How to Apply for Australian Universities: Application Requirements, Student Visa, Admission Process

Applying to Australian Universities is not a cumbersome process, however, international students require stringent planning for it. With over 43 universities in Australia, good research on when and how to apply for them is needed. Every university has a separate section of their website dedicated to international students, one can apply from that portal.

Certain basic requirements have to be ensured to fulfill, they are:

• Academic Requirements
• Visa Requirements
• Proof of Funds
• Program Specific Requirements
• Health Cover

Most of the universities in Australia admit international students twice a year. And most of them follow a two semester a year pattern. But some of them admit students in a trimester pattern. Deadline for February intake is mid December, and the semester beginning in July closes in May for international students. Check Deadlines for Top Australian Universities

Each university has its own admission cycle so dates may vary, which also depends on the type of course and its specific requirements.

Timeline for International Admissions in Australian Universities

Admission Requirements at Australian Universities

Prepare your requirement documents step-by-step. Firstly, fulfill test score requirements to study in Australia. Following are the minimum test scores to get a visa and admission into the university. Note that test scores may vary for visa and university admissions.

English Language Test Scores Requirements

English language test scores are mandatory for universities and getting a student visa. Primarily, one should apply for the language test and get ready with the score. Also, research and be informed well about the language test score requirement of the university you have applied at, since test scores may vary for visa and university admissions.

Please note that scores of some tests like PTE, TOEFL, and others are accepted only when they have been attempted within the last 2 years from the time of application. This requirement differs from university to university, so this must be kept in mind.

General Requirements

• Official transcripts of previous education
• Test scores GRE, GMAT, etc. (as per program requirement)
• LOR (Letter of Recommendation)
• SOP (Statement of Purpose)
• Certificate of award or scholarship (if sponsored from home country)
• Research proposal or research publication
• Summary of employment (if any)
• Proof of finances to bear tuition fee
• Other documents (as and when asked for)

Australian Student Visa Requirements

The strict part of applying to Australian Universities is the student visa. The policies, requirements and rules have to be strictly taken care of when applying to study in australia. Visa requirements are very important for Australians.

Once you receive the confirmation of enrolment(CoE), the application for a visa can be made. But one should not forget to research and try to meet the requirements as early as possible. The visa requirements also vary upon the course one has applied for. Hence the search of all the visa requirements prior to receiving the CoE would be beneficial.

Following are the basic Australian Student Visa Requirements:

• Passport/ Birth Certificate
• CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment)/ Unconditional Offer Letter
• OSHC (Overseas Health Cover)
• Evidence of Financial Capacity for 12 months stay
• English Language Test Scores

Know how to write SOP for Australian Student Visa

Overseas Student Health Cover

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a unique system of health care help designed for international students in Australia. It helps you pay for medical or hospital care you may need while you’re studying in Australia.

To study in Australia, an international student must mandatorily have a health cover. For the entire duration of your study in Australia, acquiring an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory to get visa approval. This policy covers any medical expenses within Australian premises borne by the student.

How to Apply to Australian Universities?

After you’ve ensured all the prerequisites, follow the below-given steps :

Choose a Course and University

Australia has a wide variety of courses to offer to international students in 1,100 institutions. Those who want to improve their English language skills can enroll themselves in ELICOS. Vocational and Foundational Training is imparted viz. Vocational Education and Training. While 43 universities in Australia provide majors and minors in various subjects.

International student enrolment in Australia as per Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2020 statistics for each state is as follows:

Some of the famous courses and universities among international students in Australia are:

Apply Online or Offline

It is with no doubt that Australian universities are easy to apply to. One can either apply online by visiting the official website of the university or request the university for a postal application form.

Next, one has to fill in the details asked in the application form and submit it to the university to receive updates.

Some universities do not charge the application fee from international students, the list is as follows:

• Victoria University
• Charles Darwin University
• University of Notre Dame Australia
• Central Queensland University
• University of South Australia
• University of Wollongong
• RMIT University
• Bond University

Application Processing

Send your complete application form to the university via post, if applied offline. The processing time for application acceptance is between four to six weeks. Till then, arrange for funds and explore scholarships in Australia for international students to plan your finances.

Please note that application for post graduate courses may take a little longer for being processed.

Offer Acceptance

If all goes well, you will receive a letter of acceptance. Make sure you respond within 10 days. However, before giving the enrollment confirmation, read all the terms and conditions carefully. Offer acceptance includes the following:

• Payment of tuition fee for the first semester
• Apply for accommodation
• Plan your subject or course

Post Offer Acceptance

The most important leg of applying to an Australian university is to get a student visa. As soon as Confirmation of Enrolment is produced by the University, do the following:

• Apply for Student Visa subclass 500
• Buy a plane ticket
• Organize your Student Health Cover
• Arrange your accommodation in Australia.

Prepare for the Departure

Make sure you have the admission package as sent by the Australian University post-confirmation. The details in the admission package include:

• Program Details
• Accommodation options
• Financial information
• Details of orientation program
• Location details

Even after Australian universities have enrolled 210,000 fewer international students in 2021 than would normally be expected, the current numbers are not too less. According to The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the total number of international students in 2020 was 654,284 and in the year 2021 is 545,541.

These statistics properly indicate the quality of education and the popularity of Australian education among international students. Hence, one must be thoroughly familiar with the application process and look out for possible mistakes to prevent.