Requirements for Studying in Australia – Visa, Exams & Cost

There are numerous requirements for studying in Australia, which is one of the most popular study-abroad destinations for Indian and other international students. Australia is known for its practical, knowledge-based, and reputed educational system, along with its emphasis on building world-class infrastructure. 

The country attracted 7,13,144  international students in 2024 because of its good quality of life, lucrative career prospects, and comparatively affordable educational costs. 

Eligibility requirements and admission criteria for international students may vary across institutions of higher education and VET (Vocation Education and Training) providers. Read more to learn the requirements for studying in Australia. 

Requirements for Studying in Australia

The requirements for studying in Australia will vary depending on the course and university. Some of the general requirements to study in Australia include the following: 

• Admission into diploma-level courses will need applicants to score at least 60% marks in their Class 12 examination. 
• Admission into bachelor’s degrees will require students to score 65% or higher marks in their Class 12 examination. 
• Universities in Australia recognize the 3-year graduation degree for entry into postgraduate programs such as BSc, BA, and BCom. However, these should have been awarded by accredited colleges or universities.  

You must provide educational details, including the course subjects and grades obtained during the application process. 

Those applying for admissions will have to furnish official transcripts from every university or college that they have attended. This has to be backed up with details of credits, subjects, and other information like diplomas or correspondence courses. 

Attested copies of the following will be needed: 

• Mark sheet of Class 10th 
• Mark sheet of Class 12th 
• Graduation degree or Provisional certificate with a score sheet 

If transcripts and other documents are not in the English language, you have to get them translated. These should be kept along with certified original copies (certified by an agency/individual recognized by the country's government or the law). 

Read More: Eligibility Criteria for Masters (MS) in Australia

Eligibility Criteria to Study in Australian University: For International Students

Australia has increasingly become another popular destination for international students to pursue higher studies. 

Here, we will discuss the study in Australia requirements for various courses, be it undergraduate or postgraduate studies. 

UG Programs

Let us begin by understanding the requirements for  pursuing UG programs in Australia:

It should be noted that if an aspiring student fails to meet the requirements, then the applications made by them will not only be rejected but they will also not be refunded the monetary expenses incurred during the application process. 

Hence, understanding the eligibility criteria is of utmost importance. Below are the eligibility requirements for UG programs in Australia: 

• First, the applying candidates should ensure that they have completed the 10+2 level of education from a recognized education board and are  17 years old.
• Most Australian universities have a minimum cut-off score that a candidate must meet to be considered for admission. 
• Students belonging to the ICSE/CBSE board must have secured 68% in their class 12th. On the other hand, those from the State Board must have a minimum score of 78%.
• An aspiring student must have impressive letters of recommendation along with a solid Statement of Purpose (SOP), also known as a personal essay, to strengthen his/her application.
• In addition to the above educational requirements, aspirants must take certain standardized tests to prove their proficiency in the English language. You can take several exams like TOEFL Exam, or IELTS Exam for this purpose.
• Other added requirements may include past work experience, which is especially important for MBA programs.

PG Programs

Let us now move on to the eligibility requirements for PG programs:

• The primary requirement that a PG aspirant must fulfill is to have completed a course in graduate studies for a minimum of 3 years from a recognized university/college with a minimum GPA of 4.5..
• Similar to UG requirements, candidates must take a standardized test to prove their mastery of the English language. You can take tests like TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE to prove your English proficiency. 
• Finally, to complete their eligibility requirements and proceed with their admission application, the aspiring candidates must submit letters of recommendation and their previous scorecards from their 10th, 12th, and graduate courses.

More About SOP for Australian Student Visa: SOP for Australian Student Visa

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Forms for Application

Inquiries on the application should be dispatched 12-15 months prior to the proposed admission date. You can get the forms through the following methods: 

1. Through email- An aspirant can request the application form from the university’s website. Universities usually have forms on websites via which application material may be requested. 
2. Downloads- Most universities’ websites offer downloadable versions of their application forms, which can be printed out too. You may use these in the manner of regular application forms. 
3. University representatives- You may also obtain the forms from multiple authorized representatives of Australian Universities in the home country. 

In any case, for several universities, applications have to be made online on universities’ application portals. 

