Eligibility guide
There are two sets of requirements, and confusing them is the most common mistake we see: what the institution needs to admit you, and what the Department of Home Affairs needs to grant the visa. This page covers both.
Checked against Department of Home Affairs and Study Australia sources · Last reviewed 21 September 2026
To study in Australia in 2026 you need: the academic qualification for your course level; English at IELTS 6.0 overall for the student visa and usually 6.0 to 7.0 for the course itself; proof of AUD 29,710 in living funds plus first-year tuition and travel; a Genuine Student statement; Overseas Student Health Cover; and health and character clearance. Under 18s need approved welfare arrangements.
| Course | Minimum entry | Typical Indian equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate III / IV | Year 10–12 or equivalent | Class 10 or 12 pass |
| Diploma | Year 12 or equivalent | Class 12 with 50–60% |
| Bachelor | Year 12 with required grades, or a diploma | Class 12 with 60–75% (CBSE/ISC); state boards vary |
| Masters by coursework | Bachelor degree, often in a related field | 3- or 4-year bachelor with 55–65%; some Go8 require 65–70% |
| Masters by research / PhD | Honours or masters with a research component; supervisor acceptance | Masters with thesis, first class |
Requirements are set by each institution and vary widely. A student who misses direct bachelor entry can usually enter through a pathway college diploma with guaranteed progression, which is what the courses guide covers under packaging.
Two different bars apply. The visa requires IELTS 6.0 overall (or 5.5 if packaged with 10 weeks of ELICOS, 5.0 with 20 weeks). The course usually requires more: 6.0 to 6.5 for most bachelor and masters programs, 7.0 for nursing, teaching and some law programs, and higher in each band for professional registration afterwards.
| Test | Visa minimum | Packaged with ELICOS |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall | 5.5 (10 wks) / 5.0 (20 wks) |
| PTE Academic | 50 | 42 / 36 |
| TOEFL iBT (test-centre only) | 64 | 46 / 35 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 169 | 162 / 154 |
| OET | B in each component | — |
Tests must be no more than two years old at lodgement and taken at a secure test centre; home editions are not accepted. Exemptions exist for citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, NZ and Ireland and for applicants with recent study in English. See study in Australia without IELTS.
You must show genuine access to funds covering 12 months of living costs, 12 months of tuition, and return travel. The 2026 living-cost figure is AUD 29,710 for the student, AUD 10,394 for a partner, AUD 4,449 per child, plus AUD 13,502 for school fees per school-aged child. Acceptable evidence is savings in your own or a parent's name with three months of history, an education loan from an approved lender, a scholarship letter, or government sponsorship. A large deposit made shortly before lodgement without a documented source is the second most common refusal reason after weak GS answers. Model your figure with the cost of studying calculator.
The GS replaced the GTE in March 2024 and is now a structured questionnaire with four questions, each limited to 150 words: your current circumstances and ties; why this course and this provider; the value of the course to your future; and anything else including immigration history. Case officers cross-check the answers against your academic history, employment and finances. A masters in IT after a bachelor in commerce, a five-year study gap, or a course unrelated to your career all need explaining, not hiding. This is where an ApplyOn counsellor earns their keep.
Most applicants need a medical examination by a panel physician, and Indian applicants typically also need a chest X-ray. Character is assessed by declaration, with police clearances requested for anyone who has lived in a country for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. Overseas Student Health Cover must be in place for the full visa period before the visa can be granted; a single student pays around AUD 600 to 800 a year. Buy NIB OSHC through ApplyOn and get the PR Position Report free.
Common questions
Academic entry for your course level, English at IELTS 6.0 or equivalent for the visa (often higher for the course), proof of AUD 29,710 in living funds plus first-year tuition and travel, a Genuine Student statement, Overseas Student Health Cover, and health and character clearance.
AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs, plus 12 months of tuition, plus return travel. Add AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 per child, plus school fees for school-aged children.
6.0 overall for the student visa. Courses set their own minimum, typically 6.0 to 6.5 for most degrees and 7.0 for nursing, teaching and law. Packaging an English course lowers the visa requirement to 5.5 or 5.0.
A four-question structured statement, introduced in March 2024 to replace the GTE, covering your circumstances, why this course and provider, the value of the course to your future, and your immigration history. Weak GS answers are the leading refusal reason.
No, but gaps need to be explained in the Genuine Student statement with evidence such as employment records. Unexplained gaps are a refusal risk.
Study in Australia guide
Start with the complete Study in Australia guide, then go deeper:
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