Admission Process in Australia

For international students planning to study in Australia, the application process involves a number of steps. These steps are fairly standard whether you are planning to study English or at Masters level.
Applying for a course normally requires the following documents:

  • Certified copies of your academic history to date, including high school results/certificates and any studies undertaken after high- school (often called post secondary studies). If you have undertaken any post secondary studies, you will need to provide your academic transcripts of subjects studied and any completion or graduation certificates with your application

  • Certified copies of your English language proficiency (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL or evidence that the medium of instruction in your past studies has been English). All institutions have individual, specific English language proficiency requirements for entry into their courses – these standards vary greatly depending on the course you choose
  • A certified copy of your passport and any Australian visa label (if currently in Australia)
  • For research applications, a copy of your research proposal will also be required

Once your application has been received by the institution, it will be assessed by the admissions office to determine if you meet both the academic and English Language requirements for your chosen course. The possible outcomes of your application are:

  • A full Letter of offer confirming that you are eligible for direct entry into your chosen course
  • A conditional letter of offer confirming that you are eligible for entry to your chosen course, pending the provision of further information to the admissions office. For example, you may be required to provide your completion/graduation certificate if you were finishing your current studies when you applied for your course or provide evidence of your IELTS or TOEFL test if you are sitting your English test after you have applied for your course. Once you have provided the additional documentation and, if it meets the stated conditions, you will be issued with a full letter of offer. A package letter of offer confirming that you have a full letter of offer to one course and an additional conditional letter of offer to a following course.

    For example, you may receive both a full letter of offer to a Diploma course, with a conditional letter of offer to the following Bachelor’s degree (conditional upon successfully completing the Diploma course)
  • A rejection letter confirming that you have not met the entry requirements for your chosen course

If you have been successful in your application, the next step is to accept your offer formally by:

  1. Signing and returning the offer acceptance form included in your offer
  2. Paying the tuition fees outlined in your letter of offer – this is generally the amount of one full semester’s tuition fees at your institution
  3. Paying the overseas student health cover (OSHC) outlined in your letter of offer – unless you have been studying in Australia and have current OSHC accepted by your institution

Once your acceptance and payment are received and confirmed by your institution, they will issue an Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (ECoE) which is required for your student visa application. Please note that if you are from an Assessment Level 3 or 4 countries, you do not accept your letter of offer until you have completed a Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) in your home country.

PVA is the policy of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), whereby students from these countries applying for a student visa offshore have their genuineness as a student assessed on the basis of a letter of offer before obtaining an ECoE from their institution.

 Application step-by-step process model:

Step 1: Student enquiry and Application
Step 2: International Admission Assessment (Assessment of Application for Academic & English eligibility).
Step 3: Student Acceptance (Returns the signed acceptance of offer letter & pay relevant fees)
Step 4: International Admissions Acceptance (create Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE); schedule compulsory health insurance (OSHC) and forward pre-departure and orientation information)
Step 5: Student applies for Student Visa (Department of Immigration and Citizenship)
Step 6: Students Travel and Accommodation arrangement.
Step 7: Student Arrival in Australia (Post arrival Advice)
Step 8: International Student Orientation (Enrolment & Complete Information)
Step 9: Student receives basic services (ex: Bank account, OSHC,Phones, etc..)
Step 10: Academic Information and Orientation
Step 11: Academic Classes start

Admission Guidelines

UnderGraduate Admissions Guidelines
 Below you will find some general guidelines in applying for an Undergraduate Degree in Australia.
You must submit your full details of your courses taken and grades for each course as part of the application process. You must submit your transcripts from all previous colleges attended. For international students, most universities require students to take the English Proficiency test (IELTS or TOEFL).

Eligibility for undergraduate admissions: Most Universities located in Australia have international students take the IELTS (A basic standardized entrance test). Some Schools might take the TOEFL score. One of the main determinants for admission is the SOP (statement of purpose). The SOP is also looked at when granting financial aid for an international student

Undergraduate programs in Australia consist of the following:
Bachelor Degree
Bachelor Degree with Honors
Undergraduate Diplomas
Associate Diplomas

The Bachelors degree for most universities takes students three years to complete. If a student decides to go after a double degree or take part in specialized disciplines it can be extended from a three year program to four to six years. Students that do an excellent job in the academics can be accepted for an honors year, which counts as a fourth year of the bachelor degree. The honor year is considered a graduate-level year with an intense research learning model. It is sometimes possible for the top students in the honors program to pursue a PhD following their Honors year.
The most popular courses of study for global students in Australia are Business, Administration and Economics, followed by Science, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Post-UnderGraduate Admissions Guidelines

 You must submit your full details of your courses taken and grades for each course as part of the application process. You must submit your transcripts from all previous colleges attended. For international students most universities require students to take the English Proficiency test (IELTS or TOEFL).

Eligibility for Post Graduate admissions: Most post-graduate programs accept a three year undergraduate degree. A select few might require an honors degree with a minimum of 16 years of formal education. For management postgraduate courses students might be required to take the GMAT.

In Australia, the Masters programs require many different types of study, including:
1· Attending Lectures
2· Tutorials
3· Seminars
4· Independent research
5· Group presentations

Students in the postgraduate level are required and encouraged to analyze data, discuss questions in a logical form, and participate in the classroom lectures. Australian postgraduate programs take 1 to 2 years to complete.

Postgraduate degrees in Australia mostly focus on research work and the student's thesis. Entry requirements differ at each university and Masters program.

Applying for an Australian Student Visa

  • There are seven types of student visas to enter Australia:
    Subclass 570 Independent ELICOS: for international students undertaking ELICOS.
  • Subclass 571 Schools: for international students studying at primary or secondary school.
  • Subclass 572 Vocational education and training: for VET students.
  • Subclass 573 Higher education: for bachelor and associate degrees, graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master's by coursework.
  • Subclass 574 Postgraduate research: master's and PhD by research.
  • Subclass 575 Non-award: Foundation, bridging, or other courses that do not lead to an award.
  • Subclass 576 AusAID or Defence sponsored: for students sponsored by AusAID or Defence

Indian students at ELICOS, VET have been categorised as Assessment Level 4 by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Students at school level and postgraduate research level are classified as Level 2 and higher education (Bachelors, Graduate Diploma and Masters by course work) as Level 3. This means that you must send your application to the Australian Visa Office in Newdelhi. Student visas take approximately 12 weeks to process and it is very important to submit all the information required at the time of application.
To be granted a student visa you must meet evidentiary requirements and general requirements.

Evidentiary requirements

  1. Proof of your capacity to cover the cost of airfare, tuition fees and living costs. Your living costs in Australia are set at AUD 18,000 per annum.
  2. Proof of your capacity to cover the cost of airfare, living costs and school fees for any dependents (if applicable).
  3. IELTS , TOEFL , Pearsons English language test are accepted by Australia university and immigration for visa from NOV 5th 2011.
  4. Your personal situation in your home country, for example, personal or financial commitments that may prompt you to return home.
  5. Your academic records.
  6. Your previous immigration history in Australia.

General requirements

  1. You are of good character.
  2. You are of sound health.
  3. You have health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) (Australia has a special system of health cover for international students called OSHC. You must have health cover for the duration of your enrolment as a condition of your visa requirements).
  4. You have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia, or have made arrangements to repay such debts.
  5. Where you are under 18 years of age, you have acceptable arrangements for your accommodation, support and general welfare in place.