The short answer
Yes — Nigerian students study in Australia every intake. Choose a university and course that accepts your grades (a WAEC result around B2 wins direct bachelor's entry), get your offer and eCoE, prove your funds, then lodge a Subclass 500 visa and give biometrics at VFS Global in Lagos or Abuja. The median first-year bachelor's fee is about NGN 41.3m.
Yes — Nigerian students can and do study in Australia every intake, and the path is well-trodden: pick a university and course that accepts your grades, secure an offer and your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE), arrange health cover and prove your funds, then lodge a Subclass 500 student visa and give biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Lagos or Abuja. For the wider picture — costs, scholarships, work rights and the PR pathway — start with our complete guide to studying in Australia.
This guide walks the whole journey from Nigeria — which universities you can apply to, the grade your WAEC (or A-Level, IB or American Curriculum) result needs, what a year really costs in naira, and the visa step by step. The official visa figures come from the Australian Department of Home Affairs and are labelled separately.
Can Nigerian students study in Australia?
Yes. Nigeria is one of the largest source countries for international study, and Australian universities enrol Nigerian students every intake. What decides your visa is not where you’re from but how well you prepare — a genuine study plan and funds you can prove. The process follows the same five steps every international student takes, with a few Nigeria-specific details you need to get right.
- Choose a university and course that will accept your WAEC (or international) result — entry rules differ by course, covered below.
- Show you’re a genuine student — your university checks you’re genuinely coming to study before it issues your Confirmation of Enrolment, and you formally answer the Genuine Student (GS) questions when you lodge the Subclass 500 visa.
- Get an offer, then your eCoE — the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment your university issues once you accept and pay a deposit.
- Arrange OSHC and prove your funds — Overseas Student Health Cover for the length of your visa, plus evidence you can meet the financial requirement.
- Lodge the Subclass 500 visa through ImmiAccount, then attend biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Lagos or Abuja.
Zoe Craydel, Senior counsellor, Craydel Australia
Which universities can you apply to?
You can apply to more than 40 Australian universities and pathway colleges (around 2,400 courses) through Craydel, chosen because students can be placed into them directly. Below are the ones Nigerian students apply to most, with their published course counts.
| University | City | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| University of Western Australia | Perth | 275 |
| Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne | 260 |
| The University of Newcastle | Callaghan | 176 |
| Edith Cowan University | Joondalup | 140 |
| University of Notre Dame Australia | Fremantle | 86 |
| Victoria University | Sydney | 21 |
| James Cook University | Brisbane | 15 |
| Western Sydney University | Sydney | 14 |
| La Trobe University | Sydney campus | 13 |
| INTO University of Western Australia College | Perth | 7 |
Course counts are the programmes you can apply to through Craydel. INTO University of Western Australia College runs the foundation and diploma pathways into UWA — useful if your WAEC result sits below direct entry.
Several of these carry a world ranking. The University of Western Australia sits in the global top 250 (QS 77, THE 153), The University of Newcastle is also top 250 (QS 227, THE 144), and La Trobe University is top 250 (QS 233). Western Sydney University and James Cook University sit in the top 251–500 band. To build a shortlist by course and city, see our guide to the best universities in Australia, or compare on price in our cheapest universities in Australia guide.
What grades do you need with WAEC?
Entry is set per course, not per university, and the curriculum you sat determines the threshold. Nigerian students most often apply on WAEC (WASSCE), but A-Level, IB and the American Curriculum are also assessed. Here is the typical minimum overall grade across Australian courses, by level of entry.
| Curriculum | Entry level | Typical minimum grade |
|---|---|---|
| WAEC (WASSCE) | Bachelor’s degree (direct) | B2 |
| WAEC (WASSCE) | Undergraduate certificate / diploma | C6 |
| WAEC (WASSCE) | Foundation / International Year One | C6 |
| A-Level | Bachelor’s degree | CCC |
| IB | Bachelor’s degree | Assessed per course |
| American Curriculum | Assessed per course | Per-course rules |
Most common overall-grade threshold across Australian courses. Exact requirements are set per course; we check the precise rule for each degree you shortlist.
