Before you arrive

Applying for visas

You need a visa to study in Australia. Check your VU Letter of Offer and contact your nearest Australian Diplomatic Mission. See the Australian Department of Immigration website www.immi.gov.au

You need to apply for a visa - they are not granted automatically, and you have to meet strict criteria. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is responsible for granting or extending entry visas. DIAC also manage student visa conditions and rules about immigration.

Find out more about visa criteria and the assessment level (AL) for you and your course at the DIAC website

Your Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE)

Once we've received all the documentation required from you to officially accept your offer or extend your course, we issue you an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE) certificate. This is required for any student visa application or extension.

First application
If this is your first application for a student visa and you are from an Assessment Level One or Two country, Victoria University International will send your eCOE to you, your representative agent or your home institution once we receive your completed and signed Offer Acceptance Form.

Pre-visa assessment
If you are from an Assessment Level Three or Four country, you must provide a favourable Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) letter before Victoria University International can issue an eCOE for you.

eCOEs and visas
All eCOEs must be provided to DIAC or the Australian Diplomatic Mission where you are applying for your student visa. Students from some countries may be eligible for an e-visa application. Please check the DIAC website for details and to confirm your assessment level.
If you change your course or course duration, you must inform DIAC, by obtaining a new eCOE from Victoria University International.

How to apply for a visa

Contact the DIAC office or embassy nominated on your eCOE. Do not apply to a different office.
You will need:

  • Your VU eCOE
  • to read and understand the student visa conditions stated below
  • your VU Letter of Offer
  • documents listed on the DIAC visa checklist relevant to you.

Download the relevant checklist and read it carefully BEFORE applying for your visa. Your DIAC office will guide you through the rest of the application process.

Student visa conditions

As an international student, and the holder of a student visa, you need to be aware there are certain conditions on your visa while you are studying in Australia.

This is a guide to common student visa conditions and is not intended as a comprehensive guide to all student visa conditions. It should not in any circumstances be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. Please see the websites listed below for comprehensive and current information on your visa.

For a full list of student visa conditions, including those that may apply to family members, please see the DIAC website.

Your visa conditions are shown on the visa label in your passport as a four digit numerical code with a brief description. It is important that you understand the conditions attached to your visa.

Mandatory conditions of your student visa:
You should check your visa label in your passport to see what conditions are on your visa as each visa can be different. Please be aware that sometimes there are conditions on your visa that are not printed on your visa label. For information regarding your visa, please contact DIAC on 131 881.

  • You must undertake a course approved by the Australian Government
  • You must satisfy course requirements
  • You must maintain a valid enrolment i.e. TAFE students need to be enrolled full-time and attend a minimum of 80 per cent of your classes.
  • You and your family members must not work without permission. If you are given permission to work, you must not work more than 20 hours a week during the semester, unless otherwise specified.
  • You must study with the educational provider (for example, Victoria University) where you initially enrol for the first six months of your principal course.
  • You must notify a Victoria University of any change in your residential address within seven days of the change. Update your address deatil through the MyVU portal.
  • You must maintain your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) at ALL times when you are in Australia.
  • If you are under 18 years of age, you must maintain accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements that have been approved by Victoria University International, unless you are staying in Australia with a DIAC approved relative or custodian. You must not change those arrangements without the written approval of Victoria University International.
  • You must maintain adequate schooling arrangements for any school-age dependants who join you in Australia on a student dependant visa for more than three months.

Except in extremely limited circumstances, it will not be possible for you to remain in Australia beyond the date authorised by your visa..

Failure to abide by these conditions on your visa may result in your visa being cancelled.

English requirements

If you are from an Assessment Level (AL) Three, Four or Five country, you will be required to take an IELTS test, regardless of whether you meet the Victoria University requirements by other means. See the DIAC website to read about your assessment level.

Students undertaking ELICOS

Students who are undertaking an ELICOS program of no longer than ten weeks may be able to travel to Australia on a tourist or visitor visa. Student visas can only be granted for courses that are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Students under 18

If you are under the age of 18, your parents must nominate a guardian who resides in Australia for you before DIAC will consider your student visa application. DIAC requires your guardian to be:

  • over 21 years old
  • related to you and
  • of good character

Please note: DIAC approved relatives are

  • spouse
  • child
  • adopted child
  • parent
  • brother or sister
  • step-child
  • step-parent
  • step-brother or step-sister
  • grand parent
  • grand child
  • aunt or uncle
  • niece or nephew
  • step-grandparent
  • step-grandchild
  • step-aunt or step-uncle
  • step-niece or step-nephew.

If you do not have a relative in Australia, your parents will need to engage the services of Victoria University's approved care provider agency before Victoria University International will issue an eCOE and the Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation/Welfare (CAAW) form. Victoria University International recommends the following care provider:
EduCARE Service Australia

Copyright © 2008 VU.  CRICOS Provider No.00124K.