Dhiraj Kandel
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Quick answer
The essentials at a glance
TAFE NSW teaches certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas and some bachelor's degrees that Nepali students can study on a student visa, across New South Wales. This guide lists business, IT, hospitality, nursing, aged care, engineering and early childhood courses with level, length and campus.
Every course has a CRICOS code to check before you pay. No course gives you a 485 visa automatically, and many short courses won't meet its study rule alone. VET visa applications from Nepal face tough assessment.
Key takeaways
Main points from this page
- TAFE NSW's guide lists more than 100 course options for international students.
- Most courses start in February and July, and start months can differ by campus.
- Some diplomas need a Certificate III or IV first, shown together in your offer.
- The 485 study rule asks for at least 92 weeks of CRICOS study.
- A Diploma of Nursing leads to enrolled nurse, not registered nurse.
This guide lists TAFE NSW courses that Nepali students can apply to, with each course’s level, length and campus, all read on TAFE NSW’s official course pages. For campuses, fees in Rs, scholarships and work rights, see our TAFE NSW profile. For grades, English scores, documents and the application steps, see our TAFE NSW admissions guide. For other options, start from our guide to studying in Australia from Nepal.
Which TAFE NSW courses can Nepali students apply to?
TAFE NSW lists certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas and bachelor’s degrees for international students, with more than 100 course options in its International Student Guide.
The courses come in 4 levels:
- Certificate III and IV: usually 6 months to 1 year. Some ask for Year 10, and a Certificate IV can be the first step to a diploma.
- Vocational diploma: 6 months to 2 years, teaching job skills. The 6-month diplomas first need a Certificate IV.
- Advanced diploma: usually 2 years, such as the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical).
- Higher education diploma and bachelor’s degree: a 1-year diploma or a 3 to 4-year degree. A diploma in the same area can reduce the degree by a year.
Availability changes, so confirm each course on TAFE NSW’s course finder. Check every course on the CRICOS register, because only CRICOS courses can be studied on a student visa.
Which TAFE NSW courses can lead to a 485 visa?
No course gives you a 485 visa automatically, but TAFE NSW bachelor’s degrees can lead to the Post-Higher Education Work stream if you meet its rules.
Diplomas and trade qualifications need the Post-Vocational Education Work stream, which depends on the skilled list and a skills assessment. Home Affairs also asks that your course is CRICOS registered and meets the study rule of at least 92 weeks. Many courses here are shorter than that, so check the CRICOS weeks. Read our Australia 485 visa page for the streams, lengths and fee.
TAFE NSW’s working in Australia page describes the vocational stream as being for a VET qualification relevant to the needs of the Australian workforce. It doesn’t list which of its courses qualify, so don’t treat any row below as a yes.
Which TAFE NSW courses are popular with Nepali students?
The table shows TAFE NSW’s courses in the areas most popular with Nepali and Indian students, up to two per area, with each one’s level, length and campus.
Most of these courses start in February and July, and some start in April or September too, so check the course’s own page for its exact status.
| Course area | Program | Credential and length | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT, data and AI | |||
| Cybersecurity | Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security and Cloud Architecture) | Diploma, 6 months, after a Certificate IV | Ultimo |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (Cyber and Network Security) | Bachelor’s degree, 3 years | Meadowbank | |
| Cloud computing and networking | Certificate IV in Information Technology (Networking) | Certificate IV, 6 months | Meadowbank, Blacktown, Ultimo |
| Computer programming and software development | Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Programming) | Diploma, 6 months, after a Certificate IV | Petersham |
| Computer science and IT | Diploma of Information Technology | Diploma, 1 year | Meadowbank |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (Data Engineering) | Bachelor’s degree, 3 years | Meadowbank | |
| Business and management | |||
| Accounting | Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping | Certificate IV, 6 months | Ultimo, Meadowbank |
| Bachelor of Applied Commerce (Accounting Major) | Bachelor’s degree, 3 years | Ultimo | |
| Marketing and digital marketing | Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication | Certificate IV, 6 months | Ultimo, Newcastle (Tighes Hill) |
| Business administration (BBA and diplomas) | Diploma of Business | Diploma, 1 year | Ultimo |
| Bachelor of Business | Bachelor’s degree, 3 years | Ultimo, Liverpool | |
| Hospitality and tourism | |||
| Hospitality and hotel management | Diploma of Hospitality Management | Diploma, 1 year | Ultimo, Ryde, Wollongong and 7 more |
| Culinary arts | Certificate III in Commercial Cookery | Certificate III, 1 year | Hamilton, Wollongong, Ourimbah, Wollongbar |
