Genuine Student
The Australian government has recently enforced tougher requirements for international students applying for a student visa to enrol at Australian universities and colleges. From 23 March, the Genuine Temporary Entrant criteria for the visa was abolished and replaced by the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. Further the English language requirements where tighter.
The GS criteria assesses the student’s intention to genuinely study in Australia. Student visa applicants are now required to address the following as part of their student visa application:
- Give details of the applicant’s current circumstances. This includes ties to family, community, employment and economic circumstances.
- Explain why the applicant wishes to study this course in Australia with this particular education provider. This must also explain their understanding of the requirements of the intended course and studying and living in Australia.
- Explain how completing the course will be of benefit to the applicant.
- Give details of any other relevant information the applicant would like to include.
The new Genuine student criteria is designed to ensure student have an understanding that studying in Australia is the primary reason of their student visa. It is necessary to provide supporting evidence for claims made in addressing the criteria as unsupported by evidence are not given significant weight in the GS assessment.
English requirements
Further, as [art pf the student visa application, students should meet the English language proficiency required for their course or level of study. Most students, particularly from non-english native speaking countries, this means they need to undertake an approved English test such as IELTS. The Australian government has increased the score required for the student visa for each level of study. The table below the new scores required for each approved test.
*please note, only TOEFL iBT scores from a test taken on or before 25 July 2023 are acceptable for Student visa purposes.
**please note, from 12 February 2024, only results from the paper-based Cambridge C1 Advanced test (previously known as Cambridge English: Advanced CAE) will be accepted for Australian visa and migration purposes.
Should you have any questions regarding your student visa, please don’t hesitate to contact our migration lawyers.
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