What you need to know

The student visa program of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) enables overseas students to come to Australia to undertake full-time study in registered courses in Australia.

Eligibility

Before applying for a student visa, students must complete an application form and have been accepted for full-time study in a registered course in Australia.

All TAFE NSW courses for international students are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Student visas

Students must apply for a visa in the correct visa subclass, which relates to the principal course of study they wish to undertake. This could be:

• English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS)
• Schools
• Vocational Education and Training
• Higher Education

Visa conditions

There are many conditions that relate to student visas. Visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website for the full list of conditions.

Assessment factors

Students must provide evidence that satisfies the assessment factor applicable to them before they can be granted a student visa. This includes evidence that they have appropriate financial resources (for example: the capactiy to meet the cost of the airfares, living costs in Australia and tuition fees), the ability to support any family members, English Language proficiency, and that they will comply with the condition of their visas.

There are five Assessment Levels (ALs) according to the country of nationality and the education sector in which a student intends to study.

If an AL2, AL3, AL4 or AL5 applicant does not hold a visa they must make their initial student visa application outside of Australia. All students must also be of good character and sound health and have acceptable health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), including their accompanying family members.

Visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website for information on visa subclasses and assessment level countries.

Packaged courses

Students in all subclasses and assessment levels may "package" their studies so that they combine a preliminary course with their principal course of study (for example: they may take a short English language course before their main course begins).

We are a registered provider under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Our CRICOS Provider Code is 00591E. Our Provider Name is NSW Technical and Further Education Commission