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Students from all around the world come to study on the Gold Coast. Find out about the application process for a student visa, how and where to apply, what the obligations are and the study options you can apply for. This section also has information on university-based English programs and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS), including links to recommended learning institutions.
Student Visa (subclass 500)
The Student Visa allows you to study and work in Australia for up to five years, while studying in a full-time education programme registered with Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). You must:
- Be enrolled in a course of study in Australia
- Hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), or fall in one of the exemption categories
- Be 6 years or older
- If below 18 years, prove that you have financial and welfare arrangements for your study period
Temporary Graduate Visa
A temporary visa that allows international you to live, study and work after you have finished your studies. You must:
- Be aged 35 years or under when you apply. *Exceptions apply
- Hold an eligible visa
- Have held a Student visa in the last 6 months
- Have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
- Apply for your eligible stream (it is not possible to change streams after you apply)
- Attach required evidence when you apply
Visa Types
If you have decided to study in Australia, the type of visa you will need to apply for will depend on the type of study you choose and sometimes the length of the course.
Some study options you could apply for include:
- Primary and Secondary School
- English (ELICOS)
- Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- Higher Education
- Postgraduate Research
- Non-award
Australian student visa holders are normally eligible to work up to 20 hours per week during a semester and full time during semester holidays. If you have a scholarship, check the conditions to make sure you are allowed to work.
How to apply for a visa
The Department of Home Affairs accepts all applications lodged, regardless of who lodges them. This means you do not necessarily need to use a Migration Agent. You are able to lodge any kind of visa application or asylum claim yourself and most applications can be lodged online.
However, a Migration Agent can be very useful if you do not feel confident in lodging an application yourself, or if your case is complex. They cannot influence the outcome of your visa, make the processing of your application any quicker, or guarantee you a visa. The MARA website can be found here.
Hiring a migration agent
YOUR OBLIGATIONS
Even if you hire a registered Migration Agent, it is your responsibility to make sure you supply accurate information throughout the visa application process. If you make any false claims or provide any false documents, your visa may be cancelled.
AGENTS IN AUSTRALIA
In Australia, Migration Agents must be registered with the office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA). If you choose to use a Migration Agent, you should make sure you are using a registered Migration agent.
FIND A REGISTERED MIGRATION AGENT
The office of the MARA has a list of all agents with a valid registration. Go to “Find an Agent” where you can search by Personal Details (Family Name, Given Name, or Business Name) or Location Details (Postcode, Suburb or Country).
Scholarships
There are many different scholarships available to international students on the Gold Coast. Scholarships are available directly through the education institutions as well as numerous other scholarships opportunities. It is best to contact the institution directly, see the list of opportunities below.
GOLD COAST UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Working in Australia
English Language Courses
University based English Language programs
Our Gold Coast Universities have English language study providers that deliver courses for international students. These English courses are designed for learners at every stage from beginner to advanced so that students can learn adequate English skills for use in travel, work and in order gain the level of proficiency in order to qualify for entry into a University degree.
- Bond University College
- Griffith English Language Institute (GELI)
- Southern Cross University English Language Centre (SCUELC)
English Language providers
English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) are for international students who will be studying English in Australia as part of an intensive program. In this case ‘intensive’ means a minimum of 20 hours of scheduled classes involving face-to-face contact hours of English language instruction.
- AICOL
- Alana Kaye College
- Australian Pacific College
- Burleigh Heads Language College
- BROWNS English Language School
- Gold Coast Learning Centre
- Greenwich College
- Imagine Education
- Inforum Education
- International House Gold Coast
- NIET Group
- Pacific English Study
- Shafston International College
- TAFE Queensland
- The Language Academy
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.