Thursday 11 July 2024
There has already been wide reporting on the changes the Australian Government has been making to Australia’s international education industry, with more still to come. While many of these will prove challenging for tertiary students, the good news is the school sector remains more or less untouched by these changes.
The student visa fee increase came into effect on 1 July 2024 and will affect all applicants, including school students. The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs has advised that school sector visas are now being processed with the highest priority, and with most Australian schools being Level 1 providers, providing students meet the financial and other requirements, the risk of rejection should be low. It is important that visa applications for school students are submitted as early as possible to ensure timely commencement in ELICOS and then in the mainstream classroom. Using AEAS Testing is the easiest way for agents to understand these timelines.
According to the Australian Government, government and private schools will not be subject to international student caps. This presents a real opportunity for agents and the families they support to consider an earlier commencement in an Australian school. Receiving an Australian high school certificate and ATAR score will provide a smoother pathway into tertiary education and potentially a career in Australia. An ATAR score can also be used to apply to universities around the world.
AEAS will keep families and agents updated on any further changes that affect the school sector.
