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.
Step 2: Check the entry requirements and application dates
All of your course entry requirements (academic and English) can be found online.
If you have not reached the level required for entry to your chosen course, there are other pathways you can follow.
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 2025 | Semester 2 2025 | Semester 3 2025 | |
Last date to submit offshore applications | 17 December 2024 | 28 April 2025 | 25 August 2025 | |
Last date to submit onshore applications | 18 February 2024 | 7 July 2025 | 27 October 2025 | |
Last date to submit applications for changes/transfers | 18 February 2025 | 7 July 2025 | 27 October 2025 | |
Orientation week commences | 24 February 2025 | 14 July 2025 | 10 November 2025 | |
Teaching commences | 3 March 2025 | 21 July 2025 | 17 November 2025 | |
Census date | 25 March 2025 | 11 August 2025 | 4 December 2025 |
TAFE Application Dates
TAFE 2025 | Semester 1 2025 | Semester 2 2025 |
Last date to submit offshore applications | 20 November 2023 | 17 June 2024 |
Last date to submit onshore applications | 22 December 2023 | 24 June 2024 |
Teaching commences | 1 January 2025 | 1 July 2025 |
Census date | 11 March 2025 | 11 August 2025 |
CDU International College
CDUIC 2025 | Semester 1 2025 | Semester 2 2025 | Semester 3 2025 | |
Last date to submit offshore applications | 6 January 2025 | 5 May 2025 | 1 September 2025 | |
Last date to submit onshore applications | 25 February 2025 | 1 July 2025 | 27 October 2025 | |
Teaching commences | 3 March 2025 | 7 July 2025 | 3 November 2025 | |
Census date | 24 March 2025 | 28 July 2025 | 24 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.
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.
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:
- Passport copy showing all relevant information
- Proof of English language proficiency test
- A well-written Statement of Purpose (Single) or Statement of Purpose (Family)
- Certified copies of all academic transcripts, award certificates including grading systems information and English translations (whenever applicable)
- Resume
- 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:
- Certified academic transcripts of your previous study along with unit outlines (and certified English translation, if required).
- Completed HE113 Application for Exemption form.
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:
- Academic entry requirements
- Any special entry requirements
- English language entry requirements
- Meeting the criteria as both a genuine temporary entrant (GTE) and genuine student (GS).
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.
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International student scholarships
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Find an agent
Search nowTo study with CDU, you will need to submit your application online. You can either apply directly or via an authorised CDU Education Agent closest to you. We have agents all over the globe.
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Why choose CDU
Learn moreAs a leading university for graduate employment outcomes with strong links to industry, you can connect to a career you care about with CDU.
Like our namesake Charles Darwin, we think differently. We’re young, flexible, and internationally recognised for teaching, research and First Nations education.
Whether you study online or from one of our campuses and centres across Australia, we have the experience and support to help you learn your way.