Study in
Australia
Australia combines globally ranked universities with an unusually well-regulated international education system. For students from Nepal it offers two major intakes a year, clear post-study work pathways and an established Nepali community in every major city.
Immigration and cost information on this page was last reviewed on . Every figure below shows the organisation it came from and when it was checked. Rules and fees change — confirm against the official source before you apply or pay anything.
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Destination overview
Australia has been the single most popular study destination for Nepali students for well over a decade, and the reasons are practical rather than sentimental. The system is tightly regulated, the qualifications are recognised internationally, and the pathway from an offer letter to a visa decision is more clearly documented than in most other countries. For a family in Nepal weighing a significant financial commitment, that predictability matters.
Why students choose Australia
- Every provider and course that can enrol international students must be registered on CRICOS, so you can independently verify an institution before you pay anything.
- Two major intakes a year mean a delay of a few months rarely costs you a whole academic year.
- The Tuition Protection Service exists specifically to place students elsewhere if a provider stops delivering a course.
- Established Nepali communities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth make the first few months considerably easier.
- Post-study work rights give graduates a defined window to gain professional experience — though these are a temporary permission, not a residency pathway.
Strengths of the education system
- Consistent international standing across nursing and health sciences, engineering, IT, business and accounting.
- A national qualifications framework (AQF) that makes the level of every award explicit and comparable.
- Strong applied and vocational sector (VET) that can be a legitimate route in its own right, not only a fallback.
- Universities in every state with genuine research depth, so a research pathway is available outside the largest cities.
Qualification recognition
Australian qualifications sit on the Australian Qualifications Framework, a ten-level national structure. Because the AQF level is stated on every award, employers and universities in Nepal, Europe and North America can place an Australian degree accurately. Professional recognition is separate: nursing, engineering, teaching and accounting each have their own assessing authority, and registration in Australia does not automatically transfer back to Nepal or onward to a third country. If professional registration matters to your plan, check the relevant authority's requirements before you choose a course.
Student life and living
Cost of living varies far more than students expect. Sydney and Melbourne are materially more expensive than Adelaide, Hobart or regional centres, and accommodation is the single largest variable. Most institutions run orientation programmes and international student support, and public transport concessions exist in some states but not all — Victoria, notably, does not offer the same concession to international students that domestic students receive. Weather, distance and the size of the country all catch new arrivals out: an interstate trip is a flight, not a bus ride.
What students from Nepal should know about Australia
- The Genuine Student requirement replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant test. Your application must show a coherent, honest account of why this course, why Australia and how it fits your plans.
- Financial evidence is assessed carefully. Funds that appear suddenly, or that cannot be traced to a documented source, weaken an application badly.
- A study gap is not automatically a problem, but it must be explained with evidence — employment records, further study, family circumstances.
- Course changes shortly after arrival attract scrutiny. Choose the course you actually intend to study.
- Agent commissions do not change your visa outcome. Be cautious of anyone who promises a visa result.
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Education system
How qualifications in Australia are structured, and how long each level takes.
English language courses (ELICOS)
5–50 weeks
Taken before a main course where an institution requires additional English preparation. Often packaged with the principal course on a single Confirmation of Enrolment.
Foundation and pathway programmes
6–12 months
Bridge Nepali +2 results to first-year undergraduate entry where direct entry is not available. Usually delivered by a university-affiliated college with a guaranteed progression route.
Diploma and Advanced Diploma (VET)
1–2 years
Practical, industry-focused awards delivered by TAFE and private registered training organisations. Can articulate into the second year of a bachelor's degree at many universities.
Bachelor's degree
3 years, or 4 with honours
The standard undergraduate award. Professional degrees such as nursing, engineering and education typically run four years and include supervised placement.
Master's degree (coursework)
1–2 years
Length depends on whether your bachelor's degree is in a cognate discipline. A Nepali three-year bachelor's often requires a two-year master's or a qualifying year.
Master's by research and PhD
2 years / 3–4 years
Requires a research proposal and, in most cases, a supervisor who has agreed to take you on before you apply. Scholarship funding is competitive and applied for separately.