Requirements for Your Application

During the application process, you need to keep the following documents ready: 

1. For UG programs, you should submit higher secondary and senior secondary reports or certificates along with transcripts (report cards or mark sheets) of final examinations. It is best to convert your marks in sync with the grading system in Australia. 
2. For PG programs, transcripts of your bachelor’s degree are mandatory. 
3. GMAT Exam and IELTS examination scorecards (if applying for MBA courses) should be given. The minimum GMAT and IELTS examination scores may vary from one institution to another. 
4. For certain PG programs like an MBA or higher education degree like a doctoral program, you may have to provide work experience letters and certificates. These must state major responsibilities, complete work information, and positions that have been held in the past. A detailed resume is also required. 
5. An SOP (Statement of Purpose) or personal essay must be provided. It should clearly explain the applicant’s interests, career goals, extracurricular activities, and why a particular stream has been chosen by the student. 
6. LOR (Letter of Recommendation) is required from an individual who has taught the student and knows him/her professionally, stating the strengths and weaknesses of the student and why he/she will do well in the selected field. Two LORs are needed for the application in most cases. 

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English Proficiency Requirements 

The English language proficiency requirements that should be met by aspiring students who wish to pursue bachelor’s in Australia or master’s degrees in Australian universities vary from university to university. 

Let us first look at the English language tests that Australian universities accept: 

1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test (paper-based test is accepted from limited countries)
3. Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
4. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
5. Occupational English Test (OET)

Now, let us look at the minimum requirements in terms of scores in these English language tests:

• IELTS score – A minimum score of 6.0-6.5
• TOEFL score – A minimum score of 60-90
• CAE score – A minimum score of 169-176 while scoring a minimum of 169 in every section
• PTE score – A minimum score of 50-64

In some cases, even international students may be exempted from providing these mandatory English language proficiency test scores. 

Let us look at who falls into such categories:

• Candidates who have studied for a minimum of  2 years in a university in or outside Australia, where all instructions were in English. 
• Candidates who are citizens of or Passport holders of countries like the USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland.
• Candidates who have pursued senior secondary education from a school in  Australia, with at least 5 years of study.

Admission Examinations

Applicants should ideally register for all the necessary admission tests to enter leading Australian universities. Since Australia is majorly an English-speaking country, you should prove English language proficiency. You should take an English proficiency test like IELTS which is accepted by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. 

If you want to pursue post-graduation via an MBA program at Australian B-schools or Australian universities, you must take the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) exam. This is not compulsory though. 

Read More: Jobs in Australia after MS in Computer Science

Following Up After Applying

After applying to shortlisted universities and providing the necessary documents, you will have to wait since it usually takes a week to hear back. 

You can go through the visa criteria at the local Australian government office or the Australian government’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship official website. You can also arrange for the payable course fees at this time. 

Upon getting the eCoE (Electronic Confirmation of Enrollment) from any institution/university, you may directly proceed to the application procedure for a visa. 

You need to apply online for a Student Visa (Subclass 500). With this visa, you can stay up to 5 years in Australia to pursue a course. To apply for this visa, you must be 18 years old with an offer letter from an Australian university. Also, you must hold an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). 

Intake & Application Cycle

The UG Course or PG course application dates usually vary by course. The course period in Australia typically starts in late February and goes on until mid-November.

Course enrolments usually begin in January or February, but application dates are over towards the end of the previous year (November.) Some universities in Australia also have a mid-year intake (usually in July) for specific courses.

Top Universities in Australia and their popular courses: 

QS WUR 2024	University Name	Popular Courses
34	Australian National University	Computer Science, Economics and Business. Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Life sciences
14	The University of Melbourne	Arts and Humanities, Agricultural Sciences, Biology and Biochemistry, biotechnology and Applied Microbiology
19	The University of Sydney	Computer Science, Engineering, Health, Social Science and Humanities
43	The University of Queensland	Arts & Humanities, Life sciences, Social sciences,· Physical sciences, Law Business & economics
42	Monash University	Engineering, Information Technology, Business, Law

Tuition Fees for Studying in Australia

Education Level	Average Annual Fees
Undergraduate Degree	AUD 30,000 – 45,000
Postgraduate Degree	AUD40,000–70,000

Conclusion 

From SOPs to English language proficiency scores, there are several requirements that you have to fulfill in order to enroll successfully at an Australian institution. You should note these requirements for studying in Australia with care before applying to your chosen universities in the country. 

Make sure you also list down the Australia study visa requirements in order to avoid hassles when you apply for the same later. Here’s to a fruitful and successful educational journey ahead in Australia.

Also Read:

• How Much Gap Is Acceptable for Study in Australia?

• How to settle in Australia from India?

• Australian Visa Subclass 190

• Australian Visa Subclass 189

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