Can anyone provide information on the types of student visas in Australia?
Sumit
The table below lists what the different numbers on the visa form mean, what are the eligibility criteria associated with different visa subclasses and which courses you must enrol into for that visa. As working both while studying and after studying is also an important aspect of a student’s decision, we have also included the same.
|
Visa Subclass |
570 |
572 |
573 |
574 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Applicable for |
Independent ELICOS Sector |
Vocational Education and Training Sector |
Higher Education Sector |
Post Graduate Research Sector |
|
Eligibility |
Stu dents enrolled in a registered English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) |
Students enrolled in a registered Vocational Education and Training Course (VET) by a TAFE institute or a private institute |
Students enrolled in a registered full time higher education course at a University/ college or institute |
Students enrolled for a registered research program |
|
Eligible Courses |
courses that lead to a certificate I, II, III or IV |
a certificate I, II, III and IV (except ELICOS) |
a bachelor degree |
a master’s degree by research |
|
Duration of Course |
Visa Expires |
|||
|
- 10 months or longer with course ending in November/ December |
Visa usually expires on March 15 of the following year |
Visa usually expires on March 15 of the following year |
Visa usually expires on March 15 of the following year |
Visa expired on September 15 of the following year (additional 6 months for interactive marking of your thesis) |
|
-10 months or longer but finishing anytime between January to October |
Visa expires two months after the stipulated completion of the course |
Visa expires two months after the stipulated completion of the course |
Visa expires two months after the stipulated completion of the course |
Visa would expire 8 months after the stipulated completion/ duration of the course |
|
-Less than 10 months |
Visa is granted for a month longer than your intended course duration |
Visa is granted for a month longer than your intended course duration |
Visa is granted for a month longer than your intended course duration |
Visa would expire 7 months after the stipulated completion/duration of the course |
|
Work Permissions while studying |
Visas granted under this category after April 2008 automatically make you eligible to work |
Visas granted under this category after April 2008 automatically make you eligible to work for unlimited hours once the course commences. |
||
|
Work Permit after completing education |
English Language Proficiency courses cannot be used to fulfill the Australian Study Requirement and hence are not eligible for a Post Study Work Permit under sub clause 485 |
Students completing the Australian study requirement can apply for a Post study Work Permit under Graduate Stream. (Read more about Post Study Work Permit for Australia) |
Students completing the Australian study requirement can apply for a Post study Work Permit under Post Study Work Stream. (Read more about Post Study Work Permit for Australia) |
Students completing the Australian study requirement can apply for a Post study Work Permit under Post Study Work Stream. (Read more about Post Study Work Permit for Australia) |
|
Exceptions/ Important to note |
In case a student has been asked to take the English course as a precursor to his/her admission to a regular degree/diploma program, the student should apply for a student visa eligible for the main course (ex. 573 if student is applying for bachelors' degree at a university) |
In case your course duration does not match the Australian Study Requirement, you can undertake two or more programs which would be added to check your eligibility for a Post Study Work Permit. |
In case your visa expires before your graduation, you can then apply for a visitor visa which is granted. You would have to provide a letter from your university/ institute that states the date of your graduation |
It is important to note that in case a student is first enrolled for an ELICOS course, s/he can only work for 40 hours in a fortnight till the main course does not commence |
Samm
