Visa Requirements

International students studying in Australia require a visa to enter and stay in the country. All students will be required to obtain a student visa except for short courses (less than three months) where a tourist visa may be adequate. Unity College Australia takes no responsibility for the outcome of visas that may not be approved.

Students are assessed on the basis of their country of citizenship. The length of time required to obtain a visa can be substantial especially for students from countries that the Australian government considers to be of higher risk. 

Process for countries with different levels of risk

The Australian government categorises countries according to their assessed levels of risk from 1 (lowest risk) to 4 (highest risk). You can find out which level your country has been assessed as by having a look at http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/assessment-levels.pdf .
 

Unity College Australia courses are either categorized under
-   visa subclass 572 (VET)
-   visa subclass 570 (ELICOS) where are study English as a second language
        (ESL) as your major area of study.

You can also find this information from the Australian diplomatic mission in your home country where you can also get up to date information on detailed procedures and on the associated ‘Country Assessment Level’ for your home nation. This ‘assessment level’ (which has been allocated by the Australian Immigration Authorities) determines how you should go about applying for a student visa.

All international students must obtain an ‘Application for a student (temporary) visa’ (form 157A). You can also get the form ‘Applying for a student visa’, “http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/applying-student.pdf” which gives you further information.
 

Students from Level 1 and 2 Countries

We will guide you through the process of paying your overseas student health cover (compulsory health insurance for your student visa). We will also require you to sign an ‘Acceptance of Place form’. Once we have these, we will send you a ‘Confirmation of Enrolment’ which you will need to include with your student visa application form. The Australian diplomatic mission will notify you of any further requirements – for example they may require you to have an x-ray and medical. It can take anywhere from 2 to 4 or more weeks to get your visa.
 

Students from Level 3 and 4 Countries

People from countries with assessment levels 3 or higher have been identified as being at risk of over-staying their visas. Not necessarily you personally but many who have entered Australia from such countries in the past. Thus stricter rules are used to assess their visa applications. Applicants must demonstrate that they are genuine students, can support themselves and have reasons to return home after their studies.

The first step to applying for a visa is that you will be required to lodge their letter of offer with the appropriate Australian Embassy/High Commission. The department undertakes an initial assessment of the application. If the application is deemed as meeting requirements, the applicant is advised by the department to proceed with medicals (if not already undertaken), pay fees including overseas health insurance and obtain confirmation of enrolment. We will guide you through these latter matters.

You will need to advise us that you intend to take up the offer of enrolment by means of a signed Acceptance of Place we will provide for you.  Please be aware that it can take from 3 to 6 months to obtain your visa in some countries.

Other Requirements

Health Insurance

Health Insurance is required for overseas students for the duration of your course of study. You will need to pay for Australian health insurance for the duration of your course of study. In most cases you cannot use a health insurance policy from your own country. 

Application for health insurance is made through the College. We will give you a quote for the amount to be paid - rates are very reasonable. You will need to make this payment in advance of us issuing you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE).

Unity holds the payment for your health insurance policy in trust until visa approval. If your visa isn’t approved we will refund this money (less bank charges). For more details click here http://www.unity.edu.au/webfiles/fck/IntStInfo2010.pdf

English Language Skills (if required)

If English is not your native language and you have not lived in an English speaking country for a reasonable period of time you will be required to achieve a satisfactory score in the IELTS test (an English language test) or TOEFL test for selected countries. This test is administered through the Australian consulate/embassy as part of your application for a student visa and by IELTS through selected learning institutes in your part of the world.

Once you have completed this test you will provide us a certified copy of your result.

Unity College accepts students with an IELTS score of 6.0. Students wishing to study English as a Second Language will also need to complete IELTS but lower scores will apply. Applicants from some countries are able to use the TOEFL test instead.

Apply For A Visa

Apply for a student visa with the Australian consulate/embassy in your country of residence. You will need to take your COE form with you. Depending on the country you are from there will be varying requirements that the Australian consulate/embassy will ask you to meet. These could include having a medical including a chest Xray and providing proof of financial viability to study in Australia.

The Australian immigration process is fairly efficient, although the process can take some time so plan early to avoid a last minute rush. If we can be of any assistance contact us by phone as soon as possible