APC

Thinking of studying in Australia? If you read an older guide, chances are key numbers are already wrong. Here’s everything as it stands in July 2026, crosschecked against the official Department of Home Affairs and Study Australia websites. 

1. Financial Requirements – Higher Than Ever

The financial proof threshold hasn’t changed since May 2024, but it remains a substantial hurdle. You need to demonstrate access to:

Expense	Amount (AUD)
Living expenses (primary applicant, per year)	$29,710
Partner / de facto (per year)	$10,394
Each dependent child (per year)	$4,449
Return travel (applying from outside Australia)	$2,000
First year of tuition fees	Varies by course
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)	Varies by provider

If bringing family, the totals add up fast. A single student with a partner and one child needs to show roughly AUD 44,553 in living expenses alone, plus tuition, travel, and OSHC on top.

Acceptable evidence: Recent bank statements (ideally 3 months), formal bank letters, loan documents, scholarship award letters, or a sponsor’s statutory declaration with their bank statements and income proof. Cash and undocumented gifts are not accepted.

2. Visa Application Fee – Increased AGAIN

The Student Visa application charge has risen twice in 12 months and now amounts to $2,500 AUD.

This fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused.

A lower concessional fee applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.

A separate ELICOS-tier fee of AUD 2,050 exists for English language course applicants.

Budget accordingly!! Between the visa fee, OSHC, financial proof, and English test costs, the upfront investment before you even board a plane can easily exceed AUD 5,000–6,000.

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3. Work Rights – Unchanged (For Now)

Good news: the work-rights rules remain as they were:

• Vocational / VET / Undergraduate / Bachelor’s students: Up to 48 hours per fortnight during the semester. Number of employers doesn’t matter. Take shifts as they suit you.
• During scheduled breaks: All students can work unlimited hours.
• Master’s (by research) and PhD students: Unlimited work hours. No cap at all.

Important warning: Going over the 48-hour limit gives the Australian government the right to cancel your visa. Track your hours carefully, especially across multiple casual jobs.

There has been discussion about raising the limit to 60 hours per fortnight, but as of July 2026, this has not been implemented.

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4. National Planning Level – More Places

The Australian Government has set the 2026 National Planning Level (NPL) at 295,000 New Overseas Student Commencements (NOSCs) – an increase of 25,000 over 2025.

Key clarification: The government explicitly states the NPL is “not a cap or a limit on student numbers” but rather a prioritisation system for visa application processing. Each institution receives an indicative allocation, and processing speed is linked to how well providers stay within their allocation.

This jumps straight to the next chapter…

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5. Three-Tier “Traffic Light” Processing – MD115

Effective 14 November 2025, Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115) replaced the earlier MD111 and introduced a three-tier processing system for offshore Student Visa applications:

Tier	Provider NOSC Status	Processing Speed
P1 (Green)	At or near 100%+ of allocation	Fast-tracked
P2 (Amber)	Roughly 80–99% of allocation	Standard
P3 (Red)	Below ~80% of allocation	Slowest

What this means for you: Your visa processing time depends heavily on which institution you apply to and how close they are to their enrolment allocation. Choosing a provider that’s still well under their limit can mean significantly faster approval.

Tip: If quick processing matters to you, ask prospective institutions about their current NOSC status before applying. Focus on providers in high-demand fields like healthcare, engineering, and education.

Applications lodged before 14 November 2025 continue to be processed under the old MD111 rules.

More info in my blog post: Australia’s New Student Visa Priority System (MD115): What Students Must Know for 2026

6. English Language Requirements

Visa	IELTS Requirement	Other Accepted Tests
Student Visa (Subclass 500)	Overall 6.0, no band below 5.5	TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1
Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)	Overall 6.5, minimum 5.5 in each band	Same equivalents accepted

Exemptions: If you studied in certain English-speaking countries or completed qualifications taught entirely in English, you may be exempt – but this depends on your school and visa stream. I’ll always check with your institution.

Test results for the 485 visa must be from a test taken after 7 August 2025 and are valid for 3 years from the test date.

Which English test is best for you? Have a look at my blog post: The Best 8 English Tests for Australian Visas

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7. Genuine Student (GS)

You need to write 4 short written answers (150 words each) about:

• Your current circumstances (education, employment, ties to home country)
• Why you chose Australia and this specific course
• How the course benefits your future
• Any other relevant information

Plus supporting documents:

• School transcripts
• CV / resume
• Financial records
• Offer / acceptance letter
• Evidence of research into your chosen course and career

8. Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) – Major Changes

Fee increases to $5,750 AUD.

Duration (Post-Higher Education Work stream):

Qualification	Standard Duration	With Regional Study Bonus (+2 years)
Bachelor’s degree	2 years	4 years
Master’s (coursework, extended, or research)	Up to 3 years	Up to 5 years
Doctoral (PhD)	Up to 4 years	Up to 6 years

Other key requirements:

1. Age limit: 35 years or under (extended to 50 for Hong Kong/British National (Overseas) passport holders and Masters by Research/PhD graduates)
2. English: IELTS 6.5 overall, minimum 5.5 in each band
3. Must apply in Australia (you need to be physically present)
4. Must have held a Student Visa in the last 6 months
5. Graduate Work stream (for VET/trade graduates): up to 18 months

9. No More Onshore Visa Hopping

An important restriction that’s easy to miss: holders of Visitor visas, Temporary Graduate (485) visas, and Maritime Crew visas can no longer apply for a Student Visa while in Australia. If you’re on one of these visas and want to study, you’ll need to leave Australia and apply from offshore.

What’s onshore and offshore? Find the explanaition in my blog post: Australia vs New Zealand: Onshore vs Offshore Explained

Quick Recap – What’s Changed?

Item	July 2025	July 2026
Student Visa fee	AUD 2,000	AUD 2,500
485 Visa fee	AUD 2,300	AUD 5,750
National Planning Level	270,000	295,000
Processing system	MD111 (2 tiers)	MD115 (3 tiers, traffic light)
485 duration for PhD	Listed as 3 years	Up to 4 years (regional: 6)
485 duration for Master’s coursework	Listed as 2 years	Up to 3 years (regional: 5)
Onshore visa switching	Already restricted	Still blocked — no exceptions

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Final Thoughts

Studying in Australia remains an incredible opportunity – but the rules are stricter, the costs are higher, and the application process demands more preparation than ever. The combination of a AUD 2,500 visa fee, AUD 29,710 living-expense proof, a compelling Genuine Student statement, and the right institution choice (for fast processing) means you need to plan carefully and budget realistically.

Start early. Choose your institution strategically. Prepare your GS statement with real detail. And always verify current requirements on the official Department of Home Affairs website before lodging.

Sources: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, studyaustralia.gov.au and education.gov.au. Verified July 2026. Always check official sources for the latest updates before applying.

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