Australian Embassy
Russian Federation
Embassy address: 10A/2 Podkolokolny Pereulok, 109028 Moscow - Telephone: 956 6070 - Fax: 956 6170

STUDENT VISAS

A Student visa allows students to study in Australia, including English language courses. Student visa holders may work in Australia for up to 20 hours a week.

Short term study for under three months, with no permission to work, can be undertaken on a Tourist Visa

Document Checklist

See the Student Visa Document Checklist for a summary of documents you must provide when applying for this visa.

How to apply

Assessment of Student Visas

To be granted a visa, you must provide evidence of the following:

Assessment Levels

The level of evidence of finances and English language ability you need to provide depends on your ‘Assessment Level’. Your Assessment Level is determined by the passport you hold and the education sector for which you are seeking a student visa.

For further information on assessment levels, including which assessment level you will be assessed at, visit the DIAC website.
See: Student Visa Program - Assessment Levels

How to Calculate the Required Evidence of Funds

Assessment Level 1 requires the applicant to declare in their application form that they are able to support their stay in Australia for the duration of the course.

Assessment Level 2 requires the applicant or a sponsor of the applicant to demonstrate that they have funds in a bank account to cover tuition, living and travel costs for the first 12 months of their stay in Australia and a statement to advise they are able to support their stay in Australia for the remainder of the course.

Assessment Level 3 requires the applicant or a sponsor of the applicant to demonstrate they have held the total required funds in a bank account for 3 months before the date of application (unless they are funded by a Government or they have taken out a loan specifically for their studies in Australia) plus sufficient tuition, living and travel costs for the first 18 months of their stay in Australia and a statement to advise they are able to support their stay in Australia for the remainder of the course.

Example:
Mr X is from Belarus. He applies for a visa on 28 March 2012 to go to Australia to study English and then a Bachelor Degree in Information Technology. He is therefore applying for a subclass 573 visa, which will be assessed at Assessment Level 3. An example of calculated expenses are as follows:

Tuition = $20 000 (AUD)
Living = $27 000 (AUD) (18 months calculated at $1500 per month)
Travel = $2 500 (AUD) (return flight from Belarus to Australia)
Total = $ 49 500 (AUD)

Mr X must demonstrate that he has held a minimum balance of $49 500 AUD in a bank account with a proper financial institution for the entire period of 28 December 2011 – 28 March 2012.

If Mr X provides us with a bank statement that shows he held $50 000 AUD in an account on 28 December 2011 but this amount went down to $22 000 AUD on 10 January 2012, and then back up to $50 000 AUD on 25 March 2012, he has not demonstrated sufficient funds.  

Confirmation of Enrolment (COE)

For all student visa applications lodged from 5 November 2011, you should provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) from your educational institution with your application, confirming that you are officially enrolled in a registered course and that you have paid both the tuition fees and the health cover charges.

You will also be asked to obtain an official COE for any school-aged children included in your application.

Detailed information about student visas is available from the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website.

See: Student Visas

March 2012
 

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