student visa in australia age limit
The Australian government, like the government of many other countries have closed doors to several occupations. The occupation, which has been closed to attract foreign workers and due to that, there are visa intakes lowered every year. The most affected visa has been the student visa in Australia. But it is not surprising that people who wish to study their career and want to live in a beautiful country, want to come to this country in any way possible.
There are various reasons to consider Australian student visa. The visa categories depending on the purpose of traveling, education and vacation. Apply for Australian Student Visa for pursuing bachelor program, Masters program, TSS course or PhD program.
The Australia education system is open to all students who have the goal of furthering their learning. There are courses that are designed for students who would just like to enjoy the advantage of having a higher standard of education, and then there are those who want to make a difference in this world and carry out more research in what ever field they choose.
To apply for a student visa in Australia, you must be a fit and proper person. You will also need to meet the age requirement of being an independent applicant. The age requirement is 18 years old or older, dependent on when you apply for your visa.
You can only apply for a student visa if you are an international student studying at an Australian educational institution. If you are not currently enrolled in an Australian school or university, you cannot apply for a student visa until after completing your studies.
To be considered eligible to apply for a student visa, you must be able to prove that:
-Your course has been approved by the Australian Government
-You have the financial resources required to cover all costs associated with studying in Australia (fees, living expenses)
If you’re planning on studying abroad in Australia, you may need to get a student visa.
For most students, it’s easy to complete the application process and obtain a student visa. Many students who are eligible for this kind of visa do not need to provide any documentation or evidence that they have enough money to support themselves while they study in Australia. However, there are certain requirements that must be met before an applicant can obtain a student visa:
-Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
-Applicants must have already been accepted into an Australian school or institution of higher education.
-Applicants must meet all academic requirements set by their school or institution of higher education.
-Applicants must be able to speak English well enough to complete their courses successfully; if they cannot speak English well enough, they will need to take an English test before obtaining their student visa.
What is an Australian Study Visa?
An Australian study visa is a temporary visa, that enables you to remain in Australia for the duration of your study.
Guidelines issued as per the notification and w.e.f. July 1, 2016, for the Australian Student Visa, have changed, and a Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) has been initiated.
According to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, all international students planning to study in Australia are now required to apply for a visa under Subclass 500 and this effectively combines the erstwhile subclasses 571 – 576 into one.
Upcoming Intakes in Australia
Australian universities have two intakes every year:
- Intake 1: Extends from February/early March to late May/early June
- Intake 2: Extends from July/early August through to November
The first intake is usually treated as the main intake by most Indian students. The best thing to do is to prepare for the next upcoming intake.
Top 20 Universities in Australia 2022
Australia ranks as per the following among the Top 500 universities in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings 2020,
| Rank in 2020 | University |
| 29 | Australian National University (ANU) |
| 38 | The University of Melbourne |
| 42 | The University of Sydney |
| 43 | The University of New South Wales (UNSW) |
| 47 | The University of Queensland (UQ) |
| 58 | Monash University |
| 86 | The University of Western Australia (UWA) |
| 106 | The University of Adelaide |
| 140 | University of Technology Sydney (UTS) |
| 207 | University of Newcastle |
| 212 | University of Wollongong |
| 224 | Queensland University of Technology (QUT) |
| 230 | Curtin University |
| 237 | Macquarie University |
| 238 | RMIT University |
| 271 | Deakin University |
| 274 | University of South Australia (UniSA) |
| 291 | University of Tasmania |
| 377 | James Cook University (JCU) |
| 383 | Swinburne University of Technology |
| 400 | La Trobe University |
| 424 | Flinders University |
| 442 | Bond University |
| 484 | University of Canberra |
Documentary Proof Required for an Australia Study Visa
You will generally need the following basic documents while applying for an Australia Student Visa.
- The Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment as proof of admission into a college or university.
- A valid passport.
- Your visa application fee.
- Your GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) statement.
- Academic and work experience documents.
- Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses like tuition fees, living expenses, living costs for dependents, and return airfare.
- Details of OSHC health insurance policy.
- Statement of purpose.
- Passport-size photographs.
You will also be required to provide additional documents like parental consent if you are under 18 years of age.
Application Process: Study in Australia in 3 Simple Steps!
You have to make sure that you meet all the requirements before you fill up the visa application.
