The essentials at a glance
You can study at a college in Australia after +2, and many colleges take international students from Nepal for short, hands-on courses. Most Nepali students choose a public TAFE, such as TAFE NSW or TAFE Queensland, where a diploma usually takes 1 to 2 years. Every college that takes international students must be on CRICOS, the government's list, so check the college and course there before you pay. Visa officers look hard at college courses from Nepal, so you need a clear plan and real funds.
Main points from this page
Colleges in Australia for international students are mostly TAFEs and private colleges that teach hands-on certificate and diploma courses, known as VET.
VET stands for vocational education and training, which simply means courses that teach you the skills for a job. When Nepali students say “college” for Australia, this is usually what they mean. Study Australia’s guide to VET and TAFE says these courses are planned and taught by people who work in that field. So a college is the hands-on route, while a university is the academic route. If you are still deciding on the country as a whole, start with our guide to study in Australia from Nepal.
There are three kinds of vocational college in Australia, and it helps to know which one you apply to. The table sets them side by side.
| Type of college | Who runs it | What you study | Examples on this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE (Technical and Further Education) | A state government, so these are public colleges | Certificates, diplomas, a few degrees | TAFE NSW, TAFE Queensland, TAFE SA |
| Private college | A private company | Mostly certificates and diplomas | None named: check each one on CRICOS first |
| Dual-sector university | A university that also runs a VET college | Diplomas and degrees | RMIT, Charles Darwin University |
Study Australia says TAFEs are the largest VET provider in Australia. That is why most Nepali students who choose a college pick a public TAFE first. Technical colleges, vocational colleges and TAFEs all mean much the same thing here: a college that trains you for work.
Nepali students choose a college in Australia for shorter, practical courses that can lead to a job or to a university degree later.
A college suits you if you want hands-on skills after +2, or if a full bachelor’s feels too long or too costly right now. Many students also use a diploma as a step into the second year of a related degree. Keep in mind that a college course is a real study plan, not a shortcut to a visa. So pick a course that fits what you studied and what you want to do. You can compare college and university options in our guide to courses in Australia for Nepali students. Here are the five reasons students give us most often.
Study Australia gives about 12 to 18 months for a Certificate IV and 18 to 24 months for a diploma. A bachelor’s usually takes 3 years or more. So you can finish sooner and start working or studying further.
VET courses are skills-based, and many include work placements. Study Australia says every VET teacher must have recent experience in their industry, so you learn how the job is really done.
A year of diploma tuition usually costs less than a year of a bachelor’s at a university. The exact fee depends on the college and course, so check the official fee page before you apply.
Study Australia says a diploma or advanced diploma can give you credit towards a related university degree. Ask the university in writing how much credit your diploma will get.
Colleges teach areas such as cookery, early childhood education, aged care, IT, business and trades. Some of these are linked to occupations Australia needs, which matters for the 485 visa later.
Most public TAFEs in Australia take international students, and these ten are the ones Nepali students ask us about most.
This is our list of colleges in Australia with a full Goreto guide for each one. A CRICOS code is the number a college gets when the Australian Government registers it to teach student visa holders. You can type any code or name into the CRICOS register and see the college and its courses. The list is in alphabetical order, not a ranking, because the right college depends on your course, city and budget.
Open a college guide to see its courses, fees, entry rules and intakes for students from Nepal. If two colleges teach the same diploma, compare the course length, the campus city and the fee for the whole course, not just one year.
A public TAFE in east Melbourne. It has certificates, diplomas and a few bachelor’s degrees, and the Diploma of Nursing. CRICOS code 02411J.
A public TAFE in south-east Melbourne, with campuses such as Dandenong and Frankston. It is known for health, community work, IT and trades. CRICOS code 00881F.
A public TAFE in south-east Melbourne with certificates, diplomas and some degrees. Its Diploma of Nursing is open to students from abroad. CRICOS code 00012G.
Part of Bendigo Kangan Institute, a public TAFE with campuses in Melbourne. It teaches trades, health, car and creative courses. CRICOS code 01218G.
The VET college inside RMIT University, in Melbourne city. A diploma here can lead into an RMIT degree in the same field. CRICOS code 00122A (RMIT).
A public TAFE in south Perth and Fremantle, in Western Australia. Students from abroad apply through TAFE International Western Australia. CRICOS code 00020G.
The New South Wales state TAFE, with campuses in Sydney and across the state. CRICOS lists it as the Technical and Further Education Commission. CRICOS code 00591E.