WAEC alone is not the whole picture. Direct entry also depends on your subject mix, the specific degree, and your English score — most courses want IELTS 6.0 overall (or an accepted equivalent). If your WAEC grades sit below a course’s direct-entry line, a foundation programme or International Year One (from C6) can still get you in, then you articulate into the bachelor’s degree.
How much does it cost to study in Australia from Nigeria?
Plan for two big numbers: tuition, which you pay the university, and living costs. Bachelor’s first-year tuition starts from about AUD 16,000 (≈ NGN 15.5m) at the most affordable colleges, and about AUD 30,000 at universities. A diploma or foundation pathway is a cheaper first year.
| Level | Median first-year fee (AUD) | ≈ at today’s rate |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | AUD 43,126 | ≈ NGN 41.3m |
| Foundation programme | AUD 30,853 | ≈ NGN 29.6m |
| Undergraduate diploma | AUD 18,396 | ≈ NGN 17.6m |
Median first-year fee net of discounts. Converted to naira at the 2026 exchange rate; rates move — check the day you pay.
Living costs depend heavily on your city. Perth is the most affordable of the major cities and Sydney sits in the middle.
Off-campus mean estimated annual living cost; converted to naira at the 2026 exchange rate. For a full tuition-by-field breakdown, see our cost by course in Australia guide.
Not sure your WAEC grades are enough?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Australian courses you’ll actually get an offer for — matched to your WAEC result and budget — and there are no agent fees to you.
The student visa from Nigeria (Subclass 500)
Nigerian students study in Australia on the Subclass 500 student visa. You create the application in ImmiAccount online, then attend an in-person appointment at a VFS Global centre in Lagos or Abuja to give biometrics. The figures in this section are set by the Australian government — they are separate from what your course and city actually cost.
- Living funds you must prove for the visaA fixed 12-month figure for the Subclass 500, on top of your first-year tuition and travel (≈ NGN 28.5m at today’s rate — indicative).AUD 29,710
- Student visa application chargeBase charge from 1 July 2026. Confirm the current figure on the Home Affairs pricing page before lodging.AUD 2,500
- Travel component (West Africa)Home Affairs adds a one-way travel allowance to the funds calculation; West Africa, including Nigeria, is the higher band.AUD 3,000
- English requirementMost courses want IELTS 6.0 overall, or an accepted equivalent.IELTS 6.0
Financial capacity, visa charge, travel component and Genuine Student requirement are set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs; biometrics via VFS Global Nigeria. Verify current figures and your nearest centre on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and vfsglobal.com before you lodge.
Funds should be genuine and traceable. Australian processing accepts evidence from Nigerian banks — recent statements, or a sponsor’s letter with proof of income. Show savings from a source you can explain rather than a single large deposit that appears just before you apply, which invites questions. A savings history or a documented sponsor is far stronger, and proof of funds means money you or your sponsor genuinely hold. Our Subclass 500 visa guide covers the requirements in full, and there are fee discounts worth checking in our scholarships for African students guide.
Work, post-study and PR
An Australian degree comes with real work rights during and after study. Across the universities you can apply to through Craydel, the pattern is consistent.
Work up to 24 hrs/week
You can work up to 24 hours per week in term time on a Subclass 500, and more during scheduled breaks — helpful for living costs, though not a substitute for the funds you must prove.
Post-study work — ~2 years
A post-study work permit is available at all of the universities you can apply to through Craydel, typically for around two years, so you can gain professional experience in Australia after your degree.
A pathway to PR
Permanent residency is not granted by universities — it is Australia’s points-tested skilled-migration pathway, run by the Department of Home Affairs. It is not automatic, but the study-then-work route is the most common way graduates work towards it.
