Apply For a Visa

Before you apply for a student visa, you must seek full information from a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) office (if you are already in Australia) or the closest Australian Diplomatic Mission (if overseas)

To study in Australia, you will need a student visa unless you hold another Australian visa that allows you to enter Australia with no restrictions on study. This web page provides information on the following topics:

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).

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is responsible for the grant and extension of entry visas. Immigration policies are also determined by DIAC. Visa grants are not automatic and there are stringent criteria to be met. Different criteria exist for different nationalities in accordance with the Assessment Level (AL) of that nationality and course level. Full student visa information is available from the DIAC website.

Please note that your visa will be issued for the particular course(s) that you have been offered. If you change or extend your course at Swinburne, you may need to change your visa or visa details. This is done through obtaining a new Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE) from Swinburne International.

Please also note that there are restrictions on international students extending their program duration and DIAC may not allow a visa extension.

English requirements

Students from Assessment Level (AL) Three, Four or Five countries will be required to take an IELTS test, regardless of whether they meet the Swinburne requirements by other means. Refer to the DIAC website to determine which assessment level your visa falls under.

Your Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE)

An electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE) certificate is required for any student visa application or extension. The eCOE is normally provided by Swinburne International within a week of the confirmation of each course acceptance, subject to the provision of any documents satisfying your first course offer.

If this is your first application for a student visa and you are from an Assessment Level One or Two country, Swinburne International will send your eCOE to you, your representative agent or your home institution upon receipt of your completed and signed Offer Acceptance Form. If you are from an Assessment Level Three or Four country, you must provide a favourable Pre-Visa Assessment (PVA) letter before Swinburne International can issue an eCOE for you.

If you have been offered two or more courses at Swinburne, an eCOE will be generated for each course that you have accepted.

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 hold a current student visa, Swinburne International will send you your eCOE upon receipt of your course acceptance. You must apply for a new student visa prior to the expiry of your current visa.

If you change your course or course duration, you must inform DIAC. This is done by obtaining a new eCOE from Swinburne International.

Note that there are restrictions on international students extending their program duration and DIAC may not allow a visa extension. The issuing of an eCOE to cover an increase in program duration is not automatic and can only be done in limited situations.

How to Apply for a Visa

Contact the DIAC office or Embassy nominated on the eCOE. Do not apply to a different office than the one on your eCOE.

• to read and understand the conditions stated below
• your Letter of Offer
• documents stated on the DIAC visa checklist relevant to you – please 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.

Conditions of your Student Visa

Your student visa will be governed by a range of conditions that you must abide by. Some conditions of your student visa are:

• You must undertake a course approved by the Australian government.
• You must satisfy course requirements.
• You must maintain a valid enrolment - attendance requirements may apply.
• 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 notify Swinburne of any change in your residential address within seven days of the change.
• 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 Swinburne, unless you are staying in Australia with a DIAC approved relative or custodian. You must not change those arrangements without the written approval of Swinburne.
• You must maintain adequate schooling arrangements for any school-age dependants who join you in Australia on a student dependant visa for more than 3 months.
• Except in extremely limited circumstances, it will not be possible for you to remain in Australia beyond the date authorised by your visa.

Please refer to the DIAC website for further information:

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

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, grandparent, grandchild, 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 arrange for you to stay in Swinburne Residences on the Hawthorn campus. They will also need to engage the services of a Swinburne-approved care provider agency before Swinburne will issue an eCoE and the Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation/Welfare (CAAW) form. Swinburne recommends the following care provider agencies:

EduCARE Service Australia
A&J Student Care Services

Students with families

If you plan to bring your family to Australia, please check beforehand with DIAC or the nearest Australian Diplomatic Mission regarding the restrictions on doing so. If you are in AL3 to AL5 and your course duration is less than 12 months, your family will not be allowed to accompany you to Melbourne.

You will also need to provide proof of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) membership for your family.

If you have children between 5 and 15 years old, and are bringing them to Australia, you must enrol them in school. Full fees are payable at both government and non-government schools. For a complete listing of Victorian primary and secondary schools, you can visit Schools Online.

Costs, application and enrolment information for government, primary and secondary schools may be found at Victorian Government Schools.

Applications to non-government schools must be made directly to the school of your choice.

Please note that your student visa assessment criteria may change if your family is accompanying you.

Schools in Victoria

Victorian Government Schools within the Hawthorn area

Primary Schools

Secondary Schools