How to Apply for Australian Student Visa: Applications, Process, Fees & Other Details

International students who get admission to Australian universities have to apply for a student visa. How to apply for an Australian student visa? This article will discuss in detail about how international students can submit their student visa applications to study in Australia. Check out the article for all the major details.
International students who get their confirmation of enrolment or COE to study in Australia can apply for an Australian student visa. The Department of Home Affairs - Australia invites study visa applications from students based on their educational qualifications, fitness and health insurance and language proficiency scores. There is also a GTE requirement as proposed by the Australian government which includes considering the applicant's country conditions, and his/her value to Australia based on the choice of course of study and past immigration history. The application process for a student visa in Australia is easy and is described below.
Who Needs a Student Visa in Australia?
International students applying for admission to Australian universities must apply for a student visa. An Australian student visa applies to international students applying for either short-term or long-term courses of study in Australia. Usually, courses offered in Australia that last for over six months require a student visa to attend. Thus, international students applying for full-time UG and PG courses offered under CRICOS have to have a student visa in hand.
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Moreover, students who obtain their CoE can apply for a student visa in Australia. There is only one way of submitting a student visa application in Australia—that is, online. Students can apply when they receive their CoE from the Australian university. The following methods have been discussed in detail for students applying for a visa in Australia.
How to Apply for Student Visa in Australia? Step-by-Step Guide
There are two ways for international students to apply for a student visa in Australia which happens online (by the applicants on their own). The online Australia student visa process step by step for application submission has been given in detail below:
Step 1: You must check with the Australian Embassy to see if you can apply for a student visa before obtaining official confirmation of your enrolment and paying tuition fees. Determine the appropriate type of student visa in Australia before applying.
Step 2: Check the country assessment level. The visa assessment levels depend on where your passport was issued and your visa subclass. For India, the Assessment Level is 3, and therefore, you can apply online through a migration agent. This is part of an ongoing trial of electronic lodgment of student visa applications (eVisa) for Assessment Levels (AL) 2-4 (medium to very high immigration risk) applicants.
Step 3: Log in to the eVisa system and lodge your application. The Australian High Commission requires that you lodge your application at least 8 weeks before the orientation date at your institution.
(Note: If you apply online outside Australia, you must also be outside Australia before the visa can be granted.)
Step 4: You will be required to attach documents regarding the following, along with your online application:
- Your current passport (valid for at least six months)
- Academic documents - including educational certificates, diplomas or degrees (as applicable) and English test results
- Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE)
- Travel document details
- Current or previous Australian visa details
- Name and residential address details;
- Postal and/or email address details; and
- Declarations by you as to your
- health
- character
- an understanding and acceptance of the visa conditions being applied for.
Note: Students must hold a valid passport before being granted a visa. It is strongly recommended that the passport be valid for at least six months.
Step 5: After completing your payment details, you should apply. Once the bank accepts payment and the Department has accepted your application, a 'Transaction Reference Number' (TRN) will be generated for it. You can use the TRN to inquire about the status of your application.
Step 6: Download and print the Health forms provided in case you must undergo a health check.;
You can:
- Optionally, view and print the receipt for submitting this visa application
- Optionally, view and print a copy of your visa application
Australian Student Visa Fees 2025
The Australian student visas are of two types - one is for undergraduate studies and the other is for postgraduate admissions. Here is the Australian student visa fees for international applicants:
- Subclass (500) Visa: The Australian Student Visa Subclass (500) is for undergraduates. Australia student visa fee for Subclass (500) is AUD 1,600.
- Subclass (485) Visa: This Australian Student Visa Subclass (485) is for those applying for postgraduate admissions. The Australian student visa fee for Suclass (485) is AUD 1,945.
The Australian student visa fee for both visas varies from one another. Also, the Australian student visa processing times also vary. Thus, applicants must apply for the student visa in Australia as soon as they get their CoE.
Australian Student Visa Documents Required
You should place your documents in the following order when lodging your application (from top down) via ImmiAccount:
- The original passport should be secured in a separate envelope. We recommend that clients submit their original passport with their application, as this reduces delays associated with further document requests.
- Application form 157A followed by form 956 (if applicable)
- English Language Test Scores
- Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) from the education provider.
- Academic documents - including educational certificates, diplomas or degrees (as applicable) and English test results
- Identity documents including marriage certificates, birth certificates, custody documents (if applicable) and copy of passport.
- Financial documents—including evidence of health cover, funds, and source of income. Please separate each sponsor's financial documents and place each affidavit of support with that sponsor's funds.
- Genuine Student Requirement is also essential part of the Australian student visa application process.
*Please note that no original documents other than the passport are to be submitted. Check out the full list of documents required for Australian student visa before applying.
Top Courses to Apply for Student Visa in Australia
Generally, Indian students apply for a visa in the hopes of pursuing an education in one of the following programmes:
- Bachelor degree
- Associate degree
- Graduate certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Masters by coursework
- Higher Education Diploma
- Higher Education advanced diploma
(Note: Anyone seeking education in Australia for more than 3 months has to apply for a student visa.)
