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Requirements for Studying in Australia – Visa, Exams & Cost

Updated on 05 February, 2024

Gauri Agrawal

Gauri Agrawal

Sr. Content Writer

There are numerous requirements for studying in Australia, which is one of the most popular global educational 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 attracts many international students on account of its higher living standards, good quality of life, lucrative future careers, research prospects, and comparatively affordable educational costs. Australia is one of the premier educational destinations for higher education with international recognition readily available for degrees gained in the country. Eligibility requirements and admission criteria for international students may vary across institutions of higher education and VET (Vocation Education and Training) providers. 

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Requirements for studying in Australia- Eligibility criteria

The requirements for studying in Australia should be carefully noted. Some of the top 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. 
  • All universities in Australia recognize the 3-year graduation degree for entry into postgraduate programs. For example, Indian degrees like B. Sc, B.A. and B. Com are equivalent to the Australian bachelor’s degree with a total of 12 years of education. 
  • Some universities and courses may need qualifications that are equivalent to Australian Bachelor (Honors) degrees. For instance, degrees like B.A. (H), B. Com (H), B.E., B. Tech and other such 4-year degree courses. 
  • A good basic university degree from a top Indian university or college or equivalent is necessary for most Australian universities. 

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Academic Requirements to Study in Australia

Amongst the requirements for studying in Australia, there are specific academic requirements that need your attention too. You will have to give educational details including the subjects of the course and grades obtained. Those applying for admissions will have to furnish official transcripts from every university or college that they have attended post-secondary school. 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, they should be translated likewise and kept with certified original copies (certified by an agency/individual recognized by the government of the country or the law). 

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 websites of universities 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. 

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Requirements for your application

The following requirements have to be met: 

  1. Higher secondary and senior secondary reports or certificates along with transcripts (report cards or mark sheets) of final examinations. It is suitable to convert marks in sync with the grading system in Australia. 
  2. 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. 
  3. If applying for MBA or higher education degree like a doctoral program, you may have to provide work experience letters and certificates, stating major responsibilities, complete work information, and positions that have been held in the past. A detailed resume is also required. 
  4. An SOP (Statement of Purpose) or personal essay stating interests, career goals, extracurricular activities, and why a particular stream has been chosen by the student along with how the student will financially manage while staying in the country, must be presented. 
  5. 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 student and why he/she will do well in the selected field. Two LORs are needed for the application in most cases. 

Eligibility requirements are simpler if you are applying for reputed courses through platforms like upGrad Abroad.

Interested to Study In Australia? Apply for Free Counselling

Eligibility Criteria to Study in an Australian University: For International Students

Australia has increasingly become another popular destination for international students to pursue higher studies. Here, we will talk about the study in Australia requirements for various courses, be it undergraduate or postgraduate studies. 

UG Programs

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

As is common knowledge, requirements basically indicate the eligibility factors that students have to meet to be accepted by Australian universities. 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 factor is of utmost importance. Below are the various factors to consider:

  • First, the applying candidate should ensure that they have completed the 10+2 level of education from a recognized education board, and have completed 17 years of age.
  • Most universities have a minimum score cut-off that a candidate must meet to be considered for admission. This is also the case for Australian universities. Here, the minimum cut-off score is 60% from a recognized board of education.
  • Additionally, an aspiring student must have under his belt proper letters of recommendation along with a solid Statement of Purpose (SOP), also known as a personal essay.
  • In addition to the above educational requirements, aspirants must take certain standardized tests to prove their proficiency in the English language. One can take the GMAT Exam, or TOEFL Exam, or IELTS Exam for this purpose.
  • Other added requirements may include past work experience.

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 board of education.
  • Similar to UG requirements, candidates must take a standardized test to prove their mastery of the English language. For PG programs, some Australian universities prefer tests like GMAT Exam and GRE Exam.
  • Finally, to complete their eligibility requirements and proceed with their admission application, the aspiring candidate must submit letters of recommendation along with their previous scorecards from their 10th, 12th, and graduate courses.

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English Proficiency Requirements for Bachelor’s Degree

The English language proficiency requirements that should be met by aspiring students who wish to pursue bachelor’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 5 years in a university in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland.
  • 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 or higher education from Australia.
  • Candidates who Foreign Affairs or Defense endorses.

Admission Examinations

Applicants should ideally register for all the necessary admission tests for obtaining entry into 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. 

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Following up after Applying

Post applying to shortlisted universities along with providing the necessary documents, you will have to wait since it usually takes a week to hear back. You can go through 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. 

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 2024University NamePopular Courses
30Australian National UniversityComputer Science,
Economics and Business.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Life sciences
33The University of MelbourneArts and Humanities,
Agricultural Sciences,
Biology and Biochemistry,
biotechnology and Applied Microbiology
41The University of SydneyComputer Science, Engineering, Health, Social Science and Humanities
50The University of QueenslandArts & Humanities, Life sciences, Social sciences,· Physical sciences, Law Business & economics
57Monash UniversityEngineering, Information Technology, Business, Law

Tuition Fees for Studying in Australia

Education LevelAverage Annual Fees
Undergraduate Bachelor Degree AUD 20,000 – 45,000
Postgraduate Master’s Degree AUD 22,000 – 50,000

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements to study in Australia?

The eligibility requirements for aspiring students to study in Australia depend largely on the course they choose to pursue and the university they wish to pursue it at. On a generic level, a candidate must have a 10+2 level of education completed from a recognized board of education, and they must qualify a recognized English language proficiency test.

How much money do you need to study in Australia?

The cost to finance your studies in an Australian university while maintaining funds for your everyday expenses varies from programs to programs. The average cost is listed below:

  • Average cost for a Secondary Education- AUD7,500 to 30,000 /year
  • Average cost for Undergraduate courses- AUD15,000 to 35,000/year
  • Average cost for Postgraduate courses- AUD20,000 to 40,000/year
  • Average cost for Doctoral courses- AUD14,000 to 40,000/year
  • Average cost for MBA- AUD15,000 to AUD20,000/year

Now, the average living costs are listed below:

  • Groceries- AUD80 to 250/week
  • Electric and Gas supply- AUD35 to 140/week
  • Internet and phone charges- AUD20 to 60/week
  • Public transport- AUD15 to 55/week

Do you need IELTS to study in Australia?

Yes. IELTS is one of the English language proficiency tests that universities in Australia accept. As an aspiring student, you may want to research these standardized tests based on the university you wish to study at since different universities require different tests.

 

 


 

 

 

What is the maximum age to study in Australia?

There are no such restrictions regarding the age when it comes to pursuing higher education in Australia.

 

 


 

 

 

Can international students work more than 40 hours a fortnight in Australia?

International students studying in Australia on valid Student Visas are permitted to work for a maximum of 20 hours every week. However, there are no such restrictions on the number of hours an international student can work in Australia while their universities are closed during vacation periods.

 

 

 


 

 

 

Gauri Agrawal

Sr. Content Writer

Gauri Agrawal is a passionate, professional and proactive content marketer who wants to grow in the field of content creation. She carries a rich experience of working in the Digital News sector with renowned names like Times Now Digital, and News X as a Copy Editor.

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