for different educational institutes according to your course. One can see English language requirements for various courses on the Australian Immigration website.
The Genuine Temporary test is based on two criteria:
This test justifies the details and goals of your course and career. After proper justification, the educational provider releases your GTE. These details also showed that you don’t intend to stay permanently in Australia.
To get an Australia visa, you must prove that you have sufficient funds to meet course fees, living expenses, and travel costs. For this purpose, you need to show your parents or partner's annual income must be AUS$ 62,222.
As an international student, you need to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) during your stay in Australia. If you have OSHC, you don’t need to pay for medical or hospital care while studying in Australia. It provides you with ambulance cover in emergencies.
The Australian Government makes sure that you have good health before entering this country. As a result, students need to consult a doctor who provides a medical certificate. This medical certificate shows that you have good health.
In some cases, the Australian Government requires Character requirements to meet if you are going to Australia to study. In an interview, immigration officers can ask you a few questions about your profile. Sometimes you may even need to give a police background check.
Therefore, these steps are compulsory to complete before studying in Australia. It may vary from person to person profile or qualification.
Eligibility to Study in Australia:
Aspirants seeking to pursue graduate and master's degree courses in Australia can check the educational requirements, required percentage, IELTS/TOEFL/PTE score requirements, and other requisite details from the following table.
Higher Study Options | Minimum Educational Requirement | Minimum Required Percentage | IELTS/PTE/TOEFL Score | Backlogs Information |
Bachelors | 12 Years of Education (10+2) | 60% | Overall, 6.5 with 5.5 in each band | Up to 10 backlogs (some private hospital universities may accept more) |
Masters (MS/MBA) | 3/4 Years of Graduate Degree | 65% | Overall, 6.5 with no band less than 6 |
How to get a Student Visa for Australia?
Step 1: Check your eligibility for an Australian student Visa.
Step 2: Arrange the checklist of documents.
Step 3: Apply for the visa online.
Step 4: Wait for the status.
Step 5: Fly to study in Australia.
Visa subclass | Base application charge | Additional applicant charge | Additional applicant charge under 18 | Subsequent temporary application charge |
Student visa (subclass 500) | AUD650 | AUD485 | AUD160 | AUD700 |
Student visa (subclass 500) (subsequent entrant) | AUD650 | AUD485 | AUD160 | AUD700 |
Student visa (subclass 500) – Foreign Affairs or Defence sector | nil | nil | nil | nil |
Student visa (subclass 500) – Postgraduate research sector | AUD650 | nil | nil | nil |
Student Guardian (subclass 590) | AUD650 | nil | nil | AUD700 |
Proof of Funds:
The below list is the proof of funds required to study in Australia.
Type of Applicant |
Financial capacity requirement before 10 May 2024 |
Financial capacity requirement after 10 May 2024 |
Primary Applicant |
AUD 24,505 | AUD 29,710 |
Spouse or de facto partner of the Student primary applicant (not applicable to Student Guardian applicant) |
AUD 8,574 |
AUD 10,394 |
Dependent child |
AUD 3,670 | AUD 4,449 |
Annual school costs |
AUD 9,661 | AUD 13,502 |
Personal annual income if there is no member of the family |
AUD 72,465 | AUD 87,856 |
Personal annual income where there is a member of the family unit |
AUD 84,543 |
AUD 102,500 |
Important announcement about Australia Visa Fee:
From 1 July 2024, Australia migration skills assessment fees will increase by 3–4 percent to align with the wage, consumer, and producer prices. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has approved the changes.
Cost of Study in Australia:
Studying in Australia includes student visa fees, tuition fees/university charges, accommodation, food, and other expenses. The following table briefs about the student living expenses in Australia.
Higher Study Options
|
Average Tuition Fee per Year |
Visa Fee |
Living Expenses for 1 Year/Proof of funds for 1 year |
Bachelors |
22,000 AUD and Above |
710 AUD |
24,505 AUD |
Masters (MS/MBA) |
The processing time for an Australian Student Visa is usually four weeks. You can apply for the visa 124 days before the start of your course, and you can travel to the country 90 days before the commencement of your course.
Degrees | No. of years |
Bachelor degrees | 2 years |
Masters degrees | 3 years |
All doctoral qualifications | 3 years |
To get admission to Australian universities, you must score a minimum percentage of 60%. The recommended 12th percentile to get admission in diploma-level courses in Australia is at least 60%, and to get admission in graduate degree courses, your 12th percentile should be 65%.
Yes! Australian educational institutes allow international students to study without attending a university. Australia has many educational organizations from the primary school level to higher education. The country has many vocational schools and colleges for international students. Some universities in Australia even accept admissions without IELTS with some terms and conditions.
Yes! International students are allowed to work full-time in Australia while studying. The Australian Government has relaxed the working hours for international students. As per the new rules, international students can work 40 hours per fortnight during the semester and full-time during their breaks. A fortnightly period starts on Monday.
Students opting to work part-time/full-time in Australia must meet some conditions. They must be able to manage their study and work hours. They must ensure to maintain satisfactory attendance during their course.
No, you are not eligible for an Australian post-study work visa if the course duration is one year. The course duration must be at least two years to get the PSW. The course duration must be two years, whether a single degree or multiple degrees. After that, international students are eligible to get PSW in Australia.
Yes! Diploma holders can continue with further studies in Australia. ITI + Diploma holders can pursue higher education in Australian universities. Check the requirements of the University of your interest before enrolling for admission. Based on the university requirements, you can choose your study program.
In Australian schools, the academic year starts in late January or early February and ends mid-December. The entire year is divided into four terms. Each term has ten weeks. In universities, there are two study intakes in Australia. One is the autumn intake, and the other one is: