7 tips for preparing your student visa application (Subclass 500)

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If you’ve decided to apply for a student visa then you’re in the right place. Study Online Australia is a registered education agency which helps hundreds of students from around the world to find the right course for them every year.

Our expert team were international students once upon a time too and will hold your hand every step of the way from providing guidelines for your GTE letter to enrolment at the college of your choice. 

Before we get down to business, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared.

Below, we’ve rounded up our top 7 tips on what you need to do before lodging your student visa application.

1. Prepare your documents

Why?

In order to send your student visa application off in good time, it’s important to gather your documents well in advance. 
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How?

​To apply for a Student Visa (Subclass 500) in Australia, you must tick the below requirements.

Please note: the full list of requirements is individually based on each applicant and the college/university you choose.  

• Educational history
• Details of your employment and volunteering history since leaving school/college/university
• Evidence of current or most recent employment which might include pay slips or a contract
• You can also attach your most recent curriculum vitae or resume - these should include full employment and educational history, including dates, short descriptions and positions held for at least the last five years.
• If anyone in the application has changed his or her name, you will also require certified copies verifying the name change. This may include a marriage or deed poll certificate.       ​​

You can find a full document checklist on the official Home Affairs website. 

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2. Make certified copies of vital documents

As part of your Student Visa Subclass 500 application, you must provide evidence of your academic transcripts, an educational certificate or a letter from your overseas educational institution. 

If some of your documents aren't in English, please ensure a translation is done by a NAATI translator. 

3. Save up

Why?

Before applying for a student visa, it’s important to take into consideration the costs involved.

From July 1st 2020, a Student Visa Subclass 500 in Australia costs $620 for a primary applicant (please note: this is subject to change). 

You must also take into consideration the additional cost of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for yourself and accompanying family members. 

Additional fees which may occur are listed below:

• For an additional applicant who is over 18-years-old and is included in the same student visa application, there is an additional applicant charge of $460.

 

• For an additional application who is under 18-years-old, there is an additional applicant charge of $150.

 

• If your current visa has been lodged within Australia, there is a subsequent temporary application charge of $700. This fee applies to every applicant.

If you apply for your student visa with Study Online Australia, our expert team will organise OSHC for you. 

We work closely with nib which offers competitive prices and an instant insurance certificate with your student visa lodgement. You can find up-to-date OSHC costs on our website. ​

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How?

One of the conditions of a Student Visa Subclass 500 is that you are not permitted to work more than 40 hours per fortnight when you are in Australia when your course of study is in session and you must not engage in any work before your course of study commences. it’s a good idea to save money before lodging your application.
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Make sure to work out a budget in order to cover the costs of your course. You will be expected to pay in instalments before the beginning of every term. 

You can find tips on getting a job in Australia alongside example resume templates on our blog.  

4. Choose the right course for you 

Why?

It’s vital that you choose a course which you are genuinely interested in so start researching into prospective colleges and subjects months in advance. This means carefully reading through the syllabus to figure out if the timetable suits your lifestyle and work commitments. 
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Study Online Australia reminder: We also advise that you double-check the length of the course as a number of colleges offer the same program with differing term times. 

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How?

The Study Online Australia team has successfully helped hundreds of international students to pursue further education down under. We will try to find the right course for you based upon your location, interests and career goals.   

We’ll assist with the preparation of your documents, GTE letter and eventual enrolment. The best part? You don’t pay anything for our services. We’re fully funded by Australian education institutions.
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Check out our latest blog post for the cheapest courses in Australia 2021.

5. Spend time on your GTE statement

Why?

As part of your student visa application, you must write a unique GTE statement.
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The aim is for students to prove they genuinely wish to stay in Australia temporarily so we strongly encourage applicants to include as much information as possible about their circumstances and post-study plans.  

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What should I include in my GTE statement?

We’ve listed important sections which must be included in your GTE statement below.

For the full guidelines please refer to GTE guidelines on the Home Affairs website.

• Your reasons for choosing to undertake the course(s) of study specified in your application
• Your reasons for choosing your education provider(s)

• Your reasons for choosing to study in Australia rather than in your home country or usual country of residence

• Your planned living arrangements in Australia

• The relevance of your course(s) of study to your academic and/or employment background

• The relevance of the course(s) of study to your future career and/or educational plans.

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How?

If you apply for your student visa through Study Online Australia, our expert team will be on hand to guide you through the process.
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In the meantime, you can find further advice on writing your GTE statement on our website. 

7. Ask questions!

The Study Online Australia team is entirely funded by educational institutions so we don't charge a penny for our services.
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If you have any questions about student visas in Australia, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We offer free, friendly advice and are always happy to have a chat.

Study smarter, choose Study Online Australia.