Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia is pleased to welcome overseas students to its campuses in Sydney and Melbourne. Whitehouse has a diverse student community with students coming from all over Australia and from various international destinations. It is advisable that international students are familiar with the entry requirements, course structure, tuition fees and Whitehouse policies before lodging an application to study.
Before applying, we recommend you visit the official Australian government website for international students studying in Australia, studyinaustralia.gov.au
Academic Entry Requirements
Entry into the Bachelor of Design is based on a combination of academic performance and creative potential.
To be eligible for admission applicants must satisfy one of the listed recognised international qualifications;
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
- A Levels
- American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
- Advanced International Certificate of Education
- European Baccalaureate
- Tertiary or Foundation Studies
If your secondary school qualification differs from the recognised international qualifications listed above, you may still be eligible for admission. Please contact enquiry@whitehouse-design.edu.au for country-specific requirements.
Special Entry Requirements
Applicants may be regarded as eligible for admission if they:
- Have at least five years of relevant professional practice within the creative design industries. To support your application, please provide a personal statement and resume with detailed work history, including references.
- Are able to provide information and results on any relevant courses completed or attempted.
Overseas students are subject to the same entry standards as domestic students, however there a couple of additional requirements:
- Be 18 or over at the time of enrolment.
- Are eligible for an International Student Visa, and plan to only study on a full-time basis.
English Language Requirements
All Whitehouse lectures, tutorials, assessments and briefs will be delivered in English, in order to comfortably meet the academic requirements of the course you will need to provide evidence and documentation of English language proficiency through one of the two recognised options below.
- Complete secondary or tertiary studies in English or in an English speaking country for a minimum period of two years. These studies must have been completed entirely in English, this includes instruction and assessment. For example A Levels or IB.
- Achieving an IELTS Academic English score of 6.5 or above with no band score lower than 6.0. TOEFL iBT is also accepted with a minimum score of 85.
Note: Applicants may be required to complete a literacy assessment. This will take the form of a 1000 word written task on a topic defined by the Academic Director. Submission of this document does not guarantee admission but can be used as evidence of English proficiency in combination with your portfolio and motivational statement.
Creative Entry Requirements
Creative Portfolio
Whitehouse Institute uses your Creative Portfolio and Motivational Statement to assess your creative potential. We look at how you demonstrate your interest, commitment and motivation for studying in your chosen design specialisation. The Creative Portfolio should be a selection of original work (6-8 pieces). This could include but is not limited to illustrations, digital work, photography, garments, creative writing, textile design and artworks.
Motivational Statement
Your motivational statement should be (300 words) stating why you have chosen to study design at Whitehouse and what/who inspires your creativity. You may want to include what personal interests and career goals.
NOTE: As an international student, your submission will be accepted digitally. Upon the receipt of these documents, a Skype/Facetime interview will be scheduled with you.
Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC)
Students on an overseas student visa are legally required to provide evidence of maintaining Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) while studying in Australia. When accepting an offer to enrol at Whitehouse Institute and payment of requested tuition fees, overseas students are required to also take out OSHC for the proposed duration of their student visa. Non-payment of OSHC could delay the issue of your student visa.
In the event of a new student to Whitehouse already holding OSHC with Medibank Private, Whitehouse can renew on your behalf with required payment for the proposed duration of your student visa. Should a student choose to renew OSHC independently, they are to provide proof of renewal to Student Administration before the commencement of studies or before the date of OSHC expiry. Non- renewal of OSHC is a breach of student visa condition.
Under an agreement between the Commonwealth Government and Belgian/Norwegian Governments, students are considered to have met 'adequate insurance' requirements on the basis of the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement between Australia and Belgium/Norway. If you are a Belgian/Norwegian student, you will not have to take out OSHC. Swedish students may be waived the compulsory OSHC visa requirement. Swedish students whose insurance is provided by CSN International (the Swedish National Board of Student Aid) or Kammarkollegiet (the Swedish Legal, Financial and Administration Agency) will not need to take out OSHC. If you are a Swedish student who is not covered by CSN or Kammarkollegiet, you will need to take out OSHC.
Only Australian registered private health insurers can offer OSHC. The Australian Government monitors and regulates insurers covering people living temporarily in Australia. The Government is not able to protect the interests of people insured by overseas insurance companies in the same way. Whitehouse uses Medibank Private for OSHC - visit the Medibank Private website for information and premiums.
More information can be found www.immi.gov.au/students/ or http://www.health.gov.au
Education Services for Overseas Students
The Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS Act) determines, in part, the nature of the relationship Whitehouse will develop with you. The ESOS Act has been established to ensure a high-quality learning experience in Australia. For more information, visit the government website Australian Education International.
Visa and Immigration Matters
Your right to study in Australia as an overseas student is embodied in your student visa, which in turn imposes certain conditions that you must fulfil to stay in Australia. The Whitehouse must remind you that it is your responsibility to fulfil these requirements and that failure to comply with these requirements means that the Whitehouse is required by law to report any breaches of the visa conditions to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
The Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia cannot, as a matter of regulatory compliance, quality assurance and business policy, assist an overseas student with any of the following matters:
- Initial applications to the Australian Government to obtain a student visa
- Subsequent applications for visa renewal or variation
- Reversing visa cancellations for defaulting students
- Visa applications from family members or associates of students
- Residency applications following course completion
- Requests from immigration agents or lawyers
The Whitehouse Institute will not compromise its status as a registered provider of higher education, or the accreditation of its courses by inappropriately advising or assisting students on visa or immigration matters. For information or assistance visit www.immi.gov.au
