Things to Know

Awesome.  After checking your Australian study options and deciding on your course of study and in what city or state, you now have also identified your preferred education provider.  What’s next to consider?  Below are different scenarios and the things you might need to consider from the education provider application for admission angle and the visa application angle.  

I. If you’re studying a standalone ELICOS or other English language course

I.A. Education Provider –

Anybody from anywhere in the world can study English language course in Australia. There is no academic, age, or English language proficiency requirement. Your course will be tailored around your current level of proficiency.  Courses commence all year round.  If you’re a group (family, friends or colleagues) an English class can be tailored and commenced especially for your group.  The course can also be combined with tourism and special interest activities, and structured around your group’s schedule.  Individuals enrolling in regular English class can also enjoy similar things.  Most English language providers integrate classroom lessons with outside, practical real-world interactions and experiences to help you hone your English skills and gain confidence in using it. 

I.B. Visa Application –

If you’re planning on studying English in Australia for:

1. Not more than 3 months or 12 weeks – You can come on just a Tourist Visa.  Passport holders of eligible countries don’t even need a Tourist Visa and can come here on Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).  The only catch there is since you are not on a Student Visa your study stint is not covered by the ESOS Act, and this can become a concern since not all English language program providers are the same.  Having said that however, we can help you evaluate and choose English language course providers (in your desired Australian city) who are not only recognised as providing quality English language courses to students and professional from around the world, but also extend their tuition protection even to students who are not on Student Visa.
2. More than 3 months or 12 weeks – You will need a Student Visa (Subclass 500).  Those who have a Work Holiday Visa can study for more than 3 months but less than 4 months or 16 weeks. 

II. If you’re studying ELICOS as part of or as a requirement of your main study course

II.A. Education Provider –

When you apply to school (private), VET provider or university, you’ll be required to submit evidence of your English language proficiency. Assuming you’ve met other requirements (e.g., academics) but fall short of the required minimum level of English language proficiency, you’ll be required and offered to attend ELICOS first before you can commence your main study course. This is how you’ll come into this situation wherein you first need to sit ELICOS as a prerequisite of your main course of study.  

Many school, VET and university providers have in-house English language centre that provides ELICOS to incoming overseas students to help them attain the level of proficiency essential to their academic success. Upon receiving and processing your application, and assessing you needing to sit ELICOS, your provider would automatically offer you a place in their ELICOS program; with the type and length of the program based on your assessed English proficiency level.  You go straight to commencing your main study course upon successful completion of your ELICOS or upon assessment (your progress will be monitored regularly) that you’ve already achieved the required minimum level of English proficiency.   

II.B. Visa Application –

Enrolling and undertaking two or more courses in clear progression from one course to another, like studying ELICOS first then moving on to secondary schooling or VET or university course, is what the Department of Home Affairs call as “course packaging”. For Student Visa application purposes your final course is your main course of study. The evidentiary requirements of your Student Visa application for your entire study stint will be based on your main course of study.

III. If you’re studying in Primary School

III.A. Education Provider –

Schools across Australia have some variations in their admission policies but generally there are four (4) main things they require from overseas student applicants:

1. Evidence of academic performance appropriate for the year level they are applying for
2. Appropriate age for the course study
3. Evidence of English language proficiency (for private schools only)
4. Suitable accommodation and welfare support in Australia (for minors)

For example, in South Australian public schools, to enrol in primary school (from Reception to Year 6) the student must be between 5 to 13 years old.  To enrol in Junior High School (from Year 7 to 10) the applicant must be between 13 to 16 years old, and between 16 to 19 years old when enrolling in Senior High School (Year 10 to 12).  Please note that different States have different age requirements, and some offer flexibility in considering age for enrolment.  Same goes for private schools.  See also section IV.B below.

State or territory government-run primary schools usually do not require minimum English language proficiency from international students.  All Australian schools catering to international students (in primary and high school) provide continuing English language support as part of their curriculum.

As mentioned in II.A above, if a student wanting to enrol in a private school is unable to meet the required minimum English language proficiency they may still enrol on the condition that they successfully complete ELICOS prior to commencing their study.

If you’re enrolling in school (whether public and private) chances are you’re under 18 years old or a minor, in which case you are required to show that you’ll have suitable accommodation and welfare support in Australia.  Please see III.B below for details. 

