Hundreds of thousands of students from all over the world dream of studying in Australia, because it is in this country that you can get the education you dream of and learn English perfectly. Find out how to enter a higher education institution in Australia in 2025, what are the requirements and conditions for obtaining a visa

Legal advice on education abroad

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There are many reasons why Australia is considered the best country for higher education, including its high quality of education, high level of infrastructure development, favorable conditions for international students and high quality of life. All these factors have led to the fact that Australia is the third most popular place in the world for international students.

However, before embarking on an exciting journey to Australia, it is worth finding out in more detail what you need to do to get a student visa and what are the general features of studying in Australia.

Which universities in Australia do most international students study at?

In total, there are more than 50 higher education institutions in Australia, some of which are located in the most student-friendly cities. Prospective students are advised to consider the following institutions:

- University of Western Australia

- Charles Sturt University

- University of Newcastle

- CQ University of Australia

- University of Tasmania

- University of Canberra

- University of Western Sydney

If you plan to study online: RMIT University, James Cook University and Southern Cross University.

How to enter a university in Australia?

The Australian higher education system is divided into universities, colleges of professional and further education, as well as independent colleges.

- You can enter a higher education institution in Australia only after completing 12 years of education. This means that you will not be able to enter after school - you must either study in your own country or enter a school in Australia. There are public and private schools here, the cost of tuition ranges from 6 to 8 thousand dollars per year.

- You can also enroll in a preparatory program at a university. They are usually created specifically for foreigners and last 1 year. This gives you the opportunity to successfully pass entrance exams and improve your English level (for non-native speakers). To do this, you need to have a certificate of complete secondary education, pass an English proficiency test with at least 5 points (for IELTS) or 500 points (for TOEFL). Usually, after this program, you are automatically enrolled in a bachelor's degree at your chosen university.

- Another way to get an Australian education: study 1-2 courses at a university in your country, and then transfer to the 1st or 2nd year of an Australian higher education institution.

You can get advice on education abroad on the Visit World portal. Our lawyers can answer all your questions about the current rules for admission to certain educational institutions, as well as help with the preparation of documents for admission and study abroad. To order a specialist consultation, follow this link.

How to enter an Australian university?

Step 1 – Apply to an Australian university and receive an acceptance letter

To apply to study in Australia, you do not need to be in the country. The enrollment process is carried out through the national online service Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the university website.

- List of documents for applying for study:

1. Application.

2. Document of complete secondary education (12 years).

3. IB diploma or A-Levels.

4. Certificate of appropriate level of English proficiency 6.0-6.5 points on IELTS.

5. Passport and its copy.

6. Transcript of grades of your certificate.

7. All available diplomas, qualifications, certificates from completed courses.

8. Resume.

9. Motivation letter.

10. Letters of recommendation (if any).

If you are still unsure about where you want to study in Australia, you will need to decide before you start the visa application process. Once you have been accepted to an Australian university, you will receive an acceptance letter, which is required to apply for a student visa.

Step 2 – Check if you need a student visa for Australi

If you are coming from New Zealand, you will not need a student visa for Australia. For citizens of all other countries, obtaining a visa is a mandatory step. The visa application process can vary significantly depending on your nationality; it is best to start the application process as soon as you have received an acceptance letter from the Australian university where you want to study.

Step 3 – Prepare your documents and apply for your visa

The next step is to open a student visa. All student visas in the country are combined into a single subclass under the number 500. This greatly simplifies the visa application mechanism.

To obtain a student visa or immiaccount, you need to go to the website of the Australian Department of Migration with the following documents:

- Passport and its copy;

- A document confirming your enrollment in a university;

- A document from a bank confirming the availability of funds to stay in Australia for a period of more than a year;

- A document confirming payment of the educational program for the first 12 months;

- Medical insurance for the entire period of stay;

- Certificate of English proficiency (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent);

- A receipt for payment of the visa fee.

Language requirements for studying in Australia

When you apply for an Australian student visa, you must confirm your knowledge of English based on the results of an accepted English language exam:

- PTE Academic.

- IELTS Academic.

- TOEFL iBT.

- Duolingo.

Application Deadlines for Australian Universities

Each Australian university has different deadlines, but in general:

- Late October - Mid-November: Application Period for the First Semester

- Mid-April - Mid-May: Application Period for the Second Semester

The deadlines also depend a lot on the student visa. If your grades are high, you should apply as early as possible. The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to be accepted and even be eligible for an Australian scholarship.

Features of the academic culture in Australia

Studying in Australia is easy and carefree - no one forces you to memorize study materials or attend lectures. All that is expected of a student is to be responsible for your own decisions. Of course, enterprising students are always encouraged with all kinds of scholarships and grants.

Can international students work while studying in Australia?

Most types of student visas allow you to work while you study, up to 20 hours a week (part-time) during semesters and full-time during holidays.

What changes are in store for international students in Australia in 2025?

International students hoping to study in Australia in the 2025/26 academic year will have to pay the highest student visa fees ever – the student visa fee increased from AUD 710 to AUD 1600 in July 2024.

Applicants will also face another problem - on August 27, 2024, Federal Education Minister Jason Clare announced that the Australian government will limit the admission of new international students to 270,000, reducing the number of applications by almost 20,000.

According to the restriction, public universities will accept about 145,000 new international students in 2025, which corresponds to the level of 2023. Another 95 thousand will be allocated to vocational and technical institutions, which, according to the government, will allow to reduce the numbers to pre-pandemic levels.

Australia is a promising country for the relocation of future students, so choose an educational institution for the program and embark on a fantastic adventure to meet new knowledge and experience.

Let us remind you! More and more future students are choosing to study abroad, because foreign education opens the way to new knowledge, experience and can be a good start for building a career. We have already told you which country, Canada or Australia, will be the best choice for international students in 2025.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.