Multiple intakes a year
Courses start through the year — February and July are the largest, with March and September intakes too. Work backwards from your start date; the application and visa together take months.
Applying through an agent safely
Australian universities take international applications through a registered education agent rather than direct, so you’ll apply with one — which makes choosing well important. The catch is that some agents in Nigeria operate as sales offices for a few universities, not as advisers working in your interest. Know the difference before you sign anything.
They show you options
A trustworthy adviser shortlists several universities on fit and cost, not just the two that pay them the most commission.
No fee to you
Reputable counselling for students is usually free — universities pay the commission. Be wary of large upfront “processing fees”.
Guaranteed visa or admission
No one can guarantee a visa. Only Home Affairs decides, and only a university can offer a place. Guarantees are a warning sign.
Pressure and secrecy
Rushing you to pay, discouraging you from checking official sites, or hiding your login details are all reasons to walk away.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study in Australia from Nigeria?
Yes. Nigerian students study in Australia every intake. You choose a university and course, secure an offer and eCoE, arrange OSHC and prove your funds, then lodge a Subclass 500 visa and give biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Lagos or Abuja.
What WAEC grade do I need for an Australian university?
Across Australian courses, a WAEC (WASSCE) result around B2 is the typical minimum for direct entry to a bachelor’s degree, and C6 for an undergraduate certificate, diploma, foundation programme or International Year One. A-Level (CCC), IB and the American Curriculum are also assessed. Exact requirements are set per course.
Which universities can I apply to through Craydel?
You can apply to more than 40 Australian universities and colleges (around 2,400 courses) through Craydel — including the University of Western Australia, Swinburne, The University of Newcastle, Edith Cowan, University of Notre Dame Australia, La Trobe and Western Sydney. INTO University of Western Australia College runs pathway programmes if your grades sit below direct entry.
How much does it cost to study in Australia from Nigeria?
Bachelor’s first-year tuition starts from about AUD 16,000 (≈ NGN 15.5m) at the most affordable colleges, and about AUD 30,000 at universities. Living costs run from about AUD 8,041/yr (≈ NGN 7.7m) in Perth to AUD 18,849/yr (≈ NGN 18.1m) in Brisbane. Rates move, so check the day you pay.
How do I apply for the student visa from Nigeria?
Create your Subclass 500 application in ImmiAccount online, upload your eCoE, OSHC and funds evidence, pay the AUD 2,500 charge, then attend a biometrics appointment at a VFS Global centre in Lagos or Abuja. Confirm your nearest centre and its address on vfsglobal.com — appointments are required.
Can I work in Australia while studying?
Yes. On a Subclass 500 you can work up to 24 hours per week during term and more in scheduled breaks. After graduating, a post-study work permit is available at all of the universities you can apply to through Craydel, typically for about two years, and from there graduates can work towards Australia’s points-tested permanent-residency pathway (run by the Department of Home Affairs, not granted by any university).
Sources
- Craydel course, campus and admissions data (2026) — universities and course counts, first-year fees by level, living costs by city, and WAEC/A-Level/IB/American Curriculum course-eligibility thresholds.
- Exchange rates for USD→AUD/NGN conversion (2026); rates move daily.
- Australian Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (Subclass 500): financial capacity, application charge, travel component and Genuine Student requirement. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- VFS Global — Australia visa services, Nigeria (Australian Visa Application Centres, Lagos and Abuja). vfsglobal.com
- IELTS — test scores accepted for study in Australia. ielts.org
Want this built around your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Australia universities that fit what you can actually afford — free.
Was this helpful?
Thanks — your feedback helps us improve this guide.
Get the Australia study guide by email
Fees, deadlines and scholarship tips — a couple of times a month. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Check your inbox to confirm
We've sent a confirmation link to . Click it to finish subscribing — then the Australia guide lands in your inbox a couple of times a month.
