Studying in Australia is an excellent chance to experience the distinct ‘Aussie’ lifestyle while learning new skills. Australia features world-class universities, useful vocational institutions, and excellent English language schools to help overseas students.
If you want to stay in Australia for an extended amount of time, the best place to start is with an Australian Student Visa. You can apply for a student visa while studying:
English courses (general English, IELTS prep, Cambridge, etc.)
Vocational Courses (Business, Marketing, Tourism, Sports and Fitness, Hospitality, etc.)
University courses (Bachelor’s Degree). Master’s and PhD
Benefits of a Student Visa in Australia
Aside from the ability to study in Australia, the Australian Student Visa provides a number of underappreciated, distinctive qualities.
Work and study simultaneously.
Do you feel that you could do more with your time or would like to augment your allowance? Unlike many other study destinations, which rigorously confine students to exclusively studying in a country, the Australian student visa permits students to work part-time while studying, subject to certain constraints.
You are authorized to work 40 hours every fortnight (2 weeks) while studying (an average of 20 hours per week), as well as an unrestricted number of hours during school breaks. Based on a typical academic year in which a student receives around one month of winter break and three months of summer vacation, and combined with Australia’s minimum wage rules, some casual work in the summer might add up to a tidy sum and drastically reduce your cost of living.
The option of working after graduation with the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485).
Another distinguishing aspect of an Australian student visa is that it allows students to work after graduation, subject to meeting certain requirements. It is the first stage in obtaining a foot in the door to apply for an extended stay in Australia via formal employment.
Post-study job arrangements are often grouped into two categories: Graduate work stream and post-study work stream.
To quote from the DIBP website:
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allows graduates to work in Australia briefly after completing their studies. There are two streams: graduate work and post-study work.
The Graduate Work stream is for overseas students who graduate with skills and qualifications related to an occupation that is in demand in the Australian labour market, as specified in the list of approved skilled jobs. A visa in this stream is typically given for 18 months.
The Post-Study Work stream provides qualifying graduates of higher education with additional opportunities to work in Australia. This stream grants successful applicants a visa for three or four years, depending on their highest educational qualification.
Include your dependents (a spouse or children).
When submitting your student visa application, you may include your family members and/or your partner. As a result, your spouse and/or children will be eligible to join you in Australia as dependents on your student visa, and will be subject to the same rules as you. For example, if you are studying at the Masters level, your partner will have full working rights for the term of your visa.
FAQs and other features to note about the Australian Student Visa
Duration of a student visa in Australia.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of student visas, they can last for any length of time, but they are typically based on the course term of the school you have chosen. Depending on your course(s), it could last as little as 6 months or as long as 5 to 6 years. (The sole exemption would be for children of a specific age applying to an Australian government school, in which case a visa would be given for about two years of study.)
Hence,
1) If you enroll in a 6-month course, your student visa will be valid for six months.
2) If you enroll in a 3-year program, your student visa is valid for three years.
3) To be eligible for a student visa, your chosen program must be between 12 and 52 weeks long.
Depending on the length of your degree, your visa will be granted for the following additional dates after you finish your studies:
1) For courses lasting less than ten months, your visa will be extended by one month.
2) For courses that exceed the 10-month limit, your visa will be extended by two months.
3) For courses lasting more than ten months and ending in December, your visa will be extended by three months.
Cost of a Student Visa in Australia
The current fees for applying for a student visa (Subclass 500) are $560 AUD. Regardless of how long you study, the fee remains the same.
Please keep in mind that the price may vary based on where you apply for your student visa (Australia or onshore). The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has developed a cost estimate tool to assist prospective applicants in swiftly obtaining a price overview of their visa application.
Renewal of Student Visas in Australia
You can renew your student visa as many times as you desire, as long as you are enrolled in a CRICOS-approved course. However, if you have previously had numerous student visas, the government may challenge the validity of your application.
Finally, keep in mind that you can get assistance and support with your student visa applications at any stage. While N&N does not provide migration advice (you should consult a migration professional for that), we will assist you with the initial step toward acquiring a student visa for all of our study destinations in the UK, Australia.
For additional information, please visit one of our offices or send us a message.