| Certificate IV in Kitchen Management | Certificate IV, 1 year | Ultimo, Ryde, Hamilton and 6 more | |
| Tourism and travel | Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management | Diploma, 1 year | Ultimo |
| Health and nursing | |||
| Nursing (enrolled nurse) | Diploma of Nursing | Diploma, 1.5 years | Ultimo, Randwick, Newcastle (Tighes Hill) and 10 more |
| Personal support worker and aged care | Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) | Certificate III, 6 months | Ultimo, Meadowbank, St Leonards and 5 more |
| Certificate IV in Ageing Support | Certificate IV, 1 year | Ultimo | |
| Engineering and trades | |||
| Civil engineering and construction | Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) | Diploma, 1 year, after a Certificate IV | Ultimo, Nirimba |
| Diploma of Civil Construction Design | Diploma, 1.5 years | Ultimo | |
| Mechanical and mechatronics engineering | Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical) | Advanced diploma, 2 years | Ultimo |
| Electrical and electronics engineering | Diploma of Electronics and Communications Engineering | Diploma, 2 years | Ultimo |
| Community, education and psychology | |||
| Early childhood education | Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care | Diploma, 1 year, after a Certificate III | Meadowbank, Petersham, Randwick and 6 more |
| Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth-5) | Bachelor’s degree, 4 years | Ultimo, St Leonards, Randwick and 3 more | |
| Social work and community services | Diploma of Community Services | Diploma, 1 year, after a Certificate IV | Ultimo, Dubbo |
| Certificate IV in Community Services | Certificate IV, 1 year | Ultimo, Dubbo | |
| Agriculture and food science | Certificate III in Horticulture | Certificate III, 1 year | Ryde |
Where a campus list ends in “and more”, the course page has the full list. Some diplomas need a certificate first, and TAFE NSW then shows both courses in your offer. Fees are shown on each course’s page.
What do you need for each course level?
TAFE NSW asks for an NEB GPA of 2.21 for vocational courses or 2.61 for higher education, with IELTS 6.0 for most courses and 6.5 for bachelor’s degrees.
- Certificates and vocational diplomas: IELTS 6.0 with no band under 5.5 or PTE 47, as for the Diploma of Hospitality Management.
- Higher education diplomas: IELTS 6.0 with no band under 5.5. The Diploma of Information Technology adds a questionnaire, a statement of purpose and an online interview.
- Bachelor’s degrees: IELTS 6.5 with no band under 6.0 or PTE 58, as for the Bachelor of Business.
- Diploma of Nursing: IELTS 7.0 with writing at 6.5, plus a numeracy assessment, on the course page.
To see where your +2 grades stand, convert your NEB GPA to a percentage with our NEB GPA calculator.
How do you choose the right TAFE NSW course?
Start with your background and your plan after graduation, then check the course’s CRICOS code, intakes and campus on TAFE NSW’s own course page before you apply.
- Coming from +2? Pick a course that follows from your +2 subjects or your job plan, because you must explain that choice under Genuine Student. VET visa applications from Nepal face tough assessment, so read our Australia visa success rate from Nepal page first.
- Already hold a bachelor’s degree? A move down to a certificate or diploma needs a very clear reason, so talk it through before you apply. Our Genuine Student guide shows what officers look for.
- Want to be a registered nurse? A Diploma of Nursing leads to enrolled nurse. Registered nursing needs a bachelor’s, and TAFE NSW lists a UTS pathway into one rather than teaching it.
- Check the campus. A course can run in Sydney at one campus and only in a regional city at another, and start months can differ by campus.
For more on each type of course, see our guides to diploma courses in Australia, accounting courses and early childhood education courses. Our branches in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara can help you compare.
Frequently asked questions about TAFE NSW courses
You can look at certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas and some bachelor's degrees in areas such as business, IT, hospitality, nursing, aged care and early childhood. Check each course page and its CRICOS code before you apply.
Some vocational diplomas first need a Certificate IV, so the diploma itself is short. TAFE NSW then puts both courses in your offer letter. Add the lengths and fees together when you plan your budget and your 485 study weeks.
It isn't listed in TAFE NSW's guide. TAFE NSW teaches the Diploma of Nursing for enrolled nurses, and lists a pathway to the University of Technology Sydney's Bachelor of Nursing with one year of credit.
TAFE NSW lists IT certificates and diplomas, a Diploma of Information Technology and bachelor's degrees in cyber and network security and in data engineering, mostly at Meadowbank. The degrees need Year 12 Mathematics and an interview.
Yes. TAFE NSW lets you package two or more courses, such as a diploma and a bachelor's, and says you can apply for one student visa covering the study. Credit can shorten the later course.
No course gives you a 485 visa automatically. You need at least 92 weeks of CRICOS study and must meet the stream's rules, and diplomas also depend on the skilled list and a skills assessment.
Sources
Reference links
Disclaimer
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.