The Queensland state TAFE, with campuses in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and other towns. It has certificates, diplomas and some degrees. CRICOS code 03020E.
The South Australia state TAFE, with campuses in Adelaide and smaller towns. It teaches business, health, hotel work and trades. CRICOS code 00092B.
A public TAFE in Melbourne city for cookery, hotels, tourism and events. It can also teach degrees. CRICOS code 01505M.
Search the college and your exact course on the CRICOS register, and only apply if both are listed for the campus where you will study.
This step matters most for private colleges in Australia for international students. Many private colleges are good, but some close, lose their registration or sell courses that are not open to student visa holders. A Nepali family pays a large deposit, so a two-minute check is worth it. Search your course name on the CRICOS course search and open the result. Then look at the campus, the length in weeks and the provider code.
Vocational colleges are also registered as training organisations (RTOs). The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator for vocational education and training, and you can look up any RTO on training.gov.au. On this page we name only colleges that are on CRICOS. If an agent offers you a college that is not listed, or that you cannot find, stop and ask questions before you pay anything.
Before you pay a deposit or tuition, tick off each point below:
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Yes, college (VET) applications from Nepal face a tougher visa assessment than university applications, so you need a strong, well-explained study plan.
Recent Home Affairs data shows very few vocational applications from Nepal being granted. You can see the official figures on our Australia visa success rate from Nepal page. We do not quote a rate here, because your result depends on your own file. That means your course, your +2 or work history, your funds and how well you explain your plan. A counselor can look at your file and tell you honestly whether a college course or a university course is the stronger choice.
Two rules shape how your college application is judged. The first is the Genuine Student requirement. You explain why this course, this college and Australia make sense for you, and our Genuine Student requirement guide shows what to write. The second is processing priority. The Home Affairs Student visa page says files lodged from outside Australia on or after 14 November 2025 follow Ministerial Direction 115. Under it, how fast your file moves can depend on your college.
A common worry is the “assessment level” of colleges. Students often ask about assessment level 2 colleges in Australia or level 1 colleges. In fact, Home Affairs sets evidence levels for the college and the country together, and it does not publish the list. Our short guide to level 1, 2 and 3 universities in Australia explains what this means for Nepali students.
Yes, a diploma can give you credit into a related degree, and it can lead to a 485 visa of up to 18 months.
Many TAFEs have deals with universities, so a good diploma result can take you into the second year of a related bachelor’s. RMIT is the clearest example, because its VET college and its university are one place. If you are weighing the two routes after +2, our guide on diploma vs bachelor’s in Australia after +2 compares them for Nepali students.
After your diploma, you may apply for the 485 visa, also called the Temporary Graduate visa. Its Post-Vocational Education Work stream is for a diploma or trade course linked to a job on the skilled occupation list. You can stay for up to 18 months, but you must first apply for a skills check in that job. A degree gives a longer stay, usually 2 to 3 years, so read our full Australia 485 visa guide before you choose your course.
Public TAFEs, mainly in regional areas, are usually the cheap colleges in Australia for international students, at about AUD 27,000 to 35,000 a year for a diploma.
That is about Rs 24 to 32 lakh a year, before living costs, and you can check today’s rate with our AUD to Rs forex converter. These figures come from 2026 fee lists on our cost to study in Australia page. That page also shows living costs and the first-year total. Be careful with colleges in Australia for international students with low tuition fee offers that look far cheaper. A very low fee can mean a short course, a course not on CRICOS, or extra fees later.
Study in a smaller city can lower your total cost and bring extra benefits, as our guide to regional study in Australia explains. For example, Western Australia gives a regional TAFE bursary of AUD 5,000 to students from abroad who start in 2027 or 2028 at a regional campus. The five colleges below are more options on CRICOS to compare.
The state office that handles all applications from abroad for Western Australia’s public TAFEs, in Perth and in smaller towns. CRICOS code 00020G.
A public TAFE in Melbourne with certificates, diplomas and some degrees, in fields such as business, IT, hotels and trades. CRICOS code 00724G.
A public TAFE in Geelong, a regional city about an hour from Melbourne. Its Diploma of Nursing is open to students from abroad. CRICOS code 00011G.
The Tasmania state TAFE, with campuses in Hobart, Launceston and other towns. It suits students who want a quiet, regional place to study. CRICOS code 03041M.