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Intakes and when to start preparing
Not every institution offers every intake. Always confirm availability for your specific programme.
Semester 1
Major intakeLate February – early March
Start preparing: March–May of the previous year
The largest intake. Widest choice of courses, scholarships and accommodation.
Semester 2
Major intakeJuly
Start preparing: August–October of the previous year
Nearly as large as Semester 1 for most disciplines, though some professional degrees admit only in Semester 1.
Summer / trimester intake
LimitedNovember
Start preparing: March–May of the same year
Offered by a minority of institutions operating a trimester calendar. Course choice is narrow — verify availability for your specific programme.
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Academic requirements
Requirements are set by each institution and each course. Treat the guidance below as a starting point, not a rule.
- Undergraduate applicants
- Nepali +2, A Levels or an equivalent Grade 12 qualification. Universities commonly look for a strong aggregate, and competitive programmes in nursing, engineering and design set higher bars or add portfolio and prerequisite-subject requirements. Where +2 results fall short of direct entry, a foundation or diploma pathway is a legitimate route rather than a consolation prize.
- Postgraduate coursework applicants
- A recognised bachelor's degree. Note carefully that a three-year Nepali bachelor's degree is not always treated as equivalent to an Australian four-year honours degree; this affects both programme length and eligibility for some courses. Business master's programmes may accept a non-cognate background; specialist programmes usually will not.
- Research applicants
- A master's degree with a substantial research component, or a bachelor's with honours at a high classification. You will normally need to identify a prospective supervisor and agree a research topic before submitting a formal application. Publications strengthen an application considerably.
- Applicants with a study gap
- Gaps are assessed rather than automatically penalised. What matters is documented evidence of what you did — employment letters with salary records, further study, professional certification, or documented family circumstances. An unexplained gap is the problem, not the gap itself.
- Applicants with backlogs
- Institutions vary widely in how many failed or repeated units they will accept. Some set an explicit limit; others assess the overall trajectory. Be honest about your full academic record — omissions discovered later are treated as misrepresentation and are far more damaging than the backlog itself.
- Pathway applicants
- Diploma and foundation routes lead to guaranteed or advanced-standing entry into a linked degree, often with credit for completed units. Confirm in writing what credit is granted and into which year you will progress before accepting an offer.
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English language requirements
| Test | Typical range |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Commonly 6.0–7.0 overall with no band below 5.5–6.5Health and teaching programmes frequently require higher, and professional registration bodies may set their own separate standard above the university's. |
| PTE Academic | Commonly 50–65 overall with comparable section minimums |
| TOEFL iBT | Commonly 60–94 overall depending on level and institution |
| Duolingo | Accepted by some institutions onlyAcceptance is institution-by-institution and can differ from what the Department of Home Affairs accepts as visa evidence. Confirm both before booking. |
Admission English and visa English are not the same thing
There is no single national minimum score that applies everywhere. The university sets an admission requirement; the Department of Home Affairs separately sets what it accepts as evidence for the visa, and these are not always the same standard. A score that satisfies your university may still need to meet a different threshold for the visa, particularly if you are packaging an ELICOS course. Always check the specific course page and the current Home Affairs guidance together.
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Popular fields of study in Australia
Where Australia has genuine depth, and what to check before you commit to a field.
Nursing and Health Sciences
Sustained domestic demand and a clearly defined registration pathway through AHPRA. Note that registration requirements are separate from, and stricter than, course entry requirements.
Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Strong graduate demand and a wide range of accredited programmes across all states, including well-regarded master's conversion courses for non-IT backgrounds.
Engineering
Engineers Australia accreditation gives programmes international recognition through the Washington Accord, which matters if you may practise outside Australia later.
Business, Accounting and Finance
The largest field by enrolment. Accounting programmes accredited by CPA Australia or CA ANZ carry the most professional weight.
Data Science and Analytics
Rapidly expanded provision at master's level, with many programmes designed for graduates from quantitative but non-computing disciplines.
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Well-established sector with substantial work-integrated learning. Check carefully whether a programme is delivered by a university or a VET provider — the awards differ.
