TAFE SA Courses for International Students

This guide lists TAFE SA courses that Nepali students can apply to, with each course’s level, length and campus, all read on TAFE SA’s official course pages. For campuses, fees in Rs, scholarships and work rights, see our TAFE SA profile. For grades, English scores, documents and the application steps, see our TAFE SA admissions guide. For other options, start from our guide to studying in Australia from Nepal.

Which TAFE SA courses can Nepali students apply to?

TAFE SA lists certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and one bachelor’s for international students on its international course list, across areas from IT to health.

The courses come in 4 levels:

• Certificate III and IV: usually 6 months to 1 year. From Nepal you still need Grade 12, and a Certificate IV is often the first step to a diploma.
• Vocational diploma: 6 months to 2 years, teaching job skills. Many IT and hospitality diplomas first need a certificate.
• Advanced diploma: such as the Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design, on the course list with fees.
• Associate degree and bachelor’s: higher education courses of 2 and 3 years. TAFE SA’s higher education page says an associate degree gives two years of credit towards a four-year engineering bachelor’s.

Availability changes, so confirm each course on TAFE SA’s own pages. Check every course on the CRICOS register, because only CRICOS courses can be studied on a student visa.

Which TAFE SA courses can lead to a 485 visa?

No course gives you a 485 visa automatically, but TAFE SA’s bachelor’s 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 SA doesn’t list which of its courses qualify, so don’t treat any row below as a yes. The nearest wording we read is on the Associate Degree in Electronic Engineering page, which says graduates can apply for a migration skills assessment by Engineers Australia. That is not a promise of a 485 visa.

Which TAFE SA courses are popular with Nepali students?

The table shows TAFE SA’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 January and July. The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care starts in January, and the Diploma of Community Services in April and October, so check the course’s own page.

Some diplomas need a certificate first, and TAFE SA lists packages that join them. The Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, Certificate IV in Kitchen Management and Diploma of Hospitality Management are one such package. Fees are shown on each course’s page.

What do you need for each course level?

TAFE SA asks Nepali applicants for Grade 12 with 60% in their top 4 subjects, with IELTS 6.0 for most courses and more for nursing and early childhood.

• Certificates and vocational diplomas: IELTS 6.0 with no band under 5.0 or PTE 47, as for the Diploma of Marketing and Communication.
• Early childhood: IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in reading and writing, as for the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, which has 160 hours of placement.
• Associate degrees and the bachelor’s: IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in all bands, as for the Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management.
• Diploma of Nursing: IELTS 7.0 with writing at 6.5, plus a Maths test at orientation, 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 SA course?

Start with your background and your plan after graduation, then check the course’s CRICOS code, intakes and campus on TAFE SA’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 SA lists a University Packaged Program with Adelaide University rather than teaching one.
• Thinking of aged care? The Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) runs for 26 weeks with 120 hours of placement. Read our aged care course guide.

For more on each type of course, see our guides to diploma courses in Australia, civil engineering courses and early childhood education courses. Our branches in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara can help you compare.

Frequently asked questions about TAFE SA courses