Australia February 2027 Intake: What Indian Students Need to Know
If you want to start an Australian degree in February or March 2027, you are already close to the deadline. Semester 1 is the main intake at most Australian universities, and the sequence of offer, Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), health cover, funds evidence and student visa takes months, not weeks. This guide covers what has changed for 2027 applicants, what it costs, and how to plan the next few months. It was last reviewed in November 2026.
The short version
- Semester 1 usually starts between late February and early March. Check your university’s academic calendar for the exact date.
- The student visa (subclass 500) now uses a Genuine Student assessment. The old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement was replaced for applications lodged from 23 March 2024.
- The base visa application charge is A$2,500 from 1 July 2026, up from A$2,000.
- The government kept the National Planning Level for 2027 at 295,000 new overseas student commencements, the same as 2026.
- The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary work visa. It is not permanent residency.
Is it too late to apply for the February 2027 intake?
Not necessarily, but your options are narrower than they were in mid-2026. Many universities still accept international applications for Semester 1, especially for courses with spare places, but popular courses can fill and each university sets its own cut-off. Once you have an offer, you still need to accept it, pay any deposit, receive your CoE and lodge a visa application that can take weeks to be decided.
If your documents are not ready, applying for the July 2027 intake is often the better call than rushing. A complete, consistent application is more likely to succeed than a hurried one.
What has changed for 2027 applicants
Genuine Student replaces GTE
Home Affairs now assesses whether study is your real purpose in coming to Australia. You answer structured questions about why this course, why this provider, why Australia, your circumstances at home and what you plan to do with the qualification. Vague or copied answers are a common reason for refusals, so your answers should match your academic history, work history and the course you chose.
A higher visa fee
The base charge for the main applicant is A$2,500 from 1 July 2026. Lower charges apply to some groups, such as English-language (ELICOS) and non-award study, and family members pay separate charges. The fee is generally not refunded if the application is refused, so confirm the exact amount for your case in the Home Affairs pricing tool before you pay.
The 295,000 planning level and visa processing
Australia’s planning level is a planning tool, not a hard cap on students. For 2027 it stays at 295,000, and no active provider receives a lower allocation than in 2026. What matters to you: once a provider reaches 80 per cent of its allocation, student visa applications for that provider are processed at lower priority, so visas for later applicants can take longer. Government scholarship holders and higher research degree students are exempt. Details are on the Department of Education page and in Study Australia’s announcement.
A practical timeline from here
- Shortlist and apply now. Pick two or three universities and courses, check each one’s international deadline, and apply with transcripts, English test results and any course-specific documents.
- Book your English test early. The visa itself requires about IELTS 6.0 overall (or an accepted equivalent) for most applicants, and many universities ask for 6.5 or higher in business, law and health courses. Requirements vary, so check your course page.
- Accept the offer and get your CoE. You need the CoE before you can lodge the visa application.
- Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole length of your visa.
- Prepare funds evidence. Recent guides put the living-cost requirement for a main applicant at about A$29,710 a year, on top of tuition and travel. This figure is reviewed from time to time, so confirm it on the Home Affairs Student visa page on the day you lodge.
- Write your Genuine Student answers yourself, in your own words, and keep supporting documents consistent with them.
- Lodge the visa application, then book accommodation. Short-term housing near campus is easier to find than a long lease from India.
What it costs
Tuition depends heavily on the university and course, so use the fee page of each course you are considering rather than a single average. Beyond tuition, plan for these:
- Student visa application charge: A$2,500 for the main applicant (from 1 July 2026)
- OSHC for the full duration of your visa
- Living-cost evidence of about A$29,710 a year, plus flights and set-up costs
Scholarships
Scholarship programmes and their eligibility change from year to year, and several lists online are out of date. The reliable approach is to open the international scholarships page of each university you apply to, note the deadlines, and apply for merit awards together with your admission application. Federal programmes such as Australia Awards have their own country eligibility rules, so check the official site before counting on one.
Working during and after your degree
Student visa holders can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, with more allowed during scheduled breaks. After graduating, many students apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) in the Post-Higher Education Work stream. Applicants generally need to be 35 or under, with exceptions for some research degrees, and the stay is typically about two years for bachelor’s and coursework master’s graduates, longer for research degrees. It is a temporary work visa and does not guarantee permanent residency. Any move to a skilled visa is a separate application with its own requirements.
Mistakes that cost students offers and visas
- Using a template for the Genuine Student answers instead of explaining your own course choice and plans.
- Funds evidence that does not match the figures in your application, or comes from sources you cannot explain.
- Budgeting from an old visa fee. Many articles still quote A$2,000.
- Choosing a course that does not fit your previous studies or career, with no clear explanation.
- Relying on an agent’s promise of a guaranteed visa. No one can guarantee a visa outcome.
Frequently asked questions
When does the February 2027 intake start?
Most universities start Semester 1 between late February and early March 2027. The exact date, including orientation, is on each university’s academic calendar.
Is February a better intake than July?
February is the main intake, so it usually has the widest choice of courses. July suits students who need more time to prepare, and the course you want may also start then. Neither is better for everyone.
Does a 485 visa lead to permanent residency?
No. The Temporary Graduate visa is a temporary work visa. Permanent residency requires a separate skilled or sponsored visa application that you must qualify for on its own terms.
What happened to the GTE statement?
It was replaced by the Genuine Student requirement for student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. You now answer structured questions in the visa application instead of writing a separate statement.
How much is the student visa fee for Indian students?
The base application charge is A$2,500 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026. Family members pay separate charges, and some study types pay less, so check the Home Affairs pricing estimator before you lodge.
Your next step
Pick one action this week: shortlist two courses, book your English test, or list the documents you already have. If you want help comparing universities and checking your application for gaps, see our study abroad services. Rules and fees change, so confirm every figure on the official Home Affairs and university pages before you act.
