November 7th, 2009Australian Student Visa
The Australian Government operates an Overseas Student Program (OSP) that allows people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to study in Australia.
Any person who is not an Australian resident may apply to study in Australia under the OSP.
A person who wants to study under the program must obtain a Australian student visa before they can commence a course of study 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.
The Australian education system is divided broadly into four levels of schooling:
- primary;
- secondary;
- vocational education; and
- training and higher education.
However, there are also other options available to students from other countries wishing to undertake study in Australia, such as English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) and non-award courses.
Links between visa subclasses and courses/qualifications
| Student visa subclass | Courses/qualifications |
| Subclass 570 Independent ELICOS |
English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) undertaken as a stand-alone course, not leading to an Australian award |
| Subclass 571 Schools |
Primary school Secondary school including junior and senior secondary Approved secondary exchange programs |
| Subclass 572 Vocational Education and Training (VET) |
Certificate I, II, III, and IV Diploma, Advanced diploma Former RATE system qualifications: Certificate, Advanced certificate and Associate diploma |
| Subclass 573 Higher Education |
Bachelor degree Associate degree Graduate certificate Graduate diploma Masters Coursework |
| Subclass 574 Masters (Research) and Doctorate |
Masters Research Doctoral degree |
| Subclass 575 Non-award Foundation Studies/Other |
Enabling course: non-award foundation studies Other full-time courses or components of courses not leading to an Australian award |
| Subclass 576 AusAID and Defence |
Full-time courses of all types undertaken by AusAID or Defence students sponsored by the Australian Government |
Assessment levels
On 1 July 2001, the gazetted/non-gazetted country regime was replaced by an assessment level regime.
Different assessment levels within each of the student visa subclasses determine eligibility for a student visa, by establishing the threshold requirements that an applicant must meet in order to be granted a student visa.
The assessment levels are prescribed according to the passport held and the education sector of study
