Why students consider Australia
- Universities with strong international rankings and research output.
- Vocational education and training (VET) options alongside university degrees.
- Courses for international students must be registered on CRICOS, the official register.
- Detailed official guidance from the Department of Home Affairs.
Common study pathways
Undergraduate
Bachelor's degrees, commonly three years, with honours options.
Postgraduate
Graduate certificates, master's by coursework and research degrees.
Vocational & pathway
VET diplomas and foundation or English programmes.
Types of institutions
Public and private universities and registered vocational providers. Your provider issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) once you accept your offer.
General admissions considerations
Requirements are set by each institution and course. Most applications ask for:
- Academic transcripts matched to the course's entry requirements.
- English language test results where required.
- Statement or answers explaining your study choice, which also supports the Genuine Student assessment.
- Evidence of financial capacity as required by the provider and by Home Affairs.
English language requirements
Both your provider and the visa have English requirements. Check the course page and Home Affairs guidance for current accepted tests and scores.
Tuition and living costs
Tuition varies by provider and course. Student visa holders must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Home Affairs publishes the current financial capacity requirements.
Scholarships
Funding is mainly offered by universities. Government-funded schemes exist but are limited and competitive; each has its own eligibility rules. See our scholarship guidance service.
Student visa process — overview
- International students apply for the Student visa (subclass 500).
- For applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024, Home Affairs assesses the Genuine Student (GS) requirement — whether you genuinely intend to study and whether study is the main reason for your visa.
- GS answers are given in the application form (each up to 150 words), supported by evidence such as previous study, employment and financial records.
- Home Affairs gives more weight to claims that are supported by evidence.
Who decides: universities make admission decisions, scholarship providers award scholarships, and governments decide student visas. We help you prepare; we never guarantee an outcome.
How Consult Cell helps
- Shortlisting courses and institutions that match your grades, goals and budget
- Explaining each university's requirements and deadlines
- Reviewing your personal statement and application documents
- Guiding you through the student visa steps and document checklist
- Interview preparation and pre-departure guidance
Frequently asked questions
What is the Genuine Student requirement?
It is the test Home Affairs uses for applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024 to check that you genuinely intend to study and that study is the main reason for your visa.
Can Consult Cell write my Genuine Student answers?
Your answers must be your own and truthful. We help you understand the questions, organise supporting evidence and review your answers for clarity.
What is a CoE?
A Confirmation of Enrolment is issued by your Australian education provider after you accept your offer, and is used in your Student visa application.
Official sources
Rules change. Always confirm requirements on the official pages below before you pay any fee or submit an application.
- Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500)
- Home Affairs — Genuine Student requirement
- CRICOS — registered courses
- Study Australia (official)
Information on this page was last checked against these sources on by the Consult Cell team.