🇦🇺 Not ready to say goodbye to Australia?
Is your current visa coming to an end? Maybe…
- Your Working Holiday visa is running out, and with a ballot announced for second and third years, another year isn’t something to count on.
- You need more time while you work out your next pathway.
- You’re thinking about a skilled visa but need time to get qualifications or experience together.
- You’re down to your last few months and haven’t made a plan yet.
- Australia just feels like home now.
Studying could be your next step
For a lot of people in our community, a student visa is the way to keep building a life here. It lets you gain a qualification that’s recognised in Australia, work part-time while you study, and sets you up for what comes next.
And studying doesn’t have to mean something boring. Popular areas right now:
📱 Marketing & Communication
💻 Technology & AI
💅 Beauty & Wellness
🩺 Health
🗣 Community & Social
🏋 Sport & Fitness
🎨 Arts
💼 Business & Management
One thing to know: the rules changed on 2 October 2026. If you’re on a Working Holiday visa, you now have to apply for a student visa from outside Australia, and be outside the country when it’s granted. A student visa has to be for genuine study, and switching to a course at the same or a lower level is getting harder. That’s exactly why it’s worth getting proper advice before you pick a course. Read what changed.
Free consultation, exclusive to the Irish Around Oz community ☘️
I’ve teamed up with Study Destination, an education agency that helps people in Australia find the right course and sort their student visa. Fill in your details and one of their advisers will contact you within 24 hours. It costs nothing and there’s no obligation.
You’ll fill in a short form on Study Destination’s website.
Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Study Destination are paid by the colleges, not by you, so the consultation costs you nothing.
Can I apply for a student visa from inside Australia?
Not on a Working Holiday visa. Since 2 October 2026, Working Holiday (417 and 462), visitor and most other temporary visa holders have to apply from outside Australia and be outside the country when the visa is granted. Home Affairs says there are no exemptions. So plan a trip out of Australia, and the adviser will help you time it.
Can I work while I study?
Yes, student visa holders can work part-time during study periods and more during breaks. The adviser will explain the current limits.
I want to stay long term. Is study the right path?
It can be one step, but it has to be genuine study. If you’re weighing up skilled or sponsored visas too, our visa options guide covers every route.
Irish Around Oz earns a referral fee from Study Destination if you enrol through them. This page is general information, not migration advice.