Genuine Student Requirement (GS Requirement) to study in Australia
- Aurvind Raj
- Apr 12, 2024
- 4 min read
Know everything about the recent change to study in Australia
Highly ranked Universities, great scholarships for international students, multicultural society, excellent employment opportunities, extensive student support services and best student cities to study in; are some of the reasons what makes Australia a sought-after destination for young aspiring students. Naturally, studying in Australia is a dream for many. For you to be able to make that dream come true, you must understand the requirements for your Australian student visa.
Australian Government recently revised their student visa requirement, replacing Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) with Genuine Student Requirement (GS Requirement). All student visa applications lodged on and after 23rd March 2024 would be assessed against revised criteria.
What is Genuine Student Requirement (GS Requirement)?
GS requirement for international students will aim to identify students with circumstances that support a genuine intention to obtain a quality education in Australia, without reference or confusion to any future intention to migrate.
Genuine Student Requirements requires visa applicants to address below pointers and provide supporting documentation & evidence to substantiate their claims:
The applicant's circumstances in their home country
The applicant’s potential circumstances in Australia
Value of the course to the primary applicant’s future
Applicant’s immigration history
Any other relevant matter
How to address Genuine Student Requirement (GS Requirement)?
Applicants are required to answers following questions in no more than 150 words each while filling up their student visa application form:
Ques 1: Details of the applicant’s current circumstances. This includes ties to family, community, employment, and economic circumstances.
Ans: When considering the applicant’s circumstances in their home country, one should have regard to the following factors:
For primary applicants: whether the primary applicant has reasonable reasons for not undertaking the study in their home country or region if a similar course is already available there.
Nature of applicant: The nature of the applicant’s personal ties to their home country (for example family, community, and employment) and whether those circumstances would serve as a significant incentive for the applicant to apply for a student visa.
Economic circumstances of the applicant: These circumstances may include consideration of the applicant’s circumstances relative to the home country and to Australia.
Ques 2: Explain why the applicant wishes to study this course in Australia with this particular education provider. This must also explain their understanding of the requirements of the intended course and studying and living in Australia.
Ans: Here’s why applicants wishes to study this course in Australia:
The primary applicant’s knowledge of living in Australia and of their intended course of study and the associated education provider; including previous study and qualifications.
The level of research the primary applicant has undertaken into their proposed course of study and living arrangements
Whether the student visa is being used to maintain ongoing residence and not for the purposes of study
Whether the primary and secondary applicant(s) have entered a relationship of concern for a successful student visa outcome, i.e. whether the primary and secondary applicants have contrived their relationship for the purpose of obtaining a student visa.
Ques 3: Explain how completing the course will be of benefit to the applicant.
Ans: When considering the primary applicant’s circumstances, student should have regard to the value of the course to the primary applicant’s future, and in doing so should have regard to the following factors:
Whether the primary applicant is seeking to undertake a course that is consistent with their past employment and their current level of education, and whether the course will assist the primary applicant to obtain employment or improve employment prospects in their home country or another country. Decision makers should allow for reasonable changes to career or study pathway.
Remuneration the primary applicant could expect to receive in their home country or another country, using the qualifications to be gained from the proposed course of study.
Ques 4: Give details of any other relevant information the applicant would like to include.
For applicants with a study history in Australia, details of their study history
For applicants holding a visa other than a student visa, their reasons for applying for a student visa
Immigration history of applicant and sponsor, including visa refusal from any country including Australia.
Any other relevant information that applicant would like to declare
What has changed?
This is what has changed:
Higer English language requirement for international students (IELTS overall score of 6.0)
300-word statement replaced with target question under GS Requirement
Student visa declaration will be amended to cover student visa conditions understanding, and post study pathway are available to eligible students.
New Genuine Student test for non-genuine students (primarily looking for work) and no further stay conditions for visitor visa holders discouraging applicants to apply student visa onshore.
Revised English Language Requirement
The minimum score required for a student visa from an IELTS test score increases from 5.5 to 6 (or its equivalent).
The minimum score required to undertake a packaged ELICOS from IELTS increases from 4.5 to 5.0.
For students studying English only through ELICOS, there will be no change.
The test score required for students undertaking university foundation or pathway programs that deliver reputable English language training will be IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent).
Financial documents may include:
Supporting Documentation: Generic statements unsupported by evidence are not given significant weight in the GS assessment. This means it is important to provide evidence to support a claim made by the applicant.
Documents showing employment or business activities for 12 months before lodging an application.
Potential employment offers including salary and other benefits, after course completion.
Income tax return or bank statements
If you have any other doubts about the current changes or want to apply to Australian universities, get in touch with our international education experts at IDP, they will help you with the end to end admission process.
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