Australia offers a diverse range of study options for international students, with more than 1,100 institutions and 22,000 courses to choose from. Students are allowed to work part time 20 hours per week and full time during holidays while studying the course.
The Australian education system provides primary, secondary and tertiary education as is distinguished from many other countries by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF is a national policy that shows how qualifications relate to each other at each level of education.
International students can study at all levels of education from primary and secondary school, to vocational education and training (VET), from English language courses to higher education (including universities). The term ‘tertiary education’ in Australia refers to higher education (universities) and vocational education and training (VET and TAFE colleges).
Regardless of what you are studying for or how long you are studying, Australia’s laws promote quality education and protection for international students. This includes the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code). These provide nationally consistent standards for providers of education and training for international students.
Student visa process has been simplified from 1st July 2016 in which instead of having student visa with subclass 570, 571, 572, 573 or 574 we have just one subclass now, that is subclass 500. International students who wish to apply for an Australian Visa will have to go under the same process of applying for a single student visa (subclass 500), regardless of their chosen course of study Other subclass in this class is the Student Guardian (subclass 590) visa for guardians.
Average Education Cost:
The costs of studying in Australia will depend on the institution and the level of study you choose. The list below gives you an indication of the range of course costs for several types of qualifications.
- School –$7,800 to $30,000
- English language studies– Around $300 per week depending on course length
- Vocational Education and Training (Certificates I to IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma)– $4,000 to $22,000
- Undergraduate Bachelor Degree– $15,000 to $33,000*
- Postgraduate Masters Degree– $20,000 to $37,000*
- Doctoral Degree– $14,000 to $37,000*
* This does not include high value courses such as veterinary and medical studies. Please visit institution websites directly to see costs for these courses.
Major Programs:
The Student Visa is designed for students, who are willing to undertake education in Australia under the following courses of study,
- Bachelor degree
- Graduate certificate
- Graduate diploma
- Associate degree
- Master degree
Some examples of the types of courses you can study at a private or TAFE college:
- Accounting
- Aviation
- Business management
- Child care
- Computer studies
- Graphic design
- Hair and beauty therapy
- Information Technology (IT)
- Marketing
- Office administration
- Secretarial Studies
- Travel and tourism
- Hospitality and hotel management
- And many more
Basic Eligibility:
To avail the Australian Student Visa, the individuals are required to meet certain criteria before applying for the visa.
- English language proficiency – IELTS or PTE
- Applicant meets health and character requirements
- Acceptable Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Evidence of sufficient funds
- Recognised and valid academic certificates
Length of Courses:
The following is a guide only. Each course and each college or university may be slightly different:
- Certificate6-18 months
- Diploma5-3 years
- Bachelors Degree3-5 years
- Graduate Certificate6 months
- Graduate Diploma1 year
- Masters Degree1-2 years
- PhD4-5 years
Intakes:
Australian institutions have major intake in the month of February/ Early March each year.
July/ August intake is also a very big intake with few courses in the specialized programs not being offered at this point of time.
Some courses also start in the month of May, October and November.
STUDENT VISA EXTENSION
The Department of Home Affairs keeps revising visa processing times, and it is suggested to apply for the extension ASAP. We assist international students extend their visa well in time so that they don’t have to worry about continuing their stay!