If you’ve made the exciting decision to study abroad in Victoria, you’ll need one important tool to make this dream a reality: a student visa. With the help of this guide, you can familiarise yourself with the student visa and how to apply.
This page is a guide only – please consult the website of the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs for up-to-date information on student visa requirements.
Student visa
The Student (subclass 500) visa is the most popular option for international students. It allows you to live, study and even work for up to 5 years in line with the duration of your degree.
To apply, you must have already been accepted to a registered full-time course at an Australian education provider. You must also meet other eligibility requirements. Some of these are outlined below.
If you want to study here but aren’t yet 18 years of age, your parent or guardian can also come with you using the Student Guardian (subclass 590) visa.
Guardians are not permitted to work during their stay, so they must be able to financially support themselves throughout their time here.
Student visa requirements
Below are some of the requirements you will need to meet to apply for your student visa. For the full list of eligibility requirements, including information on the type of evidence you might need to provide, be sure to thoroughly review the Department of Home Affairs website.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
To apply for a student visa, you’ll have to prove that you’ve been accepted to study full-time at an institution and in a course approved by the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for International Students (CRICOS).
When you’re granted entry to your degree, your education provider will supply you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which you must include with your application.
English language test results
You’ll also need to show proof of your language competency by providing your results from an approved English language test.
The required score will depend on the level of study you’re applying to, such as a diploma, bachelor or postgraduate course. Your education provider and/or course may have unique English proficiency requirements as well, so be sure to check these in advance.
Exemptions may apply to the English testing requirement for citizens and passport holders from some English-speaking countries.
Genuine student requirement
The genuine student requirement is used to confirm that you are coming into the country with the primary intention to study on the student visa. The genuine student requirement is intended to include students who, after studying in Australia, develop skills Australia needs and who then go on to apply for permanent residence.
Health requirement
To be eligible for a student visa, you must meet the health requirements laid out by the Australian Government.
Character requirement
You’ll also be asked to complete an assessment to show you meet the character requirements. This typically involves ticking “Yes” or “No” based on a variety of prompts and whether or not they apply to you.
Proof of sufficient funds
Before you can come to Australia, you'll have to demonstrate that you have adequate funds to support yourself during your stay. From May 2024, this amount was set at A$29,710 ; however, it’s important to note that this amount is subject to change and that your actual expenses may vary depending on your personal circumstances.
View Transcript
[Inspiring music, visual of speaker talking to camera]
[On-screen text: Neha, International student]
Neha: As an international student, you'll want to know how much it'll cost to live and study in your new city. And we know that affordability is important.
[Visual of speaker talking to camera, in front of Melbourne GPO, followed by scenes of speaker shopping with friends, and sightseeing in Melbourne CBD]
It's a good idea to have a budget for daily expenses, but it's also good to set money aside for enjoying the best of life here. Festivals, eating out at incredible restaurants and travelling the state.
So what's the cost of living like in Melbourne?
Ranked as Australia's best student city, affordability is an important factor in Melbourne's appeal, but your cost of living will ultimately depend on your lifestyle.
One of the easiest ways to estimate how much it might cost to live in Melbourne is to use our Cost of Living calculator. With this quick and easy tool, you can select how much you'd like to spend on your desired accommodation type, ideal location, preferred modes of transport, and even how much you'd like to spend on entertainment and activities. Then the tool will calculate your approximate weekly spend in Melbourne.
If you desire to study in beautiful regional Victoria, you can enjoy even more affordable living.
As an international student, you'll be able to access a range of exclusive discounts and deals.
For example, eligible international students can save up to 50% on public transport costs by purchasing the International Student Travel Pass for 90 days, 180 days, or 365 days.
Also, keep an eye out for student and concession discounts at cinemas, gyms, retail stores, events, and attractions. You'll just need to show your student ID to access these.
Setting a budget and sticking to it is going to be the most effective way to manage your spending.
[Visual of speaker talking to camera, followed by footage of the Australian Government's Money Smart Budget Planner on a laptop, and scenes of speaker talking with friends]
The Australian Government's Money Smart Budget Planner can be an effective way to start working out where your money is going.
Some easy ways to save money include, cooking at home, turning off electrical appliances when not in use, keeping an eye on special deals and offers at the supermarket, and living in a share house with others where you can divide up expenses like utilities and rent.
As an international student, you can also work part-time while you study to cover some of your expenses. Visit the Study Melbourne website or the friendly team at the Hub to get more information about your work rights and employability tips.
[On-screen logo]
Study Melbourne
[End transcript]
Estimate your cost of living in Melbourne with our handy calculator. Select your accommodation type, preferred location, transport options, and entertainment budget to get an estimate of your weekly expenses in one of the world's best student cities.
Applying for your student visa
After you have reviewed the full list of requirements you need to apply for your student visa, and you have gathered all your documents, it’s time to get started!
If you’d like to apply yourself, you can do this on the ImmiAccount platform via the Department of Home Affairs. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll be able to select your visa subclass, upload your documents, pay the application fee and submit your application.
Alternatively, you can choose to lodge your application through an education agent. In addition to helping you with your visa, education agents in Australia can help you with your enrolment at your chosen institution and provide information on studying in Victoria.
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