Australia Student Visa Requirements & Application Process for Nepali Students in 2027
Making a decision to study in Australia from Nepal is not an easy task and involves much more than just selecting a university and filling out an application. Pupils must follow the university entry requirements, and in most instances be eligible for an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).
The normal process includes selecting an eligible course, meeting the academic and English language requirements, receiving an offer from an institution or education provider in Australia, obtaining a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), arranging health insurance and submitting a Student visa application.
It's important to be aware of these requirements early on if you're a student looking at taking a class in 2027, so that the entire process is more organised.
This guide will walk Nepali students through the primary Australia student visa conditions and application procedure step-by-step.
If you are a Nepali student with an interest in studying in Australia, please apply for admission to the university to which you wish to study and meet the requirements of the university and the Student visa requirements.
Requirements for eligibility include:
The academic requirements of Australian universities differ from one to another. Admission criteria vary according to the institution, course level and study.
The first step is to determine what you want to learn and where you want to learn it.
There are programmes available in Australia in the following areas:
Your course should relate to your previous education, interests and career goals.
International students should also make sure that their selected institution and course are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). CRICOS is the Australian Government register of courses and education providers approved to teach overseas students.
Checking CRICOS should therefore be one of your first steps before proceeding with an application.
Academic entry requirements for Australian Universities are set by the university.
Requirements will be subject to change based on:
Nepali students applying for undergraduate study may need:
This may mean that some programmes will be more demanding than others.
For instance, in some special courses like engineering, medical science, etc., there could be a prerequisite course in these fields.
Postgraduate applicants will normally need a recognised bachelor's degree.
Depending on the programme, universities may also ask for:
An MBA, for example, may have different entry requirements from a Master of Information Technology.
Always check the specific requirements of the course you want to study.
Students may need to demonstrate that they have sufficient English-language ability to study in Australia.
Common English tests include:
Note that the University English requirements and Student visa English requirements may not be identical.
Home Affairs has introduced new approved tests and scores for tests taken from 7 August 2025, affecting students sitting visa tests. Eligible ELICOS or pathway arrangements may apply and visa requirements are applicable depending on the applicants' circumstances.
Some universities may also have higher English requirements, especially for courses that require professional registration.
It is therefore advisable for students to review the university requirement as well as the Student visa requirement before enrolling in an English-language test.
Once you have selected your course and institution, you can start preparing your application.
Some of the typical documents might include:
Make sure all documents are accurate, clear and consistent.
Your application may be followed up by the universities with further information, be sure to check your email regularly.
If your university application is successful, the institution may issue a Letter of Offer.
Before accepting it, carefully review:
Your offer also has important information regarding your course, fees and enrolment conditions, so you are advised to be sure to read your offer carefully before accepting.
You can learn more about the overall process through the Australian Government's student visa application guidance.
Your education provider may provide you with your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) once you meet the conditions of your offer, accept it and make all required payments.
Your CoE will show that you are studying a course which meets the requirements for your visa and will include the following information:
A valid Confirmation of Enrolment is generally required when lodging a Student visa application. Limited exceptions may apply to certain sponsored or exchange students.
Save all of your CoE and University paperwork securely during the application process.
The Genuine Student (GS) requirement is one of the critical elements in the Australian Student visa process.
The GS requirement was introduced for Student visa applications made from 23 March 2024, and superseded the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement.
The main reason for an applicant's visa application for Australia must be to engage in genuine student study, and their application must make this clear.
Students will respond to questions regarding:
Note: The online application currently contains four main GS questions covering the applicant’s present circumstances, reasons for choosing the course and provider, the benefits of completing the course and any other relevant information. An additional question applies to certain applicants who previously held a Student visa or who are applying in Australia from a non-student visa. Each response has a 150-word limit and must be written in English. You can review the official Genuine Student requirement before preparing your application
.A genuine student may later consider applying for permanent residence if eligible. A possible future migration intention does not automatically count against the applicant, but studying must be the primary reason for applying for the Student visa.
Your answers should reflect your actual academic and personal circumstances.
A logical study pathway might look like:
Previous education → chosen Australian course → skills gained → future career plan
In other words, if a student has already obtained a bachelor's degree in Information Technology and is pursuing the Master of Data Science, they should articulate how the new degree is related to their previous experience and how it will help them reach their future career aspirations.
Do not copy GS answers from friends, from the internet from the table of the previous candidate etc.
You should answer in a personal and consistent manner with the documents you submit for application.
Studying in Australia requires careful financial planning.
Students may need to demonstrate sufficient funds for expenses such as:
Financial requirements may vary according to visa requirements, so please ensure that students apply for a visa to study in 2027 and check the latest financial requirements before they apply.
The financial-capacity requirement is a visa-assessment minimum. Your actual living expenses may be higher depending on your city, accommodation and lifestyle.
Financial evidence isn't just showing a sum of money.
If a student is asked to provide financial evidence, they might be asked to provide proof that the funds are available to help cover their educational expenses.
