Part 3: Student Visas and Employment Opportunities

Congratulations! You have been accepted into your course. Now you need to get your travel documents in order.

To study in another country, almost all international students will need a student visa. These visas vary between countries, and the process will also depend on your citizenship. Your StudyLink counsellor can help you with this process – and this service is free for students.

Australia
If your course is longer than 3 months, you will need a Student Visa. This allows you to study in Australia, allows eligible dependent family members to accompany you, and your spouse can also study in Australia for up to 3 months. Once you have started your course, you can then apply for permission to work. If approved, you can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during holidays.

To qualify for this visa, you need to show you have been accepted for a course, and have enough money to pay your tuition fees, international travel expenses and living expenses during your stay.

International students in Australia must also have health insurance – you can obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) either through your university or college, or arrange this yourself through a private insurer in Australia.

Student visa applicants from some countries need to prove they have an IELTS score relevant to their course, this is based on citizenship.

UK
Candidates from visa-national countries (those who need a visa even for entry to the UK as a visitor) must apply for a student visa at the British Embassy/Consulate/High commission in their home country. Other candidates have the option of presenting the relevant documents to the Immigration Officer on entry, or may apply from within the UK to switch from another category to that of student.

Student visas are normally granted for an initial period of one year, usually determined by the length of the course to be studied. At least 15 hours a week must be spent in study and the student must be able to meet the cost of the course, maintenance and accommodation without working. However, those on student visas may work 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours per week during holidays. Normally there are no restrictions on a spouse and children working in the UK, if the student will be studying longer than one year.

USA
If your course of study is more than 18 hours a week, you will need a student visa. It is important to apply for this as far as possible in advance – ideally at least 3 months before your course starts. You will need to book an interview with the nearest US embassy or consulate. June, July, and August are the busiest months in most consular sections, and interview appointments are the most difficult to get during that period.

You will need to bring proof of your acceptance to study at the US college or university, transcripts and diplomas from any previous institutions attended, results of your TOEFL exam, financial evidence that shows you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of study and additional documents.

F-1 status, which is the most common status for full-time international students, allows for part time, on-campus employment (fewer than 20 hours per week).

New Zealand
International students in New Zealand are issued a one-year permit, which must be renewed for each additional year of study. International students are allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours in any given week (if in full time study) and full-time during the Christmas/New Year holiday break.

Once you have started your course, you will find there is much more to your international student life than just study. Use the opportunity to join social and sporting groups and make friends with fellow students from all over the world. You may be able to do voluntary work or explore a new hobby – all of which may also help to further your career when you finish your studies. The career counselling office in your university of college can help advise you on ways to develop your employment opportunities, whether it is back in your home country or in your country of study.

Keep in mind that while many countries will allow students to work, students cannot plan on income from part-time work as part of the finances in applying for a student visa. And remember, your StudyLink counsellor is there to guide you through every step of your journey. Ask us for more information.

Good luck!

Comments

[abdi wali]

i,m abdiwali abdirahman
who actualy living in south africa specially in cape town.i would like to be the one of your student which is really intrsting to find quality education in your college.first fall i want to attend english class then i wanat to start faculty of human rescues development.
i appreciate to send me this form.
and i belive i will be accountable person for this course
thank you
i wish you all the best

[Munawar Mustafa]

Please inform me for the updates, regularly.

[abdi wali]

i,m abdiwali abdirahman
who actualy living in south africa specially in cape town.i would like to be the one of your student which is really intrsting to find quality education in your college.first fall i want to attend english class then i wanat to start faculty of human rescues development.
i appreciate to send me this form.
and i belive i will be accountable person for this course
thank you melinda
i wish you all the best

[vaishnavi]

hi iam vaishnavi
i am living in south india i like to join in your college and i like to do my floriculture. i tink i wil improve my knowledge on english within few days. i am very happy to send my curriculam vitae to this college. i hope u will select me to study in ur college.
thank u
i wish all the best to everybody going to join there.

[aditya]

provide info on europe based unversities

[sudeep]

hi,

i'm sudeep . i'm very much interested in studying , in UK or US . please provide me all the necessary details required to apply for it and the procedure for it as well as i would b very greatful to chat with a councellor. i'm interested in doing BFA in animations or in film industry.

THAKING YOU!!!!

