australian institute of holistic medicine

All the Advanced Diploma and Diploma courses offered by Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine are registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and therefore we are able to accept International Students.

Overseas applicants should be aware that some of the information provided in the AIHM Prospectus and website is relevant only to local students and if you need any further information, please contact the Institute either by phone during the working hours on 61 8 9417 3553 between 9.00am and 5.00pm. (Western Australian time) Monday to Friday, or send an email to info@aihm.wa.edu.au or a fax to 61 8 9417 1881. 

Detailed information regarding visa applications and regulations governing overseas students should be directed to the relevant Immigration authorities and departments.  The information contained here is intended as a guide only. 

Information about Student Visas can be found on the website of Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs website.

About Perth, Western Australia

Perth is a major University city with 5 major Universities and over 70,000 university students.  As the capital of Western Australia, Perth has a population of over 1,400,000, which makes up two-thirds of the total population of the state. 

The people of Perth enjoy a warm, sunny climate with an average rainfall of 880mm.  On average there are 7.9 hours of sunshine daily, with daytime temperatures ranging from a maximum of 40 degrees in the summer months, being December, January and February, down to 19 degrees in the winter months, being June, July and August. 

Perth is multicultural society with people from many ethnic backgrounds including Chinese, Greek, Italian, Sri Lankan, Vietnamese and Indian together with those of European decent. 

Situated on the banks of the River Swan, Perth is well linked to the rest of the world via the excellent communication and transportation systems.  Most of the major businesses and the government offices are situated in the inner city, while the majority of residents live in the suburbs and commute either by car, train or bus to the city or other suburbs to work. 

The Institute’s campus is situated approximately 30 minutes south of Perth city and is accessible by public transport.

For more information about Perth and Western Australia in general, please visit the Western Australia Tourism website.

Living in Perth

For information relating to issues such as accommodation, the cost of living in Perth, transport, culture and social activities and many other facts about living in Perth please visit the Perth Education City website. 

How to Apply as an Overseas Student

All the Advanced Diploma courses offered by the Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine are registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.  Accordingly, overseas students may apply for the; Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy, Advanced Diploma of Western Herbal Medicine, Advanced Diploma of Homoeopathy, Advanced Diploma of Ayurveda, or the Diploma of Remedial Massage. 

To apply for one of our courses, complete and return the application form together with the following documents:

a)   Two recent passport-sized photographs

b)   A copy of your birth certificate or first few pages of your passport containing your personal information

c)   Copies of your educational certificates and English Proficiency test results (if applicable)

d)   Two character references obtained from any of the following; a head of school, teacher, police officer, medical practitioner or your health professional, lawyer, responsible officer of a recognised voluntary organisation, head of a government or private establishment.

e)   A non-refundable application fee - AU$100.00 bank draft made payable to: Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine

Once we receive your application form, supporting documentation and application fee, we will contact you either to arrange a phone interview, or if you are in Perth already, a personal interview with the Dean of Studies.

If you are successful at the interview, a Letter of Offer (that will include details of the first year’s fees payable including details of the Private Overseas Student Health Cover premium), a Letter of Acceptance (for you to sign and return), the AIHM Rules and Regulations document (for you to sign and return) will all be forwarded to you.  The Overseas Student Health Cover is compulsory for all overseas applicants

Upon receipt of your signed Letter of Acceptance, your signed Rules and Regulation document and payment of the required course fees and Medibank Private Overseas Student Health Cover premium, your course fees will be placed in a trust account and the Health cover premium forwarded to Medibank Private. 

We will then electronically issue a Confirmation of Enrolment to the Australian High Commission Office where you will be lodging your visa application and a copy will be sent to you.  You will then be able to proceed with your student visa application.

Please click here to access information regarding the Australian Embassies, high commissions, consulates, multilateral missions and representative offices where you can apply for your student visa.

Compulsory Overseas Student Health Cover

The Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine will arrange this compulsory Health Insurance cover and the current premiums charged by Medibank Private are; Single cover for 1 year is $354.00* or Family cover is $708.00*.  After the expiry of the initial year it is the responsibility of the student to maintain their cover. 

A “Single” policy will cover just the student.  A “Family” policy will cover the student, their spouse and dependent children, less than 18 years of age, if they are living in Australia with the student.  If other members of the student’s family (for example, a brother or sister) come to stay in Australia with them, they cannot be covered by Overseas Student Health Cover, but they should contact Medibank Private separately to take out their own policy. 

The premium for singles cover will be detailed in the Letter of Offer.  Once the premium is received by AIHM, we will issue a letter to Medibank Private and forward the premium to them.  

Medibank Private will then contact the student directly with details of the cover issued.  Detailed information relating to coverage and claims procedures should be directed to Medibank Private on 132331 (once you are in Australia) or check their website at www.medibankprivate.com.au and click on the Overseas Students section.

 *Premium current as at 18th August 2008.

Attendance & Academic Performance for Overseas Students

Once an overseas student has been accepted into a course they are required to maintain a full time student status.  Attendance registers are maintained for each subject the student is enrolled in and attendance is recorded at each lecture. 

