Insights for
Global Students

For a student who intends to study in Australia, it is essential to meet the GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) criteria to obtain the student visa (subclass 500). Therefore, it is necessary to understand the significance of the GTE, which is aimed at establishing the intention of the student applying to study in Australia.

A student must prove that their purpose for going to Australia is only to receive a quality education and that their stay will be temporary. However, this does not mean that the GTE requirements, in any way, are aimed at discouraging students from taking up higher studies or subsequently applying for permanent residency. To meet the GTE requirements, one must provide a detailed Statement of Purpose (SOP) along with supporting documents when applying for admission to Australia.

The essential points that an applicant needs to highlight in the SOP are the following.

Personal Background

The application should have a brief introduction about the applicant and their family, reasons for wanting to pursue higher education in Australia, marital status, and also mention family members/relatives presently residing in Australia, if any.

If yes, then detailed information about their qualifications, current occupation, etc., must be provided. The applicant should also inform if they were accompanied by family members when travelling to Australia.

Current Qualification

While applying, one needs to provide a detailed academic history with supporting transcripts and degree certificates, type and duration of the course, institution/s studied from, and achievements, if any. If there has been any gap in the study, the applicant will need to provide substantial reasons for the gap, along with documentary proof.

Current Occupation

The applicant must elucidate their employment history and enclose supporting work experience letters and documentary proof. One would need to be specific about the period of employment, details of the position and responsibilities held, along with a referee who can confirm it.

Reason For Choosing A Particular Institution

The applicant has to be specific about why they are applying to a particular university and not to other universities in Australia or elsewhere in the world. If similar courses are available in their home country, applicants need to establish why they are still applying overseas.

Reason For Choosing A Particular Course

It is essential for an applicant to state reasons for choosing a particular course; in other words, one has to talk about their career plans and how the course is relevant to them. If the course you are applying for is not exactly coherent with your last degree, you would be required to explain the reason for the switch.

Ties To The Home Country

Applicants need to talk about their family/social ties in their home country. Mentioning potential employment opportunities in your home country, including expected salaries after completing the course, will add value.

Financial Condition Back Home

An applicant must establish that they come from a financially sound background and give proof. Evidence of employment or family business, if any, should be included. Income tax returns and updated bank statements should be attached with the application.

In a nutshell, the GTE requirement is used to measure that an application is assessed as intended. It ensures that international students are applying to Australia with a genuine intent to study and acquire quality education.

GTE checks are done both at the university and student visa processing levels. GTE checks include vetting of the following points.

• Reason for not studying in your home country if a similar course is available there.
• Ties to home country that support an intention to return after studies in Australia are completed.
• Financial condition.
• Military service commitments.
• Political and civil unrest in the home country.
• Ties to Australia represent a strong incentive to stay in Australia.
• Level of knowledge related to the desired course and institution.
• Current qualification.
• Planned living arrangements.
• Coherence of the desired course with the course last pursued by the applicant.
• Relevance of the desired course with employment opportunities in the home country or in a third country.
• Expected salary and other benefits in the applicant’s home country or a third country post completion of the desired course.
• Previous visa applications for Australia or other countries.
• Visa refusals or cancellations.

Disclaimer: The above information and data have been gathered from various sources, including the Department of Home Affairs and university websites.