Courses in Australia for Nepali Students by Level

Which Course Levels Can Nepali Students Study in Australia?

You can study at seven main levels in Australia: English courses, foundation, certificate and diploma, bachelor’s, master’s by coursework, master’s by research and PhD.

Australia puts every qualification on one national ladder called the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). It has 10 levels, from Certificate I at level 1 to a doctoral degree at level 10. You can move from one level to the next, as long as you keep meeting your student visa rules. So the level you start at is not where you have to stay.

For a Nepali student, the real question is which step fits you now. That depends on your +2 or bachelor’s result, your English score and your family’s budget. If you are still planning the move, start with our guide to study in Australia from Nepal, then use this page to pick your level. The table shows how the levels line up.

What Are English and Foundation Courses in Australia?

English courses (ELICOS) improve your English before your main course, and foundation courses prepare +2 students who do not yet meet a university’s entry rules.

ELICOS stands for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. Study Australia’s guide to English courses lists general English, English for academic study and exam preparation for tests such as IELTS. A course runs from 5 to 60 weeks, depending on your level, and new classes start all through the year.

Most Nepali students use ELICOS as a short step before a diploma or degree, not as a course on its own. The Student visa (subclass 500) page lets you package courses together when you apply from outside Australia. The last course in the package is then your main course. With 10 or more weeks of ELICOS first, the visa accepts IELTS 5.5 or PTE 39, and with 20 or more weeks, IELTS 5.0 or PTE 31.

Without that English course, the visa usually asks for IELTS 6.0, PTE 47 or TOEFL iBT 67. Your university may ask for more, so check its score in our guide to the minimum IELTS and PTE for Australia. Even cheap English courses need a clear purpose:

Foundation studies

A foundation course usually takes 1 year, and some take longer. Study Australia’s page on Australia’s education system says pathway studies help students who do not quite meet direct entry to a bachelor’s. Most foundation courses start in February, but dates vary by course. Many are run by or with a university, so passing with the right marks can lead straight into its first year.

This suits a Nepali student whose +2 GPA is a little below the university’s rule for a bachelor’s. It adds a year of fees and living costs, so compare it with a diploma first.

What Are VET Certificate and Diploma Courses in Australia?

Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses are practical certificates and diplomas from TAFE institutes and private colleges, and they last 1 to 4 years.

VET sits at AQF levels 1 to 6, from Certificate I up to the advanced diploma. Study Australia says these colleges are often smaller than universities and teach job-ready skills for over 500 careers. Many courses include work placements, so you learn on the job as well as in class.

Many Nepali students pick a diploma in business, IT or cookery. Some of these give credit into a degree. Our guide on diploma vs bachelor’s in Australia after +2 compares the two paths. To compare TAFE and private providers, see our page on colleges in Australia for international students.

After a diploma, the post-study work visa lasts up to 18 months, and only if the course matches a job on the skilled list. Our page on the Australia 485 visa explains the rules. The main VET levels are:

What Do You Need for Bachelor Courses in Australia?

For a bachelor’s degree, most universities ask a Nepali student for a +2 GPA of about 2.4 to 2.8 and an English score of around IELTS 6.0.

A bachelor’s is an undergraduate degree, and in Australia it typically takes 3 years, or 4 years with Honours. The degree sits at AQF level 7, and Honours at level 8.

Each university sets its own GPA rule, and many count only your best subjects. Work out yours with the NEB GPA calculator, then check the full rules in our guide to eligibility to study in Australia. Our list of universities in Australia for international students helps you compare them.

For a bachelor course, these are the basics to plan for:

What Are Master Courses in Australia?

Master courses in Australia come in two types: a master’s by coursework, taught in classes, and a master’s by research, built around a thesis.

Both sit at AQF level 9. A coursework master’s is the most common choice for Nepali students who hold a bachelor’s from TU, KU, PU or another university. You need a completed bachelor’s that the university accepts as equal to an Australian one. If yours is a 3-year degree, ask the university before you apply, because some courses then ask for more study or work experience.

Most universities ask for IELTS 6.5 for a master’s, and some courses ask for more. The 485 visa needs at least 92 weeks of study in Australia, so a short course alone may not be enough. Check the course length before you accept an offer.

For a coursework master’s, plan for these:

Master’s by research

A master’s by research is mostly a supervised thesis, with few or no classes. It usually takes 1 to 2 years full time; part-time study takes longer, but a student visa course is normally full time. Most universities look for a bachelor’s with strong marks, often with Honours or a research project. You also need a supervisor who agrees to guide your topic.

This path suits a Nepali graduate who wants to move into a PhD or a research job. After you finish, the 485 visa usually gives 3 years. Many universities offer research scholarships for both the research master’s and the PhD. The usual steps are:

What Does a PhD in Australia Need from a Nepali Student?