Public Health
Strong research schools and a common route for applicants with a clinical or life-sciences background from Nepal.
Construction and Project Management
Consistent demand tied to infrastructure investment, with programmes accredited by professional bodies such as the AIQS and AIB.
Education and Teaching
Requires a higher English standard than most disciplines and a state-by-state registration process. Verify both before committing.
Environmental Science
Australia's research strength in ecology, water management and climate science is genuine and internationally regarded.
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Tuition and cost breakdown
Where a figure is published by an official body we show it with its source. Where it genuinely varies, we say so rather than guessing.
| Tuition — undergraduate degreeConfirm on the course page. Laboratory, clinical and design programmes cost materially more than classroom-based ones. | Varies widely by institution and discipline |
|---|---|
| Tuition — postgraduate coursework | Varies widely by institution and discipline |
| Student visa application chargeA reduced charge is reported for ELICOS and non-award courses and for eligible ASEAN passport holders. Confirm the current figure on the Department's pricing table before you budget. | $2,500 Confirm with official source · Australian Department of Home AffairsReviewed 26 August 2026 |
| Living costs — 12 months (single applicant)This is the financial-capacity figure used for the visa, not a prediction of what you will actually spend. Real costs in Sydney or Melbourne are typically higher; Adelaide, Hobart and regional centres lower. | $29,710 for 12 months Indicative · Confirm with official source · Australian Department of Home AffairsReviewed 26 August 2026 |
| Additional funds — spouse or partner | $10,394 for 12 months Indicative · Confirm with official source · Australian Department of Home AffairsReviewed 26 August 2026 |
| Additional funds — each dependent childSchool-aged dependants attract separate schooling costs on top of this. | $4,449 for 12 months Indicative · Confirm with official source · Australian Department of Home AffairsReviewed 26 August 2026 |
| Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)Mandatory for the entire duration of the visa and must be arranged before the visa is granted. Cost depends on the provider, the length of cover and whether family members are included. | Quoted by the insurer for your full visa period |
| Medical examinationArranged through an approved panel clinic. Fees are set by the clinic, not by the Department. | Set by the panel physician in Nepal |
| Biometrics | Charged where biometrics are requested |
| Document translation and attestation | Varies by document volume |
| Return airfare, Kathmandu to AustraliaBudget realistically for peak February and July travel, when fares rise sharply. | Varies by season, route and booking date |
| Initial accommodation and establishment costsPlan for a bond of typically four weeks' rent plus rent in advance before your first payment arrives. | Bond, first rent, bedding, phone, transport card |
Currency amounts are shown in the destination’s own currency. Exchange rates move, so convert close to the time you actually need to transfer funds.
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Scholarships and funding
We do not publish award amounts without a verified source. Values and criteria change every year — always check the awarding body's own page.
University merit scholarships
Merit — partial tuitionMost Australian universities offer partial tuition reductions to strong international applicants, frequently applied automatically at the point of offer rather than requiring a separate application. Value and criteria differ by institution and change each year — check the specific university's international scholarship page for current terms.
Faculty and discipline-specific awards
Merit — partial tuitionIndividual faculties often hold their own awards, particularly in engineering, IT and business. These are frequently less competitive than the headline university-wide scholarships because fewer applicants find them.
Australia Awards Scholarships
Government — fullFully funded long-term awards administered by the Australian Government, targeted at development priorities and highly competitive. Eligibility and participating countries are set annually. Applications are made directly, not through an agent.
Research Training Program (RTP)
Research — tuition and stipendAustralian Government funding distributed by universities to higher-degree research students, typically covering tuition and providing a living stipend. Applied for through the university alongside the research application.
Early-acceptance and regional incentives
Conditional discountSome institutions offer reductions for accepting an offer early or for studying at a regional campus. Read the conditions carefully — these are usually tied to continuous enrolment and satisfactory progress.
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Work rights while studying
Work rules change often. The conditions on your own visa grant are what actually apply to you.
While studying
During scheduled breaks
Conditions and restrictions
- You cannot begin working until your course has started.
- Work rights are a condition of the visa. Breaching the hours cap can lead to visa cancellation.
