Australia guide · Intakes · 3 min read
Australia intakes for Nepali students: February, July or November, and when to apply.
Australian universities take most students in February (semester 1) and July (semester 2); some also start courses in November or run trimesters. From Nepal, start 9 to 12 months before your intake: you need the English test, the offer, the NOC, the deposit, the CoE and the visa, and our median from first call to flight is 14 weeks. February 2027 means starting now; July 2027 means starting by January.
The short version
- Two main intakes: February (more courses, more scholarships) and July (smaller, still most courses). Some universities add November or run trimesters.
- Work back from the start date: visa lodged 8 to 10 weeks before, CoE before that, offer about 17 days after complete documents.
- For February 2027, apply by October to November 2026. For July 2027, apply by March to April 2027.
- Don't rush a weak money file to make an intake. A deferred offer costs nothing; a refusal stays on your record.
- The NOC and the deposit transfer take 1 to 2 weeks in Nepal. Build them into the plan.
The intakes at a glance
| Intake | Classes start | Size | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| February (semester 1) | Late February to early March | Largest: most courses and scholarships | +2 graduates finishing in spring; most master’s applicants |
| July (semester 2) | Mid to late July | Smaller, most courses still open | Bachelor’s graduates finishing in Nepal in spring; students who missed February |
| November or trimester 3 | November | Small, selected courses | Some colleges and trimester universities |
Check each university’s dates: some run trimesters (February, June, October) instead.
Working back from February 2027
| Step | Deadline to aim for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| English test result in hand | August to September 2026 | Most offers need it; some scholarships need more |
| Applications in | October to November 2026 | Median 17 days from complete documents to an offer |
| Offer accepted | November 2026 | Read the conditions and refund terms first |
| NOC from the Ministry of Education | Late November 2026 | Your bank can’t send the deposit without it |
| Deposit paid, OSHC bought | Early December 2026 | The CoE follows |
| CoE issued | December 2026 | No lodgement without it |
| Visa lodged | By mid-December 2026 | 8 to 10 weeks before classes |
| Biometrics and medical | Late December 2026 | When Home Affairs asks |
| Visa decision | January to early February 2027 | Busy season: longer than usual |
| Fly | 2 weeks before orientation | Find a room, start orientation |
If it’s already late November and you have no offer, February is tight. July is not a delay; it’s a safer file.
Working back from July 2027
| Step | Aim for |
|---|---|
| English test result | January to February 2027 |
| Applications in | March to April 2027 |
| Offer accepted, NOC, deposit, CoE | April to May 2027 |
| Visa lodged | By mid-May 2027 |
| Decision | June 2027 |
| Fly | Early July 2027 |
Choosing between February and July
| Question | If yes |
|---|---|
| Is your money file complete and documented today? | February is realistic |
| Are you still waiting on a loan, tax papers or a CA report? | July |
| Is your English score below the course’s entry level? | July, with classes now |
| Do you want the most scholarship options? | February |
| Are you finishing a bachelor’s or leaving a job in Nepal by May? | July |
The steps in Nepal that take longer than families expect
- The NOC: 1 to 5 working days online, longer before the big intakes. How to get your NOC.
- The deposit transfer: a bank in Kathmandu needs the NOC, the offer and its own forms. Allow a week.
- Tax clearance and a CA report: 1 to 2 weeks if the records are in order, much longer if they aren’t.
- An education loan: 2 to 6 weeks from application to sanction letter.
- The medical: the panel clinics in Kathmandu are busiest in December and May.
From our files. Last year our median from first call to flight was 14 weeks. The students who took longest weren’t waiting on universities or Home Affairs; they were waiting on their own money papers.
If you miss the intake
Ask the university to defer your offer and CoE to the next intake. Most allow it once, and many keep your deposit against the new start date. Don’t lodge a visa with a CoE for a start date you can’t make, and don’t fly without a granted visa.
