APC

Thinking of studying in Australia? Whether you’re already planning your studies or just starting to explore your options, here’s what you need to know about the latest updates to the Student Visa (Subclass 500) 

1. Higher Financial Requirements

To ensure students can support themselves in Australia, the financial proof requirement has increased. Here’s what you now need to show:

• AUD 29,710 for your living expenses (previously AUD 24,505)
• 1 year of tuition fees 
• AUD 2,000 for return travel costs 
• If bringing family: 
  • AUD 10,394 for your partner 
  • AUD 4,449 per child

2. Increased Visa Application Fee

Applying for your student visa now costs AUD 2,000, up from AUD 1,600. This applies whether you’re applying for the first time or renewing from within Australia.

3. Work Rules for Students

Great news for those looking to balance study with part-time work:

• 48h / fortnight remains for Vocational / VET, Undergraduate / Bachelor’s students (unlimited during term-break). The number of employers does not matter. Apply to as many casual jobs as you like. Take the shifts as they suit. Be careful, going over the limit, gives Australia the right to cancel your visa! The work-rights remain unchanged. 60h / fortnight are being discussed, but not implemented until next year or ever – who knows.

• unlimited work rights for Master’s/PhD students. This change gives postgraduate students more flexibility to earn and gain local experience during their studies.

4. Enrolment Caps & Priority Providers

Australia has introduced a nationwide cap of 270,000 new international student places each year. This means the number of spots is limited. Who gets processed quickly depends on where and what to study. This means that 80% of places will be reserved for students enrolling in high-priority institutions. Some education providers may have limited capacity.

Breakdown of Places

• 145,000 for public universities 
• 95,000 for vocational and training colleges (VET) 
• 30,000 for private or other institutions

Who Gets Priority? Visa applications are now grouped into two categories.

      Priority 1 (P1): Fast-tracked processing for students applying to: 

• Schools that haven’t yet hit 80% of their allowed places, or 
• Courses in high-demand industries like healthcare or engineering 

      Priority 2 (P2): Slower processing for students applying to: 

• Providers that already used up most of their international student quota, or 
• Courses in lower-priority sectors 

5. Tougher English Language Requirements

To maintain academic quality, the minimum English test scores have increased:

• IELTS overall score of 6.0 No band lower than 5.5 for the Student Visa (subclass 500)
• IELTS score of 6.5 Minimum 5.5 in each section for the Post-Study Work Visa (subclass 485)

Other tests like TOEFL, PTE, and Cambridge are still accepted, but the required scores are now higher than before.

👉👉🏼👉🏽👉🏾👉🏿 Here’s my Blogpost dedicated to English Test Requirements 👈👈🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿

Are There Exemptions? Yes. If you studied in certain English-speaking countries, you might not need to prove your English level. The same applies if you have qualifications taught entirely in English. However, it depends on your school and visa stream.

6. Goodbye GTE – Hello GS

The old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement has been replaced by something more relevant: the Genuine Student (GS) rule.

This change better reflects the fact that many students want to stay and work after graduating.

What is the GS requirement?

You must clearly show that:

• You genuinely plan to study in Australia (not just use the student visa to migrate)
• Your course aligns with your education background and future goals
• You’ve thought through your options, finances and personal situation
   

What You’ll Need to Provide

• Short written answers (150 words each) about your:
  • Education and career plans
  • Why you chose Australia and your course
  • Links to Australia and your home country

• Documents to back up everything you say:
  • School transcripts, CV, financial records, acceptance letter, etc.

7. Graduate Visa (Post-Study Work)

Finished studying and want to stay longer? Here’s what changed for the Temporary Graduate Visa:

• Age limit: 35 and under for most applicants 
• English requirement: IELTS 6.5 overall (with minimum 5.5 in each band)
• Duration:
  • PhD or Master by Research: 3 years 
  • Other courses: 2 years 

Final Thoughts

These updates are a big deal. Here’s a quick recap:

• Fewer total places for new students = more competition 
• Higher English scores mean stronger preparation is needed 
• Genuine Student rule requires you to tell your story—and back it up with facts 

Studying in Australia is still an incredible opportunity, but the visa rules are stricter than before. 

📩 Message me today to get personal guidance on:

• Course and school selection
• Visa application prep 
• Document checklist 
• Your Genuine Student statement