South Metropolitan TAFE does not publish a single closing date. For its next intake (Semester 1), we recommend applying around November 2026, roughly three to four months ahead.
At a glance
- International tuition
- A$18,000/yr
- First-year budget
- A$49,000 to A$56,000
- English (minimum)
- IELTS 6.0 · PTE 50
- Application fee
- None
- Intakes
- Semester 1 · Semester 2
- Regional (migration)
- Yes
- Selectivity
- Broadly accessible
- Degree levels
- Foundation/Pathway
Good for
- Regional migration points (491 and 190 pathways)
- Lower tuition, from A$18,000/yr
- More than one intake a year
- No application fee
- Accepts IELTS 6.0 or PTE 50
- More open admissions across most courses
Derived from the data on this page. Individual courses set their own fees, entry scores, and intakes, so check the ones you are applying to.
Overview
South Metropolitan TAFE is one of Western Australia's public vocational institutes, concentrated in Perth's southern suburbs with strengths in trades and maritime training tied to the region's port industry.
Who is this university for?
South Metropolitan TAFE is a public vocational institute in Perth's southern suburbs for students who want trade or technical training, often as a pathway into a university degree or directly into work. Perth's regional migration status is a genuine advantage. It is not a degree-granting university, so it suits students whose plan starts with a practical qualification.
Admissions
- Selectivity
- Broadly accessible
- English (institutional minimum)
- IELTS 6 · PTE 50
- Degree levels
- Foundation/Pathway
Verified smtafe.wa.edu.au ↗
Australian universities do not publish official acceptance rates. Selectivity here is our editorial band, not a percentage. Vocational provider with open enrolment for most certificates and diplomas. Some courses have capacity limits or prerequisite units. Individual competitive courses stay harder to enter than the institution-wide band suggests. How we assign it.
Tuition & first-year budget
- International tuition
- A$18,000/year
- Application fee
- None
- Living cost estimate
- A$27,000/year
Verified smtafe.wa.edu.au ↗
Estimated first-year budget
A$49,000 to A$56,000
Tuition plus about A$27,000 living costs, the application fee, and roughly A$4,000 in one-off setup costs (visa, health cover, flights, initial deposits). Tuition varies widely by course, so check your specific program.
The living-cost figure is an estimate for Perth, anchored to the Australian Government’s AUD 29,710 minimum for a single student visa applicant (2026) and adjusted for the city. Your actual costs depend most on rent and lifestyle.
Academics
Advanced Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles
Undergraduate · Arts & Design
Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Undergraduate · Engineering
Advanced Diploma of Engineering
Undergraduate · Engineering
Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology - Electrical
Undergraduate · Engineering
Advanced Diploma of Marine Engineering (Class 1)
Undergraduate · Engineering
Advanced Diploma of Maritime Operations (Master Unlimited)
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles
Undergraduate · Arts & Design
Diploma of Aquaculture
Undergraduate · Agriculture
Diploma of Automotive Technology
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Aviation (Aviation Management)
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Community Services
Foundation/Pathway · Nursing & Health Sciences
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Foundation/Pathway · Education
Diploma of Electronics and Communications Engineering
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Engineering - Technical
Foundation/Pathway · Engineering
Diploma of Hospitality Management
Foundation/Pathway · Hospitality & Tourism
Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Networking)
Foundation/Pathway · Information Technology
Diploma of Laboratory Technology
Undergraduate
Diploma of Marine Engineering
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Maritime Operations
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Nursing
Foundation/Pathway · Nursing & Health Sciences
Diploma of Remedial Massage
Undergraduate · Nursing & Health Sciences
Comparing options across universities? Browse programs by subject.
How to apply
- Choose your vocational qualification. South Metropolitan TAFE offers certificates and diplomas, with strengths in trades, maritime, and technical fields.
- Check the entry and English requirements for that course.
- Prepare your prior qualifications, English test results, and passport.
- Apply through the TAFE's international admissions process or an authorised agent.
- Accept your offer and pay fees to receive a Confirmation of Enrolment.
- Apply for your Student visa and Overseas Student Health Cover.
- If you want to continue to a degree, check which Western Australian universities accept the diploma for credit.
Requirements and steps can vary by course. Always confirm the process for your specific program on the university’s official website before applying.
