Breadcrumbs
Visa matters
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requires each person who comes to Australia to hold a valid visa. If you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident and you wish to study in Australia, you will be required to obtain a visa that permits study.
Depending on your program and the length of study, you may choose to apply for a tourist visa, working holiday visa, or student visa. If you hold a visa other than this, you should contact DIAC for advice regarding your eligibility to study.
Please contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to find out what type of visa you require and how to apply.
Student visa
If you intend to study longer than 3 months (tourist visa) or 4 months (working holiday visa) you may require a student visa. Student visas are only available for on campus, full-time study in a CRICOS registered program. Detailed information about applying for a student visa is available from the DIAC website.
Please note
- To be eligible for a student visa, you must be enrolled in a full time, CRICOS registered course.
- If your student visa is granted before 1 April 2008, you will not automatically have permission to work. You may apply for a student visa with Permission to Work once your course has commenced. A student visa with Permission to Work will allow you to work up to 20 hours per week during semester and unrestricted hours during official University holiday periods.
- You must have valid OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) in order to be granted a student visa.
- Family members (such as a spouse or dependant child) may be included in a student visa application, depending on your nationality and the length of the proposed program.
- A student visa will usually be granted for the duration of your program, plus an additional 4 weeks.
How to apply for a student visa
Find out your Assessment Level
If you are from an Assessment Level 1 or 2 country, accept your offer and pay all fees due to USC.
- USC International will issue you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
- Apply for your student visa through DIAC either online or you may be required to complete a paper-based application and lodge it at the Australian Embassy closest to you.
- Undertake medical examinations, including a chest x-ray, and provide documentation to support your application, if required.
- Processing times vary, however you should expect that a paper-based student visa application will take at least 4 weeks to process. Online applications are processed faster. Please refer to the DIAC website for details relevant to your application.
If you are from an Assessment Level 3, 4, or 5 country you will be required to apply for a Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA). To apply for a PVA:
- Lodge your Student Visa Application with a copy of the Letter of Offer from USC. Do not pay any fees or have medical tests.
- DIAC will complete a pre-visa assessment of your application. A letter will be sent advising whether you are considered a 'genuine' student, if yes, accept your offer and pay all USC fees.
- Undertake medical examinations, including a chest x-ray, and provide documentation to support your application, if required.
- Obtain and submit your Confirmation of Enrolment and any other required documentation to DIAC.
- DIAC will make a final assessment of your application.
- Allow up to 3 months to process an Assessment Level 3, 4 or 5 country. Please refer to the DIAC website for details relevant to your application.
Tourist visas
A Tourist Visa (or ETA – Electronic Travel Authority) will allow you to study full time or part time for up to 12 weeks. If you enter Australia on a tourist visa and intend to study for longer than 12 weeks, you will be required to apply for a student visa. For more information about tourist or ETA visas, visit the DIAC website.
'Working Holiday' or 'Work and Holiday' Visa
'Working Holiday' and "Work and Holiday" visa's are only available to citizens of certain countries and will allow you to study full time or part time for up to 17 weeks. If you enter Australia on this type of visa and intend to study for longer than 17 weeks, you will be required to apply for a student visa. For more information visit the DIAC website.
Other visa types
If you hold, or intend to apply for, a visa other than a tourist, working holiday, or student visa, and you intend to study, you must contact DIAC for advice regarding your eligibility to study www.immi.gov.au.
The University of the Sunshine Coast is a registered provider (CRICOS Provider Number: 01595D) of international education as defined in the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.