Study destination

Australia

Two intakes a year, strong post-study work rights, and particular depth in health and engineering.

Study in Australia
IntakesFebruary & July
Start planning9-12 months before
Levels openUndergraduate & Master's
Overview

Studying here

Australia runs two main intakes a year, which gives students who miss a September start a genuine alternative rather than a year of waiting. Post-study work rights are among the more generous available.

The Group of Eight universities sit at the top on both reputation and cost, but a great deal of GESCO’s placement here goes to institutions outside that group where the programme fits the student better and the fees are more manageable.

Distance is the real consideration. Flights home are long and expensive, so we talk this through with families before applying rather than after.

Costs, per year

What it costs

Undergraduate, per yearAUD 20,000 – 45,000
Master's, per yearAUD 22,000 – 50,000
Living costs, per yearAUD 25,000 – 35,000

Group of Eight universities, medicine and MBA programmes run well above these ranges. The student visa requires evidence of AUD 29,710 in living funds for the first year, on top of tuition and travel. Figures last checked August 2026.

Talk to us
Where we apply

Partner universities in this destination

22 partner institutions

Central Queensland University (CQU)RockhamptonDirect entryCharles Sturt UniversityBathurstDirect entryDeakin UniversityGeelongDirect entryEdith Cowan UniversityPerthDirect entryFederation UniversityBallaratDirect entryGriffith UniversityBrisbaneDirect entryJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleDirect entryLa Trobe UniversityMelbourneDirect entryMurdoch UniversityPerthDirect entryRMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)MelbourneDirect entrySouthern Cross UniversityLismoreDirect entrySwinburne University of TechnologyMelbourneDirect entryThe Australian National University (ANU)CanberraDirect entryThe University of NewcastleNewcastleDirect entryThe University of Notre Dame AustraliaFremantleDirect entryUniversity of CanberraCanberraDirect entryUniversity of New EnglandArmidaleDirect entryUniversity of Sunshine Coast (UniSC)Sunshine CoastDirect entryUniversity of Tasmania (UTAS)HobartDirect entryUniversity of WollongongWollongongDirect entryVictoria UniversityMelbourneDirect entryWestern Sydney UniversitySydneyDirect entry
Questions

Common questions about this destination

How early should I start my application?

Nine to twelve months before the intake if you want scholarship options and a realistic choice of universities. Three to four months is possible for some destinations but narrows what is available, and for anything requiring an entrance examination or a competitive visa appointment it is usually too late. Start by talking to us, not by choosing a university.

What documents do I need to get started?

For a first assessment we only need your academic transcripts and certificates, and your English test result if you have one. Passport, financial evidence and references come later, once we have agreed a shortlist. Do not send passports or bank statements through a website form.

Do I need an IELTS score before applying?

Not to begin. We can assess your profile and build a shortlist without it, and many universities will issue a conditional offer that you meet later. What the score needs to be depends on the university and the programme, and some institutions accept their own internal test or a pathway route instead.

Can I work while I am studying?

Most study destinations allow international students to work a limited number of hours during term, but the rules differ by country and are revised regularly. Ask us for the current position for your destination rather than relying on what a friend did two years ago.

How much money do I need to show for the visa?

Every destination sets its own financial requirement, and it usually covers first-year tuition plus a set living cost figure. The amount, how long it must have been in the account, and whose account it can be in all vary. We prepare this to your embassy's exact current requirements as part of the visa service.

What happens if my visa is refused?

We tell you the likely reason and whether an appeal or a fresh application is the better route. Most refusals we see come from financial evidence that was technically correct but presented the wrong way, which is preventable. Universities will often defer an offer to the next intake rather than withdraw it.

Can I stay and work after I graduate?

Several destinations offer a post-study work route, and in some cases a pathway toward permanent residence. The duration and conditions change with government policy, sometimes at short notice, so treat any figure you read online as needing confirmation. Ask us for the position that applies in the intake you are planning for.

Next step

Book a free consultation.

Thirty minutes, no charge, and an honest answer about which of these universities you can realistically get into.

Talk to a counsellor