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International

How to apply

At CDU, you’ll study with a university that is a global leader in graduate employment.
Students at table discussing applications

Steps to applying at CDU

The process to apply to study with us is simple, just follow these steps. 

Step 1: Choose your course

Choose a course from the list of courses available to international students. Each course lists the fees for the course for that year. 

Make sure you change the search filter to 'international'. This will ensure courses available for international students to study will be displayed.

Find a course

Step 2: Check the entry requirements and application dates

All of your course entry requirements (academic and English) can be found online.

Learn more

If you have not reached the level required for entry to your chosen course, there are other pathways you can follow.

Learn more

Higher Education Application Dates

Summer 2024 Academic Calendar  Semester 3 2024
Last date to submit offshore applications  16 August 2024
Last date to submit onshore applications  4 November 2024
Last date to submit applications for changes/transfers 4 November 2024
Orientation week commences 11 November 2024
Teaching commences 18 November 2024
Census date 6 December 2024

 

2025 Academic Calendar Semester 1 2025Semester 2 2025Semester 3 2025
Last date to submit offshore applications  17 December 202428 April 202525 August 2025
Last date to submit onshore applications  18 February 20247 July 202527 October 2025
Last date to submit applications for changes/transfers  18 February 20257 July 202527 October 2025
Orientation week commences 24 February 202514 July 202510 November 2025
Teaching commences 3 March 202521 July 202517 November 2025
Census date 25 March 202511 August 20254 December 2025

 

TAFE Application Dates

TAFE 2025Semester 1 2025Semester 2 2025
Last date to submit offshore applications 20 November 202317 June 2024
Last date to submit onshore applications 22 December 202324 June 2024
Teaching commences1 January 20251 July 2025
Census date11 March 202511 August 2025

 

CDU International College

CDUIC 2025 Semester 1 2025Semester 2 2025Semester 3 2025
Last date to submit offshore applications  6 January 20255 May 20251 September 2025
Last date to submit onshore applications  25 February 20251 July 202527 October 2025
Teaching commences 3 March 20257 July 20253 November 2025
Census date 24 March 202528 July 202524 November 2025

 

Step 3: Apply online or through an agent

Applications must be submitted online through our application portal. You’ll need a valid email address to create your online account. Once you have started your application, you will be able to save it and resume it later. There is no application fee when you apply online. 

You can lodge a direct application. However, there may be restrictions on your geographic location. If you are not able to submit a direct application via the application portal, then apply through one of our registered agents.

Option 1: Direct

Submit your application to study at CDU via the online portal.

Apply now

Option 2: Agent

We have authorised representatives in many countries, and you may use their services to assist you in the application process. Education agents are generally able to help you with your visa application as well as your university application.

Please select your country of nationality to find our other overseas or external representatives.

Find an agent

When applying for your course, ensure that your application form is completed as an incomplete application may delay the application process. You’ll also need to provide and label correctly all the required documentation below:

  1. Passport copy showing all relevant information
  2. Proof of English language proficiency test
  3. A well-written Statement of Purpose (Single) or Statement of Purpose (Family)
  4. Certified copies of all academic transcripts, award certificates including grading systems information and English translations (whenever applicable)
  5. Resume
  6. Other supporting documents.

Scholarships

We offer an exciting and generous range of scholarships to support international students coming to study at CDU. More information on available international scholarships can be found on our international student scholarship page.

Apply for Credit, Advanced Standing or Recognition of Prior Learning (RLP) (if applicable)

Please indicate in your application if you will be applying for advanced standing based on previous studies and submit the following documents:

View more details about Advanced standing at CDU.

The University may ask for further documentation if required at any time of the application process. Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email with a reference number which will allow you to track the status of your application. Remember to include this reference number in all correspondences with the University about your application.

Certifying documents

What is a certified document?

A certified document is a copy of an original document that a qualified person has cited and confirmed as correct and legitimate. When you need a document to be certified, you must have both the copy and the original with you.

Who can certify my documents?

The person who certifies your document/s must be contactable by telephone during normal working hours.

Your documents must be certified by one of the following authorised officers:

  • Any CDU staff member
  • Any manager-level staff or higher from the Institution the academic document has come from
  • The official records department of the Institution that initially issued the document/s
  • An Australian overseas diplomatic mission and an Australian Education Centre
  • A Justice of the Peace (JP)/Notary with a registration number
  • An accountant - must be a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, or the Australian Association of Taxation and Management Accountants or be a Registered Tax Agent
  • A CDU-registered international agent
  • A bank manager, but not a manager of a bank travel centre
  • A credit union branch manager
  • A commissioner for declarations
  • A barrister, solicitor or patent attorney
  • A police officer in charge of a police station, or of the rank of sergeant and above
  • A postal manager
  • A Principal of an Australian secondary college, high school or primary school
  • A medical practitioner

It is important to note that you (or immediate family members) cannot certify your documents, even if you or they belong to one of the categories listed above.

How should the authorised officer certify each document?

The certifying officer must print the following text on all pages of the copied document:

'I certify this to be a true copy of the document shown and reported to me as the original.'

They must also include their name, address, contact telephone number, profession or occupation or organisation, and the date, and then they must sign the document.

The certifying officer should also include the official stamp or seal of the certifier's organisation on the copy if the organisation has such a stamp.

In addition to the above, a Justice of the Peace/Notary must also print their registration number and provide details of the state in which they are registered.

Documents certified by a Justice of the Peace without a registration number will not be accepted. To find a Justice of the Peace in your area, check the public register available online from the NSW Attorney-General's Department online here.

Submit your application

Step 4: Application assessment

CDU will assess your application against:

Please note that meeting the minimum entry requirements for a course does not guarantee an offer to study at CDU.

Step 5: Receive an offer

You will receive one of the following Letter of Offer once you meet the required admission and assessment criteria:

  • A Conditional Letter of Offer
  • An Unconditional Letter of Offer

Each Letter of Offer has instructions on what you to do next, how to accept your offer and fee payment information. You must not use your Letter of Offer to apply for a student visa.

Step 6: Accept your offer

You need to make sure that you meet the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) requirements for a student visa before you accept an offer and pay any tuition fees.

To accept an offer, you are required to:

  • Upload a signed copy of the Terms of Agreement (included in your Letter of Offer) to the application portal directly
  • Upload the payment receipt and any requested documents to the application portal directly

CDU will issue an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) which you must provide to DHA to apply for your Australian student visa.

Step 7: Apply for your student visa

As an international student, you are required to hold a valid Australian visa for the duration of your study in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for issuing visas to students who wish to study in Australia, their website is where you can find the requirements and application process for student visas.

As an international student visa holder, you have a set of responsibilities related to your visa laws and you are obligated to make yourself aware of these responsibilities and visa conditions. 

You can apply for your student visa as soon as you receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a full-time course at CDU. 

More information on student visa applications.

Step 8: Enrol

Before you commence your studies, you will need to set yourself up as a student and enrol in the units recommended in your course study plan.

We encourage you to activate your student account which will grant you access to your enrolment. Once you’ve activated your student account, you can proceed to login to CDU Portal. Then select My Student Info and navigate to My Enrolment and follow the steps.

Please refer to our CDU enrolment policy

Higher Degree by Research (HDR)

Apply to undertake your HDR at CDU, and you’ll be supported by research supervisors who are experts in their fields, while studying in a distinct and unique part of Australia.

Learn more

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