- Maintaining satisfactory course attendance and progress is a visa condition in its own right, independent of work.
- Some postgraduate research students have different arrangements — check the conditions attached to your own grant notice.
Dependants: Work rights for dependants differ by the student's course level, and are more generous for dependants of postgraduate research students. Confirm the specific conditions on your dependant's visa grant notice rather than assuming.
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After you graduate
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
A temporary visa allowing eligible graduates of Australian qualifications to live and work in Australia after completing their studies, so they can gain professional experience in their field.
Duration
Conditions
- You must have held a student visa and completed a qualification that meets the Australian study requirement.
- An age limit applies and has been revised in recent years.
- English language and health insurance requirements apply at the point of application.
- The qualification must generally have been completed within a defined period before you apply.
This is not a residency pathway
- This is a temporary visa. It does not confer permanent residency and does not automatically lead to it.
- Holding a subclass 485 visa gives no guarantee of skilled migration eligibility later — that is a separate process with its own criteria that change independently.
- Time spent on this visa is finite. Plan on the basis that it may not be extended.
- Do not choose a course primarily as a migration strategy. Policy settings change, and the course you complete should be one you actually want to work in.
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Applying to Australia from Nepal
Twenty steps from first conversation to arrival. Steps marked "Specific to Australia" do not appear in the same form for other destinations.
Initial counselling
We start with what you actually want to do, your academic record and what your family can realistically fund. This conversation decides whether Australia is the right destination at all — sometimes it is not, and it is better to establish that first.
Typically: Allow 1 session
Academic and financial profile assessment
A structured review of your transcripts, any backlogs or gaps, and the documented source of your funds. The financial side is assessed as carefully as the academic side, because it is where applications most often fail.
Typically: 1–2 weeks
Course and institution shortlist
Specific to AustraliaWe build a shortlist of CRICOS-registered courses that fit your profile and budget. You can and should verify every provider and course code independently on the CRICOS register.
Typically: 1–2 weeks
English test preparation and sitting
If you do not yet have an accepted English result, this is usually the longest single item on the timeline. Book the test early — result dates drive everything downstream.
Typically: 4–12 weeks
Document collection and attestation
Academic transcripts, character documents, work-experience evidence and financial records. Starting this early is the single most effective thing you can do to protect your intake.
Typically: 2–4 weeks, run in parallel
University applications
Applications are submitted directly to institutions or through their authorised channels. Most students apply to several to keep options open.
Typically: 2–8 weeks to decision
Offer letter review
We read the offer in full with you — conditions, fee schedule, refund terms and the deadline for acceptance. Conditional offers list exactly what you still need to satisfy.
Typically: Same week
Meeting offer conditions
Supplying outstanding documents, final transcripts or an improved English score to convert a conditional offer into an unconditional one.
Typically: Varies
Scholarship assessment
Where a scholarship requires a separate application, it is prepared at this stage. Many merit awards are applied automatically at offer.
Typically: Varies by institution
Financial preparation and evidence
Specific to AustraliaAssembling financial evidence that stands up to scrutiny — traceable to a documented source, held appropriately, and consistent with the rest of your application.
Typically: 3–6 months of history is commonly expected
Accept the offer and pay the deposit
Specific to AustraliaAcceptance and the initial tuition payment are what trigger the issue of your Confirmation of Enrolment. Pay only into the institution's own verified account.
Typically: 1–2 weeks
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) issued
Specific to AustraliaThe CoE is the electronic enrolment confirmation issued by your provider. It is the document the visa application is built around — without it there is no subclass 500 application.
Typically: Days to 2 weeks after payment
Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover
Specific to AustraliaOSHC must cover your entire visa period and must be in place before the visa is decided. Many providers arrange it alongside the CoE; check whether yours has.
Typically: Same week
Prepare the Genuine Student response
Specific to AustraliaThe Genuine Student requirement asks you to explain your circumstances, your reasons for this course and this provider, and how the qualification fits what you intend to do. It should be your account, in your words, consistent with every other document in the file.
