Key Requirements for Studying in Australia - A Complete Guide

If you are aspiring to study in Australia, one of the key requirements is a valid student visa (subclass 500). To obtain this visa, you would further need a Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) from a recognized Australian university. Additionally, you must demonstrate English language proficiency, proof of funds, and share an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) as well.

In 2024, Australia had a total footfall of a total 500,000 international students. It is also predicted that in 2025 and the approaching two years, Australia will have a 5% increase in the international student population.

So, if you are planning to pursue a course in Australia, here are the key requirements for studying in Australia to follow.

Key Requirements for Studying in Australia

To enroll in any Australian college or university, international students need to meet some entry requirements. These include satisfying criteria in the fields like:

1. Academic qualifications
2. English proficiency
3. Course-specific requirements
4. Visa requirements
5. Application process
6. Financial capacity
7. Health insurance

Here is a table mentioning the details of entry requirements for studying in Australia, which you must follow before applying to study in Australia.

Key Requirements	Details
Academic Qualifications	The candidates should meet the minimum entry requirements for the selected course.  Generally includes completion of high school for undergraduate and a prior undergraduate degree for postgraduate.
English Proficiency	Prove your proficiency through standardized tests like TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. The minimum scores often vary based on the chosen institution and course.
Course-specific Requirements	Some of the programs, like engineering, medicine, design may need work experience, pre-requisite subjects, interviews, or portfolios.
Visa Requirements	The candidates need to apply for their student visas (subclass 500). Submit the details like CoE or Confirmation of Enrollment, a valid passport, a GTE statement, and biometrics.
Application Process	Apply to the course on the university website through an agent or online.   Submit details like academic transcripts, ID documents, English test results, and course preferences.
Financial Capacity	The candidates should add proof of funds to cover their living expenses, tuition fees, and travel expenses. Documents like scholarships, sponsorships, or bank statements can be added as proof of funds.
Health Insurance	The candidates have to apply for the Overseas Student Health Cover or OSHC for the total extent of their stay in Australia.

Also read: Education System in Australia: Facts You Should Know.

General Academic Requirements for Studying in Australia?

The general academic study requirements in Australia for international students often differ between the educational institutes and the study level you choose. Here is a short overview of the common academic requirements for students of different study levels:

• Undergraduate courses- To apply for an undergraduate course in Australia, you have to complete an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or equivalent. Some courses may have some specific prerequisites. 

For instance, some science and engineering degrees require students to complete advanced studies in Mathematics. If you don’t meet the prerequisites of the desired courses, explore the bridging courses. These are the short courses that offer the necessary basic skills to help you succeed in the degree program.

• Post-graduate courses- The candidates need to complete undergraduate degrees with satisfactory scores to undertake postgraduate studies. However, some of the universities or institutions may consider research ability or relevant work experience.
• VET or Vocational Education and Training courses- The majority of the VET courses in Australia require the candidates to reach a level of study comparable with Australian Year 10. Some of the courses may demand additional prerequisite subjects or prior work experience.
• English Language Courses or ELICOS- No academic entry requirement is there to pursue general English courses in Australia. For joining exam preparation courses like CAE and IELTS preparation courses, you need to take an entry test to ensure you are at the right level.

Also read: Best Law Courses in Australia for Indian Students.

English Proficiency Requirements for Studying in Australia?

The courses in Australia require the students to be proficient in English so that they can cope with tutorials, lectures, exams, and assignments. Therefore, you may have to provide proof of English proficiency based on your educational background and country of origin to study in Australia. The evidence of your English proficiency will help you get a student visa. To do this:

1. You must obtain an acceptable score in any English language proficiency test approved by the department. Some of the widely acknowledged English tests are: PTE or Pearson Test of English, and IELTS or International English Language Testing System.
2. Fall into the exemption category, or
3. Complete some eligible studies in English to improve your English skills. For instance, English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students, or ELICOS, are offered to prepare international students to study in Australia.

Also read: Psychology Courses In Australia: Universities, Eligibility Criteria, and more.

How to Apply for Studying in Australia?

Here are the steps to follow to start your education journey in Australia:

Find the course and its entry requirements

Find out the right field of education that you want to study in Australia. Read every detail about the field of education and its courses to know the subjects that match your career goals and the entry requirements better. Choose the right course from the list. You can also use the course search tool offered by Study Australia to find and compare the details of different courses.

Go through the preparation programs

If you don’t meet the minimum academic requirements for undergraduate study in Australia, joining the preparation programs can be a great help. Also known as a bridging study program or foundation course, these preparation programs are mainly one year long and are offered by the majority of higher education institutes.