A PhD in Australia usually takes about 3 years, sometimes 4, and you need a master’s or Honours degree with research, plus a supervisor.

Most doctoral students do not attend classes. They research with a supervisor all year, and the start date is agreed with that supervisor. Your research proposal and any published papers matter as much as your marks.

Tuition is about AUD 29,000 to 45,000 a year, but many PhD students get a scholarship that covers fees and gives a living allowance. Our guide to scholarships in Australia for Nepali students lists the main ones. PhD students are also one of the few groups who can still include family on their visa. Home Affairs’ page on including or adding family members explains this rule, which began on 2 October 2026.

How Do Pathways Between Course Levels Work?

A pathway lets you start at a lower level, such as English, foundation or a diploma, and move up to a degree, often on one packaged offer.

Some universities have formal deals with pathway colleges that give credit for what you have already studied. For example, a diploma in IT can count toward the first year of a bachelor’s in IT at a partner university.

When you apply from Nepal, Home Affairs lets you package these courses on one visa, and the last course is your main course. Moving up is easier than moving down. To move down a level, such as from a bachelor’s to a diploma, you need a new visa. Study Australia explains this on its page on changing your course or provider.

These are the pathways Nepali students use most:

What Is the Best Course to Study in Australia?

The best course to study in Australia is the one that follows from your +2 stream or bachelor’s, fits your family’s budget and leads to work you want.

No single course is best for every Nepali student, and no course promises a job or permanent residency (PR). Visa officers read your Genuine Student answers, so a course that clearly follows your past study is easier to explain. A science student moving into nursing or IT has a clear story.

So start with your +2 stream or your bachelor’s subject, then check the fees and the entry rules. Next, think about life after study: the 485 visa stream and the jobs that use your degree. Our Australia GS requirement guide shows how to explain your choice. International students from Nepal often match their stream like this:

Which courses lead to PR in Australia?

Students often ask for the best course to study in Australia for PR. No course gives PR on its own, because PR depends on the skilled occupation lists, points, English and work experience when you apply. Those lists change, so a course that looks safe today may not be later. Our guide to PR courses in Australia explains how the lists work and which fields Nepali students usually pick.

Which subjects can you study?

Every level covers many subjects, from IT and nursing to agriculture and creative media. We keep a separate guide to courses in Australia for international students by subject, with one page for each popular field. Pick your level on this page first, then use the subject guides to compare courses at that level.

How Much Does Each Course Level Cost in Australia?

Yearly tuition is usually about AUD 27,000 to 35,000 for a diploma and AUD 35,000 to 48,000 for a bachelor’s or master’s, before living costs.

These are typical 2026 ranges from university and TAFE fee schedules, taken from our page on the total cost to study in Australia from Nepal. Big-city universities such as the Group of Eight charge more, and regional ones often charge less. On top of tuition, the visa asks you to show AUD 29,710 a year for living costs.

Rupee figures are rounded, so check today’s rate with the AUD to Rs forex converter. A few ways to keep the cost down:

When can you start, and how do you apply?

Most courses start in February or July, and some universities add a November intake. English courses start all through the year, and a PhD start date is agreed with your supervisor. Our guide to Australia intakes lists the dates. Once you pick a course, our page on how to apply for an Australia student visa takes you from offer letter to visa, step by step.

How Do You Check a Course in Australia Before You Pay?

Check that the provider and the exact course are on CRICOS, the government register, before you pay any fee or deposit.

Only courses on CRICOS can be studied on a student visa. Search the provider’s name or the course code from your offer letter, then check the course length, the campus and the level. If the length or the campus on CRICOS differs from your offer, ask the provider why before you accept.

Some agents in Nepal push a course because it pays them a high commission, not because it fits you. The provider’s visa evidence level also affects the papers you attach, as our guide to level 1 universities in Australia explains. Ask these 4 questions first:

Can you change your course or level later?

Your visa needs you to stay in a course at the same or a higher level than the one it was granted for. Moving to a lower level, such as a diploma after a bachelor’s, needs a new visa. If you want to change provider before 6 months of your main course, your current provider must agree, except in cases such as serious illness. Our guide on how to change course in Australia covers the steps.

How Can Goreto Help You Choose a Course Level?

Our counselors look at your +2 or bachelor’s marks, your English score and your budget, then suggest the level and courses that fit you.

We check your GPA against each university’s rule and tell you if a foundation course or a diploma would be safer. Then we compare the fees for the whole course and help you plan a choice you can explain in your Genuine Student answers. Bring these to your first session:

You can get this advice wherever you live in Nepal, from Dhangadhi to Ilam. Visit one of our branches in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara, or contact Goreto to book a free session online.