Each student visa application is assessed according to an assessment level. The assessment level is determined by the passport held and visa subclass applied for. The assessment levels relate generally to how likely students are to comply with their visa conditions, based on previous student's behavior. Assessment level 1 represents the lowest assessment level and assessment level 5 the highest.

The higher the assessment level, the more evidence you will need to provide to demonstrate your financial capacity, understanding of the English language and other relevant matters.

You can find out your assessment level by looking up your nationality and visa subclass applied for inForm 1219i, Overseas Student Program - Assessment Levels or by visiting the DIMIA website.

Important: if you have an assessment level 2, 3, 4 or 5, then you must make your first student visa application while you are outside Australia.

Evidentiary requirements

• Your capacity to cover the cost of air fares, course fees and living costs for the duration of your stay in Australia
• Your capacity to cover the costs of air fares, living costs and school tuition costs for your family unit members for the duration of your stay in Australia
• Your level of English language proficiency in relation to that required for your assessment level and education sector of study
• The situation in your home country e.g. personal or financial commitments that may prompt you to return to your home country
• Your academic record and history in the context of the course you intend to study
• Your immigration history e.g. previous compliance with immigration laws and whether you have previously applied for entry to Australia
• whether your proposed course of study is what you might reasonably have chosen given your circumstances
• Whether your proposed course is consistent with, and appropriate to, your current level of education

More information on evidentiary requirements can be found on the DIMIA website

Preliminary Assessment

A preliminary assessment will determine your eligibility for a student visa and is necessary if your country is at Assessment Level 3, 4 or 5. You will need to provide an 'Offer of a place in a course' letter from your education provider to the visa processing office. This letter should indicate your proposed entry level; name of course, CRICOS course and provider codes, proposed start and end dates and the full tuition fees for the course. When your application is received, the visa processing office will undertake a preliminary assessment of your ability to meet the student visa requirements applicable to you. If the assessment is favorable, the office will issue you a letter to give to your education provider authorizing them to issue you with an eCoE certificate. You will be also advised to pay the tuition fees and OSHC premium, and undergo medical tests. The student visa will be granted when the Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) and all other requirements are satisfied.

Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment
An Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) is issued by your Australian education provider and is the only accepted evidence of enrolment for processing student visa applications. Depending on your country of nationality and your principal course of study you may have to undergo a preliminary assessment (see above) before an institution issues an eCoE. The institution will advise you of its requirements but generally it will require payment of at least one semester of course fees before issuing an eCoE. A copy of your eCoE must be submitted to your local DIMIA office before a student visa can be issued.

Information collected through the eCoE process includes the student visa application, visa grant and visa compliance data from a student's arrival in Australia and course commencement through to their departure from Australia.

Student Visa Application and Information Forms