Student Visas

In Australia you may study for 3 months on a tourist or working holiday visa. (However, a 676 Visa with a 8207) is not allowed to study.

If you plan on studying longer than 3 months you must apply for a student visa. Your student visa is usually valid for the duration of your course. You may only study at an Australian institution that is accredited and registered by the Australian government. All courses for a student visa must be full time registered courses.

There is one class of Student Visas—Student (Temporary) (Class TU) and there are eight (8) specific subclasses:

570 Independent ELICOS Sector. This subclass is for students who wish to study intensive English as a stand-alone course that does not lead to an award.
571 Schools Sector. This subclass is for primary school, secondary school and student exchange programs.
572 Vocational Education & Training Sector. This subclass is for students who wish to take a course leading to an award of a certificate 1, II, III, and IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, or an Advanced Certificate.
573 Higher Education Sector. This subclass is for students who wish to take tertiary level courses, such as a Bachelors Degree, a Graduate Certificate, a Graduate Diploma an Associate Degree, a Masters Degree by coursework.
574 Postgraduate Research Students. This subclass is for students who are planning on undertaking postgraduate degrees, such as a Masters by research and a Doctoral Degree.
575 Non Award Courses. This subclass is for applicants who wish to undertake courses that do not lead to an award such as foundation courses and components of courses.
576 AusAID Student and Defence Students. This subclass is for application where the study or training is under a scholarship scheme or training program sponsored by the Australian government agency AusAID or by the Department of Defence.
580 Student Guardians. This subclass is mainly used to allow and adult relative of a student to accompany the student and live with them in Australia

The student visa system has an assessment levels (AL) based on the subclass sought and your English level, the passport you hold and your ability to finance your education and stay in Australia.

The country of your citizenship will determine what level of assessment you are granted. There are currently five (5) assessment levels with level 1 being the least risk and 5 being the highest level. (There are no countries at level 5 at this time).

The higher level you are rated the more evidence you will need to provide to the Department to prove you are a genuine student.