The essentials at a glance
Nepali students can apply to any of the 42 universities in Australia that take international students. Each university sets its own rules for each course and level. So check your +2 or bachelor's grades and English score for each course. Eight of them, the Group of Eight, focus on research, and many others cost less. Before you apply, check that the university and course are on the official lists.
Main points from this page
Study Australia, the government’s site for students from abroad, lists 42 universities, and Nepali students can apply to all of them.
The official count comes from TEQSA, which checks the quality of every university. Its National Register shows 44 providers in the “Australian University” group. The list of Australian universities on Study Australia has 42 names. These are the ones that take students from other countries. So if another site says 43 or 44, it is the same group, just counted in a different way.
Every one of them can give you a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD that is known in Nepal and around the world. The names linked in the table have a full Goreto guide with courses, fees and entry rules. New to all this? Our guide to study in Australia from Nepal takes you from choosing a course to your flight.
| University | Main city or campuses | State or territory |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide University | Adelaide | South Australia |
| Australian Catholic University | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other cities | Several states |
| Australian University of Theology | Sydney | New South Wales |
| Australian National University | Canberra | Australian Capital Territory |
| Avondale University | Lake Macquarie | New South Wales |
| Bond University | Gold Coast | Queensland |
| Charles Darwin University | Darwin | Northern Territory |
| Charles Sturt University | Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and other regional towns | New South Wales |
| CQUniversity | Rockhampton and other cities | Queensland and other states |
| Curtin University | Perth | Western Australia |
| Deakin University | Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool | Victoria |
| Edith Cowan University | Perth | Western Australia |
| Federation University Australia | Ballarat and regional Victoria | Victoria |
| Flinders University | Adelaide | South Australia |
| Griffith University | Gold Coast and Brisbane | Queensland |
| James Cook University | Townsville and Cairns | Queensland |
| La Trobe University | Melbourne and regional Victoria | Victoria |
| Macquarie University | Sydney | New South Wales |
| Monash University | Melbourne | Victoria |
| Murdoch University | Perth | Western Australia |
| Queensland University of Technology | Brisbane | Queensland |
| RMIT University | Melbourne | Victoria |
| Southern Cross University | Lismore, Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour | New South Wales and Queensland |
| Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne | Victoria |
| Torrens University Australia | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide | Several states |
| University of Canberra | Canberra | Australian Capital Territory |
| University of Divinity | Melbourne | Victoria |
| University of Melbourne | Melbourne | Victoria |
| University of New England | Armidale | New South Wales |
| University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | Sydney | New South Wales |
| University of Newcastle | Newcastle and the Central Coast | New South Wales |
| University of Notre Dame Australia | Fremantle and Sydney | Western Australia and New South Wales |
| University of Queensland | Brisbane | Queensland |
| University of Southern Queensland | Toowoomba | Queensland |
| University of Sydney | Sydney | New South Wales |
| University of Tasmania | Hobart and Launceston | Tasmania |
| University of Technology Sydney | Sydney | New South Wales |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast | Queensland |
| University of Western Australia | Perth | Western Australia |
| University of Wollongong | Wollongong | New South Wales |
| Victoria University | Melbourne | Victoria |
| Western Sydney University | Parramatta and other Western Sydney campuses | New South Wales |
Many universities have more than one campus. So check the campus on your offer letter, because rent and jobs depend on the city, not on the name of the university.
Most people mean the Group of Eight when they say the top universities in Australia, and many newer city universities are also strong.
The Group of Eight is a group of 8 universities that focus on research. Together they do about 70% of the research done at Australian universities. They are ANU, Monash, Melbourne, Sydney, UNSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Adelaide University. Our guide to the Group of Eight universities in Australia tells you more.
When you search the top universities in Australia, each ranking shows different numbers. We do not print them here, because they change every year. A rank also tells you little about your own course. So use the cards below to compare the city, the strong subjects and the fit for you.