A university in Darwin that also runs a VET college, so your diploma and your degree can be at one place. CRICOS code 00300K.
Most Nepali students choose a city first. Here are the colleges on this page by city.
Big cities have more part-time jobs, but rent is usually higher. Smaller cities often cost less to live in, so compare both before you decide.
A college teaches practical VET courses that are shorter and usually cheaper, while a university teaches academic degrees such as a bachelor’s or master’s.
Neither is better for everyone. If you want a profession that needs a degree, such as registered nursing, engineering or accounting, a university is the right place. If you want a trade or a hands-on job, or you want a lower first step into Australia, a college may suit you better. For degree options, see our list of universities in Australia for international students.
| College (TAFE or private) | University | |
|---|---|---|
| What you study | Certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas | Bachelor’s, master’s, PhD |
| Usual length | Certificate IV 12 to 18 months; diploma 18 to 24 months; advanced diploma 24 to 36 months | Bachelor’s usually 3 to 4 years; master’s 1 to 2 years |
| Tuition for a year | Diploma about AUD 27,000 to 35,000 | Bachelor’s about AUD 35,000 to 47,000 |
| Who checks quality | ASQA (vocational regulator) | TEQSA (higher education regulator) |
| Visa assessment from Nepal | Tougher: a strong study plan is needed | Usually less strict than VET |
| 485 visa after study | Up to 18 months, if linked to a skilled occupation | Usually 2 to 3 years |
Course lengths come from Study Australia, fees from the cost page above, and 485 lengths from Home Affairs.
To apply to a TAFE from Nepal, you usually need your +2, an English score such as IELTS 6.0 or PTE 47, a passport and proof of funds.
Each TAFE sets its own entry rules for each course. A diploma may ask for certain +2 grades or subjects, and some courses ask for work experience. Work out your GPA with our NEB GPA calculator, then compare it with the eligibility for Australia page. If your score is lower, you can add 10 or more weeks of English classes. The visa then accepts IELTS 5.5 or PTE 39, and our minimum IELTS and PTE for Australia guide has every score. A low +2 result does not always rule you out, as our guide to studying in Australia after +2 with a low GPA shows.
The order of steps is the same as for a university: offer letter, deposit, Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), then the visa. Our how to apply for an Australia student visa guide walks through each step from Nepal. Wherever you live in Nepal, even in a town like Dhangadhi, you can get advice from us. We have branches in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara, so contact our counselors to check a college before you apply.
TAFE is a good choice if you want a practical course, a lower fee than most degrees and a public college you can trust. The main risk is the visa, because VET files from Nepal face a tougher check. So choose a course that fits your +2 or work history, and explain it clearly.
Yes. TAFE NSW, TAFE Queensland, TAFE SA, TasTAFE, Gordon, Holmesglen and Box Hill have the Diploma of Nursing on CRICOS, which trains enrolled nurses. To become a registered nurse you need a bachelor’s from a university. Our nursing and midwifery courses in Australia guide compares both routes.
There is no official ranking of colleges. The best one for you is on CRICOS, teaches your exact course in the city you want and fits your budget. Many Nepali students start their list with the large public TAFEs, such as TAFE NSW, TAFE Queensland and the Melbourne TAFEs. Our 10 college cards above work as a top 10 list to start from, not a ranking.
Study Australia gives 18 to 24 months for a diploma and 24 to 36 months for an advanced diploma, though each college sets its own length. Our guide to diploma courses in Australia for international students lists popular diplomas and how long they take.
Yes. On a student visa you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and more during official breaks. Our guide to working hours for students in Australia explains the rule and what counts as a break.
You can, but there are rules, especially in your first six months, and a new college means a new CoE. Read our guide to changing your course or college in Australia before you ask for a release.
Some do, but college scholarships are smaller and fewer than university ones. Most are partial fee discounts, and Western Australia offers a regional TAFE bursary of AUD 5,000. Our scholarships in Australia for Nepali students page lists the main options.
For most students, no. Since 2 October 2026, most student visa applicants can no longer include a partner or child in their application. Our Australia student visa requirements page explains who is exempt.
Many are, but quality varies more than at public TAFEs. Before you apply, check that the college and your course are on CRICOS. Then check that it is a current RTO on training.gov.au, and that the offer letter shows the full fee and refund policy.
Reference links
Important guidance note
This page provides general guidance about studying abroad. Requirements, fees and policies can change. For advice about your situation, speak with a Goreto counselor before applying.
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