III.B. Visa Application –

Being a minor (i.e., below 18 years old) you need to have adequate arrangement for accommodation, support and welfare in Australia for the duration of your study.  To comply with this requirement, you need to either live with your parent/s or close relatives in Australia or secure a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter from your education provider.  Please see II.B.2 in Visa page for more details. 

You must be at least 6 years old at the time of your application to be eligible for Student Visa.

As in II.B above, if you’re enrolled in both ELICOS and Primary school study, your Student Visa evidentiary requirement will be based on you studying Primary school in your chosen provider.

IV. If you’re studying in Secondary School

IV.A. Education Provider –

Basically the same things to consider as in III.A above. As a general rule, the level of English language proficiency requirement (by private schools) is higher for Secondary school students compared to Primary school students.

IV.B. Visa Application –

If you’re still a minor (i.e., below 18 years old) things discussed in III.B above applies.

You must be of the right age for your school course. To be granted a visa for school studies, you have to be:

• Younger than 17 years of age when starting year 9
• Younger than 18 years of age when starting year 10
• Younger than 19 years of age when starting year 11
• Younger than 20 years of age when starting year 12.

If you’re already 18 before arriving in Australia you’re not required to comply with the welfare arrangement discussed in III.B.  If you’re below 18 at the time of your application but you will be 18 by the time you arrive in Australia you don’t need to comply with this requirement but you still need to fill-up and submit Form 157N (Student Guardianship Arrangements) with your Student Visa application.

As in II.B above, if you’re enrolled in both ELICOS and Secondary school study, your Student Visa evidentiary requirement will be based on you studying Secondary school in your chosen provider.

V. If you’re studying in Vocational Education and Training (VET) provider

V.A. Education Provider –

To enrol in VET courses these two things are usually required:

1. Minimum English language proficiency. Different courses have different minimum levels of proficiency requirement.
2. Relevant academic credential. This varies from course to course. Some courses require higher academic credentials than others. Some courses do not have minimum academic requirement, for example Aviation schools offering pilot courses typically don’t have minimum academic requirement.  Some providers can waive the academic requirements for student who are at least 21 years old and have relevant work experience or other qualifications. 

If you’re unable to meet the English proficiency requirement of your course you can still get accepted provided you first complete ELICOS before you can commence your main study. Many providers have in-house English programs, while some would have ready recommendation of their preferred ELICOS providers.

If you’re unable to meet the academic requirement of your desired course, there is usually other pathways available to eventually get in your desired course.  For example, enrolling in Diploma courses typically require a Year 12 qualification.  However, completing a Certificate III course typically can be considered as a substitute for a Year 12 qualification, and Certificate III courses only require an equivalent Year 10 study. So even if you don’t have a Year 12 qualification, you can still eventually get into a Diploma course by completing a Certificate III course.    

You can have your previous studies and/or work experience recognised and you can get credits for them that can count towards the completion of your course, or you can be granted exemption from having to complete certain units or modules in your study course. This is called Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). There is a process involved, you can apply for it as you enrol. There’s a fee and you’ll be required to submit evidence to support your claim.

Many TAFE (state government owned VET provider) offer courses that are packaged with a university course offer. Some universities consider a completed Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma course from TAFE as meeting the entrance requirement for some of their degree programs. This is great for those who wish to study in university but cannot because of academic deficiencies.

V.B. Visa Application –

If you’re under 18 years of age, the welfare arrangement discussed in III.B applies.

If you still need to sit ELICOS before commencing your main course, II.B above remains true. Your main course in this scenario is your VET course.

If you’ve a spouse and/or have unmarried underage kids, you can include them in your Student Visa application. Note that they too must meet the requirements for health and character, and you must also be prepared to show evidence of financial capability to support them, including health cover and the kids’ education, in Australia.

