OVERSEAS STUDENTS – VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR SYRIAN AND IRAQI STUDENTS (ASSESSMENT LEVEL 3)

Ahlan wa sahlan!

Australia welcomes genuine students who have access to adequate funds to cover their tuition and living costs, sufficient English to undertake their studies, as well as a credible study/employment background. There are a number of specific requirements for students (Syria and Iraq are both Assessment Level 3 for all full-fee paying student visas). This is a general guide only; for more information see the websites
www.immi.gov.au/students/index.htm and www.studyinaustralia.gov.au.

For information on Australian scholarships visit:
Endeavour Scholarships for Middle Eastern Students 

Financial capacity requirements:

You must show evidence of sufficient funds from an acceptable source to meet expenses for course fees, living costs (including school costs for any dependent children) and travel costs.*
Non-cash assets (eg land, property or stocks) are not an acceptable source of funds. Note bank funds must be held for a minimum of 3 months before the date of visa application. The bank statement must show a history of savings and must have an ongoing balance that is equal to or greater than the total cost of tuition and living expenses for the period of the course.
Newly opened bank accounts and/or recent transfers will not be accepted as evidence of funds.

*For details on who can provide funds, and how to calculate the amount required for your proposed study program, go to:
Financial Requirements for English Language Students ELICOS (570 AL3) 
Financial Requirements for Higher Education Students (573 AL3)
Financial Requirements for Postgraduate Research Students (574 AL3)  

Evidence of English language proficiency:

Australia uses the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) as the only acceptable standard. Your IELTS result must be no more than two years old at time of visa application. The minimum IELTS score is 5.0 for students undertaking English before the principal course.
You do not need to provide IELTS results if:
• your study is funded by the Syrian, Iraqi or Australian Governments;
• you can demonstrate that you have studied in English for five years or more in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, USA, South Africa or the Republic of Ireland; or
• you are proposing to undertake only an English course in Australia (evidence of your previous efforts to study English will be taken into account when assessing your application).

Evidence of previous study:

If you intend to study a Masters or a Doctorate degree you must give evidence that you have completed a Bachelors degree. If you intend to study a Bachelors degree you must give evidence that you have completed secondary schooling or its equivalent.

Visa processing requirements:

To assist us in processing your student visa, please ensure that you provide complete information at time of application. You need to provide with your completed visa application form 157A (downloadable from 157A.pdf):

• Application fee in Jordanian Dinars (cash only; cheques and credit cards are not accepted);
• Your passport and two recent passport photographs (less than 6 months old); and
• A letter of provisional offer from the university or college where you wish to study in Australia;

Please provide certified English translations of all Arabic-language supporting documents. All photocopied documents must be accompanied by the original to be sighted at lodgement. You should also provide:

• Acceptable evidence of funds and your IELTS test results;
• A copy of your qualification and academic transcript showing your academic results from your most recent qualification (all copies certified by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs);
• A family census detailing your parents and siblings;
• If you are employed, your employment reference should be authenticated and certified by the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.