Prepare the documents

Prepare all the official documents that you have to submit with your course application. The common ones are: 

• Academic transcripts and certificates
• Proof of identity
• Proof of proficiency in the English language, like TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo /PTE scores
• Your CV
• Letter of Recommendation, Statement of Purpose, and Essay
• Standardized test scores for admission to postgraduate courses like the GMAT or GRE

Consider financial support and scholarships 

There are quite a few grants, scholarships, and bursaries offered by the Australian government, several private and public organizations, and education providers that support international students financially when pursuing studies in Australia. Check the eligibility criteria of these scholarships and financial aid, prepare the required documents, and apply early.

Check work or study credit

Course credits are often given for studies in vocational education and training (VET), undergraduate, and postgraduate higher education. However, it depends on the university and the course you have chosen whether your previous work or study experience is recognized under the RPL for course credit. So, you can contact the university to check more details about the work or study credit.

Submit your application

If you are eligible for any scholarships, apply by the deadline without a miss. Once you apply, you will automatically be eligible for some scholarships. In case you don’t, then you have to apply separately. In case you are applying overseas, then directly apply to the university through the course page or an authorized agent. You have to pay a processing fee for your application.

Accept the offer

Once the outcome of your application is available, you will get an email from the UAC or the university where you applied. Accept the offer by the deadline and pay the fees for the first semester to enroll. Once you send the payment, you will get the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment for the student visa application.

Arrange OSHC or Overseas Student Health Cover

To join a full-time course in Australia, which is longer than 3 months, you must have a student visa. But a valid Australian student visa needs health insurance coverage. So, you can either apply for the Overseas Student Health Cover, or OSHC by yourself with approved providers or the university can arrange this on your behalf.

Apply for the student visa

You can apply for the student visa once you get the Overseas Student Health Cover.

• You can either apply for the visa from outside Australia or online.
• You must enroll in a course in Australia.
• You must hold OSHC or fall into any exemption categories.
• Be 6 years old or older.
• In case you are under 18 years old, prove that you have a welfare arrangement.

Also read: Masters of Architecture in Australia – Everything One Needs to Know!

Why Study in Australia?

Studying in Australia will offer you some wonderful experiences and opportunities, along with world-class education. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider Australia as a study abroad destination. 

1. Top-ranked universities: Australia is home to several globally recognized universities. For instance, institutions like The Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland, The University of Sydney, and UNSW Sydney are known for their academic reputation and high standards of research. These universities are also listed in the QS World University Rankings 2025. All 38 universities in Australia offer full-time jobs and internship opportunities through the designated job portals.
2. Globally recognized courses: The courses offered by the leading universities in Australia, starting from the preparatory to postgraduate levels, are highly flexible and well-equipped with a global perspective. Besides, most of the Australian courses encourage the participants to gain experience during their studies, thereby giving them professional experience.
3. World-class cities for the students: The cities of Australia, namely Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane, are ranked among the top 30 as per the QS Best Student Cities ranking 2025. These cities are popular because of their employer activities, blend of student mix, and desirability.
4. Best employment opportunities: Australia offers around 6 years of post-study work opportunities to international students, which is great. In every six to seven months, more than 64,000 jobs are added in Australia to attract a new workforce. Therefore, there are some lucrative job opportunities for international students.
5. Support to the international students: Australian universities offer different services, such as career advice, orientation programs, legal services, etc., to help the international students adjust to Australia and to be academically successful. For instance, the international students in Australia are allowed to work part-time for around 40 hours a fortnight and during holidays, they can also join full-time jobs.

How upGrad Can Help You Study in Australia

upGrad helps international students to study in Australia by offering them guidance on requirements for studying in Australia and end-to-end support in areas like shortlisting the university and course, preparing for the entrance exam, offering them guidance for scholarships, assisting with visa application, and planning their finances. Apart from that, this online educational platform offers career assistance and pre-departure orientation to the students to navigate their journey of studying abroad.

Here are the details of how upGrad helps:

• Offers personalized guidance through profile evaluation and shortlisting universities.
• Helps the students in entrance exam preparation and visa application support, and offers guidance on applying for the right scholarships.
• Helps the students in financial planning for studying in Australia and in selecting the right accommodation.
• Offers mentorship, career counseling, and interview preparation to help the students be successful in their selected field.
• Offers an accelerator program where the students can complete a part of their courses online in their home countries before transferring to the Australian universities.