How to Pass the Genuine Student (GS) Test: Complete Guide to Avoiding Student Visa Refusal

This single criterion-the Genuine Student (GS) requirement-is the #1 reason for student visa refusals in Australia. It doesn't matter how good your grades are or how much money you have. If the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) believes your true intention is not to study but to work or migrate, your application will be refused.

This guide explains exactly what the Department looks for, how to structure your answers, how to explain study gaps, and what to avoid if you're from a "high-risk" country.

What is the Genuine Student (GS) Requirement?

The GS requirement is a visa criterion that assesses whether your primary intention is to study in Australia. It applies to all Subclass 500 (Student Visa) applicants.

Unlike the old GTE statement (a 300-word essay), the GS requirement is now assessed through targeted questions built into the visa application form. Each answer is typically limited to 150 words, so you must be clear and concise.

The Five GS Questions

You will be asked to address the following:

1. Why did you choose this specific course?
2. Why did you choose this education provider?
3. Why did you choose Australia?
4. How does this course align with your background and future career plans?
5. What are your circumstances in your home country? (Family, job, assets, reasons to return)

What Does the Department Look For?

Officers assess your GS responses against several factors. Understanding these helps you tailor your answers.

1. Logical Academic Progression

Your course choice should make sense given your previous education and work experience.

2. Why Australia? Why Not Your Home Country?

This is a trick question. The answer cannot simply be "Australia has better quality education." You must explain:

• What specific skill will you gain in Australia that is not available (or not of the same quality) in your home country?
• What Australian industry connections, research opportunities, or accreditation benefits exist?

Good Answer Example:

"The Master of Renewable Energy Engineering at [University] is accredited by Engineers Australia and includes a mandatory internship with Australian solar firms. This exposure to large-scale grid integration is not available in my home country of Vietnam, where solar projects are still emerging."

Bad Answer Example:

"Australia has world-class education and I want to experience the culture."

3. Career Plans After Study

Generic answers like "I will get a good job" are not enough. The Department expects a specific career roadmap.

What to include:

• The job title you are targeting (e.g., "Data Analyst")
• Companies or industries in your home country that hire for this role
• Salary expectations and demand for this role in your home country
• How the Australian qualification gives you a competitive advantage (e.g., international accreditation)

4. Home Country Ties (Reasons to Return)

This is where many applicants fail. Simply saying you "will return" is not enough. You must prove you have strong incentives to go back.

Strong ties include:

• Ownership of property or land
• An existing business
• A spouse and/or children who are staying behind
• A job offer or guaranteed return-to-work arrangement
• Family responsibilities (e.g., caring for elderly parents)

5. Financial Capacity

You must demonstrate access to sufficient funds:

• Tuition fees for the first year (or full course, depending on the institution)
• Living expenses: Minimum AUD $29,710 per year (2025/2026 rates)
• Return travel costs
• OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover)

The Department conducts financial behaviour analysis. If you show a bank statement with a large deposit made just before the application, expect questions like:

• Where did this money come from?
• Is it a loan? Can you prove you will repay it?
• Is it truly yours, or are you "borrowing" it for the application?

How to Explain Study Gaps

A study gap is not a death sentence-but an unexplained gap is. The Department wants to see that you were productive during the gap.

Acceptable Reasons for Study Gaps

Typical Acceptable Gap Lengths

• Undergraduate: 1-2 years is common
• Postgraduate: 2-5 years is common
• Longer gaps: Possible but require very strong documentation

SSVF Risk Levels: How Your Country Affects Your Application

Australia's Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) assigns all countries to one of three risk levels. Your country's level directly determines how much documentation you must provide.

What the Risk Level Affects

• Level 3 applicants must provide certified copies of all documents, 12 months of bank statements, and detailed employment history.
• Level 2 applicants may have reduced upfront requirements but should prepare as if they are Level 3.
• Level 1 applicants face minimal documentation but must still pass the GS assessment on substance.

"High-Risk" Countries: What Does This Mean?

