If you would like to come to Australia to study, a Student visa can be a great option. Not only does it allow you to study, but it also comes attached with work rights, as well as allowing time off from study if you want to do tourist activities. Below I will discuss these benefits in more detail, as well as the Australian Student visa requirements.
To obtain an Australian Student visa the first thing you need to do is decide what you would like to study. You can either contact colleges yourself or ask the advice of an education agent expert who can guide you in the right direction. Once you have found a course and checked that have the educational pre-requisites to enrol in the course, you can contact a potential school / Education Provider, and then obtain your Letter of Offer form the Institution, and then evidence of your intended study, which you will need for your Student visa application. This is usually in the form of a Confirmation of Enrolment or CoE.
Once you have your CoE you can look to start to prepare your Student visa Australia application. You will have to meet a number of eligibility criteria, over and above any educational requirements and evidence of enrolment in order to obtain a Student visa. You will have to show that you have evidence of ssufficient funds to cover your travel costs, living and tuition fees. You will have to show that you have health insurance arranged.
As a Student visa applicant you will have to show that you have evidence of English language ability, unless you fall into an exemption category. You must also show that you must satisfy the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) for a student visa. This must include a statement in your application form that you intend to stay in Australia temporarily, and possibly also documentation to support your claims. You can include evidence such as: Proof of employment (for example: pay slips), qualifications from your home country, as well as any Australian qualifications (for example: a certified copy of your academic transcripts).
You can include a spouse or de facto partner in your Student visa application as well as dependent children. You will need to provide evidence of your relationship with your spouse/de facto partner. This includes a certified copy of your marriage certificate, Family Book, Household Booklet or other evidence of family composition. For dependent children you will need to provide evidence of enrolment at an Australian school. If you are an applicant who is under 18 years of age then you will need to provide evidence of accommodation and welfare arrangements in Australia.
The whole Student visa application can be quite complex so, while you always have the option to research it, complete all the requirements and apply yourself, we strongly recommend that you consent with a specialist Education Agent so you can find the right course and educational institution that best suits your needs, and assist you with the visa application process.
