How to apply for a student visa - Study Australia

You’ve decided to apply for a student visa, hoorah! So, what’s next?
​
As explained in a previous blog post, I moved from the UK to Australia on a working holiday visa in 2019.

After falling in love with Sydney, I knew that I wanted to continue exploring this beautiful city. 

With a lifelong dream of studying abroad, I decided that further education was the right path for me so chose to study IV Certificate in Marketing and Communication at International House in Sydney.

Sydney, Australia

This is a brilliant option for aspiring students wanting to change career paths or expand upon their skills.

​It’s also a great place to choose if you want to see more of Australia with campuses in Byron Bay, Darwin, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
​
From choosing a course to preparing the correct student visa documents, read on below to find out how the enrolment process in Australia works.

How to choose the right course in Australia for you 

There are over 22,000 courses available for international students in Australia which can make choosing the right option a little daunting! 

Thankfully, the Study Online Australia team is incredibly experienced in helping students to find a course which matches their budget, availability and career goals.

Study Online Australia has long-time relationships with colleges across the country so is up to date with prices, timetables and visa changes.

Sydney, Australia

Company Director Pavla Hannan was incredibly helpful in finding the right course for me. She listened to what I was looking for and recommended a number of courses in Sydney.
​
I chose to study at International House as they have campuses in the city and Bondi, both of which are within easy reach. 

You can find brilliant advice on choosing the right course for you from leading experts at some of Australia’s best schools and universities by checking out our Q&A series.

The enrolment process explained

In order to enrol on your chosen course, you’ll need to ensure you have the correct documents to hand well in advance. 

Below, find a student visa checklist to keep handy:

• Proof of Overseas Student Health Cover
• A certified copy of your passport
• A certified copy of your current job and/or professional work experience 
• Family details
• A certified copy of your academic transcripts, qualifications or a letter from your Australian or overseas educational institution 
• Proof of financial resources 
• Proof of English level if required
• Relevant travel information
• Intentions about living arrangements and all questions related to the student visa application must be true 

As part of the student visa application process, you are also required to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay.
​ 
Study Online Australia will arrange health insurance on your behalf.

Your GTE statement

A GTE statement is a letter proving that you intend to genuinely stay in Australia temporarily and must include the following:
​

• Your reasons for choosing 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 
• Your planned living arrangements in Australia
• The relevance of your course(s) to your academic and/ or employment background  

It is recommended that you include as much information in your GTE statement as possible to help create a holistic view of your circumstances.

​Immigration can make a decision on a student visa application with the information provided.

Every student must write their own unique GTE statement. Study Online Australia has helped hundreds of students to complete theirs and will be on hand to proofread your letter to ensure you have included all of the information required.

Your letter of offer

If you’re successful (congrats!), you’ll receive a letter of offer from your chosen college.
​ 
The letter will detail the below information about your course:

• The length of your course 
• Vital payment due dates 
• A refund policy 
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy and personal information policy 
  
  

 You must agree with the information listed in the letter and sign by the date stated.

Pay your deposit

As part of your Confirmation of Enrolment, you are required to pay a deposit towards your course fees. 

You must make sure that you double check all of the information listed in your confirmation of enrolment as this is part of your student visa application.

Your student visa has been granted!

First of all, congratulations! Once your student visa has been granted, make sure to keep these important details safe. 

I also strongly recommend reading through your work and living requirements to ensure that you obey the rules of your visa whilst staying in Australia.

Bondi Beach, Australia

What to expect from orientation day

Nothing was more wonderful than receiving my visa grant letter. Thanks to the wonderful help of Study Online Australia, my student visa was granted instantly!

Next on the agenda was enrolling on my course. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, orientation took place online a week before my course was due to start. 

Although this was not what I expected, it was a great opportunity for me to get to know some of the brilliant teachers at International House and to get acquainted with fellow classmates.

It is mandatory that you attend your orientation session.

What to expect on your first day as an international student

It can be nerve-wracking preparing for your first day of studies as an international student, especially when you don’t know anyone. 

But I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly everyone was and instantly felt at ease! The key to success? Preparation. 
Student checklist:

• Your student number - this is really important to remember for class registration
• A laptop - this isn’t essential but will prove useful when conducting research or starting your online assignments
• A pen and notepad to take notes during class
• Plenty of snacks to keep you fuelled throughout the lecture (they may even prove helpful when making friends)

Due to the current restrictions, I had the option to choose either weekly webinars or face-to-face lectures. I chose the latter in order to meet new people and to ensure that I could receive help from the teacher if necessary.
 
If you are able to attend an inhouse class then I really recommend it. I have met wonderful students from all over the world, such as Brazil, Turkey and Columbia. 

My weekly class is four hours long (5pm to 9pm) once a week and enables me to work around the schedule with ease. I also find it much easier to concentrate in person as opposed to logging into an online webinar.

I also advise spending your break getting to know fellow students. There are common areas in each college and it’s a perfect opportunity to make friends.

Study support during your stay in Australia

One of the biggest advantages to applying for your student visa with Study Online Australia is that the team is always on hand to help. 

Even after my student visa was granted, I have been able to seek advice during my studies whether it’s questions about enrolment, work rights or seeking extra help on my course.

Studying abroad is exciting but can prove daunting. Study better with Study Online Australia.

We go above and beyond to make sure that you have the greatest experience possible during your stay in Australia. For further information, don’t hesitate to get in touch.