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To study as an international student in Australia, you will need to obtain a student visa before travelling and starting your studies. For a full-time course, you'll need to hold a valid student visa for the full duration of your program.
With a student visa (subclass 500), you will be able to:
If you’ve entered Australia on a temporary resident visa or another category of visa that allows you to study, you may be able to enrol to study part-time but will have to pay the full cost of your tuition before commencing your studies.
You can apply for a student visa (subclass 500) after you’ve received a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the University. This will be required by the Department of Home Affairs when you submit your visa application.
We will issue you with a CoE after you have:
You will need to supply other supporting documentation when lodging your application. Use the Document Checklist Tool to help gather these documents before you apply for your student visa.
The student visa application process is handled by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and can be submitted online. Some of our international agents can also help you submit your application.
If you’re a student under 18 years, you’ll need to prove you have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements while studying here in Australia. This means having a carer and accommodation approved by the University, or living in accommodation and a welfare arrangement approved by Home Affairs (this is usually a relative).
You must read and understand the conditions and requirements for your student visa.
If you would like to bring your family with you to Australia, you can include members on your application.
You will be required to pay the visa application charge for you and your family members for your application to be valid.
Students will need to obtain a Post-Higher Education Work stream visa to stay in Perth after graduating from UWA.
With a Post-Higher Education Work stream visa, you will be able to:
In Perth, you may be eligible to stay and work for up to 3* or 4* years after you graduate from an eligible course, as you have studied in a ‘regional centre’. This is one year more than graduates from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.
| Scenario | Perth |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | up to 3 years* |
| Master's (coursework and extended) degree | up to 3 years* |
| Master's (research) degree | up to 3 years* |
| PhD qualification | up to 4 years* |
*Additional year is dependent on the successful application of a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa (subclass 485 visa).
To apply for a Post-Higher Education Work stream visa, you will need to:
If you live, work or study in Perth (or another regional area) during your Post-Higher Education Work stream visa (subclass 485), you may be able to apply for an additional year via a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa.
The visa application process is handled by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and can be submitted online.
For more information about visas, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
You should apply for your student visa as soon as you receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the University, as it may take some time for your application to be processed.
Your CoE is an official document issued to international students to enable you to apply for a student visa. You will have received your CoE from UWA when you accepted your offer. In rare circumstances, if you are not able to complete your studies within the duration of your CoE, you can apply to extend your course and CoE.
There are strict conditions attached to your student visa, so check your visa grant notification to check which conditions apply to you. For a full list of visa conditions, visit the Department of Home Affairs. If you don’t comply with the conditions attached to your visa, you may not be able to stay in Australia.
For UWA courses, a standard full-time enrolment is 24 credit points (4 units) per semester, or 48 credit points (8 units) per academic year. To satisfy your student visa requirements, you will need to maintain a standard full-time study load.
Note: If you have compassionate and compelling grounds to reduce your study load/underload, you must seek approval from your Student Advising Office before withdrawing from any units. There are very limited grounds on which an underload can be approved and evidence is needed to support your request.
Reducing your study load may lengthen the time it takes for you to finish your course. This may mean you need to apply for another CoE and visa, which could have associated costs and visa implications.
With a student visa, you can stay in Australia for up to five years, depending on the length of your course. On a student visa, studies will need to be completed within the expected duration outlined in your CoE. To stay longer, you will need to apply for a new Student visa.
Starting 1 July 2024, holders of certain visas, including Visitor and Temporary Graduate visas, will no longer be able to apply for Student visas while in Australia.
Student visa applicants with a genuine intention to pursue studies in Australia will still be able to apply for a Student visa from offshore (outside of Australia).
If you’re an international student on a student visa, you may apply for an Approved Leave for up to 12 months if you are unable to continue your studies because of compassionate or compelling circumstances beyond your control.
Processing times for Post-Higher Education Work stream visas can vary. We recommend applying for your visa as soon as possible, after completing your studies at UWA.
Students that are studying offshore at UWA can apply for a Post-Higher Education Work stream visa if they meet the eligibility requirements outlined by the Department of Home Affairs.
View our Frequently Asked Questions for all UWA-related queries.
Open 8.30am - 5.00pm (AWST) Monday to Friday
Open 8.30am - 5.00pm (AWST) Monday to Friday
Visit the Future Students Centre between 9.00am - 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, or book an appointment.