The GTE requirement is used by the Australian Government to ensure the student visa program is accessed by students who genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily for study purposes.

In addition to the audition/applications interview process before a formal offer can be made all short listed international applicants for NIDA courses are required:

1. Complete a Financial Declaration form.
2. Provide financial documents to prove financial support, and
3. Take part in an interview  to complete their Genuine Temporary Entry (GTE)  check.

Short listed international applicants will be contacted about a conditional offer and we will work with them to set up a suitable interview time.

GTE Interviews will be conducted by a member of NIDA’s  student engagement staff member.

International students have access to all of NIDA’s student services.

NIDA complies with the requirements of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. The Australian Government provides a description of the ESOS framework.

Health and wellbeing

NIDA actively promotes the health and wellbeing of our students through information sessions and workshops on a broad range of health topics from mindfulness to fitness and injury prevention. There is a dedicated counsellor on site one day a well. All students also have access to Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at UNSW Sydney Monday–Friday and phone/online emergency counselling 24/7 through Benestar.

Enrolled Students’ Scholarships

Every year, scholarships are available to assist enrolled students with living expenses and/or tuition fees.

Scholarships are paid to students on a fortnightly basis from the census date and paid only during the NIDA teaching year. They are awarded for one year or multiple years depending on the terms of the Scholarship.

Details of the application process are provided to students at the start of the NIDA academic year. View the full list of Enrolled Students’ Scholarships.

Accommodation options

Through NIDA’s relationship with UNSW Sydney, NIDA students can apply for accommodation at the various on-campus residential communities. NIDA students often share accommodation in the are close to campus. At the start of the year, information is made available to students regarding those offering shared accommodation and those wanting to share with others.

• It is a requirement of NIDA that international students have a satisfactory level of English language proficiency. NIDA requires that students have an English language proficiency equivalent to an overall band score of 7.0 or 8.0 IELTS, depending on the course. Information on IELTS and testing centres in your country is available on the IELTS website.
• International applicants for courses other than Acting are required to provide evidence of their English language proficiency at their interview.
• Short-listed international applicants for the Acting course are required to provide evidence of their English language proficiency by the end of the first week of December in order to be considered further in the selection process.
• This requirement may be waived for applicants that have completed their high school studies in English.

Student visa application fees

The amount charged for the student visa application is dependant on which visa you are applying for. Please refer to the website of the Department of Home Affairs for visa information.

Applying for a student visa

A student visa application can be made once you have received a formal written offer from NIDA.

A formal written offer will only be made to applicants who have been successful in both their course interview/audition and their Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) interview.

For information on how to apply for a student visa go to the Study Australia website.

You may be required to undergo medical examinations and a chest x-ray as part of your student visa application.

It is expected that all students will be available to start on the first day of the NIDA year, with the first week for new students being Welcome Week. If there is a valid reason, such as a visa issue, commencing students can seek permission to miss some or all of the first week. Commencing students must be available to start classes at NIDA on the first day of the second week of the NIDA year, otherwise they will not be permitted to start the course in that year and will have to reapply for entry in the following year.

• You must have acceptable health insurance cover for the period of your intended stay in Australia. You will be required to provide evidence that you have paid Overseas Student Health Cover for the term of your study before you are permitted to commence your course at NIDA. This is also a condition of your visa.
• To meet this requirement, you should pay for overseas student health cover (OSHC) for yourself and any family members who will live with you in Australia. The OSHC provides medical and hospital insurance.
• For information of the OSHC (including details of OSHC providers) please refer to the Study in Australia website.
• Students studying in Australia must satisfy the health requirements specified in the migration regulations.

Before applying for a course at NIDA, you should consider your financial responsibilities as a full time international student in Australia. You will have to prove your financial capacity to cover tuition fees, travel and living costs and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

The courses have high contact hours, a minimum of 40 hours per week, leaving little time to undertake any outside work whilst studying.

Tuition fees

The Australian Government requires all international students to pay full fees to cover tuition in Australia. International students must pay their annual tuition fees by the due date on the invoice.

2023 International Fee Schedules

• Undergraduate Tuition Fee Schedule International Students 2023
• Graduate Tuition Fee Schedule International Students 2023

2022 International Fee Schedules 

• Undergraduate Tuition Fee Schedule International Students 2022
• Graduate Tuition Fee Schedule International Students 2022

Please also refer to NIDA's International Students Fee Policy including refunds.

Cost of living

• International students must also ensure they have the financial resources to cover the cost of living while in Australia, as international students are not eligible for Australian government student financial assistance.
• International full fee paying students are not eligible for public transport concession, unless they are receiving an Australian Government scholarship.
• International students accepted into NIDA are responsible for all arrangements concerning entry into and residence in Australia. This includes visas and health insurance. Please go to the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection for further information.
• We estimate that you need approximately AUD$20,000 to cover living expenses in Sydney for each year of study.
• In addition, we recommend that you have at least AUD$2000 when you arrive to cover the initial costs of books, rental bond, and furniture.
• These figures do not include large household items (such as a refrigerator) or a car. We recommend that you use public transport, as owning a car can be expensive and there is very limited parking near NIDA.
• International students are required to demonstrate and/or declare to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection that they have genuine access to sufficient funds to be granted a Student visa. For more details see the Study in Australia website.

Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Framework

Protecting your Rights and your Responsibilities as an international student studying in Australia

ESOS Act and the National Code of Practice

The ESOS Act is Australian government legislation that sets consistent standards for education providers that offer courses to international students.

ESOS Act - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00210

National Code - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L01182

How does the ESOS Framework apply to international students?

