Student visas
Student visas (subclass 500)
To study as an international student in Australia, you will need to obtain a student visa before travelling and starting your studies. For a full-time course, you’ll need to hold a valid student visa for the full duration of your program.
With a student visa (subclass 500), you will be able to:
- Take part in your full-time course at The University of Western Australia
- Travel in and out of the country during the timeframe of your course
- Work in Australia for the duration of your course
- Bring your family members to Australia for your intended study period
If you’ve entered Australia on a temporary resident visa or another category of visa that allows you to study, you may be able to enrol to study part-time but will have to pay the full cost of your tuition before commencing your studies.
See visa optionsBefore you apply for a student visa
You can apply for a student visa (subclass 500) after you’ve received a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the University. This will be required by the Department of Home Affairs when you submit your visa application.
We will issue you with a CoE after you have:
- formally accepted your offer of a place
- returned your signed acceptance and refund forms
- paid the fee for your first semester of study
- arranged overseas student health cover (OSHC)
You will need to supply other supporting documentation when lodging your application. Use the Document Checklist Tool to help gather these documents before you apply for your student visa.
Application process
The student visa application process is handled by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and can be submitted online. Some of our international agents can also help you submit your application.
Students under 18 years
If you’re a student under 18 years, you’ll need to prove you have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements while studying here in Australia. This means having a carer and accommodation approved by the University, or living in accommodation and a welfare arrangement approved by Home Affairs (this is usually a relative).
Visa conditions
You must read and understand the conditions and requirements for your student visa.
Applying for family
If you would like to bring your family with you to Australia, you can include members on your application.
Application payments
You will be required to pay the visa application charge for you and your family members for your application to be valid.
Post-study work visa (subclass 485)
Students will need to obtain a post-study work visa to stay in Perth after graduating from UWA.
When studying in Perth, you can stay in Australia for up to 6 years* on a post-study work visa, one year longer than Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
With a post-study work visa, you will be able to:
- Live and work in Australia after you complete your studies
- Bring your family members to Australia for your visa duration
Determining how long you can stay in Australia after you graduate
In Perth, you may be eligible to up to 5 or 6 years after you graduate from an eligible course:
| Scenario | Other cities | Perth |
| Bachelor's degree | 4 years | up to 5 years* |
| Master's degree | 5 years | up to 6 years* |
| PhD qualification | 6 years | up to 7 years* |
If you complete a PhD qualification, you may be able to stay an additional year and up to 7 years in total post studies.
*Additional two years of post-study visas are valid for eligible courses only, see an indicative list of occupations and qualifications eligible for post-study work rights extension. Information correct as of February 2023.
Before you apply for a post-study work visa
To apply for a post-study work visa (subclass 485), you will need to:
- Have held a student visa in the last 6 months
- Graduate from a CRICOS-registered course
- Have health insurance and meet health requirements
- Meet all other post-study work visa requirements here
If you live, work or study in Perth (or another regional area) during your first graduate work visa (subclass 485), you may be able to apply for an additional year via a second post-study work visa (subclass 485).
Application process
The student visa application process is handled by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and can be submitted online.
For more information about post-study work visas, please visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I apply for my student visa?
- You should apply for your student visa as soon as you receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from the University, as it may take some time for your application to be processed.
- What's a full-time study load?
- For UWA courses, a standard full-time enrolment is 24 credit points (4 units) per semester, or 48 credit points (8 units) per academic year. To satisfy your student visa requirements, you will need to maintain a standard full-time study load.
- How long can I stay in Australia with a student visa?
- With a student visa, you can stay in Australia for up to five years, depending on the length of your course. On a student visa, studies will need to be completed within the expected duration outlined in your CoE. To stay longer, you will need to apply for a new Student visa.
- Do I need to be in Australia to apply for my student visa?
- No, you can apply online for your student visa outside of Australia.
- How long does it take to process a post-study work visa?
- Processing times for post-study work visas can vary. We recommend applying for your visa as soon as possible, after completing your studies at UWA.
- Can I apply for a post-study work visa if I am studying offshore?
- Students that are studying offshore at UWA can apply for a post-study work visa if they meet the eligibility requirements outlined by the Department of Home Affairs.
Chat to our students
Chat to a UWA student and have your questions answered about student life at UWA, advice on courses and more.
Chat to our staff
Chat to a UWA staff member and have your questions answered about studying at UWA, advice on courses and more.