Applying for your Australian student visa: this is how IELTS can help

Topik yang Dibahas

Published: 4 September 2025

Jadi, kamu sudah lulus dengan gelar sarjana dan sekarang sedang bersiap untuk melanjutkan studi pascasarjana di luar negeri. Selamat atas pencapaian ini! Kamu sedang bersiap untuk menjelajahi batas baru dalam bidangmu, melakukan penemuan yang lebih spesifik dari sebelumnya, dan membangun karier serta reputasi akademismu.

Namun, mari kita jujur—menempuh studi magister, pascasarjana, atau PhD di luar negeri memiliki tantangannya sendiri. Selain tuntutan akademik yang ketat, kamu juga harus menyesuaikan diri dengan budaya baru yang jauh dari sistem dukungan yang biasa kamu andalkan.

Jika kamu adalah calon mahasiswa pascasarjana internasional yang sedang mengumpulkan keberanian untuk melangkah ke tahap berikutnya, artikel ini bisa menjadi panduan yang berguna untuk menghadapi penyesuaian budaya secara spesifik agar kamu bisa berkembang di lingkungan akademik barumu. Jangan biarkan kemungkinan culture shock atau gegar budaya menghalangimu untuk mengejar mimpi—dengan strategi yang tepat, kamu bisa mengatasinya dan memaksimalkan pengalaman selama menjalani program pascasarjana di luar negeri.

Australian student visa news: Get in the fast lane with IELTS

So, what is the new update for international students in 2025 in Australia? Here's the lowdown.

What is MD111?

The Australian government has put in place Ministerial Direction 111 (MD111) to ensure a smoother, more balanced distribution of international students across Australian universities. It came into effect on 19 December 2024 and applies to all offshore student visa applications that were still being processed on that date, as well as any new applications submitted on or after that date.

It's important to know that MD111 isn't a cap on student visas. Instead, it's a system to manage how quickly visa applications are processed, especially as universities approach their target intake of international students. It was implemented after the government decided not to move forward with a proposed cap of 270,000 international student numbers.

Why was it introduced?

MD111 has a few key goals. First, it aims to create a fairer placement of international students across different education providers. This helps ensure that all institutions, not just the most popular ones, have the opportunity to welcome international students. Second, it's designed to support the Australian education sector as a whole by regulating student intake. It also addresses concerns about having too many international students concentrated in specific city centres and popular university precincts.

How does it work?

MD111 uses a prioritisation system for processing student visa applications. It's based on whether a university in Australia has reached its target number of international students. This target is 80% of their allocated new international student commencements for 2025, and you can find the specific allocation numbers for universities on the Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations websites.

If a university is below this 80% target, visa applications from their prospective students get top priority (Priority 1). This could mean a faster processing time when their applications are prioritised. Once a university reaches its 80% target, applications move to a second priority group (Priority 2) in terms of processing times.

Besides students applying to universities below the 80% target, Priority 1 also includes postgraduate research students, students in schools, scholarship students, TAFE students, and students from certain regions, like the Pacific and Timor-Leste. Priority 2 generally includes all other offshore student visa applications, including those of students applying to universities that have reached their 80% allocation.

What does it mean for you?

Applying early with a complete application, including your IELTS results, is absolutely critical because it does affect your chances of success under MD111.

A good IELTS score is key, not only helping with student visa processing but also demonstrating your English readiness to universities in Australia. While your academic record and personal statement are also necessary, a solid IELTS score can give you a real edge, especially for competitive courses.

So, getting your IELTS test done early ensures you're ready to apply as soon as applications open, giving you the best chance to save a place at your dream university before they reach their student number limit.