Australia is to make the visa application process easier for students from 29 countries by reducing assessment levels in a range of visa subclasses. English language students in Korea and postgraduate students from China are among the beneficiaries of the new ruling. Australia is to make the visa application process easier for students from 29 countries by reducing assessment levels in a range of visa sub-classes, with certain classes of student in Korea, China and India set to benefit, among others.
The changes, which come into affect from March 24, are a response to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) 2011 review of student visa assessment level settings.
The minister for immigration and citizenship, Chris Bowen, said yesterday: “While it was recommended that some assessment levels be increased, I have decided to only implement the reductions in order to best support Australia’s international education sector.”
He said the changes would help around 10,500 prospective students, particularly those undertaking postgraduate research, intensive English language courses (ELICOS) and vocational education and training (VET).
Assessment levels are used to measure the immigration benefits and risks posed by overseas student cohorts, and determine how much evidence must be submitted with an application. Levels are regularly reviewed and amended.
He said the changes would help around 10,500 prospective students
Bowen said cohorts to benefit would include South Koreans studying VET and Elicos courses, and postgraduate research students from China, India and Indonesia (a full list is available
here). Countries that were recommended for an increase in assessment levels will be placed on notice and reviewed at a later date.
Sue Blundell, executive director of English Australia, welcomed the changes but said more needed to be done to restore competitiveness in the language sector. “Excessive regulation with all the associated cost implications for providers and visa rejection rates in key markets continue to be two of the key issues confronting providers," she said.
"We would like to see the government take a more balanced approach to dealing with perceived levels of risk that will allow quality Australian providers to remain competitive."
• In other news, Australia
announced yesterday that Brazilian and Argentinean nationals can now apply online for a tourist visa. Short-term English language students can study in the country while on a tourist visa, which means that for this market, the process just got a little easier.
Australia is to make the visa application process easier for students from 29 countries by reducing assessment levels in a range of visa sub-classes, with certain classes of student in Korea, China and India set to benefit, among others.
The changes, which come into affect from March 24, are a response to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) 2011 review of student visa assessment level settings.
The minister for immigration and citizenship, Chris Bowen, said yesterday: “While it was recommended that some assessment levels be increased, I have decided to only implement the reductions in order to best support Australia’s international education sector.”
He said the changes would help around 10,500 prospective students, particularly those undertaking postgraduate research, intensive English language courses (ELICOS) and vocational education and training (VET).
Assessment levels are used to measure the immigration benefits and risks posed by overseas student cohorts, and determine how much evidence must be submitted with an application. Levels are regularly reviewed and amended.
He said the changes would help around 10,500 prospective students
Bowen said cohorts to benefit would include South Koreans studying VET and Elicos courses, and postgraduate research students from China, India and Indonesia (a full list is available here). Countries that were recommended for an increase in assessment levels will be placed on notice and reviewed at a later date.
Sue Blundell, executive director of English Australia, welcomed the changes but said more needed to be done to restore competitiveness in the language sector. “Excessive regulation with all the associated cost implications for providers and visa rejection rates in key markets continue to be two of the key issues confronting providers,” she said.
“We would like to see the government take a more balanced approach to dealing with perceived levels of risk that will allow quality Australian providers to remain competitive.”
• In other news, Australia announced yesterday that Brazilian and Argentinean nationals can now apply online for a tourist visa. Short-term English language students can study in the country while on a tourist visa, which means that for this market, the process just got a little easier.
