Tag

Study Anywhere

Student Visa Australia 2024: Navigating Recent Changes

Explore the changes coming your way as an international student in Australia. We’re here to share insights about the notable adjustments tied to the Subclass 500 (Student Visa Australia).

Important Update: Australian Student visa fee increase

As of the 1st of July 2024, the Australian government has increased the price of a Student visa application to $1,600 AUD. This new fee structure affects not only first-time applicants but also those seeking to renew their visa onshore. For students renewing their visa for the second time or more, an additional $700 Subsequent Temporary Application Charge will be applied.

Furthermore, if you are applying with a partner, the Department of Home Affairs will now charge an extra $1,190 AUD plus a credit card fee to include them in your application. This fee for including a partner has risen significantly from the previous $530 as of the same date. These changes highlight the need for prospective and current students to plan their finances accordingly when considering their study options in Australia. If this Student visa fee increase impacts your plans, consider choosing one of our affordable Student visa courses in 2024. Additionally, make sure to save on your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) with this simple tool.

Student visa Australia: New migration strategy

The Australian education landscape is evolving, and it’s crucial to stay informed. The updated Migration Strategy brings in transparent post-study pathways, allowing temporary stay and work in Australia. For some, this could open doors to permanent residency in Australia, aligning your academic journey with your career aspirations.

The exact start date ~~for these changes remains unclear~~, introducing an element of uncertainty to their implementation timeline. Keep an eye on this page, as we’ll swiftly update it with more details as soon as they become clear.

March 2024 update: The following changes have now been in effect since March 23, 2024.

Genuine student requirement for an Australian Student visa

Say goodbye to the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement and say hello to the new Genuine Student test for your Student visa (Subclass 500) application. This shift should simplify the process.

The Genuine Temporary Entrant Statement (GTE Statement for a Student visa in Australia) is a document or a few sentences in which you, as a Student visa applicant, outline your reasons for studying in Australia and detail your plans after graduation.

If you enrol in your course with Study Anywhere, you can rely on free assistance with your GTE or Genuine Student test from our registered migration agent. This is to make sure your visa application will have the best chance to succeed.

March 2024 update: Find out more about the new Genuine Student requirement in our FAQs.

Higher English language requirements

In 2024, the Australian Government will raise English language requirements for both the Student visa and the Temporary Graduate visas. Be prepared for these adjustments:

Student visa: Instead of an IELTS score of 5.5 you will need 6.0.
Temporary Graduate visa: IELTS score increases from 6.0 to 6.5.
Students enroling in the English language courses (ELICOS): The IELTS requirement moves from 4.5 to 5.0.
Foundation or pathway programs: The IELTS requirement stands at 5.5.

IELTS is the most popular form of English testing but not the only option when applying for an Australian Student visa. Most of our students prefer to take a free placement test offered by our partner schools before enrolment. In many cases, you may also be completely exempted from English testing for your Student visa application – e.g. if English is your first language or if you studied in Australia before. Contact our team to get a recommendation for your particular case.

Changes to Temporary Graduate visas (Subclass 485)

Post-study work rights for Master’s by coursework students will be reduced from three to two years, and for PhD students, it will be shortened from four to three years. However, there will be no change for Bachelor’s graduates (two years).

While the application process is expected to be simplified, it’s important to note that the maximum age will be lowered to 35 years. Additionally, transferring back to a Student visa while onshore won’t be allowed.

Stay updated

Stay tuned with Study Anywhere as we help you navigate through these changes, making sure you easily understand Australia’s evolving Student visa landscape. If you’d like to enrol and apply for your Student visa before these changes kick in, you may want to check our most affordable courses right now.

How to Successfully Apply for a Student Visa in Australia

So, you’ve decided to study in Australia – congratulations! As an international student, you’ll need to apply for a Student Visa (Subclass 500) to be able to study in Australia. The process can seem overwhelming at first, but with proper planning, you can do it. Applying with Study Anywhere will make this process stress-free. You can focus on this big step in your life and let us handle the paperwork.

Short on time? Jump straight into the section you need the most:

Important student visa update (February 2023): Starting from the 1st of July 2023, unrestricted work rights for international students in Australia will come to an end. To learn more about this change and others, check out our blog article.

