Australia guide · Offer to CoE · 4 min read
From offer letter to CoE: the steps between getting in and lodging your Australian visa.
An offer letter says a university will take you; a CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) proves you've accepted and paid, and you can't lodge the visa without it. Between the two: meet any offer conditions, accept in writing, get your NOC from the Ministry of Education, pay the deposit (often one semester) and buy OSHC health cover. From Nepal that usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Read the refund terms before you pay anything.
The short version
- A conditional offer needs something more (an English score, a final transcript). An unconditional offer is ready to accept.
- The order that works: accept, NOC, then pay the deposit and OSHC, then the university issues the CoE.
- Read the refund terms before paying. If the visa is refused before the course starts, a provider can keep at most AUD 500 or 5% of what you paid, whichever is less.
- Many universities now ask Genuine Student questions before the CoE. Answer them as carefully as the visa form.
- Allow 2 to 4 weeks from accepting to CoE from Nepal: the NOC and the bank transfer take most of it.
The steps, in order
| Step | What you do | Typical time from Nepal | Paid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Read the offer | Check the course, start date, fee, conditions, deposit and refund terms | 1 to 2 days | |
| 2. Meet conditions | Send the missing English score, transcript or document | Varies | |
| 3. Pre-CoE checks | Answer the university’s Genuine Student questions, send money evidence if asked | 1 to 2 weeks | |
| 4. Accept in writing | Sign the acceptance form or online agreement | 1 day | |
| 5. NOC | Apply online to the Ministry of Education | 1 to 5 working days | Rs 2,000 |
| 6. Deposit and OSHC | Bank transfer of the deposit; buy health cover for the visa length | 3 to 7 days | University, insurer |
| 7. CoE | The university issues it after both payments arrive | Days to 2 weeks |
Conditional or unconditional
| Offer type | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Conditional | You still owe something: an English score, a final transcript, a document | Meet the condition, then ask for an unconditional offer |
| Unconditional | You’re in, if you accept and pay | Read the refund terms, then move to the NOC |
| Package offer | A diploma or English course plus the degree, on one CoE or two | Check both start dates and that the visa covers the whole package |
Read these lines before you sign
- Tuition per year and what the deposit covers (one semester, or a set amount).
- The refund policy: what you get back if the visa is refused, or if you withdraw.
- Start date and the latest arrival date. Late arrival can mean deferral.
- Scholarships: the amount, and whether it’s renewed each year.
- Conditions: anything still owed, and by when.
If the visa is refused before the course starts, Australian law caps what a provider can keep: the lesser of AUD 500 or 5% of the fees paid. Withdrawing for other reasons follows the provider’s own refund policy, which can be far less generous.
Pre-CoE Genuine Student checks
Most universities now check you before they issue a CoE, because their own reputation with Home Affairs depends on the students they enrol. Expect:
- A short GS questionnaire, or a call or video interview
- A request for money evidence
- Questions about gaps and previous refusals
Answer them exactly as you would the visa form, in your own words, consistent with your documents. A university that refuses at this stage saves you a visa refusal on your record. The Genuine Student guide shows what officers look for.
Paying from Nepal
- NOC first. Apply on the Ministry of Education portal with your offer letter. It takes 1 to 5 working days, longer before the February and July intakes.
- Your bank. Take the NOC, the offer letter and the university’s invoice to your bank. Confirm the university’s bank details by phone or from its official website, never only from an email.
- Keep the SWIFT receipt. It goes into your visa file.
- OSHC. Either through the university invoice or bought yourself for the full visa length.
From our files. Twice last year a family received an email with “updated” bank details for a university. Both were fake. We confirm every university’s bank details by phone before a family pays, and so should you.
If something changes
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You won’t make the start date | Ask to defer the offer and CoE to the next intake |
| You want a different university before lodging | Ask for the CoE to be cancelled and the deposit refunded under its terms |
| Your visa is refused | Ask for the deposit refund with the refusal letter |
| The course is cancelled by the provider | You’re entitled to a refund or a place in another course |
Since 2 October 2026 changing provider after you arrive is restricted, and a new transfer stream is planned. Choose the right course before the CoE, not after.
Your offer-to-CoE checklist
- Offer read: fee, deposit, start date, conditions, refund terms
- Conditions met; unconditional offer received
- Pre-CoE GS answers sent, consistent with your documents
- NOC downloaded
- University bank details confirmed by phone
- Deposit and OSHC paid; SWIFT receipt and OSHC certificate saved
- CoE received and checked: name, course, dates
