Australia has made the student visa process for international students more swift and less complicated. Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese welcomed the announcement of changes to Australia's student visas requirements.

According to a high commission release, Varghese said the changes were significant, would enhance the competitiveness of Australia's international education sector and would result in easier and faster visas for Indian students in a range of Australian university courses.

Under the new arrangements international students enrolled in courses at the level of bachelor degree or higher will be treated as lower risk applicants regardless of their country of origin. This will mean less onerous financial and documentary requirements for students in this category.

Students undertaking vocational courses, including with private education providers, would continue to be assessed against the higher assessment levels although financial requirements would also be reduced for these students.

Post study work visa for 2-4 years will also be included in the modifications especially for university graduates based on their duration of study.

These changes will be progressively implemented from late 2011, with the full complement of changes expected to be finalised in the first half of 2012.

The full report can be seen at http://www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/2011-fact-sheet.pdf