Step 1: Enrol in a Course eligible for a student visa

Choose your student visa course

Your first step in applying for a student visa in Australia is to enrol in a course at an Australian educational institution. This can be a college, university, or other accredited institution that is registered with the Australian government to offer courses to international students. The most affordable ones are usually courses at smaller private colleges. The cheapest Diploma courses in Australia start at approximately $1,250 / every three months.

TiP: Read our blog article about the cheapest courses for a Student visa in Australia in 2024.

When researching schools, always look for CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students). Don’t worry because all courses listed on Study Anywhere are part of CRICOS.

Have you found a course that meets your academic and career goals? Great, now you’ll need to complete the enrolment process. Here you can find information on what this usually looks like and what documents you’ll need: How to enrol in a course eligible for a student visa in Australia.

Step 2: Get your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Get your OSHC

As an international student in Australia, you need to have health insurance for the duration of your stay. This insurance is called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It’s important that you purchase OSHC before you apply for your student visa, as you’ll need to provide proof of your coverage when you apply.

There are six companies that offer OSHC, and the cost of coverage will depend on the length of your stay and the level of coverage you choose. Try OSHC Australia to compare and get the cheapest Overseas Student Health Cover. Remember, even the cheapest OSHC is eligible for a student visa in Australia.

TIP: Australian Department of Home Affairs usually grants student visas for a little longer than the actual course duration. Make sure that even if you get the cheapest OSHC for your student visa, it won’t end on the date of your course completion. Don’t make a mistake and get the correct OSHC duration as described in our FAQs.

Step 3: Prepare your student visa application

Student visa documents

Once you’ve enrolled in a course and obtained OSHC, you’ll be ready to start preparing your student visa application. There are a few things you’ll need to do to make sure your application is complete and accurate. Your Study Anywhere agent will guide you through this process step-by-step.

Gather the required documents for your student visa application

This is a general overview of the documents you’ll need to apply for a student visa in Australia. These may vary based on your nationality, the school you’re enroling in, and also your previous education and career history. Send us a message and get a free personalised list of everything that you’ll need to submit with your student visa application. When you enrol in your course with Study Anywhere, our registered migration agent will help you to prepare and lodge your student visa application. This assistance is free for all our students to make sure your student visa application is prepared in the best possible way and increases your chances of a successful visa grant.

What documents do you need to apply for the Australian student visa?

Check the Student Visa Document Checklist Tool from the Department of Home Affairs and let’s go through the main documents together. Some are the same as you’ve provided for your enrolment: your passport, previous education certificate, and proof of your English language proficiency (if required).

You will also need these:

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
Proof of your OSHC coverage – a PDF document is fine and you can get it here almost instantly.
Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Statement – reasons why you’ve decided to study in Australia and what are your plans after graduation
Your employment, education, and travel history
Student visa application form – our team will give you access to an online portal where you’ll fill out your personal details and information about your health and financial situation.

TIP: Find out whether you need to submit your bank statements and how much money you need to have in your bank account. Learn the truth about the so-called “show money” in our FAQs.

Step 4: Lodge your student visa application and wait for a visa grant

Lodge, wait, and fly to Australia

Once you’ve gathered all the required documents and completed the visa application form, you’ll be ready to submit your application. Our migration agent will do this for you as soon as you approve it. We will also receive any communication from the Department of Home Affairs regarding your application. This means less stress for you. Especially in case the Department requests some additional information regarding your student visa application. E.g. a request to arrange a health examination.

Before we submit your application, make sure you’ve double-checked all the information and documents to ensure everything is correct according to the instructions of our migration agent.

Once we are about to lodge your visa application, we will ask you to pay the student visa application fee. This is the fee you need to pay to the Department of Home Affairs. It’s currently $650 AUD + credit card fee. The Department will charge you more if you are renewing your visa in Australia for the second or more time. Expect a higher fee also when you’re applying for your student visa with a partner. You can find more details about these student visa fees here.

After we’ve submitted your application, you’ll need to wait for a decision from the Australian government. This process can take several weeks, so be patient. If your application is approved, you’ll receive your student visa grant letter and can come to Australia.

How to start your career as a creative

The Academy of Information Technology is organising a series of free creative workshops in February 2020 and they are too good not to be shared.

