Timing guide
Australia runs two main university intakes and a growing third. Picking the right one is not only about when you are ready; it changes your visa timeline, your first-year costs, and when you graduate into the job market.
Checked against Department of Home Affairs and Study Australia sources · Last reviewed 21 September 2026
Australian universities have two main intakes, February (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2), and many now run a third in October or November through trimester systems. Vocational colleges and English schools start courses monthly or quarterly. Apply five to seven months before the intake: for February 2027 that means applications in July to September 2026 and the visa lodged by November.
| Intake | Starts | Apply by | Lodge visa by | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February (Semester 1) | Late Feb / early Mar | Aug–Oct previous year | Nov–Dec | All courses, all universities; largest scholarship pool |
| July (Semester 2) | Mid–late July | Jan–Mar | Apr–May | Most courses; some sequential programs unavailable |
| October / November (Trimester 3) | Oct–Nov | May–Jul | Aug–Sep | Business, IT and selected masters at trimester universities |
| Vocational / English | Monthly or quarterly | 6–8 weeks before | 4–6 weeks before | TAFE, private colleges, ELICOS |
Under Ministerial Direction 115, visa processing for over-allocated providers can run to three months, so the four-to-five-month lodgement window is a floor, not a target. See the student visa guide.
February has every course, the most scholarships and the most students, which means the most competition for housing and part-time jobs in March. It aligns with the Australian academic year, so honours, placements and graduate programs run on schedule. July has less housing pressure, and Indian students finishing Class 12 or a bachelor degree in May or June can start without a gap year. Some sequential programs, particularly in health and engineering, are not available. November suits students who missed July and do not want to wait; the trade-off is a smaller course list and fewer scholarship rounds.
For students whose plan is PR, the intake also sets when you graduate and when the post-study work visa starts. A February start in a two-year masters finishes in December two years later, a quiet hiring period; a July start finishes in June, when graduate programs are recruiting. See the post-study work visa guide.
TAFE and private colleges run intakes every one to three months, and ELICOS schools start most Mondays. That flexibility is why packaged courses often begin with English or a diploma in an off month and roll into the university course at the next main intake. The visa is granted for the whole package, so plan the sequence with the university start date in mind, not the first course.
Common questions
February and July are the main university intakes. Many universities also offer an October or November intake, and vocational and English courses start monthly or quarterly.
February offers every course and the most scholarships; July suits students finishing school or a degree in May or June; November suits those who missed July. For PR planning, consider when you will graduate and when the post-study work visa will begin.
Apply between July and October 2026, accept and receive your CoE by November, and lodge the visa by December at the latest.
Yes, at universities with a trimester system, mostly for business, IT and selected masters programs, and at vocational colleges and English schools year-round.
At least four to five months before your course starts, and earlier if your provider is over its allocation under Ministerial Direction 115.
Study in Australia guide
Start with the complete Study in Australia guide, then go deeper:
Tell us when you finish your current study and we'll map the intake, the application dates and the visa lodgement window.
Book a free counselling session Search 1,200+ courses