To fulfil the requirements, you would need to :
- Meet Australian study requirements: You have to be enrolled in a full-time course ( undergraduate, masters or Phd) to be able to apply for a student visa. The course must be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses. for Overseas Students (CRICOS). The university will provide an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) certificate which will serve as proof of enrolment.
- Meet Language Requirements: Authorities need to know that you have adequate language abilities. You can display this by taking a language proficiency test. The following tests scores are acceptable:
- International English Language testing system (IELTS) : 5.5-6
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) : 46
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) : 42
- Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) : 162
- Occupational English Test (OET) : A ‘b’ for each test component
- Have a Genuine Temporary Entrant (gte) statement: This will state that your only intention is to study in Australia, and that you plan on returning.
- Have adequate health insurance: In the event of something happening to your health in Australia, the authorities need to know that you will be able to pay your own healthcare bills. You usually have to purchase an Overseas Student Health Cover to prove this.
- Meet health requirements: You must be in reasonably good health, and have no major illnesses that show up during medical tests.
- Meet character requirements: You are only eligible to apply for a study visa if you do not have a criminal or terrorist background. You must have a clean record.
Cost/Fee Requirements for an Australia Study Visa
International students are required to pay visa fees as per the category they fall in below.
| Visa Subclass | Base Application Charge | Additional Applicant Charges if 18 Years or Above | Additional Applicant Charges if Less Than 18 Years | The Subsequent Temporary Applicant Charge |
| Student Visa(Subclass 500) | AUD 620 | AUD 460 | AUD 150 | AUD 700 |
| Student Visa(Subclass 500) (Subsequent Entrant) | AUD 620 | AUD 460 | AUD 150 | AUD 700 |
| Student Visa(Subclass 500) Foreign Affairs or Defense Sector | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Student Visa(Subclass 500)Postgraduate Research Sector | AUD 620 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Average Tuition Fees & Course Costs for Indian Students
These are the average tuition fees per year for international students according to the official government site.
- International Undergraduate Students – AUD 15,000 to AUD 33,000
- International Postgraduate Students (Masters Degree) – AUD 20,000 to AUD 37,000
- Doctoral Degree – AUD 14,000 to AUD 37,000
These figures however do not include high-value courses like medical degrees or veterinary science. They cost significantly more.
Australian Student Visa Processing Time 2022
Usually the student visa Australia is processed within a month, however, the maximum time it could take is 3 months.
However, Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) streamlines the visa processing time. Processing Time for Student Visa is:
| Stream | 75% Processing | 90% Processing |
| Foreign Affairs or Defense Sector | 20 days | 26 days |
| Postgraduate Research Sector | 39 days | 77 days |
| Independent ELICOS Sector | 23 days | 38 days |
| Vocational Education and Training Sector | 36 days | 52 days |
| Higher Education Sector | 17 days | 32 days |
Since the SSVF process has streamlined, the standard time taken is anywhere between 4 – 6 weeks. This also depends upon the education institution and outstanding documents can always be requested if required and desired by the visa officer.
The higher education provider in Australia will issue the Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE) that is essential in the Student Visa Program (SVP) procedure. The application is then sent to the Department of Home Affairs.
It is recommended that you apply for the student visa at least 12 weeks before the day of orientation at the educational institution.
Conclusion
Australia has some of the world’s best-ranked universities. The Australian Universities offer a wide range of courses in a variety of subjects. The tuition fees here are affordable compared to the UK and the US. Students in Australian universities are eligible for a post-study work permit valid for up to four years. This can act as a pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
The universities here are known for their high standards and teaching methods.. Their degrees are recognized all over the world. Another advantage of studying in Australia is the low cost of living compared to other countries. Students can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while studying which can help them meet part of the tuition fees. They also have access to scholarships which can lower their costs of a course.
Many students opt to study in Australia because its growing economy promises good job opportunities once students complete their course.
Australia Student visa: Compared to other countries, it is easier to get a student visa for Australia. Students wanting to study in Australia must meet certain requirements to qualify for a visa. Once you are enrolled in a full-time study course you can apply for a visa under Subclass 500.
With the Student visa (Subclass 500) visa, the visa holder can:
- Enroll in a course participate in an eligible course of study
- Bring family members to Australia
- Travel to and from the country
- Work for up to 40 hours every two weeks during the course
The duration of the visa is for five years, you can apply for an extension.