TAFE NSW 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$46,000 to A$53,000
- English (minimum)
- IELTS 6.0 · PTE 50
- Application fee
- A$100
- Intakes
- Semester 1 · Semester 2
- Selectivity
- Broadly accessible
- Degree levels
- Foundation/Pathway
Good for
- Lower tuition, from A$18,000/yr
- More than one intake a year
- 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
TAFE NSW is the largest vocational education provider in Australia, spanning over 100 campuses across New South Wales with certificate and diploma training across nearly every trade and industry.
Who is this university for?
TAFE NSW is Australia's largest vocational provider, with campuses across the state and training in trades, health support, hospitality, and business. It suits students who want a practical qualification, often at lower cost than a university, as a direct route to work or a pathway into a degree. Regional campuses carry skilled-migration advantages.
Admissions
- Selectivity
- Broadly accessible
- English (institutional minimum)
- IELTS 6 · PTE 50
- Degree levels
- Foundation/Pathway
Verified tafensw.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Australian universities do not publish official acceptance rates.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
- A$100
- Living cost estimate
- A$24,000/year
Verified tafensw.edu.au ↗
Estimated first-year budget
A$46,000 to A$53,000
Tuition plus about A$24,000 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 Multi-campus, 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 Civil Construction Design
Undergraduate · Engineering
Advanced Diploma of Engineering
Undergraduate · Engineering
Advanced Diploma of Marine Engineering (Class 1)
Undergraduate · Engineering
Bachelor of 3D Art and Animation
Undergraduate · Arts & Design
Bachelor of Applied Commerce
Undergraduate · Business
Bachelor of Business
Undergraduate · Business
Bachelor of Business (Hospitality and Hotel Management)
Undergraduate · Hospitality & Tourism
Bachelor of Creative Practice (Music Production and Performance)
Undergraduate · Music & Performing Arts
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth-5 years)
Undergraduate · Education
Bachelor of Fashion Design
Undergraduate · Arts & Design
Bachelor of Information Technology (Cyber & Network Security)
Undergraduate · Information Technology
Bachelor of Information Technology (Data Engineering)
Undergraduate · Information Technology
Bachelor of Interior Design
Undergraduate · Architecture
Bachelor of Property Valuation
Undergraduate
Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles
Undergraduate · Arts & Design
Diploma of Applied Commerce
Undergraduate · Business
Diploma of Beauty Therapy
Undergraduate
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Undergraduate · Architecture
Diploma of Building Design
Undergraduate · Architecture
Diploma of Business
Undergraduate · Business
Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Community Services
Undergraduate · Psychology
Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Undergraduate · Environmental Science
Diploma of Dental Technology
Undergraduate · Nursing & Health Sciences
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Undergraduate · Education
Diploma of Electronics and Communications Engineering
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Event Management
Undergraduate · Business
Diploma of Fashion
Undergraduate · Arts & Design
Diploma of Graphic Design
Undergraduate · Arts & Design
Diploma of Hospitality Management
Undergraduate · Business
Diploma of Information Technology
Undergraduate · Information Technology
Diploma of Interior Design
Undergraduate · Architecture
Diploma of Laboratory Technology
Undergraduate
Diploma of Landscape Design
Undergraduate · Architecture
Diploma of Marine Engineering
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Music
Undergraduate · Music & Performing Arts
Diploma of Nursing
Undergraduate · Nursing & Health Sciences
Diploma of Remedial Massage
Undergraduate · Nursing & Health Sciences
Diploma of Screen and Media
Undergraduate · Communications & Media
Diploma of Surveying
Undergraduate · Engineering
Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management
Undergraduate · Business
Comparing options across universities? Browse programs by subject.
How to apply
- Choose your qualification from TAFE NSW's certificate, diploma, and degree offerings, and a campus location.
- Check the entry and English requirements. Bachelor degrees at TAFE NSW have higher English requirements than most vocational courses.
- Prepare your prior qualifications, English test results, and passport.
- Apply through TAFE NSW International 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 start with a diploma, check credit and articulation into a university degree.
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
TAFE NSW 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.
TAFE NSW 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. Competitive courses such as medicine and programs needing a portfolio or audition close earlier. Confirm the date for your course with TAFE NSW.
TAFE NSW 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. Competitive courses such as medicine and programs needing a portfolio or audition close earlier. Confirm the date for your course with TAFE NSW.
Verified tafensw.edu.au ↗
TAFE NSW deadlines, in detail →TAFE NSW: common questions
Does TAFE NSW charge an application fee for international students?
TAFE NSW lists an application fee of about A$100 for direct international applications. Several universities that charge a fee waive it for applications lodged through an authorised agent, so check before you pay.
What English test score do I need to get into TAFE NSW?
The institutional minimum for undergraduate entry at TAFE NSW 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 TAFE NSW for a year?
As an international student, budget roughly A$46,000 to A$53,000 for your first year. That is tuition from about A$18,000, around A$24,000 in living costs for Multi-campus, plus roughly A$4,000 in one-off setup costs. Tuition varies widely by course.
Is TAFE NSW a Group of Eight university?
No. TAFE NSW 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 TAFE NSW?
TAFE NSW 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 TAFE NSW in a regional area for skilled migration?
No. TAFE NSW's main campus is in a major metropolitan area, so it does not attract the regional study points. If regional migration points matter to you, look at universities in Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, or the smaller cities.
How do I apply to TAFE NSW 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
- South Metropolitan TAFEPerth, WA · 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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