VI. If you’re studying in University

VI.A. Education Provider –

Few of the things you need to consider depending on your course of study:

Undergraduate degree

1. There is a minimum level of English language proficiency requirement for all degree courses, and it varies between courses. If you’re unable to meet the required English proficiency for your degree, most universities have their own English pathway program that enables you to go straight to your main degree program upon successful completion or upon successful achievement of the prescribed English language proficiency.
2. There is an academic requirement for all degree courses, and it varies between courses. This academic requirement usually involves 2 things:

a) Your overall secondary education grade point average (similar to Australia’s ATAR or Queensland’s OP score), or its equivalent in your country as recognised by the Australian university you’re applying to, and

b) Having studied the requisite subjects required by your chosen degree course and your final grade in them.  For example, if you wish to take Engineering you need to have at least passing marks in Maths Method or Specialist Maths (or their equivalent in your country) and Physics. If you fall short of this requirement you cannot enrol, however there are some remedies or pathways you can still take to enable you to eventually get into your desired study course:

i. Foundation Studies – Foundation Studies run for a year and offers an extensive selection of subjects that you can choose from. You can enrol in Foundational Studies (every university has one) and pick the subjects that you need to enable you to satisfy the requirements of your targeted degree. Again, for example, if you wish to study Engineering but lack the requisite Math and Physics subjects, you can enrol in Foundational Studies and pick Specialist Maths or Maths Method, and Physics. Upon successful completion of Foundation Studies, you can proceed to enrol in your desired Engineering degree. 

ii. Bridging Course – Alternatively, if your problem lies in specific prerequisite subjects which you didn’t take or have unsatisfactory final grades or have failed in high school you can enrol to take those subjects via the university’s Bridging course program. When you successfully completed and passed those subject/s in your bridging course you can use them to satisfy the prerequisite of your desired course. For example, if you’re unable to get accepted to your desired Engineering degree because you failed a required Math subject (or its equivalent) you can actually take a bridging course for just that Math subject, pass it and satisfy the Math requirement of your desired Engineering degree.  Compare to Foundational Studies that offer a wide range of subjects, Bridging course program usually offer very limited subjects, usually science and math subjects. Most universities have a Bridging course program, but they do have different policies on its delivery and who’s allowed to take it.  Most allow international students to take their Bridging course program. Some universities’ Bridging course program are very intensive and if you don’t have prior knowledge of the subject you’ll have a hard time keeping up, while some Bridging course programs are paced in a way that it’s possible for one motivated individual to keep up with the pace even though he or she is completely new to the subject.   

iii. TAFE VET courses – You can study a TAFE course.  As mentioned in V.A. above, many universities consider a completed Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma courses as satisfying the academic requirement of some of their degree programs.   Many universities offer courses that have specific pathway directly from TAFE.  

iv. A few Australian universities like the University of Melbourne allows enrolment in single subjects in assessed mode which has the same effect of satisfying the prerequisite subject of your desired course one you’ve passed it.   

v. If you’re dead set on a particular university course and none of the above will do, you can enrol in Senior Secondary school in Australia.  This way you’ll be able to plan and take the subjects that you will need (to pursue the university degree you are targeting), and attain an Australian ATAR score, which hopefully would be in a level good enough to gain acceptance to the university degree you desire.  Even if you’re already an adult you can still enrol and study in many Adult Senior Secondary Schools across Australia to gain a Senior Secondary School qualification and an ATAR.   

Postgraduate Degree – Master (Coursework)

There is an English language proficiency requirement for all Master (Coursework) programs. If you’re unable to meet the required English proficiency for your coursework chances are great that your university has its own English program that will enable you to satisfy and proceed to the coursework upon successful completion of the prescribed English language proficiency course.

There is a varying degree of academic requirements amongst Australian universities regarding their Mater Coursework programs. Most require a relevant Bachelor’s degree, a satisfactory grade in standardised exam like GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) for their MBA program, some years of relevant work experience, etc.

Postgraduate Research – Master (Research) and PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

The ubiquitous (and necessary) English language proficiency is also a requirement for all Postgraduate Research programs. If you’re unable to meet the required English proficiency for your research chances are great that your university has its own English program that will enable you to satisfy and proceed to your research upon successful completion of the prescribed English language proficiency course.
The academic and research experience required varies amongst universities, they include a bachelor’s degree with honours, qualification that shows sufficient research experience and capability, a master’s degree of high standard, etc.

VI.B. Visa Application –

If you’re under 18 years of age, the welfare arrangement discussed in III.B applies.

If you still need to sit ELICOS before commencing your main course, II.B above remains true. Your main course in this scenario is your university course.

If you’ve a spouse and/or have unmarried underage kids, you can include them in your Student Visa application. Note that they too must meet the requirements for health and character, and you must also be prepared to show evidence of financial capability to support them, including health cover and the kids’ education, in Australia.