Study in Australia from Nepal and India

Australia student visa at a glance

Visa fee

NPR 2.66 lakh

AUD 2,500

Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

NPR 31.6 lakh

AUD 29,710

Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Work in term

24 hrs/wk

Work during study

Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Stay after study

2 yrs

Temporary Graduate visa (485)

Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Short answer: To study in Australia you apply for the Student visa (subclass 500). The main visa fee is AUD 2,500 (about NPR 2.66 lakh). You must also show AUD 29,710 per year: money that stays yours. You can work up to 24 hours a week during term. Eligible bachelor's and master's graduates can get a post-study work stay of up to 24 months (rules and longer stays for some degrees below).

How much does it cost to study in Australia?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the Australia student visa?

Who can apply

Holds a CoE and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), is 6 or older, has welfare arrangements if under 18, and is a genuine student. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Genuine Student test

Answer the GS questions in the application form (up to 150 words each) with evidence. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

English (if asked)

IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 64, PTE 50, CAE 169 or OET B. Lower scores only with 10–20+ weeks of packaged English (ELICOS). At-home online tests are not accepted. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Health insurance

OSHC for you and any family members from the day you arrive. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Family members

From 2 October 2026 most applicants can no longer include family members. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Processing priority

Offshore applications are prioritised under Ministerial Direction 115, which ties priority to each provider’s allocation. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in Australia?

Work during study

48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session; no limit for research master’s and PhD students. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I stay and work after graduating?

Temporary Graduate visa (485)

Post-Higher Education Work stream: fee AUD 5,750; apply in Australia within 6 months of your student visa ending; age 35 or under (50 for research degrees); IELTS 6.5 overall (5.5 each). Bachelor 2 years, coursework master’s 2 years, research master’s or PhD 3 years. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Indian nationals (AI-ECTA)India

Longer 485 stays: bachelor 2 years (3 with first-class honours in STEM/ICT), any master’s 3 years, PhD 4 years. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in Australia?

Compare universities across countries

Are there scholarships to study in Australia?

Yes: 5 we have checked on official pages. Eligibility can differ for Nepal and India. See all countries

What has changed recently?

1. 2 Oct 2026

   Most applicants can no longer include family members or lodge a further student visa from inside Australia. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 14 Nov 2025

   Ministerial Direction 115 replaced MD111 for offshore processing priorities. Source: Home Affairs, Australia (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Official processing-time figures (the Home Affairs tool is dynamic).
• Assessment/evidence level for Nepal and India — check the Document Checklist Tool for your provider and country.

Official sources for Australia

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1Department of Home AffairsImmigration authority · All visas
2. 2Student visa (subclass 500)Student visa main · Eligibility, funds, OSHC, English, GS, work, family
3. 3Current visa pricingFee page · Fee table (data via official API `/_layouts/15/api/data.aspx/GetPriceList`)
4. 4Temporary Graduate 485 – Post-Higher Education WorkPost-study work · 485 rules
5. 5GS requirementGenuine Student · GS questions/evidence
6. 6Student visa processing prioritiesProcessing priorities · MD111/MD115
7. 7CRICOSProvider register · Official register of providers & courses
8. 8Study AustraliaStudy portal · Official portal
9. 9Australia Awards Nepal (DFAT)Scholarship · Nepali eligible long/short-term awards
10. 10Australian Embassy KathmanduEmbassy for Nepal · Refers visa queries to New Delhi HC
11. 11English language requirementsEnglish tests · Accepted tests