These workshops are a fantastic way to get a taste for what it’s like to study their passion at AIT before you commit to a full degree. At the same time, it will provide an invaluable opportunity to discover some of the amazing career opportunities in the creative & digital media industries.

FILM & ANIMATION
11 FEB, 9AM – 4PM
Gain practical experience with basic camera skills, compositing and editing in Adobe Premiere Pro to create your own short film! You’ll then get hands-on practice with Toon Boom to design and animate your own 2D character!

GAME DEVELOPMENT
12 FEB, 9AM – 4PM
Get hands-on experience with the industry’s most popular game engine – Unity! Learn game design principles, create your own 3D game environments and program some simple gameplay mechanics. At the end of this workshop, you’ll leave with a playable game that you’ve built from scratch, to share with your friends and family.

DIGITAL DESIGN
13 FEB, 9AM – 12PM
In this half-day workshop, you’ll use industry software, Adobe Illustrator to create a pop-art style poster that you can share on Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat! You’ll learn to navigate Illustrator whilst gaining an understanding of how to use colour and text – as well as how to trace over a photo.

Free workshops are available for all international students in Australia. To register, please, send us a message with your workshop preferences.

Is your visa expiring in December? Here’s what you need to know.

Is your visa going to expire any time from now until the end of this year?

As we are heading towards the end of the year and the holiday season is just around the corner, it’s good to plan ahead and be organised.

If your visa is going to expire any time soon, don’t leave it to the last minute. Many schools will close for the Christmas holiday and come back at the beginning of January. If this is your case, start the visa process as soon as possible in order to avoid the stress of getting everything done on time.

We still have some special offers for different courses, that you can find interesting. Among them some Black Friday promotions and we’re also still accepting enrolments for our most affordable course for international students in Sydney.

Just contact us and we will be in touch with all the details and we can also check if you are eligible. If you are not sure or have any questions, feel free to have a chat with us on Facebook Messenger.

If you decide to go ahead, our registered migration agent will help you for free with your Student Visa application and you can join students from 43 countries who are already studying with Study Anywhere.

Change in the Student Visa Fee in Australia

Australian Department of Home Affairs is changing the Student Visa application fee from the 1st of July 2019.

The cost of a Student Visa in Australia (Subclass 500) is now $620 (an increase from $575). If you will be applying in Australia and your current visa was granted while you were in Australia, be prepared that the Department of Home Affairs will charge you another $700 (Subsequent Temporary Application Charge) on top of the $620. This is often the case when someone is moving from the second year of Working Holiday Visa and this fee has not changed since 1. 7. 2019.

If you are planning to include your partner in your Student Visa application, you will be charged another $430 (Additional Applicant Charge 18+) by the Department of Home Affairs.

Do you want to save as much money on your Student Visa in Australia as possible? Why not take advantage of our current special offer? You can choose the cheapest course in Sydney and study for as little as $4,000 / year ($1,000 every three months). Contact us now for a free quote and all the details.

Students enrolling with Study Anywhere will get free assistance with their Student Visa applications by our registered migration agent.

All prices are in Australian Dollars (AUD). Please, check the website of the Department of Home Affairs for all the details about a Student Visa in Australia and FAQs on our website.

Our biggest promotion ever. Study in Sydney for $4,000 per year!

We have some great winter news to share with you as we’ve just launched our biggest ever promotion in Sydney. You can now enrol in Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication and start your course either in July or in August 2019 for only $1,000 / every three months.

Yep, that’s $4,000 for a one year course + $200 enrolment fee. Prices are in Australian Dollars. This is our cheapest course in Sydney for international students.

Longer course packages are also available (2 or 3 years). If you don’t want to miss out, just contact us and we will be in touch with all the details and we can also check if you are eligible. If you are not sure or have any questions, feel free to have a chat with us on Facebook Messenger.

This is a great opportunity especially for those of you, who’s current visa is expiring anywhere between June and October 2019.

If you decide to go ahead, our registered migration agent will help you for free with your Student Visa application and you can join students from 43 countries who are already studying with Study Anywhere.

Find out more about our most affordable course for international students in Sydney for late 2019 / early 2020 in this article.

November 2020 update: See 4 of the cheapest courses for international students in Australia.