A Group of Eight member in the centre of Melbourne. Nepali students often pick its master’s courses in business, IT, engineering and public health.
The national university, in Canberra, and a Group of Eight member. It is strong in politics, science and computing. Canberra is smaller and quieter than Sydney.
Australia’s first university and a Group of Eight member. It teaches health, law, business, engineering and much more. Sydney has more jobs, but rent is high.
A Group of Eight member in Brisbane. It is known for science, engineering, business and health. Brisbane usually costs less to live in than Sydney.
A Group of Eight member in Sydney, popular for engineering, computing and business. It uses three terms a year now and plans to move to two semesters from 2028.
One of the largest universities in Australia and a Group of Eight member, in Melbourne. It is known for pharmacy, engineering, IT and business.
The Group of Eight member in Perth. It is known for engineering, mining, farming and science. Perth has a smaller Nepali community than Sydney.
The new university in Adelaide and a Group of Eight member. It joined the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia into one. It teaches engineering, health, business and more.
Based in central Sydney, with a hands-on style linked to jobs. Nepali students often choose it for IT, engineering and business. It is close to Central Station.
Based in north-west Sydney and popular for business, accounting, IT and data courses. Its large campus has its own train station.
Based in Brisbane, it calls itself “the university for the real world”. It is known for business, IT, engineering, nursing and teaching.
Based in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool. It has three trimesters, so you can also start in November. It is popular for IT, nursing and business.
Based on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. Nepali students often study nursing, business, IT and hotel courses there.
Based in central Melbourne and known for design, engineering, IT and business. It also teaches diplomas, which our colleges page covers.
Based in Wollongong, about 80 km south of Sydney by train. It is known for engineering, IT and business. Rent is usually lower than in Sydney.
The largest university in Western Australia, with its main campus in Perth. It is known for engineering, mining, business and health.
Its main campus is in Melbourne, with more in regional Victoria, such as Bendigo. It is popular for nursing, health, business and IT.
Based in Adelaide and known for nursing, medicine, health and social work. Adelaide is a calm city where rent is usually lower.
Based in the north of Queensland, with campuses in Townsville and Cairns. It is known for marine biology, nursing and tropical health.
The university of the island state of Tasmania, in Hobart and Launceston. It is known for marine science, nursing and farming. Life there is quiet and usually cheaper.
Universities outside the Group of Eight, often in smaller cities or regional towns, usually charge lower fees, and rent is lower there too.
Many Nepali students pick these to keep the total cost low. You still get an Australian degree. The same 48-hour work limit and graduate visa rules apply. For a list by fee, see the cheapest universities in Australia for international students. Fees change every year, so check the fee page for your course.
Its campuses are in regional New South Wales, such as Bathurst and Wagga Wagga. Classes are small, and living costs are lower.
Based in Toowoomba, Queensland, and known for lower fees and flexible study. Toowoomba is a friendly city about two hours from Brisbane.
Its main campus is in Ballarat, in regional Victoria. Classes are small, and fees are usually lower than in Melbourne.
Based on the coast, with campuses in Lismore, the Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour. Students like its friendly teachers and calm towns.
Based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and popular for business, IT and health. Life there is calmer and usually cheaper than in Brisbane.
Based in Melbourne, it teaches one subject at a time, usually for four weeks. Many students find this easier to manage with a part-time job.
A private university with campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Nepali students often choose it for business, IT, health and hotel courses.
So if money is tight, compare at least one smaller-city university with your first choice before you decide.
Nepali students also often ask us about CQUniversity, Western Sydney University and Australian Catholic University.
CQUniversity began in Rockhampton, in Queensland. It now also has campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Students pick it for business, IT, nursing and engineering. Western Sydney University has many campuses in the west of Sydney. One is in Parramatta, where many Nepali families live. Australian Catholic University teaches nursing, health, teaching and arts in many cities. It takes students of any faith.
