| Student Visas are divided into visa subclasses based on the principal course of study in Australia .
The Department of Immigration associates a certain risk to the issue of Student Visas, and to this effect base the different Student Visas on assessment factors such as the applicant"s nationality and their intended type and area of study.
Students who have obtained certain Australian qualifications are potentially able to apply for new categories of permanent Skilled Visas in Australia on completion of their studies.
The different Student Visa subclasses (based on the intended studies) include:
- 570 Independent English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (although where a student is undertaking ELICOS as a prerequisite to another course, the student must apply under the subclass relevant to the principal course);
- 571 Schools (primary, secondary, and approved secondary exchange programs);
- 572 Vocational education and training sector (meaning Certificate I, II, III, and IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma);
- 573 Higher education sector (covering bachelor degree, graduate certificate and graduate diploma);
- 574 Masters and doctorate sector;
- 575 Non-award foundation studies/other full-time course not leading to an Australian award; and
- 576 AusAID or Defence sponsored sector.
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