Making Friends in Australia

The article is written by Jane Churchill

If you’re thinking about coming to Australia, or are already here, you might be searching for some advice on making friends!

Much like in other countries, the key to making friends when you’re in a new place is making the first move! As daunting as it might be, the more you do it, the easier it will become.

Many international students spend their entire time socialising with other international students from their home country (which is totally okay if that is what you’re comfortable with!). But I would recommend trying to branch out further if you truly want to immerse yourself in Australian culture!

> Join Clubs!

This is SERIOUSLY one of the best ways to get involved on campus, socialise, and have fun obviously! Many clubs host regular parties, gatherings and events, and since you join clubs based on personal interests, you will already have something in common with other members. Don’t be afraid to sign up alone, or attend an event alone. Most people in clubs are searching for the same thing as you – so inclusivity is at its highest!

cristi-tohatan-675311-unsplash

> Get a Part-Time Job

One thing international students may not be aware of before coming here is that the majority of Australian students have part-time jobs. Hence, it is common for people to be unavailable to hang out on the weekend. Working a part-time job is a great way to get to know some locals and ultimately befriend some new people.

joshua-rodriguez-422768-unsplash

> Talk to Others in Class

In Australia, it is very common for people to still retain their friendship groups from high school. This means many Aussie’s actually don’t have that many friends in university! So say hello to the person next to you in class, or offer to study for the exam together, chances are, you will be met with a positive response!

Good Luck!

Where to get fashion on a budget on trendy Melbourne

The article and pics by Paola Bianchi

It’s becoming a strong trend to choose a minimalist, sustainable and ethical approach when consuming, dressing and choosing a look. The idea behind this is to buy less, recycle more, less waste. Be more conscious about what we consume and wear. Avoid buying compulsively from fast brands and getting garments from sustainable brands.

Definitely, Australia is on top of this sustainable wave.

Although some ethical brands have higher prices, due to focusing on quality and fair-trade commerce, you do not need to spend lots of bucks to achieve this approach. Recycling is part of the scene and the Op shops and vintage markets are key.

Op shops are ‘opportunity shops’ that sells repaired and in good-condition used clothes. Fortunately, Australia has lots of shops and markets where to get this!

Some of the favourites in Melbourne are:

The Conscious Closet

Located in the CBD, this shop is serious about fashion and helping others. You will not only find cool vintage and designer clothes for women but a chance to support other women. The Conscious Closet describes itself as a charity recycled women’s fashion store, that supports Fitted For Work. This is an organisation that assist women experiencing disadvantage into work.

1 consious closet

Fitzroy Market

Every 3^rd Saturday of every month in Fitzroy, this outdoor market opens at Fitzroy Primary School, on the corner of Napier St and Chapel St. Popular within students and young families looking to reduce heartless consumption. You will find second hand, vintage, pre-loved and items. Check it out here.

2 fitzroy market

The Brotherhood of St Laurence Op Shops

This organisation, that works to prevent and alleviate poverty across Australia, has 18 Op shops around the city. Probably the most popular store is located in the CBD. Hidden in the ground floor of the Royal Arcade, the Brotherhood City Basement is just opposite to Meyers and H&M on Bourke Street.

3 Brotherhood

A Plus Market

In the neighbourhood of Coburg, there is an indoor market that offers plus size fashion, featuring pre-loved and unique designs. A unique market that not always is included in global brand’s sizes. Not many dates available, but the reviews are excellent. Check it out here.

4 Plus Size

Things you probably got wrong about Melbourne

The article is written by Paola Bianchi Cover pic by Kieren Andrews

Is general knowledge that Eureka Tower is the tallest building, that the tram network is one of the largest one in the world, and that the city is full of alleys with ever-changing graffiti. We have seen these images all over the web. All these are real facts. But there is some information about this city that you might get wrong.

It is not the most liveable city in the world

Melbourne has been chosen several years in a row as the most liveable city in the world. But not anymore! According to the Economist Intelligence Unit rankings, Vienna is now the top number one in 2018. Melbourne got the second spot and Sydney got the fifth. Not because something is not going forward for Melburnians, but It seems that the Austrian city is doing even better.