Application deadlines
South Metropolitan TAFE runs fixed intakes rather than one hard deadline. The dates below are the recommended times to have your international application in, about three to four months before each intake. Postgraduate and competitive courses close earlier; later applications are often still accepted while places and visa time remain. Confirm the exact date for your course on the university’s site.
South Metropolitan TAFE assesses international applications on a rolling basis rather than to one fixed deadline. The date shown is a recommended time to apply for the February or March 2027 intake, roughly three to four months before it starts. Applications are usually still accepted after it while places remain and there is time for a student visa. Pathway and foundation programs often run extra intakes through the year; confirm the next start with South Metropolitan TAFE.
South Metropolitan TAFE assesses international applications on a rolling basis rather than to one fixed deadline. The date shown is a recommended time to apply for the July 2027 intake, roughly three to four months before it starts. Applications are usually still accepted after it while places remain and there is time for a student visa. Pathway and foundation programs often run extra intakes through the year; confirm the next start with South Metropolitan TAFE.
Verified smtafe.wa.edu.au ↗
South Metropolitan TAFE deadlines, in detail →South Metropolitan TAFE: common questions
Does South Metropolitan TAFE charge an application fee for international students?
No. South Metropolitan TAFE does not charge international students an application fee when you apply directly or through an authorised agent. Third-party application platforms may add their own service fee.
What English test score do I need to get into South Metropolitan TAFE?
The institutional minimum for undergraduate entry at South Metropolitan TAFE is IELTS 6 overall, or PTE Academic 50. This is a floor, not a guarantee: nursing programs usually need IELTS 7.0, teaching 7.5, and medicine, law, and business often 7.0. Postgraduate coursework is typically 6.5. Always check the score for your specific course.
How much does it cost to study at South Metropolitan TAFE for a year?
As an international student, budget roughly A$49,000 to A$56,000 for your first year. That is tuition from about A$18,000, around A$27,000 in living costs for Perth, plus roughly A$4,000 in one-off setup costs. Tuition varies widely by course.
Is South Metropolitan TAFE a Group of Eight university?
No. South Metropolitan TAFE is not a member of the Group of Eight (Australia's eight research-intensive universities: ANU, Melbourne, Sydney, UNSW, Queensland, Monash, Western Australia, and Adelaide). Many fields are taught just as well outside the Go8 for lower fees.
When can I start studying at South Metropolitan TAFE?
South Metropolitan TAFE has two main intakes a year: Semester 1, starting in February or March, and Semester 2, starting in July. The recommended time to apply is about three to four months before the intake, and postgraduate and competitive courses close earlier.
Is South Metropolitan TAFE in a regional area for skilled migration?
Yes. Perth is a designated regional area for skilled migration, so studying at South Metropolitan TAFE earns 5 extra points on the skilled points test and opens the Skilled Work Regional (491) visa. Living costs are also usually below Sydney and Melbourne.
How do I apply to South Metropolitan TAFE as an international student?
Choose your course and confirm it is open to international students for your intake, check the entry requirements and English score, then apply online through the university's admissions portal or through an authorised agent in your country. After an offer you accept, pay the deposit, receive a Confirmation of Enrolment, and use it to apply for a Student visa (subclass 500).
Related
Similar universities
- TAFE QueenslandMulti-campus, QLD · from A$18,000/yr
- Greenwich CollegeSydney, NSW · from A$18,000/yr
- TAFE NSWMulti-campus, NSW · from A$18,000/yr
- Victoria University PolytechnicMelbourne, VIC · from A$19,000/yr
Guides
- The real cost of studying in Australia
- The study-to-PR pathway in Australia
- Proving you can afford to study in Australia
- IELTS vs PTE for Australian admission
Applying from your country
What changes by nationality: agent rules, how your degree converts, and how closely the student visa is checked.
Why trust Where To Apply
- Official sources onlyEvery deadline, fee, and requirement traces to a university, government, or admissions-body page.
- Dated and re-checkedEach fact carries the date it was last verified, on a quarterly re-verification cadence.
- IndependentNo university pays for inclusion, a better write-up, or a higher rank. We are not an education agent.
- Named editor, public methodWritten and maintained by a named operator against a published methodology.
Sources & verification
Written by Roman Lama
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