You must first be enrolled full-time in an institution of learning. What classifies as "full-time" varies from college to college or university to university, so you must verify with the applied facility that they offer such a course load. You cannot apply for a student visa until you have documented proof that you have been accepted into a full-time institution. As a student, you must remain enrolled in the registered course and not change a course to a program that does not match your visa.
All students must have health insurance. Health insurance for students is reasonably cheaper and costs annually, on average, about $300 to $400 based on the supplier, according to OSHC Worldcare. Students must also undergo a health check. The health check may be more thorough or less encompassing depending on the country in which the student comes from. For example, if the resident country is a high risk for many contagious diseases, the screening process may be longer, more in depth, costly and more time consuming.
Under the student visa provisions in Australia, a student is allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week while attending university. The student must apply separately to have this grant added to the visa. If the student works more than 20 hours while the course is in session, the student is subject to having the visa cancelled and will have to return home with a limited amount of time. The student can work additional hours during holidays and breaks.
Students are required to have sufficient funds to support themselves while they are living in Australia. They must demonstrate this to the Department of Immigration. Funds are used to cover a student's travel expenses, tuition fees and living costs. As of January 2010, students must show that they have enough funds for return airfare to Australia (as well as providing return airfare for any dependents or family members). They must also demonstrate the required course fees and $8,000 AUD for any school aged children accompanying the student, as well as provide proof of at least $18,000 a year for living expenses, $6,300 for a spouse, $,3600 for the first child of the student and $2,700 for any additional children that will be living in Australia.