Pic by Johan Mouchet

It is not ideal for night owls

Big cities are known for having stores open 24hs per seven days. So even if you get hungry at 3am, there is somewhere to go for a quick bite. However, in Melbourne is rare to find shops open that late. Shops shut down relatively early. As a general rule, cafes close by 4pm or 5pm, restaurants by 10pm or 11pm, retail stores at 6pm except on certain days like Friday.

Pic by Kevin laminto

Not many people live in the city

It’s said that Melbourne is home for around 4.5 million people. But as stats show, the residential population is over 148,000 (as of 2016) in the City of Melbourne. This area counts the CBD and some inner suburbs like Parkville and Southbank. That means that the grand majority lives in The Greater Melbourne. Another interesting fact is that almost 1 million walk in the city on an average weekday.

Pic by Akshay Chauhan

Hot wheatear doesn’t last long

When thinking about Australia, we usually imagine ourselves on a hot day sunbathing in white sandy beaches, spotting kangaroos in the wild and, let’s be honest, looking after our back while swimming because of sharks. That’s not the case at all about Melbourne. You might find wild fauna but the sunny hot days just last for the summer season which is December, January and February. The rest of the year tends to be cold, rainy and windy. Take a look at these averages temperatures:

Season	Average maximum	Average minimum
Summer (December to February): warm to hot	25°C (77°F)	14°C (57°F)
Autumn (March to May): mild	20°C (68°F)	11°C (52°F)
Winter (June to August): cool to brisk	14°C (57°F)	7°C (45°F)
Spring (September to November): cool to mild	20°C (68°F)	10°C (50°F)

Closest best surf spot is not Torquay

The west coast of Port Philip Bay is famous for its surfing. Mainly, Torquay beach is a favourite for all levels, and Bells beach is popular for the Rip Curl Competitions, both close to the Great Ocean Road. But if you head to the East coast of the bay and to the open sea you will find lots of fantastic surf spots like Flinders beach, The Pines, Honey Suckles, Serial and Gunnamatta Beach. The Gunnamatta Beach it’s known for having good waves and stable surf conditions throughout the year.

Pic by Alex Wigan

WHAT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE COMING TO AUSTRALIA

The article is written by Jane Churchill

LANGUAGE BARRIERS

Darren (Hong Kong): One thing I wish I knew before coming to Australia was that the English I knew was not the English many Australians speak (particularly young people)! I really struggled to understand people when I first arrived because almost every sentence has a slang word or strange expression in it. I wish I knew more Aussie-slang before I came so I wouldn’t have felt so confused!

Ingrid (Sweden): One thing I wish I knew before moving to Perth was how sarcastic the humour is here; I never know when people are joking or being serious! Australians will insult you- but they mean it in a nice way (this is a way they express their friendship). I have learnt that it is best to assume if an Australian says something rude, they are probably just joking!

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Isabel (Sweden): Before coming to Australia I really did not know anything about the Indigenous Community here. Indigenous Australians are a big part of Australian culture and I think if I had done some research before moving I would have understood some of the issues like Australia Day a bit more. Also, Aboriginal traditions and culture are just really interesting and very different to Sweden obviously! I would encourage everyone to learn about Indigenous Australians before studying here.

helena-lopes-592971-unsplash

GETTING A JOB

Ligia (Colombia): I wish I knew how hard it was to find a job. As international students are limited to hours we can work, it was hard in the beginning to find a place that would hire me. As most Australian students also work part-time, there is much competition, especially in areas close to universities. I found that applying for jobs online was really a waste of time and that the best way is actually to just walk around and hand in your resume in person.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Darren (Hong Kong): Coming from a place where public transport is so good, I really struggled to adapt to how (bad) the public transport system is here (Perth). In particular, the buses. They are never on time! Sometimes they just don’t even show up. I have learnt to always have a backup plan and to allow extra time when using public transport…

CONVENIENCE

Emma (United States): I wish I knew that America is the land of convenience and that the rest of the world doesn’t operate in the same way. 24-hour food is just not a thing in Australia! There are only a very small amount of McDonald’s which are open 24 hours. I was also shocked to find out that many grocery stores close at 7pm, with the latest being 9pm (even in big cities). Before you move to Australia, learn to plan ahead! Even restaurants and cafes that are open for lunch and dinner will close in the early afternoon between 3pm-5pm.

kevin-grieve-714800-unsplash

Newer Posts

Older Posts