International students require a student visa in order to study in Australia. The process of applying for a student visa depends on which country you apply from and the type of study you're applying for. The student visa application process can be involved and for this reason, students in some countries apply for their student visa using the help of a registered Australian education agent.
For assistance in your application for a student visa, contact the Australian Government's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) office nearest to you.
Changes to international student visa rules
In December 2010, the Australian Government conducted a review of the student visa program to recommend improvements to student visa rules and conditions. Known as the 'Knight Review', these recommendations aim to make studying in Australia easier for international students, while maintaining the integrity and quality of the existing student visa program.
These changes to student visa rules are detailed in the
- Stage One Knight Review Changes Fact Sheet (November 2011)
- Stage Two Knight Review Changes Fact Sheet (March 2012)
These fact sheets have been translated into several other languages.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website provides a timetable of the visa rule changes that are part of Stage One of the Knight Review implementation.
The student visa process
The DIAC website also outlines the process for assessing and granting student visas and a visa wizard to help determine the type of visa to apply for. This is particularly useful for students who want to establish if they can study in Australia before they begin applying for courses.
