International students

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency by either:

• providing an English language test result from an approved testing provider, or
• providing evidence that you meet one of the exemption categories set by the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA)

To be eligible for entry into the Master of Arts Screen, you must achieve an overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 (or equivalent in an approved test). For more information on IELTS testing or to book your IELTS Academic test, see the IELTS website.

If you have taken the test and your result was below the AFTRS entry score of 7.0, you may be eligible to undertake a One Skill Retest.

To be eligible for an Australian student visa, you must have taken your test within 2 years of the date that you lodge your visa application. The DoHA do not accept online or at-home test results. For more information on the student visa requirements, refer to the Department of Home Affairs website.

Student visa applications can only be made once you have received a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from AFTRS.

Once you have received a written offer from AFTRS, then paid your fees and arranged for your overseas health cover, AFTRS will issue you with a CoE. You can use this document to apply for a student visa with the Department of Home Affairs.

For more information about applying for a student visa, go to the Studying in Australia page on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Commencement

All international students are expected to commence at AFTRS from Orientation Week. Further information regarding this will be in the Offer and Enrolment Guide you will get if you receive an offer.

Are You A Domestic Student?

You are an international student if you hold a permit for temporary entry to Australia. E.g. student visa.

You are NOT considered an international student if you are:

• An Australian citizen, or
• A New Zealand citizen, or
• An Australian Permanent Resident, or
• A Humanitarian visa holder

If you meet any of these criteria, you are considered a domestic student.

Overseas Health Insurance Cover (OSHC)

International student applicants must have Overseas Health Insurance Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their stay in Australia. If you have family members who will live with you in Australia, they must also be included in your health cover.

You will be required to arrange and provide a copy of your OSHC upon accepting your offer from AFTRS to study. OSHC is also a requirement in applying for your student visa.

Additional information on health cover requirements, including a list of approved OSHC health providers, is available from the Study In Australia website. OSHC exemptions exist for some countries.

All new international students must pay a tuition fee deposit, being the full first semester fee, upon being offered a place in the course and by the specified due date.

Existing international students will be required to pay for all future tuition fees up-front, prior to the commencement of each semester and in line with specified fee payment deadlines set by the organisation.

International students are not eligible for any Australian government student financial assistance.

Refer to the Fees page on this website for specific information on course tuition fees for international students.

Please also refer to AFTRS Fees Policy for specific information on international student fee refunds.

Financial Capacity

Potential international students need to consider how they will support themselves financially in Australia, in the context of studying as a full-time student.

Living in Australia

As well as the costs associated with student visas, health cover and tuition fees, applicants should also understand the likely costs that will be incurred as part of life in Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs have financial obligations you must comply with. As a single student, you must be able to show that you have the financial capacity to cover living costs of at least $29,710 Australian dollars (AUD) per year. There are additional costs for extra family members.

Therefore, using this amount as a guide, a single student living away from home will require at least $2,475 AUD per month for accommodation, food, utilities and entertainment.

Note: Actual costs will depend on your lifestyle choices and needs.

If you have a partner or spouse, you should allow an additional $10,394 AUD per year. For each child you have, you should allow an additional $4 449 AUD per year. Child school fees will also be in addition to this amount.

We recommend you have at least $2,000 AUD when you arrive to cover the initial costs of books, rental bond and furniture.

These figures do not include large household items (such as a refrigerator) or a car. We recommend that you use public transport, as owning a car can be expensive.

For further information about the cost of living in Australia, see the Living Costs page on the Study Australia website.

All documents written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a complete English translation.

AFTRS accepts translations from the following organisations:

• A translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators & Interpreters (NAATI);
• Multicultural New South Wales Language Services;
• Interstate office of either the Ethnic Affairs Commission or the Department of Home Affairs;
• Australian diplomatic missions.

Please note: each page of an authorised translation must bear the translator’s signature, the date translated and the translator’s accreditation details and/or the official stamp or seal of the translator’s accrediting organisation. Translations of official documents by a student are not accepted by AFTRS.