These are not better or worse than the ones above. They suit different grades, budgets and courses. Many have a Nepali student group that helps you find a room and settle in. You may also hear names like TAFE NSW or Kaplan Business School. These are colleges, not universities. You can compare them in our guide to colleges and TAFE in Australia for international students.
Nepali students choose Australia for degrees known around the world, the right to work while they study and a work visa after they finish.
Here is what that means for you. Each point links to the page that explains it in full.
An Australian bachelor’s or master’s is accepted by employers in Nepal and abroad. Classes mix theory with group work and real projects. So you build the skills employers look for.
On a student visa, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while classes are on. In official breaks, there is no limit. Our guide to working hours for students in Australia explains the rule and the usual pay.
After a bachelor’s or master’s, the graduate visa usually lets you stay and work for 2 to 3 years. You must meet its rules. Read our Australia 485 visa guide before you pick a course.
Many Nepali students already study in Australia. Many universities have a Nepali student group. So finding friends, food and a room is easier in your first weeks.
You can study in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, or in a smaller city where rent is lower. Our guide to the best cities in Australia for Nepali students compares them.
Most universities take new students in February and July, and some also in November. See our guide to Australia intakes to plan your start.
For many Nepali families, these reasons make Australia worth the cost. That is true as long as you choose the course and university with care.
Most of the 42 universities are public, and only a few, such as Bond University, Torrens University Australia and the University of Notre Dame Australia, are private.
For a Nepali student, public or private makes little difference to the visa or to how your degree is seen. Both must meet the same national rules. Both charge fees to students from abroad. Private ones often have smaller classes and more start dates. Public ones usually have more courses and more research.
What matters more is that the university and your course are registered. First, find the university on the TEQSA register linked above. Then search your course on CRICOS, the official list of courses you can study on a student visa. If a course is not on CRICOS, you cannot get a student visa for it, whatever an agent says.
Choose by your course first, then by entry rules, total cost, city and support, not by a rank alone.
A good choice for one student can be a poor one for another. Go through these 10 points before you pick two or three universities. Your +2 or bachelor’s grades decide where you can apply. So start with the GPA required to study in Australia.
Read the course page, not just the name of the university. Check the subjects, the length, any work placement and the jobs it leads to.
Each course sets its own grades and English score. Our page on the requirements to study in Australia from Nepal shows what universities usually ask for.
Most courses take IELTS, PTE or TOEFL. Some ask for a higher score in each part. See the minimum IELTS and PTE for Australia before you book your test.
Add fees, rent, food, travel and health cover for each year, not just the first term. Our guide to the cost of living in Australia for international students gives figures by city.
Big cities have more part-time jobs but higher rent. Smaller towns cost less, but jobs can be harder to find. Check both before you decide.
Some cities and towns count as “regional Australia”. This can give you more time on a graduate visa. Our guide to regional study in Australia lists the places.
Many universities give awards for good grades, often with the offer letter. Check the award, what you must do to keep it and the fee left to pay.
Courses with work placements help you find a job later. Ask if the placement is part of the course or if you must find it yourself.
Look for help with English, writing, careers and mental health. This matters a lot in your first year away from your family.
A campus with an active Nepali student group makes the first months easier. Ask current students about rooms, jobs and how they settled in.
Keep in mind that a university you can pay for until the end is better than a famous name that leaves you short of money in year two. Did you study +2 in Nepal? Our NEB GPA calculator turns your marks into a GPA in a minute.
Level 1, 2 or 3 is a visa evidence level. It decides how many papers you may be asked for, not how good the university is.
The level is set for each university and each country. Home Affairs does not publish the levels, so be careful with any list you see online. Our guide to level 1, 2 and 3 universities in Australia explains what they mean for Nepali students.
Do not choose a university only because an agent calls it “level 1”. Your grades, course, money and study plan matter far more for your visa.
