information for international students

About Melbourne

Melbourne has a population of nearly 4 million people and is the capital city of the southern state of Victoria. Melbourne is consistently voted amongst the world's most livable cities for its safe, secure environment and well-developed infrastructure. It has an extensive public transport system, and is considered the academic and sporting capital of Australia. Victoria is known as The Garden State and Melbourne boasts many beautiful gardens and public park lands which are enjoyed by people during the warm summers and cool winters. The academic year is broken into Semester 1 (March to June) and Semester 2 (July to November) and the long summer break provides opportunity for travel. To find out more, go to the visit Melbourne website.

International students living in Victoria have access to the Culture Card Victoria program. This program is designed to add to your experience of living in Victoria by giving you the opportunity to attend activities and destinations such as sporting events, arts performances and community experiences during your study years. The International Student Care Service (ISCS), is also available to any international student in Victoria who is experiencing difficulty with their studies. It provides friendly and professional advice, information, support and referral to local services and community resources.

About Study in Australia and cost of living (see below for tution and health insurance fees)

Click here for a link to Study in Australia web site which provides vital information for overseas students
This page from the Study in Australia web site has information about the fees and costs associated with living and studying in Melbourne.
More information about living and studying in Melbourne can be found here.
A very detailed and helpful brochure can be downloaded here (1.7 mb)

English Language Entry Requirements:

Applicants are required to provide the results of an English language test unless they can provide evidence of five years of previous study with English as the medium of instruction and assessment, concluding in the two years preceding your application. 
For undergraduate study the requirement is an average score across all bands of 6.5 with no band under 6.0 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). All other applicants must score 7.0 across all bands with no band under 6.5 The undergraduate TOEFL equivalent is at least 580 (TWE above 4.5). The postgraduate TOEFL equivalent is above 600 (TWE above 5.0).

Research Degrees:

If you intend enrolling in a research degree you will also need to have a reading knowledge of the languages required for the primary sources and essential secondary sources for your chosen research topic, for example Koine Greek, Biblical Hebrew, ecclesiastical Latin for primary sources, German, Spanish, Korean, Italian, Chinese, French for secondary. Qualifying for Research degrees: If you are applying to enter a research Masters degree (MTheol, MA [Research mode], MMin) or doctorate, you should have passed the research qualifying requirements before leaving your home country (see the Regulations for each degree). This includes having obtained a Distinction grade in a 12,000 word research essay at postgraduate standard. In addition, the College expects that an academic member of staff has indicated his or her intention to act as your interim supervisor.

International Student Applications:

Applying for and obtaining a student visa can take considerable time; this may vary in different countries. Prospective students should contact the MCD as early as possible to make initial enquiries. Three steps are essential to making an application.

Step One: Application
As an international student you must complete the appropriate international application form, and submit it with the following documents direct to Stirling Theological College:

1. Evidence of your level of English Language proficiency (see above), or that you have been offered a place with an English language provider in Australia
2. Transcripts of all completed tertiary courses   
3. Your full name as listed in your passport
4. Your date of birth
5. Your citizenship and country of birth
6. A copy of the photo and name page of your current passport
7. An International Student Sponsor Statement completed by your sponsor, if you are not paying your own fees.

Step Two: Acceptance Offer
If you are accepted into a course, you will be sent an Acceptance Contract, which you must complete, sign, and return to the Quality & Compliance Officer at Melbourne College of Divinity (MCD). The MCD will then send you a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

Step Three: Visa Application
You must use your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to apply to an Australian diplomatic post for a student visa.  Please see http://www.immi.gov.au/ for more information on the process of obtaining a student visa.

Candidates will be accepted initially for one year and continuation of candidature will be granted only on the successful completion of the 1st year of study.

Regulations for Overseas Candidates

The College welcomes overseas candidates but also recognises the difficulties such candidates have in coming to Australia for long periods. The College's programs are approved for the purposes of the issuing of student visas and the Registrar can advise and assist in this process.

Applicants for research masters degrees will normally be expected to pass the requirements for Qualifying Examination before leaving their home country. The College will expect to be satisfied that financial requirements can be met, that an approved person in Melbourne has indicated his or her willingness to act as your interim adviser, and that a church or similar body akin to your own is willing to accept you here and offer personal support.

This process takes considerable time and intending applicants are asked to contact the Registrar as early as possible.

N.B. When applying, please allow a few months for administrative processes. Please note the following:

The Australian Federal Government has advised all Providers that students entering the country on student visas must have their study and results monitored constantly throughout the student's stay in Australia. In practical terms this means that students are required to attend 80% of the face to face classes and must always pass all the exams undertaken. Students are only permitted to work part-time after receiving permission from the Department of Immigration. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in the visa being cancelled and the students having to return to their home country. Students are required to complete their chosen degree in the time allocated and no extension of the time on the visa will be given.

Fees and costs

The cost of full time tuition at Stirling in 2011 is $8,248.00 per annum for international undergraduates and graduates. A one-off application of $180.00 also applies in the first year. See the fee schedule by clicking here.

Conditions of your visa will require you pay overseas student health cover which is compulsory:

All premiums are for 2011, are GST inclusive and in Australian dollars. These are indicative figures only. For an immediate quote go to the OSHC WORLDCARE web page by clicking here

Compulsory government education expenses for children

The Australian Government requires all non-Australian citizen children to pay for their education. In 2009 the fees per year for a dependant Student (arriving under their parent’s student visa) are -

Primary (Prep to Year 6) (ages 4-11 years) $7,370.00
Junior Secondary (Year 7-10) (11-15 years) $9,770.00
Senior Secondary (Years 11 & 12) (15-18 years) $10,910.00

these figures are per student per year.

More information and up to date costs of secondary school in Australia can be found on the
Victorian Department of Education web site or download a helpful brochure