ALL PARTICIPANTS AND TRAVELERS TO AUSTRALIA must have a valid PASSPORT and valid VISA before entering the country. For U.S. citizens, passport applications are obtained from a U.S. Post Office. If you have never held a passport in your name, a certified birth certificate is required to apply. Canadian citizens obtain an application online through Passport Canada; a valid birth certificate is required to apply.
It is not possible to attend a university on just a tourist visa. Students from countries other than the U.S. or Canada may be subject to additional visa requirements. In the event that you do not formally enroll at a university (i.e., you choose an AustraLearn short course or internship), you will most likely be issued a tourist visa with provisions of a three-month stay and no work privileges. Family and friends who wish to visit you while you are studying in Australia will most likely apply for this visa category.
As a general rule, most U.S. and Canadian citizens cannot easily obtain a permanent resident visa or a work visa for Australia without first obtaining an offer for full-time employment or meeting other immigration regulations.