Changes To Student Visa Assessment -Diplomas And Advanced Diplomas

23 Dec 2010

From 1 January 2011, changes will come into effect that will impact on prospective students intending to study for a diploma or advanced diploma at a higher education institution. From this date, these prospective students can be assessed for a Higher Education (subclass 573) visa.

Prior to 1 January 2011, these prospective students were assessed for a Vocational Education and Training (VET) (subclass 572) visa, as diplomas and advanced diplomas were not specified in relation to the Higher Education (subclass 573) visa.

The reason for this change is to align migration legislation with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). The AQF and CRICOS specify higher education diplomas and higher education advanced diplomas as separate and distinct from VET diplomas and VET advanced diplomas.

This change will affect:
• All new student visa applications lodged on or after 1 January 2011
• Prospective students who have enrolled in a diploma or advanced diploma course at a higher education institution, who have lodged a Student visa application before 1 January 2011 that is being processed on or after 1 January 2011.

This change will not affect:
• Students who currently hold a VET (subclass 572) visa, and are studying a higher education diploma or advanced diploma course
• Students who are currently in the middle of studying a package of courses which includes a higher education diploma or advanced diploma.

Other changes on 1 January 2011
Three course names which are obsolete will be removed from the courses specified in relation to the VET (subclass 572) visa. These are:
Certificate
Advanced certificate
Associate diploma