The framework is designed to ensure the quality of education and support services for international students is high.

It is also designed to provide a consistent approach to international education and to support the integrity of the student visa system. It is a robust system that protects and enhances the experiences of international students in Australia.

The framework sets out

• The education provider’s (NIDA’s) responsibilities to international students
• Your responsibilities as an international student

It includes things such as:

Enrolment

Please ensure that you accept your offer of a place and complete enrolment by the due date outlined in your letter of offer to ensure your place in the course.

You are a NIDA student from the time you enroll until you complete your course requirements and graduate; withdraw from your course; or expelled from a course of study.

You can enroll in your course online through your Student Portal once you have accepted your offer of a place in the course.

You must pay the fees and enroll by the specified dates, otherwise you will lose your place at NIDA.

You will be re-enrolled for each semester on the successful completion of course work from the previous semester, unless you submit an application to defer or notify Student Services of withdrawal from your course.

Withdrawal

To leave a course before your course is completed you need to submit a Notice of Withdrawal form. Student services will contact you and advise you of the next steps in the process and will begin an offboarding process which involves ensuring you have:

• no outstanding tuition fees
• no outstanding library loans
• no NIDA equipment, including locker keys
• any scholarship payments stopped
• removing your access to NIDA systems
• and for international students it will mean reporting your change in enrolment status to the Department of Home Affairs via the PRISMS website.

If you believe you are eligible for a refund you will need to apply for a refund via the application for a refund form https://fs3.formsite.com/NIDAed/bxmovtickn/index.html.

All refunds will be managed through the relevant Fee Policy for domestic and international students. https://www.nida.edu.au/courses/policies

Deferral

Delaying your study if you have a compelling reason why you need to take temporarily stop studying.

To request a deferral, you must submit an Application to Defer form with evidence to support your compassionate and compelling circumstances.

Your application will be reviewed and if your reasons are considered valid you will be granted a deferral. If a deferral is granted you will receive a letter acknowledging:

• the approval of the deferral
• the length of the granted deferral, and the expected date for you to restart your studies
• the consequence of not restarting your studies on the nominated date
• if you are an international student the intention to report a course variation to the Department of Home Affairs via PRISMS. If the deferral changes your expected end date from the original CoE you will be advised that your CoE will be cancelled and that you will need to seek advice from the Department of Home Affairs in regards to the status of your student visa.

Expulsion/Enrolment Cancellation by NIDA

NIDA can initiate a cancellation of your enrolment because of:

• breach of NIDA Code of Conduct or policies, including but not limited to the consistent disruption to the learning of others
• misconduct, including repeated academic misconduct
• illegal activities /criminal prosecution
• failure to make academic progress
• non-payment of tuition fees
• poor attendance impacting academic progress
• abandonment of your course

This list should not be considered exhaustive, and the Student Charter Code of Conduct and NIDA policies and Procedures should be referenced. https://www.nida.edu.au/courses/policies

If you are expelled from NIDA, you are eligible to appeal via the appropriate complaints and appeals policy.

Academic Matters 

Non-Academic Matters

If at the end of any appeals process your expulsion still stands you will:

• be required to return any NIDA property
• not be eligible for any refund
• receive a statement of results for any completed subjects
• not be eligible to enroll in any future NIDA courses

In addition to the above international students will be advised that they will have their enrolment cancellation reported as a course variation against their confirmation of enrolment via PRISMS. They will also be advised that they need to seek advice from the Department of Home Affairs with regards to the status of their student visa.

Below is a brief description of documents required by every international applicant, these are required for NIDA to assess your application and if you are successful to make you a formal offer.

All documents must be in English or include certified English translations.

Additional documentation specific to your case may be required beyond the below, and we will contact you in the event these are required.

As part of your application you will need to supply the following:

1.            Visa/passport: All applicants are required to provide a copy of their passport. International applicants already onshore should also provide a copy of their currently visa. If you are applying as a PR, please provide a copy of your passport so that your residency can be verified. If your PR has not been approved, you will be considered as an international student and must apply as an international applicant.

2.            Proof of English: All international applicants must meet NIDAs English language requirements when submitting an application.  Please note that NIDA does not accept TOEFL myBest scores.

3.            Official academic transcripts: Applicants need to provide a scanned or electronic copy of transcripts for all tertiary degrees completed or attempted, including current degrees. Transcripts need to include both grade and unit for each course. All pages of one transcript, including the original language copy, should be provided in one document.

4.            Grading systems: These are an official document from your school/college/university with an explanation of what specific scores/grades mean at their university/Institution. These must be provided for each university you have attended.

If you are made an offer you will need to provide the following:

As an international applicant to NIDA, if you are made an offer you must demonstrate that you can financially support yourself for the duration of your studies.  You must complete the GTE/Financial Declaration Form and, if required, submit evidence of your capacity to fund all living costs, fees and other associated costs. For required fund amounts, please visit Fees.

You will need to provide:

• Bank statements from last 6 months, showing funds available for a minimum of 3 years for a Bachelor program or 15 months for a Master’s program.
• If the bank account is held under a different name, the account holder must declare that the funds will be used for your degree fees and costs
• Proof of completion: These are certificates of completion for prior degrees. If you are currently studying, the testamur for this degree can be submitted later, once available. Your application can be provisionally assessed without these. All pages of one testamur, including the original language copy, should be provided in one document.

Please note: Documents will be verified at a later date. You must be prepared to present your original documents to NIDA for inspection prior to enrolment if requested, so you will need to bring your original documents with you. Additionally, NIDA may verify your documents with your home institution. If your documents can’t be verified, you may be required to bring the originals to NIDA for verification.