Student visas are divided into subclasses based on the principal course of study. The Dept of Immigration associates a certain risk to the issue of student visas, and to this effect base the different student visas on assessment factors - examples include the education sector of study and the applicants country of nationality. Students who have obtained certain Australian qualifications are potentially able to apply for new categories of permanent skilled visas in Australia on completion of their studies. The different student visa subclasses: (based on the intended studies).
570 - Independent English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (although where a student is undertaking ELICOS as a prerequisite to another course the student must apply under the subclass relevant to the principal course)
571 - Schools - primary, secondary, and approved secondary exchange programs
572 - Vocational education and training sector - meaning Certificate I, II, III, and IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma
573 - Higher education sector - covering bachelor degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma
574 - Masters and doctorate sector
575 - Non-award foundation studies/other
576 - AusAID or Defence sponsored sector