Holmesglen Institute（霍姆斯格兰学院）is a public technical and further education (TAFE) provider in Melbourne, Victoria, that also delivers higher education degrees. This guide covers what international students should know before applying: the programs on offer, entry requirements, fees as published on the official website in August 2026, and how the application and arrival process fits together. All figures come from holmesglen.edu.au pages and the official International Study Guide; fees are reviewed annually, so treat them as indicative and always check the latest official versions.
About Holmesglen Institute
Holmesglen Institutewas founded in 1982 and describes itself on its website as one of the largest government-owned TAFEs in Victoria, with more than four decades of operation. It holds dual registration as a registered training organisation (RTO 0416) and a higher education provider (IHE PRV12129), and its international courses are registered with the Australian Government (CRICOS Provider Code 00012G). The institute says it offers more than 500 courses across five main campuses: Chadstone, Moorabbin, Glen Waverley, Bourke Street in the city centre, and Drummond Street, plus an Eildon base for conferences, functions and outdoor programs. The campuses are specialised: Chadstone is known for building and construction workshops, fashion studios, IT labs and dental technology facilities; Moorabbin hosts a health precinct, the Renewable Energy Centre for Excellence and the Cilantro training restaurant; Glen Waverley focuses on hospitality, early childhood, environment and fitness; and Bourke Street, in central Melbourne, delivers the Diploma of Nursing.
Programs: Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees
Holmesglen Instituteoffers international students more than 60 courses across certificate, diploma, advanced diploma and bachelor degree levels, with learners coming from more than 70 countries. The official course directory groups study areas into arts and design; building and construction; business and finance; computing and IT; English, education and teacher training; horticulture and environment; hospitality, tourism and events; nursing, community and health sciences; and sport, fitness and wellbeing. Examples from the current course pages give a sense of the range: the Bachelor of Business Accounting is a three-year full-time degree with February and July intakes, accredited by CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants ANZ; the Bachelor of Information Systems is also three years, accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS); the Certificate III in Carpentry runs for one year, delivered over 38 weeks at three days per week; and the Diploma of Nursing is an 18-month full-time program with February, April and July intakes, including 400 hours of supported clinical placements and a pathway to the institute’s own Bachelor of Nursing.
Entry Requirements
Holmesglen Instituterequires international applicants to be at least 18 years old at course commencement. Academically, bachelor degrees typically require completion of a qualification equivalent to VCE Year 12 (overseas qualifications are assessed for equivalence by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority), or an Australian VET diploma or advanced diploma in a relevant field, or partial higher education study; applications are assessed individually under the institute’s admissions policies. English requirements are published by course level on the official English Language Proficiency Requirements page. Certificates and diplomas (excluding the nursing diploma) and standard bachelor degrees ask for IELTS Academic 6.0 overall or equivalent (PTE Academic 50, TOEFL iBT 64, or C1 Advanced 169). The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education requires IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0 (or PTE 55, TOEFL iBT 79, C1 Advanced 176). Nursing programs require IELTS Academic 7.0 overall (Listening 7, Reading 7, Speaking 7, Writing 6.5) or PTE 63, TOEFL iBT 91, C1 Advanced 178, C2 Proficiency 185 or OET. Citizens of Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States are exempt from English testing, except for nursing applicants. If your score falls short, the official pathway table allows a lower IELTS score of 5.5 when the principal course is accompanied by at least 10 weeks of an ELICOS program, or 5.0 with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS, alongside an approved English program.
Tuition and Other Costs
Holmesglen Institutepublishes tuition per course on each course page, with tuition GST-exempt and a standing note that fees are indicative and reviewed annually; the figures below are from the official course pages as at August 2026. The Bachelor of Business Accounting lists A$20,750 per year; the Bachelor of Information Systems lists A$21,400 per year plus a one-off A$650 course cost; the Certificate III in Carpentry lists A$17,640 total with a A$370 materials fee and A$80 per-semester General Services Fee; and the Diploma of Nursing lists A$39,090 total with A$1,100 materials and A$80 per-semester General Services Fee. Tuition is due each semester, two weeks before classes commence, and can be paid online through the my.Holmesglen student portal or in person at campus information offices (cash is accepted only at Moorabbin, Glen Waverley and Chadstone). Applying directly without an education agent attracts a non-refundable application fee of A$500, paid with the application. Tuition paid in advance is covered by the Australian Government’s Tuition Protection Service: if Holmesglen cannot deliver a course you have paid for, you can transfer to another course or provider, or receive a refund of unspent tuition.
How to Apply and Application Support
Holmesglen Instituteoutlines a step-by-step process on its how-to-apply page. First, choose a course and check prerequisites. Second, prepare certified copies of supporting documents: academic transcripts (with English translations where applicable), proof of English proficiency, a statement of purpose addressing the genuine student requirement, a scan of your passport photo page, and a work experience letter if relevant. Third, submit the application form; the institute notes that applications through its approved education agents are supported end to end, while direct applicants pay the A$500 application fee. Once assessment is complete, successful applicants receive a Letter of Offer with a Fee Schedule; after the conditions are met and the first instalment is paid with the Offer Acceptance Form, an electronic enrolment confirmation (eCoE) is issued for the visa application. The student visa (subclass 500) is applied for through the Australian Government. The genuine student (GS) requirement that took effect on 23 March 2024 continues to apply to all student visa applications, so be ready to explain your study intentions. Intakes vary by course — most programs offer February and July starts, and nursing adds an April intake — and the institute advises accepting offers and paying early to leave room for visa processing.
Student Support, Health Cover and Living Costs
Holmesglen Institutebundles practical support around the study experience. All overseas learners must hold health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC;) scheme, and Holmesglen requires cover for the full duration of study (visa-length cover). New students go through orientation, and the institute lists language and learning support, accommodation assistance, counselling and wellbeing services among its student support programs. For budgeting, the official International Study Guide offers Melbourne reference figures: homestays typically A$275–400 per week, purpose-built student accommodation about A$414 per week on average, private rentals around A$250–414, utilities roughly A$50 per week, groceries about A$130 per week, and a meal out A$8–40. The Australian Government asks international students to demonstrate at least A$29,710 for 12 months of living costs. Full-time undergraduate international students are eligible for the International Student Travel Pass, with public transport around A$68 per week, or about A$20 per week on a 365-day pass. Scholarships for international students include the Peter Grundy Scholarship, usually A$1,000, for VET or higher education students, alongside the Australia Awards scheme.
Before You Apply
Holmesglen Institutesuits students who want a public, employment-oriented education in Melbourne with clear progression from certificates through diplomas to degrees. Fee transparency is a genuine strength — every course page carries its international tuition — and the nursing, early childhood and building programs tie into professional recognition. Just remember that fees are reviewed annually, English and academic requirements differ by course, and visa materials must satisfy the genuine student requirement; always confirm against the latest official website. If you would like help mapping your own background, budget and timeline against Holmesglen’s current published requirements, talk to our advisers here — we will check the official information together with you.