Study in Australia

Study in Australia from Taiwan

Taiwanese students can study at any Australian university. A first year of a degree costs roughly AUD 40,000 to 80,000 all in, and the visa is the subclass 500. Taiwan is a steady, mid-sized source of students, split between full degrees, English-language courses, and working holidays, and it is treated as a low-risk country for the student visa.

Not much is unusual for Taiwanese applicants. The main points are how universities read a Taiwanese senior high school diploma and a Taiwanese bachelor's degree, English evidence, and, for shorter stays, whether a study visa or a working holiday visa fits better.

At a glance

First-year budget
A$40,000 to A$80,000
Tuition (per year)
A$28,000 to A$55,000
Living costs (visa minimum)
A$29,710 / 12 months
Student visa (500) fee
A$2,500
Work rights
48 hrs / fortnight in session
Health cover (OSHC)
Required, full visa period

Living costs and the visa fee are set by the Australian Government and are the same for every nationality. Tuition varies widely by university and course. Price your specific course in your own currency at the current rate, since it moves.

Applying from Taiwan

Apply through the university's international portal or an authorised agent. Direct application is available at most universities for Taiwanese citizens. Agencies are common and handle the offer, deposit, and visa steps, though they are not required.

For undergraduate entry, a Taiwanese senior high school diploma usually routes through a foundation year, while strong results, sometimes with the General Scholastic Ability Test, or a completed first year of a Taiwanese university, can give direct entry. Have certified copies of your records with certified English translations.

Most universities run February and July intakes and assess on a rolling basis. Apply two to three months ahead. Use the universities directory and the deadline calendar.

What it costs

Tuition runs from the low A$30,000s at regional and newer universities to the high A$40,000s and beyond at the Group of Eight. Living costs depend on the city: budget around A$30,000 a year, more in Sydney and Melbourne, less in Adelaide, Perth, and regional centres.

On top of that: the A$2,500 student visa, roughly A$500 to A$700 a year for single Overseas Student Health Cover, flights, and initial setup. See the cost-of-living breakdowns by city and the most affordable universities.

Your qualifications and English

For undergraduate entry, universities take the Taiwanese Senior High School Diploma, usually with a foundation year, or strong results plus the General Scholastic Ability Test, or one completed year of a Taiwanese bachelor's degree, for direct entry.

A four-year Taiwanese bachelor's degree maps directly to Australian master's entry. Universities assess your GPA on the awarding institution's scale, with a common minimum around 70 to 75 percent, higher for competitive courses.

English is shown with IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL. Medium-of-instruction letters are rarely accepted from Taiwanese institutions, so plan to sit a test. The university sets its own score and the student visa has its own lower rule. Confirm both.

The student visa

International students hold the subclass 500 student visa. You apply after you receive and accept an offer and the university issues a Confirmation of Enrolment. You must meet the Genuine Student requirement, which replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant test in March 2024, and show genuine access to funds.

Taiwan is treated as a low-risk country, so the upfront financial and English evidence is among the lighter requirements. The requirement is set by a provider-and-country matrix that is reviewed periodically, so confirm the current position with the Document Checklist Tool when you apply.

You still need to meet the Genuine Student requirement and show genuine access to funds for tuition, travel, and 12 months of living costs. For a short English course, many young Taiwanese use the Australia-Taiwan working holiday visa instead, which allows limited study and full work rights.

Full detail on the visa itself, conditions, and family members is on the subclass 500 page.

After you graduate

Most bachelor’s and master’s graduates qualify for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), which gives two to three years of full work rights. That skilled work is the usual step toward permanent residence through the points-tested visas.

Check where you stand with the points calculator and track demand in the SkillSelect invitation rounds.

Popular fields for Taiwanese students

  • ·Business, accounting, and finance
  • ·Information technology
  • ·Design and media
  • ·Hospitality and tourism
  • ·TESOL and education

Browse programs by subject to see entry requirements, the cheapest options, and the skilled-migration angle for each field.

Studying in Australia from Taiwan: common questions

What is Taiwan's assessment level for the Australian student visa?

Home Affairs does not publish evidence levels by country, and the requirement also depends on your provider. In practice Taiwan is treated as lower risk, which means lighter upfront documentation. Use the Document Checklist Tool when you apply.

Is a Taiwanese bachelor's degree accepted in Australia?

Yes, a four-year Taiwanese bachelor's is accepted for direct entry to most Australian master's programs. Universities assess your GPA on your institution's scale, with around 70 to 75 percent a common minimum and more for competitive courses.

How much does it cost to study in Australia from Taiwan?

Budget AUD 40,000 to 80,000 for the first year of a degree: roughly AUD 30,000 to 55,000 tuition, about AUD 30,000 living costs, the AUD 2,500 visa, health cover, and flights. An English-language course is charged by the week and is lower for a short stay.

Should I use a student visa or a working holiday visa for Australia?

For a full degree or a course longer than about four months, you need the subclass 500 student visa. For a shorter English course combined with travel and work, the Australia-Taiwan working holiday visa is usually the better fit, since it allows limited study and full work rights.

Can I get PR in Australia after studying from Taiwan?

It is possible, not automatic. After graduating, most students move to a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), gain skilled work experience, and then apply for a points-tested visa. Your occupation and points decide the outcome.

Applying from another country

The generic steps are the same everywhere. What changes by country is agent-versus-direct application, how your qualifications convert, and how closely the student visa evidence is checked.

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This is general information for Taiwanese applicants, not migration advice. Fees, visa rules, and university requirements change. Confirm every figure with the university and the Australian Government before you rely on it.

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