Evidence may include:
In addition to the above, supporting documents must show, if a parent or another person will sponsor your studies:
Ensure uniformity across all financial information throughout
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is required for the period of stay for most international students who are here in Australia on a Student visa.
OSHC may cover some healthcare costs like medical services, hospital treatment and some prescription medicines, if they are eligible.
But simple policies don't always have the breadth of coverage to cover all medical costs.
Students should understand what is included in their policy and maintain the required coverage throughout their stay. The Australian Government provides further information about Overseas Student Health Cover for international students.
Some applicants for a Student visa will need to have a medical examination.
It is up to your personal needs to determine whether you need one.
You must follow the directions given with your visa application if Home Affairs asks you to have a health examination.
Don't think your needs are the same as another applicant.
Student visa applicants will also be required to meet Australian character requirements.
There are questions in the visa application addressing points regarding immigration history, past behavior etc.
Depending on the applicant's situation, he or she may have to submit extra evidence.
Always supply correct and full details.
The exact documents required can vary between applicants.
Common documents may include:
Before submitting your application, use the official Student Visa Document Checklist Tool to understand what supporting evidence may apply to your situation.
Home Affairs particularly cautions that if English or financial proof is required on the checklist, it should be submitted with the checklist.
After the documents have been prepared, you can apply for a Student visa (subclass 500) online via ImmiAccount.
As of September 2026, the base Student visa application charge for a standard main applicant from Nepal is AUD 2,500. Additional applicant charges apply to accompanying family members, and payment surcharges or costs for health examinations, biometrics and police certificates may also apply. Limited concessions apply only to specified applicants.
Visa charges may be subject to change, so please allow students to clarify the current charge prior to application.
Before you submit your application, make sure to review it again.
Before submitting your application, check everything carefully.
Review:
Information across different parts of your application should be consistent.
After lodging your application, Home Affairs may request additional steps.
Depending on your circumstances, these may include:
Follow the instructions and deadlines provided through official correspondence.
Student visa processing times vary between applicants.
Processing can be affected by:
Monitor your ImmiAccount and email regularly.
Do not assume your application will take exactly the same amount of time as someone else's.
If your Student visa is granted, carefully review your visa notification.
Check:
The work limit for student visa holders is usually 48 hours per fortnight while the course is ongoing, but varies for those who have started a master's degree by research or doctoral degree.
Always abide by the restrictions of your visa.
The process can generally be understood as:
Students need to be aware that the programme that they apply for may be because they have heard that it will result in permanent residency.
Eligibility requirements and migration policies may be amended.
Your course should primarily make sense based on your:
No course or education consultancy can guarantee permanent residency.
Changing fields isn't necessarily bad news.
However it is important to be able to articulate clearly the academic and professional rationale for the new programme.
Answers that are copied from another person's GS.
Your answers to the GS should be your own:
Copied responses may not match your actual situation or supporting evidence.
Your sponsor information, bank documents, evidence of income and source of funds must all be coherent.
In your application, it is important to be consistent.
Generally, this doesn't guarantee admission to Australian universities or programmes.
Please see individual admission requirements for the course you wish to attend.
Visa policies for Australia are subject to change.
Content from a previous blog, social media post or video may not meet the current needs.
If you are thinking about applying in 2027, please check out some of the important requirements before applying.
Generally, eligible Student visa holders can work for up to 48 hours fortnightly during the class hours of their course but this is dependent on the conditions of their visa.
Employment may offer experience and extra income, but students are not to rely solely on employment to pay for their education.
It is crucial that there is sufficient financial planning done before travelling to Australia.
Student visa applicants could be allowed to add eligible family members to their visa, depending on their situation.
These may consist of any of the following:
Further visa charges, financial requirements, documentation and health insurance requirements may apply.
If students are interested in family travel, they must carefully estimate the cost before submitting an application.
Before submitting your Student visa application, make sure you have:
Planning to study in Australia from Nepal? Raffles Educare can help you compare universities and courses based on your academic background, career goals and study plans, and guide you through the application and student visa preparation process
FAQ
Students undertaking an eligible programme generally apply for the Student visa (subclass 500).
In most standard applications, students need a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from their Australian education provider before lodging the Student visa application.
IELTS is not the only English-language test accepted for Australian Student visa purposes. Depending on the applicable requirements, approved alternatives can include tests such as PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT. Your institution may have its own English-language requirements as well.
The Genuine Student requirement helps assess whether studying in Australia is genuinely the primary reason for an applicant seeking a Student visa. Students need to answer questions relating to their circumstances, course choice, education provider and future benefit of their studies.
No. The Genuine Student requirement replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement for Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.
As of 1 July 2026, the base Student visa application charge starts from AUD 2,500, with exemptions or concessions applying in some circumstances. Always confirm the current fee before applying.
There is no single guaranteed processing time. Processing times vary according to the application, circumstances and whether additional checks or documents are required.
No. Completing an Australian qualification does not automatically provide permanent residency. Permanent migration pathways have separate requirements and can change over time.