[tanseer haider]

slam.i am tanseer haider leave in pakistan please help me for education and english lunge.thakfull to you all

[boskey sharma]

hi i am boskey i would like to pursua course in management basicallt Human Resources from USA so please suggest me such courses of gud university and tell me the fomalities for applying for it please suggest me the college which is located in INDIANAPOLIS for this course i will be very thankful .

[muhammad ahsaan]

sir i am very fond of studing in uk usa or newzeland for medicine veternary .or in joing dentical college.i need afully funded sholar ship.help me

[niraula DhundiPrasad]

I Need Free scholarship/

[dena sadeghi bahmani]

i coplate your forms and i want to leave here(my country). how can i understand that which university accept me? i have a diploma in clinical psychology, is it usefull for me?

[Najmun Nahar]

hi,
im from bangladesh,im student of fine arts,i'have finished my bfa course,i want to know how i can get free scholership for post graduation,i'have got first class in all of my exam.pls help me,
illbe very thankfull.

[Najmun Nahar]

hi,
im from bangladesh,im student of fine arts,i'have finished my bfa course,i want to know how i can get free scholership for post graduation,i'have got first class in all of my exam.pls help me,
illbe very thankfull.

[M.Janasegran]

Sir,
Currently I'm residing in Malaysia. My daughter is sitting for her Higher Education exam this yr end. After the exam she would like to pursue her carrier in Medicine. I've a little amount of savings to support for her studies but not sufficient to support her studies in UK. Pls help, guide me where to approach for Scholarship

[bensonreddy.sb]

i live in south india. i woluld like to study in european coubtries regarding pg in pharma field. who offers free education and bwtter schlorships. it,ll be helpfull if u guide me regarding this. i feel i have better english in me..am glad to post this...

[nafe a. qany]

please for me any thing need for New Zealand collage
thanks alot

[Nishchal Shakya]

hi, i am the student of BIT(Bachelor of Information Technology)from Nepal. I would like to know to study MBA at European Countries with scholarship so i will be helpful to giving the detailed information about it.

[Mustafa Mohammed Taher]

hi i am Dr.Mustafa from Iraq and i live now in Malaysia studying the master on General Surgery and looking ahead to have a course on AESTHETIC MEDICINE as this can help me more in my career .
please let me be more informative about my chance to get so .
thank you in advances

[irma]

Hi..my name is irma. i live in dps bali. i have high motivation to study in australia. But my problem is i dont have enough money. is it possible for me to get schollarship?

[Munawar Mustafa]

Please keep me updated regularly.

[Munawar Mustafa]

I am Munawar Mustafa. I wish to have a scholarship-based education in M.Sc. Computer Science. Keep me informed in this case, regularly. Thanks.

[Md.Shafiqul Islam]

How can I get your admission letter?

[irfan]

who is going to offer me free education.i want to do PG in medicine.

[Christopher Tom Eyo]

Hi,
My interest is in obtaining an MBA.I want to know how much it cost on the average to do an MBA in a good school in New Zealand, and how do schools in New Zealand rate on a global scale. Also does one need to obtain GMAT scores for post graduate study in New Zealand?

[amir]

hi im amir from india im iranian but iam studing in india so i want to know i can aplly for visa from indai or i should go back to my country and aplay from there tnks. ? ? ?

[sumit verma]

i am sumit verma ,i am living in india,delhi.nd i want to do hotel management degree course in abroad but i have not giveb any test like ielts ,so i just want to know that if there is possible for me to take admission in new zealand

[Ngoun Haksrun]

Hello I'm Ngoun Haksrun. I'm from Cambodia. I plan to study in foreign country espeially New Zealand. I have no money to pay for school fee, but I am a hardworking student, I work as a part-time job. I interested in BA. Please post me to be a good donor.

[shamma mahajan]

dear sir,i am shamma mahajan from india.i want to study in australia and i am married women and i am 23 years old.i dont have enough money to spend i am very hard working women i can do part time job and i can pay my fee .if you have any do any good donor plz post me is address .thanks.
best regards
shamma mahajan

[Farida I. Sanoh]

Hi.. Im Farida I. Sanoh, I from the Philipines i want to study in foriegn country but i dont have money to expense for that, I m just a hardworking student, I m a part time student. I am interested to study in your institution but i dont have money to pay ur tuition. Please tel me all about of this. THANKS AND MORE POWER

[pvijai]

Hi,i m vijai ,i intrest to study in abroad. now only i got the chance from the study link . but i don't have money to pay tution . please tell how can i apply for the loan & visa