Maybe you want to progress or advance your studies. Perhaps you’ve completed your English language course or a Diploma, and now want to take the next step to further studies. Or maybe you have a packaged program and have completed the initial units, and would like to explore other options for your next set of courses.
For international students, the Australian government predominantly issues a Student visa (subclass 500). This allows the following types of study on this visa:
- English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS)
- School – primary or secondary
- Secondary school exchange program
- Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses – a registered VET course or a registered course for the award of an advanced diploma
- Higher education courses – a bachelor or associate degree, a graduate certificate or graduate diploma, a master’s degree by coursework, a higher education diploma or an advanced diploma
- Postgraduate Research degrees – a master’s degree by research or a doctoral degree
- Non-award courses – non-award foundation studies courses or components of a course that do not lead to an award
If you have completed a course of study under an existing student visa, or some other visa type, and now wish to apply for another course or further study, you will need to apply for a new student visa. The good news is that you can now make an application onshore, and online, via the Department of Home Affairs website. This excludes applicants who have a “No Further Stay” condition in their visas.
The process and requirements for this are the same as applying for your first visa. You will need to have made a successful application to the new course provider by meeting their requirements and receiving a valid CoE. You will also need to meet the Department of Home Affair’s requirements in relation to:
- Satisfactory arrangements for private health cover (OSHC);
- English language proficiency;
- Financial capability; and
- The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirements.
Importantly, you will need to consider the timing of your current studies and planned new studies to ensure you make the course application and then the visa application coincide, so you don’t overstay your current visa.
These are important and sometimes complex matters. Contact ISA Migration and Education Agents for assistance in your course selection and to ensure your application and visa requirements are satisfied.