Students will be contacted by administration where a potential breach of visa conditions may occur; particularly in the areas of attendance and academic performance.  If necessary a written warning maybe issued.  It may also be required for the student to be counselled by the Dean of Studies if no improvement is seen following the initial contact.  In the event of an absence due to illness/sickness DIMIA regulations require you to provide a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner.

Information provided by the student may be made available to Commonwealth and State agencies and the Institute is required to advise the Commonwealth (DIMIA and DEST) about enrolment changes and any breach of visa conditions by the student.

English Proficiency for Overseas Students

All courses at the Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine are delivered in English.  Students are therefore required to have a high level of proficiency in written and oral English.  

Students whose native, or first, language is not English will need to provide the results of a TOEFL or IELTS (or the equivalent) examination prior to enrolment at AIHM.  The minimum requirement is a TOEFL score of 550 or an IELTS score of 6.  However the English proficiency requirement will depend on the level of the course you are applying for and the country of your origin.  This will be determined by the DIMIA, please click here and follow the prompts to learn more from the DIMIA website.  If you need further assistance, then please contact us. 

For information about where you can take an IELTS test please go to their website and search by selecting the country you wish to take the test in.  This will give you the contact details and address. 

For information regarding the TOEFL tests please check their website.

We may not require test results for the following:

• nonnative speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from postsecondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand)
  
  
• nonnative speakers who have successfully completed at least a two-year course of study in which English was the language of instruction
  
  
• transfer students from institutions in the United States or Canada whose academic course work was favorably evaluated in relation to its demands and duration.
  
  
• nonnative speakers who have taken the TOEFL test within the past two years
  
  
• nonnative speakers who have successfully pursued academic work at schools where English was the language of instruction in an English-speaking country for a specified period, generally two years. 

However, the final decision on acceptance of any applicant will be based on an interview with the Dean of Studies either by telephone or in person. 

If, once the course has commenced, there are some difficulties arise with the level of English proficiency required, then the student is encouraged to speak initially to the Registrar or the Dean of Studies who can direct them for external assistance. 

There are several educational facilities located in Perth offering intensive English language programs and these are listed in the Yellow Pages telephone directory under Language Instruction.  These facilities should be contacted directly in relation to the fees charged and the course content.

Fee Refund Policy for Overseas Student

• If a student is refused a visa, all course fees received will be refunded, less an administration fee of AU$150.00.  If a student who has been granted a visa withdraws from the course more than 10 weeks prior to the commencement of the course, all course fees received will be refunded, less an administration fee of AU$150.00
  
  
•  If a student who has been granted a visa withdraws from the course more than 4 weeks but less than 10 weeks prior to the commencement of the course, the refund will be 70% of the course fees received for the current term and a full refund of all course fees received for subsequent terms.
  
  
•  If a student who has been granted a visa withdraws from the course within 4 weeks prior to the commencement of the course, the refund will be 40% of the course fees received for the current term and a full refund of all course fees received for subsequent terms.  The Institute also reserves the right to retain an administration fee of AU$150 as an administration fee
  
  
• If a student, who has been granted a visa, withdraws from a course within the first 4 weeks of commencement of that course the refund will be 30% of the course fees received for the current term and a full refund of all course fees received for subsequent terms.  The Institute also reserves the right to retain an administration fee of AU$150 as an administration fee
  
  
• If a student who has been granted a visa withdraws from the course, after the fourth teaching week they shall not be eligible for a refund under this Refund Policy, however please refer to the following section “Grounds for a Refund” for additional information.
  
  
•  If the offer of a place is withdrawn, prior to commencement of the course, due to incorrect or incomplete information being provided by the applicant, the Institute will refund of all course fees received.  The Institute also reserves the right to retain AU$600.00 of the course fee paid as an administration fee. 
  
  
• If the offer of a place is withdrawn, prior to commencement of the course, due to the course being withdrawn or no longer offered, the Institute will refund of all course fees received.  The Institute reserves the right to retain AU$150.00 of the course fee paid as an administration fee.
  
  
• If the offer of a place is withdrawn, following the commencement of the course, due to the course being withdrawn by the institution or no longer offered, the provider default provisions of the ESOS Act 2000 (section 29) apply.
  
  
• If the offer of a place is withdrawn, at any time either prior to commencement or during the course, either due to a breach of International Student Visa conditions or Institute Rules and Regulations by the applicant, the Institute will retain the all course fees received for the current term together with 50% of the course fees for the subsequent term.  The remaining course fees received will be refunded in full.
  

Grounds for a Refund for Overseas Students

            a)            Inability to obtain a Student Visa.

            b)            Illness or disability.

            c)            Death of a close family member. 

Refunds will also be considered for those students who are forced to withdraw for reasons of a compassionate nature, or where the reasons are deemed to be reasonable and genuine. 

All requests for a refund should be directed in writing to the Administrator of Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine.

This agreement does not remove the right to take further action under Australia’s consumer protection laws.

E-mail : info@aihm.wa.edu.au