Typically: 1–2 weeks
Lodge the subclass 500 application in ImmiAccount
Specific to AustraliaThe application is submitted online through ImmiAccount with the CoE, OSHC, financial evidence, English evidence and supporting documents attached.
Typically: 1 day to lodge
Medical examination and biometrics
Specific to AustraliaA health examination with an approved panel physician in Nepal, and biometrics if requested. Book the medical promptly — appointment availability, not the examination itself, is usually the delay.
Typically: 1–3 weeks
Application tracking and responding to requests
The Department may request further information. Responding fully and quickly is important; partial responses extend processing considerably.
Typically: Ongoing
Visa decision
The grant notice sets out your visa conditions, including work rights and the requirement to maintain enrolment. Read it in full and keep it accessible.
Typically: Varies — never assume a date
Accommodation and travel planning
Arranging initial accommodation, booking flights and planning arrival. Avoid signing a long lease before you have seen the property or the area.
Typically: 2–4 weeks
Pre-departure orientation
A session covering arrival, banking, tax file numbers, transport, accommodation rights, health cover, academic expectations and where to get help. This is where the practical detail lands.
Typically: Before departure
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Document checklist
Each document is marked as needed for admission, for the visa, or only in certain circumstances.
Valid passport
Must have adequate validity remaining. Check the expiry date early — renewal in Nepal takes time.
Academic transcripts and mark sheets
Complete records for every year of study, not only final results.
Certificates of completion
SLC/SEE, +2 and any degree certificates. Provisional certificates are usually acceptable initially.
English test result
IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or another accepted test, valid at the time of application.
Statement of Purpose
Your account of why this course, this institution and this country.
CV or résumé
Required by most postgraduate programmes.
Letters of recommendation
Academic referees for recent graduates; a mix of academic and professional for those with work experience.
Work-experience documents
Appointment letters, experience letters and salary evidence where work experience supports your application.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
Issued by your provider after acceptance and payment. The visa application depends on it.
Overseas Student Health Cover policy
Must cover the full visa period.
Financial capacity evidence
Bank statements, income evidence, loan approval or sponsor documentation with a traceable source of funds.
Genuine Student response
Your written response addressing the Genuine Student requirement.
Health examination results
Completed with an approved panel physician; results are submitted electronically.
Biometrics
Where requested by the Department.
Police clearance certificate
Where character documentation is requested.
Relationship documents
Marriage certificate and supporting evidence where a partner is included in the application.
Birth certificates for dependants
Where dependent children are included.
Parental consent documentation
Where the applicant is under 18.
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Student visa process from Nepal
Student visa (subclass 500)
Admission document required
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
Applied through
ImmiAccount (online)
Visa application fee
Confirm with official source · Australian Department of Home AffairsReviewed 26 August 2026
Funds you must show
Indicative · Confirm with official source · Australian Department of Home AffairsReviewed 26 August 2026
How the funds requirement actually works
There are two routes to satisfying financial capacity. The funds route requires evidence covering travel, twelve months' living costs and the first year's tuition (plus additional amounts for any family members). The annual-income route instead requires evidence of personal annual income of at least AUD 60,000, or AUD 70,000 where family members are included — this is income of the applicant or, in defined circumstances, a spouse or parent, and it must be documented and verifiable. Whichever route you use, funds that appear without a traceable history are the most common cause of refusal.
Health requirements
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) covering the full period of the visa is mandatory.
- A health examination with an approved panel physician in Nepal is required.
- Additional testing may be requested depending on your health history and intended course — health and childcare courses often attract further requirements.
Biometrics and interview
Biometrics may be requested as part of the application. If requested, you will receive instructions and must attend at the designated collection point.
There is no routine interview for the subclass 500. The Department may, however, contact applicants to verify information, and providers sometimes conduct their own pre-enrolment interviews. Answer consistently with your written application.
Processing time
Australian Department of Home AffairsReviewed 26 August 2026
Dependants
A spouse, de facto partner and dependent children may be included in the application or apply to join you later. Including family members raises the financial evidence required substantially, and school-aged children attract schooling costs. Work rights for dependants vary with your course level.
Common causes of delay
- Health examination appointments booked late, or results delayed at the clinic.
