How to Get a Student Visa for Australia After +2 in Nepal

Can you go to Australia for study right after +2 in Nepal?

Yes. Completing +2 (Grade 12, NEB or equivalent) makes you eligible to apply to Australian universities and colleges for an undergraduate degree, and to apply for the subclass 500 student visa that lets you study there. Many Nepali students do exactly this each year, Australia is consistently the number one destination for Nepali students going abroad.

If your +2 grades or English level are not yet strong enough for direct entry into a Bachelor's degree, you can still go. You enrol in a foundation programme, diploma, or pathway course first, which then leads into the degree. The student visa covers these pathway arrangements through what is called a packaged offer.

Step 1: Choose a course and a CRICOS-registered institution

Every course that can legally enrol an international student in Australia must be listed on the CRICOS register (the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students). If a course is not on CRICOS, it cannot support a student visa, so this is the first thing to verify. Choose your course based on your career goal, your +2 background, the total tuition cost, and the city you want to live in.

Step 2: Get an offer letter and accept it

Apply to the institution with your +2 transcripts and certificates, your English test result, and a statement of purpose. If you meet the entry requirements, the institution issues an offer letter. You accept the offer and pay an initial tuition deposit.

Step 3: Receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

Once your deposit is paid and any conditions are met, the institution issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). The CoE is the central document of your visa application, it is electronic proof that you are formally enrolled. You cannot lodge a subclass 500 visa application without it.

Step 4: Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Australia requires every student visa holder to hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of the visa. You buy this from an approved Australian health insurer, often arranged through your institution. The cost varies by provider and length of stay, typically a few hundred to over a thousand Australian dollars per year for a single student.

Step 5: Prepare your finances

You must show you can genuinely afford to study in Australia. For 2026, the living-cost benchmark used by the Department of Home Affairs is approximately AUD 29,710 per year for a single student. On top of living costs, you must account for your tuition fees and travel. Acceptable evidence includes bank statements, fixed deposits, and education loan sanction letters from a recognised bank. Funds should be genuine, traceable to a clear source, and held by you or an acceptable sponsor such as a parent.

Step 6: Write your Genuine Student (GS) statement

In March 2024, Australia replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test with the Genuine Student (GS) requirement. You answer a set of questions in writing about your circumstances in Nepal, why you chose this course and institution, how it fits your career plans, and your understanding of life as a student in Australia. The GS statement must be honest, specific, and consistent with the rest of your application. A vague or copied statement is a common reason for refusal.

Step 7: Lodge the subclass 500 visa application

You apply online through the Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount portal. The visa application fee is AUD 2,000 for the primary applicant in 2026. Along with the application you upload your CoE, OSHC confirmation, financial evidence, GS responses, English test result, passport, academic documents, and any other requested items. You will also complete health checks, including a medical examination, and provide biometrics.

What English test do you need?

Australian universities and the subclass 500 visa accept several English tests, including IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, and the Duolingo English Test (now accepted for Australian student visas), among others. The score you need depends on your course: many Bachelor's degrees ask for around IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 overall, while packaged courses with an English component may accept lower. Always check the specific requirement on your offer letter.

Booking your English test through finduni.ai saves money: PTE Academic costs NPR 31,000 versus the official NPR 36,500, and IELTS Academic computer-delivered starts at NPR 32,000. The Duolingo English Test is the lowest-cost option at NPR 8,500.

How long does it take?

From deciding on a course to holding your visa, a realistic timeline from Nepal is 3 to 6 months. Course applications and CoE issuance take several weeks, financial document preparation takes time to do properly, and visa processing varies. Australia's processing now uses a priority system tied to each institution's enrolment management, so processing speed depends partly on where you applied. Start at least 6 months before your intended course intake.

For context on the broader process including the No Objection Certificate, see the NOC for Studying Abroad in Nepal guide.