Overseas Students Application

We welcome overseas (student visa) and international (non student visa) students to enquire about study at SMBC. Note:  International students who come on an Australian study visa are known as Overseas Students. Past and present students of SMBC have come from countries including Austria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, The United Kingdom and The United States of America.

SMBC is an affiliated college with the Australian College of Theology (ACT).
CRICOS Provider Code is 02650E.

Prerequisites

As an international student, you may need a student visa to study at SMBC. Information about obtaining a visa is available from the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

In addition to the prerequisite entry requirements, as an international applicant where your first language is not English, you are required to sit an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test or equivalent, unless you have a tertiary qualification completed in Australia, NZ, USA, Canada, Great Britain. Please go to the Courses page for details of the IELTS scores required for entry into the different ACT courses. For a description and sample of the IELTS test go to the IELTS website.

Costs

It is important to note that as an overseas student, you will need to pay your first semester’s fees in full. This is so you will receive the ‘Confirmation of Enrolment’ required to apply for a student visa. Application forms are available from the SMBC Academic Registrar or Administration Centre.

While we endeavour to provide accommodation where ever possible, residential accommodation cannot be guaranteed.

Scholarships

Funds are potentially available for New Zealand students wishing to study at SMBC. New Zealand students are warmly encouraged to make an application to study at SMBC. There are a limited number of scholarships available through our SMBC graduate nominated 100 for 100 program.  Please contact our registrars for more information here

Application Process

There is no formal closing date for applications. However, it is strongly recommended that international applications be submitted as early as possible in the preceding year, since the process of obtaining a student visa may take several months.

When thinking and praying about applying to study at SMBC, please consider the following important application steps.

Firstly, it is important that you:

• Have a dynamic relationship with God through the work of Jesus Christ;
• Demonstrate involvement in the fellowship of a local church on a regular basis;
• Show a strong desire to study the word of God with a view to more effective service (though not necessarily full-time service), and a willingness to accept the discipline this study involves;
• Have planned carefully for your payment of fees (including accommodation where relevant) for the duration of your study;
• Where relevant provide a copy of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test with your application (only applicable to those whose first language is not English). Note: applicants are not required to sit on IELTS exam if they have a tertiary qualification that was taught in English;
• Are aware of the academic pre-requisites required for ACT courses.

Secondly, you will need to complete an Overseas Student Application Form. Please contact our registrars with your name and address details here so we can send one to you.

Once completed, please email to our Academic Registrar with:

• A recent ‘head and shoulders’ photograph (electronic);
• A family photo (if you are coming with spouse, children);
• A copy of the picture page of your, and others of your family who will be coming with you, passports;
• AUD$200 non-refundable application fee – Overseas student applicants only (we will advise you of the account details to transfer the fee) - AUD$60 for other international applicants;
• IELTS results document (if applicable);
• Certified copy of highest tertiary qualifications eg Diploma, Bachelor or Masters (complete or incomplete);
• Other supplementary documents required in the application.

Lastly, once we have received your application form, we will contact your nominated referees. When these written responses have been returned to the Academic Registrar, your application will be reviewed by College faculty representatives. (They may contact you for a skype chat).

CRICOS Provider Code

Courses provided at SMBC, which are available to international students pending a successful SMBC application process, on behalf of the Australian College of Theology, are listed on the ‘Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)’.

The Australian College of Theology (ACT) CRICOS Provider Code is 02650E.