This post is for those who’ve long wanted to pursue higher education in Australia but were held back by the fear of visa rejection or the complexities of submitting documents. 

You’ve probably heard that Bangladesh has recently been upgraded to Assessment Level 1 in Australia’s student visa system. But you may not yet know what this assessment level is, how it’s determined, or what advantages you gain from Bangladesh’s new status.

Today, we’ll learn about Australia’s student visa assessment levels, how the system works, the visa requirements for each level, and how you can fully leverage Bangladesh’s upgrade to Level 1.

How Does Australia’s Assessment Level Work?

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs assigns an evidence level or assessment level to all institutions registered with CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students). Various countries are also assigned a level. Both education providers and countries are generally categorised into three levels:

• Level 1 = Low Risk: These require fewer documents.
• Level 2 = Moderate Risk: These require more documents than Level 1.
• Level 3 = High Risk: These require significantly more documents, which are checked rigorously.

The assessment levels are based on several factors, including the past performance of the country or provider. The assessment level decreases for countries or providers with a higher rate of visa cancellations, rejections, or students overstaying their visas.

Country and Provider Assessment Level Combinations

When a student applies for a visa, the Department of Home Affairs considers the levels of both their country and their chosen provider. Three main scenarios can occur:

Low-Risk Country (e.g., Level 1) + Low-Risk Provider (e.g., Level 1)

Since both are low-risk, no extra documents are typically needed. This makes the visa process very easy and fast.

Low-Risk Country/Provider (e.g., Level 1) + High-Risk Country/Provider (e.g., Level 3)

If either the country or the provider is high-risk, Australia may request extra documents for the visa. This could make English test results and bank statements mandatory.

High-Risk Country (e.g., Level 3) + High-Risk Provider (e.g., Level 3)

When both the country and provider are high-risk, visa requirements are very strict. This requires additional documents and a rigorous vetting process for the visa application. In these cases, the visa may be delayed or even rejected.

Why Is the Country Assessment Level So Important?

This assessment level system is crucial for several reasons:

1. Applicants from low-risk countries generally don’t face complications with documents. Their visa applications are also processed much faster.
2. This system helps identify visa violators and fraudsters, giving more opportunities to genuine students.
3. The system allows genuine students to fulfil their dreams of higher education in Australia without facing any hassle.

How Are Assessment Levels Determined?

The Department of Home Affairs has detailed information on its website about how it determines assessment levels for a country or a provider. Here’s a simplified breakdown:

The level is determined by calculating the average of several evidence level indicator scores. These indicators include:

• Visa Cancellation: When a visa is cancelled due to fraud, providing false information, or violating visa conditions, specifically conditions 8202 and 8105.
• Visa Refusal: When a visa application is rejected due to fraud.
• Overstaying a Visa or Unlawful Residence: When a person fails to renew or obtain a new visa within 28 days of their visa’s expiration.
• Application for a Protection Visa: When someone on a student visa applies for a protection visa after arriving in Australia.

Each indicator has a different weight:

• Visa cancellation rate: 25% importance.
• Visa refusal rate due to fraud: 40% importance.
• Visa refusal rate for reasons other than fraud: 10% importance.
• Unlawful residence rate for student visa holders: 15% importance.
• Protection visa application rate: 10% importance.

The assessment level is determined based on the average index of these indicators:

• Average Index < 1.0 = Assessment Level 1.
• Average Index 1.0 ≤ 2.7 = Assessment Level 2.
• Average Index > 2.7 = Assessment Level 3.

What Documents Are Needed for Each Level?

The required documents may vary for each applicant, depending on their country and their provider’s assessment levels. These documents may include:

• Proof of Financial Capacity: Applicants must prove they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses for the entire duration of their stay in Australia.
• Proof of English Language Proficiency: Applicants must submit a test score to demonstrate their English language skills to obtain a student visa.
• Proof of Enrollment: Applicants must provide proof that they have received a Confirmation of Enrollment from an approved institution.

You can use the official document checklist tool to find out which documents you need. If you need help understanding it, you can also seek assistance from our skilled and experienced student counsellors.

What Should You Do as a Student?

If you’re planning to study in Australia in the future, this level upgrade makes your application process much easier than before. Your next step should be to choose a Level 1 provider in Australia. This will ensure your visa process is very fast and easy.

At the same time, you need to be careful to submit the appropriate documents for this level. If you have any questions or need help finding a Level 1 provider, you can let us know.

May your dream of higher education in Australia come true!