Australian Student Visa Requirements For Filipinos

Spoiler alert: Australia is a haven for international students.

Studying abroad is a great opportunity to learn new things, meet new people, and explore new places. What if we tell you we know a place you can experience all that and more? By now, you should know where this conversation is going!

Australia is a top choice for students who want to pursue their studies abroad, especially for Filipinos. Aside from the fact that it’s just eight hours away from the Philippines, the country is home to some of the best universities in the world and the best student cities to live in! Need we say more?

If you’re already set to pack your bags and study in the land down under, we suggest you start applying to schools already and most importantly, start preparing for your student visa application! (no student visa = no entry)

Here are the requirements you need to get an Australian student visa:

 

Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Requirement

There is a pretty good reason why a student visa is called… well, “student” visa. It’s granted to international students, with an understanding of their visa limitations. This means that students applying to study in Australia should have a clear intention to study and not have other motives for going. That’s what the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) is for. (This is also where you channel your convincing powers!)

Once you submitted your GTE statement, the country’s ‘s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will evaluate your application and determine if you’re qualified for a student visa or if you have other intentions coming into the country. You wouldn’t want your visa to be denied, don’t you? Make sure to write your GTE statement effectively!

Here are the pieces of information you should include in your GTE statement:

• Current employment (if applicable)
• Economic situations in home country or country of residence
• Gap in previous study
• Previous study
• Ties to home country or country of residence

 

Financial Requirement

Studying abroad is expensive. It goes without saying the financial responsibilities you have to carry throughout your study duration. When you apply for an Australian student visa, the board will assess your ability to fund yourself (and your studies) to make sure you can support yourself until you finish your program.

While others commonly refer to it as “show money,” visa officers intentionally look into your assets and see if you have funds readily available for you. Don’t worry though, there are a lot of ways for you to find funding for your studies!

Here are the possible financial sources you can prepare :

• Bank deposits
• Commercial loans from financial institutions
• National/local sponsorship grants or loans
• Financial aid from proposed Australian education provider
• Financial aid from the Australian government
• Financial aid from recognized organizations (eg. Rotary, National Red Cross, etc)

 

English Proficiency Requirement

There are days when being born Filipino can serve as a blessing. Growing up in a multilingual country such as the Philippines equips you with basic, if not good, English skills! Although there might still be a lot to learn, you’re still reasonably well-off compared to non-English speaking countries.

Now, all you have to do is apply and ace one of those Australian government-recognized English Proficiency Tests! These tests assess how well you can communicate once you study abroad. This requirement ensures that you wouldn’t have a hard time studying in the university since English will be the medium of instruction.

Here are the accepted English Proficiency Tests you can take for your student visa application:

• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

PS. Want to review anytime, anywhere? You definitely can! Just bring out your mobile phone and start reviewing here!

 

Character Requirement

Obviously, you have to assure the Australian government that you are NOT a threat to their people, meaning you have no criminal record of any kind. This shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?

Passing their character requirements also means they trust that you’ll demonstrate good behavior throughout your study duration. Simply put, this requirement would need you to submit a police clearance or statement, and complete the Character Statutory Declaration Form.

 

Health Requirement

Truth be told, you can prepare all of the requirements mentioned above but they wouldn’t be of much help if you don’t meet this requirement: a good health condition. As menial as it may sound, being in good condition plays a big role when you study abroad, and the Australian government knows that!

As part of your student visa requirements, you’ll have to go through a medical check-up and purchase an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Treat it as your tangible proof that you’re fit for the student life abroad!

 

Document Requirement

We know we’ve covered A LOT of requirements already for your student visa, but do remember that the key to a fast and hassle-free application is a complete application. It means submitting all the required forms, statements, and proof that will support your application. If you were the visa officer, wouldn’t you want to approve a visa in one go? Make it easy for both of you and prepare all the necessary documents.

Here are the common documents for your student visa application:

• Certificate of enrolment or letter of offer
• Completed Australian student visa application form (157A)
• Copy of passport biodata page
• Criminal record
• English proficiency test result
• Four (4) recent passport-size photos
• Proof of health insurance cover
• Proof of paid visa application fee
• Proof of sufficient funds

 

Preparing all the requirements for you to study abroad can be a real hassle but we say it’s totally worth it! Make your Australian study dream a reality. Apply for a student visa stat and let this guide help you prepare for it. After all, we can already see you studying by the harbor, mate! *wink wink*

Need one last reminder for tips and hacks you should know before you study abroad?  We gotchu covered! Check out more articles like this in the Study Abroad section at Edukasyon.ph now!