The Department categorises countries by historical immigration compliance rates. Applicants from countries with lower compliance (higher rates of overstaying, illegal work, or visa cancellations) face more scrutiny.

Countries facing elevated scrutiny include:

• India (now Level 2)
• Nepal (Level 2)
• Pakistan (Level 3)
• Bangladesh (Level 1 but high volume)
• Vietnam (now Level 2)
• Philippines (Level 3)
• China (now Level 2)
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Nigeria

What This Means for You

1. You need more evidence. Where an applicant from Germany might be approved with basic documents, you need detailed supporting evidence for every claim.
2. Your financial documents are scrutinised more carefully. Unexplained deposits, borrowed funds, and agent-created documents are red flags.
3. Your course choice matters. If you're applying for courses traditionally seen as "PR pathways" (Cookery, Aged Care, Early Childhood Education), you must provide extraordinarily strong reasons why this course serves your career goals-not migration goals.

Country-Specific Document Tips

The Credibility Interview: Be Prepared

For high-risk applicants, the written application is often just the first hurdle. Many universities and the Department conduct Credibility Interviews (phone or video) to verify you are genuine. Failure at this stage leads to immediate refusal.

What Interviewers Look For

The interviewer wants to hear your authentic voice, not scripted answers. If you recite a memorized paragraph about "world-class facilities," you will fail. They will:

• Interrupt and ask for details
• Test your English proficiency in real-time
• Ask about course units, campus facilities, and living costs

Sample Questions and Model Answers

Question: "What are the core units of your course? Which elective have you chosen and why?"

Failed Answer: "I will study business management. It has marketing and finance." (Too vague)

Model Answer: "The Master of Professional Accounting consists of 16 units. Core units include ACCT101: Accounting for Decision Making and LAW202: Commercial Law. I have chosen the elective Forensic Accounting because I intend to specialize in audit upon my return, where financial transparency regulations are tightening."

Question: "Do you plan to stay in Australia after your studies?"

Failed Answer: "Yes, I want to get PR." (Refusal: Not a genuine student)

Failed Answer: "No, I will return immediately the day my exam finishes." (Refusal: Not credible, sounds rehearsed)

Model Answer: "My primary intention is to complete my degree and return to take up a role at [Company]. However, I am aware that Australia offers a Post-Study Work stream (Subclass 485). If eligible, I would utilize this to gain 2 years of international work experience, as this global exposure would significantly increase my employability when I eventually return home."

Top 5 Reasons for GS Refusals

1. Course doesn't match background. A software engineer applying for a Diploma of Hospitality raises red flags.
2. Vague career plans. "I will get a good job" is not a career plan.
3. Weak home country ties. No job, no property, no family responsibilities = high flight risk.
4. Suspicious finances. Large deposits, borrowed funds, or funds that "disappear" after the visa is granted.
5. Unexplained gaps. A 3-year gap with no employment, study, or other activity looks like migration-motivated "parking."

What If You're Refused? Appeal Options

Refusal is not final. You can appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) within 28 days of receiving the refusal decision.

• Success Rate: In July-August 2024, approximately 49% of student visa appeals were overturned ("set aside"). However, current success rates in 2025 are closer to 25-30%.
• Processing Time: Appeals currently take 8-14 months to be decided.
• Cost: Professional representation typically costs AUD $2,000-$5,000 but is often worth it.

Why Appeals Succeed:

1. The applicant provides new evidence that wasn't available at initial application (e.g., job offer, employer letter)
2. The applicant addresses the specific concern cited in the refusal letter with targeted evidence
3. Legal representation identifies procedural errors or unreasonable interpretation by the initial decision-maker

How First Migration Can Help

The GS requirement is subjective and varies by case officer. A well-prepared application can mean the difference between approval and refusal.

Our registered migration agents can:

• Review your background to identify potential red flags
• Help you craft compelling GS responses tailored to your situation
• Prepare you for potential verification calls from the embassy
• Advise on supporting documents to strengthen your case

Ready to apply? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can review your profile before you lodge.