In 2026, a year of fees is usually AUD 35,000 to 47,000 for a bachelor’s and AUD 38,000 to 48,000 for a master’s. That is about Rs 32 to 43 lakh.
Fees depend on the university, the course and the level. Group of Eight universities often cost more, and so do medicine and engineering. Our page on the total cost to study in Australia from Nepal has the latest figures by level. Rupee figures here are rounded, so use the AUD to Rs forex converter for today’s rate.
The good news is that most universities give awards that take 20% to 50% off the fee. Many come with your offer letter. Our guide to scholarships in Australia for Nepali students lists the main awards and their deadlines.
You apply to each university online or through a registered agent, get an offer, accept it and pay a deposit, and then apply for your visa.
There is no single form for all universities. You send your +2 or bachelor’s transcripts, your English score and your passport. Many courses also ask for a statement of purpose. After you accept the offer, the university sends your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You need it for the visa. Our guide on how to apply for an Australia student visa walks you through all 7 steps.
The visa has its own rules on money, English and the Genuine Student test. See the Australia student visa requirements before you pay a deposit.
Four numbers to keep in mind when you compare universities.
On the Study Australia list for students from abroad.
The universities that do most of the research.
Work limit while classes are on. No limit in breaks.
Usual stay on the 485 visa after a degree.
You can get free advice from a Goreto counselor, in person or online, wherever you live in Nepal.
A counselor checks your grades, English score and budget. Then they help you pick 2 or 3 universities that fit. They also help with offers, scholarships and your visa file. Whether you live in Kathmandu or a town like Dhangadhi, you can talk to a counselor by phone or online. You can also visit our branches in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara.
"Applying to the University of Melbourne felt so simple with Goreto’s guidance. They handled every detail and made the whole process stress-free. I’m grateful for their support in helping me start my study journey in Australia."
Prakash guides students like you to make smart study abroad choices, with expert advice on universities, scholarships, visas, and career planning. Friendly, experienced, and ready to help you every step of the way.
There is no single best one. The Group of Eight suits students with strong grades who want a known name. Others suit students who want lower fees, a smaller city or a hands-on course. The best one fits your course, grades and budget.
No. Every university in Australia charges fees to students from abroad. A merit award can lower the cost. A few full awards pay the whole fee, such as Australia Awards for a master’s.
The two Group of Eight members in Sydney are the University of Sydney and UNSW Sydney. Others in the city are UTS, Macquarie, Western Sydney and ACU.
Yes, if you have another test. Most universities take PTE or TOEFL instead of IELTS. But the student visa usually still needs a test score from Nepali students.
Almost every university has a master’s by coursework. It usually takes 1.5 to 2 years. Nepali students often choose IT, data, accounting, business, nursing and public health. Compare the course and fees, not just the name.
Yes. Most universities give awards for good grades, and many come with the offer letter. They take part of the fee off each year, as long as your marks stay good.
A university gives bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees. Colleges and TAFE mostly teach diplomas, which are shorter and often cheaper. Some students start with a diploma and then move into year two of a bachelor’s.
Yes, for many. Deakin is a public university in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool. Nepali students often pick it for IT, nursing and business. It has three terms, so you can also start in November.
Yes, but there are rules, mainly in your first 6 months, and a new course can affect your visa. Read our guide to changing course or college on an Australia student visa first.
A bachelor’s usually takes 3 years, or 4 for engineering or an honours year. A master’s by coursework usually takes 1.5 to 2 years. A PhD usually takes 3 to 4 years.
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.
Book Your Free Consultation
From choosing the right country to finding scholarships and housing, our counselors will guide you at every step.
Choose the right country based on your goals
Find courses that match your career plan
Get guidance on colleges and universities
Plan your finances, scholarships & part-time jobs
Plan your abroad stay & post-study plan
Schedule a free consultation with our expert counselors to discuss your study
Schedule a free consultation with our expert counselors to discuss your study
