How to Apply for Australian Universities

Find the right path for you.

If you’re a student wanting to complete your tertiary studies in Australia, it can be a daunting process trying to figure out which course to pick, where to study and how to get started.

But applying for Australian universities is a lot easier than you might think.

Whether you’re wanting to travel to Australia for university, have been studying in an Australian high school for some time now or have only ever studied in Australia, here are the various pathways you can take to apply for your dream course.

Choose Your Course and University

Whether you only want to study in Australia for a semester or you want to complete a double degree from start to finish, your first step is to choose the right course for you as well as the university that you think will give you the greatest opportunities after graduation.

Make sure you do your research, look up courses and what’s on offer, their financial differences, the campus size, the facilities available, locations of universities and the support services on offer so that you can get the right fit for you.

One thing to keep in mind is whether your ideal course is offered by the university you’re looking into. For instance, you might have a hard time finding a science course at a music school.

Before applying for your course, ensure that you meet all the requirements, as the last thing you want to do is get high hopes and miss out if you aren’t eligible to go.

You can manually sift through the universities and courses that you’re interested in, but to make things a little easier you can also search for courses and universities on the Open Universities website or the Studies In Australia website and use their Course Search and Institution Search pages.

Applying Internationally

Now that you know where and what you want to study it is important to check the academic and English language requirements for that school to guarantee you are eligible. You can often contact the university directly to ask about their application requirements and deadlines.

If you’re worried about not meeting all the requirements, don’t stress! You can always apply for a bridging or foundation course that will prepare you for your new course.

Depending on your current level of English, you can also undertake bridging courses designed to develop your English Language Proficiency to prepare you for direct entry into a university.

Once you’ve chosen your degree and double-checked all the requirements you can then gather all the required documents that you need to begin your application.

Most universities provide application forms online that are available to download but if you have any questions about the forms or can’t get a copy you can always contact the university and ask. They’re there to help.

Along with your application forms, potential students are usually required to provide:

• Personal details
• Certified proof of English proficiency
• Details of previous, relevant qualifications and/or academic transcripts
• Course preferences
• Summary of employment experience

Double check your individual university’s requirements for application documentation before proceeding, as some universities require extra paperwork like personal statements or references.

Documents that are submitted in a language other than English are often required to be accompanied by a complete English translation from an accredited translator, and students applying from the People’s Republic of China may also be required to provide a China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC) document to verify their academic documentation.

If you know that you’ve got everything you need to proceed, it’s time to investigate course costs and financial support options.

The information page for your chosen course will often display the fees and costs for the following year or the year after. If you are unsure about some costs or can’t find this information on the course page, contact the university.

As for financial support, some countries provide education loans to their residents. You may also be eligible for a country-specific or merit-based scholarship from your chosen university. Contact your national social security service or chosen university to find out more about your options.

As an international student you can either submit your application directly to your preferred university or apply through an authorised agent.

Applying directly to the university is often an online process. Search for your course, choose the option "Apply now" and follow the prompts on the website.

If you would prefer assistance, some universities provide authorised university agents who can support you through the application process from start to finish.

Applying from Australia

If you’re already an Australian student or have studied in Australia before, the application process for you may be slightly different.

There are several different pathways available to you if you want to study at an Australian university, whether you have recently finished high school, or you haven’t studied for several years.

Common pathways into Australian universities include:

• An ATAR score: a ranking of Year 12 results compared with all other final year students.
• A bridging or enabling course: short intensive courses to prepare students for tertiary study.
• Portfolio entry: entry by submitting a portfolio that demonstrates evidence of academic achievements and qualifications.
• Higher education or diploma programs: with qualifications from a TAFE or AQF you may meet a university’s minimum academic criteria.
• Mature age entry: depending on the university requirement, you may be considered mature-age and can explore other flexible pathways including WACE, special tertiary admissions tests, or previous study pathways.

Once you’ve chosen your degree and entry path, you will need to gather all the required documents to begin your application.

Most universities will have requirements listed on their website but if you have any questions about documentation, you can always contact the university and ask.

If you are an Australian citizen, resident or are otherwise eligible, you may also be able to apply for financial support options or scholarships to assist with your course costs or accommodation expenses. Contact your university or Centrelink to explore your options.

Now that you’re ready to apply, you can either submit your application through TISC (the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre), UAC (the Universities Admissions Centre) or directly to the university of your choice.

While most universities will accept applications through TISC and UAC, private universities often don’t, and you will likely have to submit your application directly to that university if it is your preference.

Accept Your Offer

Once your application has been accepted you will receive a letter of offer and an acceptance form.

Make sure you carefully read the letter of offer and check for any other conditions, requirements or payments that my still apply.

Some courses require students to pay some tuition fees upfront, so check with your acceptance letter or university before you proceed and accept your offer.

Prepare for Study!

Whether you’re moving to study internationally, moving out of home or staying exactly where you are to study locally or online, there are a few more steps that you may need to take to prepare for your studies.

If you’re an international student travelling to Australia, you need to apply for a student visa. You can do this using either your letter of offer or Confirmation of Enrolment.

For more information on student visas and applications you can visit the Department of Home Affairs website or the Studies in Australia Student Visas page.

If you’re traveling as an international student or just moving interstate for uni it is important to work out your budget, organise flights, accommodation and potentially Overseas Student Health Cover.

Finally, once you have successfully applied and accepted your offer, your university will likely send you an admissions package usually including information about your course, accommodation options and details about orientation. This will help you prepare for an exciting life experience.

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