The Student Visa Subclass 500 allows international students to study an eligible course in Australia. Your course, education provider, and enrolment all matter before you reach this stage, and HDF Education can help you get the study side of your plans in order.
The Student visa (subclass 500) is used for most international study in Australia. It covers university degrees, vocational education and training, English-language courses, pathway programs, schools and postgraduate research.
For most students, the course needs to be with an Australian provider registered to teach international students, and you will need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for the course you plan to study.
That is why the course comes first. Before thinking about the visa itself, you need to know what you are studying, where you are studying it, and whether your enrolment is in place.
| Main purpose | Study an eligible course in Australia |
|---|---|
| Course/provider | Usually a CRICOS-registered course and provider |
| Enrolment document | Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for most students |
| Health cover | OSHC is generally required |
| Work while studying | Up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods for most students |
| Current primary application charge | AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026 |
The 48-hour work limit and current visa charge are confirmed by current Australian Government guidance.
Students reach HDF at different points. You may still be choosing a course, already have an offer, or be waiting for your CoE. The first step is to see what has already been sorted and what still needs attention on the education side.
If you have not settled on a course yet, HDF can help you look at study options and Australian education providers. For Subclass 500 study, the course generally needs to be registered on CRICOS, the official register for courses offered to overseas students.
Already have an offer? The next step is to understand what your education provider wants from you. There may be conditions to meet, documents to send, or a tuition payment connected with accepting your place. HDF can go through those education-related details with you.
Once the required enrolment steps are complete, your provider can issue your Confirmation of Enrolment. The CoE records important information about the course you have enrolled in. If something on the study side is still unclear, HDF can help you work through it with the provider.
Not everyone starts with a single course. You might take an English-language or pathway course before moving into your main program. A package can involve more than one CoE, so it helps to understand the order of the courses and which one is your principal course.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is part of the usual arrangements for international students. The period of cover matters too, because Home Affairs takes OSHC dates into account when determining the visa period. HDF can help with OSHC as part of getting your study arrangements ready.
Once your course and enrolment are sorted, there are a few other parts of Subclass 500 worth understanding. These are Australian Government requirements and conditions, so the details should always be checked against current Home Affairs information.
The Genuine Student (GS) requirement looks at whether studying in Australia is the main reason for applying for a Student visa. The application asks about things such as your current circumstances, why you chose the course and provider, and how the course may benefit you. The current GS questions have a 150-word limit for each response.
You may be asked to provide evidence that you can cover the costs connected with studying in Australia. Home Affairs lists areas such as travel, living costs and tuition, with additional costs applying where family members or school-aged dependants are included. The evidence required can depend on the individual application.
Most Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. Unlimited hours are generally allowed during scheduled course breaks. Different arrangements apply to students who have started a master's degree by research or a doctoral degree.
The length of your Student visa is closely tied to your course. Home Affairs generally allows some additional time after the course ends, with the exact period depending on the course length and finish date. The maximum Student visa period will generally not exceed six years.
A student who already has a CoE needs something different from someone who is still comparing courses. Another student may have accepted an offer but still be sorting out OSHC.
HDF starts with where you actually are rather than assuming everyone needs the same help.
You do not need to begin again because one part of the process is already finished. Tell HDF what you have done so far, and the conversation can focus on the education-related pieces that are still outstanding
Offers, course dates, payments, and CoEs do not always arrive at the same time. HDF can help you make sense of the information coming from your education provider and keep track of what belongs to which stage.
A question about your course might appear while you are waiting for your CoE. Something in your offer may only make sense once you start the enrolment process. You have an education counsellor to come back to when those questions appear.
HDF provides education counselling through a Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC #13237). That gives students a clear point of contact for course, provider, enrolment, and other education-related questions about studying in Australia.
Where you go next depends on how far you have already come with your study plans. These HDF services cover the stages immediately around Subclass 500 preparation.
Still working on your university application? Get help with requirements, supporting documents, submission, and follow-up with your chosen provider.
Already have your course or offer? HDF can help with the education side of your preparation, including enrolment, CoE, OSHC and provider follow-up.
Study arrangements sorted? The next step is preparing for the practical side of travelling to Australia and getting ready to begin your course.
It is the main Student visa used by international students who want to study an eligible course in Australia. Subclass 500 covers university study, VET, English-language programs, pathway courses, schools, and postgraduate research, among other recognised types of study.
There is no single checklist that looks exactly the same for every student. Common requirements include a valid CoE, OSHC, meeting the Genuine Student requirement and, where requested, evidence relating to finances or English language ability. Home Affairs’ Document Checklist Tool shows what evidence applies to a particular application.
For most students, yes. A Confirmation of Enrolment shows that you are enrolled in the course you intend to study. If you are taking a package of courses, you may have a CoE for each course in the package.
Most students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session and can work unlimited hours during scheduled study breaks. Master’s by research and doctoral students have different work-hour arrangements once their course has started.
From 1 July 2026, the visa application charge for most primary Student visa applicants increased to AUD 2,500. Some applicants fall under different charging arrangements, and government fees can change, so check the current Home Affairs price before paying.
There is no guaranteed processing time for every application. Offshore applications are currently handled under processing priorities, and the time can vary with application volumes, checks, and whether the required information has been provided. Home Affairs publishes a current processing-time guide rather than one fixed timeframe for everyone.
Tell HDF Education where you are with your course and enrolment. You might still be choosing a provider, working through an offer, or waiting for your CoE. An education counsellor can help you with the study-related parts that still need attention.