Find an education agent to help you select a course and to work through the visa application process. Although not absolutely necessary, working through an education agent can ease the burden of dealing with visa and school application paperwork. Most education agents are free, and they receive a commission from the school you enroll in. Some, however, do charge a fee. Be sure to read any contract or paper you sign carefully to understand your obligations.
Find a list of agents who have completed the Education Agent Training Course (EATC) on the Professional International Education Resources website. Talk to friends and acquaintances who have worked with Australian education agents as another source of referral. Check for a successful business history and for the quality of the services they provide when you speak to others about them.
Select your course and where you want to study. Use the online guide at Study in Australia to help you consider financial and study considerations of being a foreign student in Australia. Create a user profile to save your course selections and other searches. Use the study guide and Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students online to help guide your search.
Ensure that you meet the requirements to get a student visa. Only full-time courses registered with the Australian government can be used for student visas. Apply to your selected course. You may have to submit your application materials to an education agent or to the local representative of the university in your country. The Electronic Confirmation of Enrollment (eCoE) that you receive from your desired institution of study is the only confirmation of acceptance for student visa applications.
Get student visa application material either from your local Australian embassy or Department of Immigration and Citizenship office, or download them from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website. Application materials in your country's language may be available in either one of these locations. According to Study in Australia, most students should fill out the Student (Temporary) Visa Form 157A. U.S. study abroad, Norwegian and Swedish students over 18 can apply for a student visa using Form 157E available online on the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) website. Schedule a physical from your primary care doctor, who must fill out the required forms for your student visa application.
Purchase your plane tickets once you have received an information packet containing information about getting settled in Australia and your student visa. Declare any item such as food, plant or animal material, or large amounts of money to customs; fines have been given for not doing so. Arrange for your accommodation upon arrival. Your school may help arrange off-campus housing for a short while until you can seek permanent accommodation.