With the introduction of the e-visa system through the approved education agents, the issuance of Australian student visas has become easy today. In India, thirteen education agents process student visas electronically and provide a student's supporting documents as electronic attachments.
Read: Why study in Australia?
Interested in studying in Australia? Get in touch with our team of counsellors by signing up for free at Shiksha Study Abroad Counselling. Get all your queries resolved by contacting the counsellors, or you can also write to us in the comments below.
Melbourne Institute of Technology Australia (MITA) is largely regarded as one of Australia's top institutions. It has a solid reputation in engineering, business, and science.
To begin with, Melbourne Institute of Technology Australia provides a world-class education with an emphasis on hands-on learning. You will be able to gain practical knowledge and abilities in a range of disciplines. Furthermore, the institution provides a wide range of courses and programmes that will provide you with the skills and knowledge required for a successful profession.
Second, the university is well-known on a global scale. It has the highest graduate employability rate in Australia. This is due to the great level of education and possibilities provided by the university to its students.
Third, the university boasts a broad and vibrant culture. While learning, you will be able to pursue your hobbies and meet like-minded people. This will aid in the development of your professional chances and the formation of strong relationships that will continue long after you graduate.
Fourth, the institution provides a wide range of facilities and services to make your studies more pleasurable and productive. You will be able to locate
The acceptance rate of the University of Notre Dame Australia is 19%, So for every 100 applicants, only 19 students get admitted. This means that it is a relatively competitive University. Candidates must fulfill the specific course requirements to secure admission to Notre Dame University. While the acceptance rate is competetive, it is suggested that the student applies early for higher chances of getting selected.
The minimum scores required to get admitted to the Australian universities range from 50 to 58. Note that these scores do not confirm admission to a university and the decision lies solely on the university admissions team.
The Uni of Western Australia offers 290+ courses to international students. The courses at the university are offered at the Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. Study areas at the university are:
- Education
- Business and Commerce
- Health and Biomedical Sciences
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Law
- Data and Computer Science
International students must submit the IELTS score to meet the English language requirements for Wollongong admission. Students who are preparing for IELTS Exam to start their education at Wollongong University can check the IELTS Preparation Tips. These preparation tips will help you in clearing the examinations. Students must have a good vocabulary to get a good score on the exam. Students can check the below pointers while preparing for the IELTS Exam:
- Check the Reading Tips for IELTS to get a good score in the reading section
- IELTS writing tips will improve your writing skills
- Using the Free speaking tips and plenty of practice will enhance your speaking skills
- Students can check the IELTS listening tips and practice lessons to score good marks on the IELTS listening test
Apart from the above tips, students can join Free IELTS Online Classes on Shiksha.com to know more about the examination in detail.
Also read: Study in Australia without IELTS
The University of the Sunshine Coast ranking is 501-600 by Times Higher Education. If we talk about the University of the Sunshine Coast QS Ranking 2024, then UniSC ranks 1001-1200 in the world. The university maintains its current positions since 2022. We have also mentioned Sunshine Coast University ranking below:
· 1st in Queensland
· 1st in Queensland for ‘Climate Action’ impact
· 3rd in the world for our global impact on 'Clean Water and Sanitation'
· 23rd globally for 'Life on Land'
Note: Above ranking is given by Times Higher Education
To meet the eligibility requirements, international students must provide proof of English proficiency. Global students who have learned English as their first language or completed their previous degrees in English are exempted from the language requirements.
English Requirements for International Students
International students coming from non-English-speaking countries, such as India, need to prove their language proficiency through standardized English exams such as IELTS/TOEFL/PTE. Students may provide either of the following exam scores:
Programmes | IELTS Academic Score | TOEFL Score (IBT) |
---|---|---|
Master of Professional Accounting | Overall 6.5 (no less than 6 bands) | Overall 79 - 93, with minimum scores: |
Master of Networking | Overall 6.0 (no less than 5.5 bands) | Overall 60 - 78 with minimum scores: |
Programmes | PTE Academic Score | CAE Score |
Master of Professional Accounting | Overall 58 (no less than 50) | Overall 176 (no less than 169) |
Master of Networking | Overall 50 (no less than 46) | Overall 169 (no less than 162) |
Note: These are generic requirements for graduates and undergraduates aspiring to study at the university. Some of the courses may have higher score requirements or different academic and language requirements.
Please refer to the intended course page on the university website to check the exact limit on each course.

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Armed with B.Com from Delhi University, Anuradha Sharma has accumulated rich experience as an education counsellor. She is especially adept at handling Australia and NZ admission procedure. Before becoming a GTE Exp... Read Full Bio
The University of Newcastle is amog the universities that does not publish official data on the acceptance rate. However, as per some unofficial sources, the University of Newcastle Australia acceptance rate is 80%. This makes Newcastle University Australia moderately selective in admissions. Please note that the data on acceptance rate given above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.