- Financial evidence that does not clearly demonstrate the source of funds, prompting a request for further information.
- Incomplete academic history, particularly undisclosed periods of study.
- Requests for further information answered partially, restarting the assessment.
- Peak lodgement periods before the February and July intakes.
Mistakes that cost people their application
- Treating the Genuine Student response as a formality and submitting generic text. Assessors read a great many of these and recognise template language immediately.
- Funds deposited shortly before lodgement with no documented origin.
- Inconsistencies between the Statement of Purpose, the Genuine Student response and the application form.
- Omitting a previous visa refusal — for any country. Disclose it and explain it.
- Applying for a course that does not follow logically from your academic background without explaining why.
- Paying tuition into an account that is not the institution's own verified account.
After you submit
Track the application through ImmiAccount and respond promptly to any request for further information.
If your visa is granted
- 1.Read the grant notice in full, including every visa condition attached to it.
- 2.Confirm your OSHC is active from the correct date.
- 3.Arrange accommodation, ideally short-term first so you can see an area before committing to a lease.
- 4.Attend pre-departure orientation.
- 5.Keep certified copies of all key documents accessible during travel.
- 6.Enrol in your course and attend orientation on arrival — maintaining enrolment is a visa condition.
If your visa is refused
- 1.Read the refusal notice carefully. It states the specific criterion that was not met, which is the only reliable basis for deciding what to do next.
- 2.Review whether the underlying issue is fixable — financial evidence and documentation gaps often are; a fundamental eligibility problem may not be.
- 3.Understand any review rights and their deadlines, which are strict.
- 4.Disclose the refusal in any future application to any country. Concealing it is far more damaging than the refusal.
- 5.Do not simply relodge the same application. Address the stated reason first.
Questions
Studying in Australia — common questions
How much money do I need to show for an Australian student visa?
You can satisfy the financial capacity requirement either by showing funds covering travel, twelve months' living costs and your first year's tuition, or by evidencing an annual income of at least AUD 60,000 (AUD 70,000 if family members are included). The living-cost component is a set figure that changes periodically. What matters as much as the amount is that the funds are traceable to a documented source — money that appears suddenly before lodgement is the most common reason applications run into trouble.
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
It replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement. You are asked to explain your circumstances, why you chose this course and provider, and how the qualification fits your plans. It is assessed as a whole against the rest of your application, so consistency matters more than polish. Write it yourself, in your own words.
Can I work while studying in Australia?
Yes, subject to a cap on hours while your course is in session, with more freedom during scheduled breaks. The cap has changed more than once in recent years, so check the current condition on your own visa grant notice rather than relying on what a friend was told in a previous year. Work rights are a visa condition — exceeding them can put your visa at risk.
Does a study gap stop me getting a visa?
No. Gaps are assessed rather than automatically penalised, and many successful applicants have them. What matters is documented evidence of what you were doing — employment records, further study, professional certification or family circumstances. An unexplained gap is the problem, not the gap.
Will studying in Australia lead to permanent residency?
No, and you should not plan on that basis. The Temporary Graduate visa is a temporary permission to work after graduating; it is not a residency pathway and does not automatically lead to one. Skilled migration is a separate process with its own criteria, which change independently of student and graduate visa policy. Choose a course you want to work in.
Which intake should I apply for?
February is the largest intake with the widest course and scholarship choice; July is nearly as large for most disciplines. Some professional degrees admit only in February. The right answer usually depends on when your English result and documents will realistically be ready — rushing a February application is often worse than a well-prepared July one.
Do I need IELTS to study in Australia?
Not necessarily IELTS specifically. PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and, at some institutions, the Duolingo English Test are also accepted. Two separate standards apply, though: the university's admission requirement and what the Department of Home Affairs accepts as visa evidence. Confirm both before booking a test.
Immigration and cost information on this page last reviewed . Rules, fees and thresholds change — always confirm against the official source before you apply.
Talk it through with someone who has done it before
Counselling is free and there is no obligation. Bring your transcripts and an idea of your budget, and we will tell you honestly whether Australia is a realistic fit.