About the university
Avondale University is a Christian university whose main campus is on the Avondale Estate at Cooranbong in Lake Macquarie, about 45 minutes from Newcastle and 90 minutes from Sydney. Its Faculty of Nursing and Health is based at the Sydney campus in Wahroonga, on the grounds of the Sydney Adventist Hospital. Indian students mostly look at its Bachelor of Nursing, teaching degrees, business and counselling.
Student-visa holders must study on campus full-time in a course with a CRICOS code, and must be 18 before they arrive. Avondale does not publish international tuition fees: it says the fee is shown in the offer letter and depends on the units taken. We therefore list no courses with fees here; ask Student Administration Services for an estimate.
- Founded
- 1897
- Type
- Private university linked to the Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Campuses
- Lake Macquarie (Cooranbong, main campus) and Sydney (Wahroonga, nursing and health)
- Study areas for student-visa holders
- Arts, counselling, business, ministry and theology, nursing, teaching, outdoor leadership
- Full-time load
- International students must enrol in 4 units (24 credit points) a semester
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
Avondale University doesn't publish course-by-course fees for international students online. See the courses on the official website (opens in a new tab), or ask our counsellor for the current list and fees.
Scholarships
- UG and PG coursework
International Student Scholarship
Value: Up to A$8,500: A$2,500 in the first semester, then A$2,000 in each of the next three semesters
Eligibility: New or returning international students on a student visa, studying on campus full-time in an eligible course. Competitive; apply by 14 January (Semester 1) or 30 June (Semester 2).
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Overseas school results are assessed against Appendix 1 of Avondale's Admission Policy (HE); for comparison, the Bachelor of Business asks Australian applicants for a selection rank of 60.
- You must be 18 or older before you arrive for the teaching period.
Postgraduate
- A recognised bachelor's degree, plus course-specific requirements listed on each course page.
- Teaching courses have higher English requirements (IELTS 7.5).
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Degree certificate and transcripts (for postgraduate courses)
- English test score report (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, CAE or OET, depending on the course)
- Genuine Student information and financial documents for the visa
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Arts, business and ministry | IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50); TOEFL iBT 79 (20 in listening, reading and speaking, 24 in writing); CAE 176 |
| Bachelor of Nursing | IELTS 7.0 (7.0 in listening, reading and speaking, 6.5 in writing); PTE 66 (56 in writing); TOEFL iBT 94; OET B (C+ in writing) |
| Teaching and science | IELTS Academic only: 7.5 overall, 8.0 in speaking and listening, 7.0 in reading and writing |
| Schooling in English | For arts, business and ministry, applicants whose secondary schooling was all in English may be exempt; nursing needs six years of schooling in English in a recognised country. |
Accommodation and living costs
Avondale has residential halls on the Lake Macquarie campus and independent units for mature students, couples and small families. Nursing students in Sydney can live at The Quarters near the Sydney Adventist Hospital (prices from the provider). A meal credit package is compulsory in the halls.
| Item | In AUD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Residential hall, twin share (Andre Hall or Watson Hall)2026 rate; meal package extra | A$154per week | ≈ ₹10,010 |
| Residential hall, single room (Ella Boyd or Watson Hall)2026 rate; meal package extra | A$217per week | ≈ ₹14,105 |
| Meal credit package (charged fortnightly with rent)2026; two options | A$137–273per package | ≈ ₹8,873 – ₹17,745 |
| University View Units (unfurnished)From January 2026; 6- or 12-month lease | A$280per week | ≈ ₹18,200 |
Campus and location
The main campus sits on the large Avondale Estate at Cooranbong, in a quiet bushland setting between Sydney and Newcastle. The Sydney campus is on the grounds of the Sydney Adventist Hospital.
- Lake Macquarie campus: about 45 minutes from Newcastle and 90 minutes from Sydney.
- Sydney campus (Wahroonga): home of the Faculty of Nursing and Health.
- Three residential halls on the Lake Macquarie campus, with furnished rooms and kitchenettes.
- Some courses include Winter School units in June/July at Lake Macquarie.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Avondale's graduates go into nursing, teaching, ministry, counselling and business. See our Australia guide for post-study work rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time employment, Good Universities Guide 2025 | Ranked #1 in Australia | Avondale international brochure, 2025 |
Studying in Australia
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Australia. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Australia
Photo: Bob Tan, CC BY 4.0 PublicThe University of Melbourne (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne, AustraliaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Law, Business & Management
Photo: Rob Deutscher from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0 PublicMonash University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne, AustraliaOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Engineering, Data Science & AI
Photo: J Bar, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicUNSW Sydney (official website, opens in a new tab)
Sydney, AustraliaOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Finance & Accounting
Photo: Donaldytong, Public domain PublicDeakin University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne and Geelong, AustraliaOften chosen for Nursing & Allied Health, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. KittySaturn~commonswiki assumed (based o…, Public domain PublicThe University of Sydney (official website, opens in a new tab)
Sydney, AustraliaOften chosen for Business & Management, Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences
Photo: BobTanGo, CC BY 4.0 PublicThe University of Queensland (official website, opens in a new tab)
Brisbane, AustraliaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Engineering, Business & Management
FAQs
What are Avondale's international fees?
Avondale does not publish them. It says fees depend on the units you take and are shown in your offer letter. Fees are set each August for the next year, and each semester must be paid before classes start.
What IELTS score do I need for nursing?
IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing, or PTE 66, TOEFL iBT 94 or OET B (C+ in writing).
Is there a scholarship for Indian students?
Yes, the International Student Scholarship is worth up to A$8,500 over four semesters for on-campus student-visa holders. It is competitive.
Can I study online on a student visa?
No. Student-visa holders must study on campus full-time. Online study is only for students staying in their home country.
Sources
- Avondale: home page (opens in a new tab)
- Avondale: international students (opens in a new tab)
- Avondale: international applicants (opens in a new tab)
- Avondale: fees FAQs (opens in a new tab)
- Avondale: English language requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Avondale: accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- Avondale: International Student Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- Avondale: international brochure (PDF, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.avondale.edu.au (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details