Study in Australia
Why choose Australia for study?
Generous funding for international students. Australia is one of the world’s most generous nations when it comes to education, offering a range of bursaries and grants for students.
World-class universities. Australian universities regularly feature in the top 100 of world rankings, but with a rigorous education system, you can be sure of a top-quality education wherever you study in Australia.
The stunning natural landscape. Australia is renowned for its diverse beauty, from gorgeous beaches and reefs to breathtaking desert plains and mountains. The Australian landscape and wildlife are like nowhere else on earth.
The Australian welcome is not just down to the national history and culture though, the government has set explicit standards that universities must meet for international students to ensure that they have all the support they need while they are studying.
Student visa requirements for Australia
The visa you need will depend on the course level, the type of study you want to pursue, and the duration of the program. As an international student, you would require a student (subclass 500) visa, regardless of your field of study, the university you applied to, and the tuition fees.
Coming into effect on July 1, 2016, a student subclass 500 visa lets you stay and study in Australia for the duration of your study program, which is mostly up to five years and in line with your enrolment date. For a smooth stay, you need to ensure that your visa remains valid and that you abide by the student visa conditions mentioned on your student visa. You can read up in detail about this kind of visa on the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website.
Cost of studying in Australia
The cost of study in Australia depends on the type of qualification and the university or school you opt for. For instance, veterinary and medical degrees cost substantially more than other degrees. The average tuition fees at one of Australia’s tertiary institutions range between AUD 20,000 and AUD 30,000 a year.
| S.no. | Australia Study Program | Average fees in AUD* |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | School | $7,800 to $30,000 annually |
| 2. | English language studies | $350-450 weekly (varies as per course length) |
| 3. | Vocational Education and Training (Certificates I to IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma) | $4000 - $22,000 annually |
| 4. | Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree | $15,000 - $35,000 annually |
| 5. | Postgraduate Master’s Degree | $20,000 - $42,000 annually |
| 6. | Doctoral Degree | $20,000 - $42,000 annually (attractive scholarships up to 100% available with living grants on meeting the university requirements) |
Most commonly, courses in humanities, arts, and education are a little cheaper, while subjects such as medicine and engineering are likely to be more expensive. If you wish to study at a postgraduate level, the tuition fee is typically higher, and the cost of studying in Australia vary depending on the program
Scholarships to study in Australia
Here are some popular scholarship programs you can apply to study in Australia as an Indian student:
| S.no. | Name of the scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Australian Government Research and Training Program (AGRTP) | Funded by the Australian Government, it covers a student’s tuition fee and health insurance for up to three years Supports a student’s (local and international) Research Doctorate and Research Master’s degree |
| 2. | Australia Awards | Funded by the Department of Education and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) Aims to provide students from developing regions an opportunity to pursue their UG/PG program at participating universities in Australia and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions |
| 3. | Destination Australia | This scholarship aims to encourage international students to study in regional Australia to regionally develop tertiary education providers in Australia and provide a learning experience to its students |
| 4. | John Allwright Fellowship (JAF) | Provides scientists from partner countries engaged in the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) research projects with the opportunity to obtain postgraduate qualifications at Australian tertiary institutions |
*This is an indicative list, speak with your Nexus expert for details and the best available options suited to your profile
Intakes in Australia
Unlike a single intake in Indian universities, Australian colleges and universities offer two major intakes. In some universities, intakes may also be referred to as a semester. The two intakes available in Australia are:
Semester 1: Starts late February/early March to late May/early June
Semester 2: Starts late July/early August through to November
Live life in the FastLane
Want to check if you're eligible to get into your dream university? With Nexus Fastlane you can get an in-principle offer in seconds!
Enter your preferences to find and short list matching courses, provide your academic details and get ready to receive a response from your dream university within seconds!
Top courses to study in Australia
Here’s a list of top study abroad courses that international students opt to pursue in Australia for higher education:
Engineering
Business Analytics
MBA (Masters of Business Administration)
Life Sciences
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Social Sciences
Medicine
Top Universities to study in Australia
When deciding which university to study at, it is crucial that you also look at the world university rankings.
| QS Ranking of Australian Universities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| S.No. | Institution | QS Ranking 2024 (Globally) | QS Ranking 2023 (Globally) |
| 1 | The Australian National University | 34 | 30 |
| 2 | The University of Melbourne | 14 | 33 |
| 3 | The University of Sydney | 19 | 41 |
| 4 | The University of New South Wales | 19 | 45 |
| 5 | The University of Queensland | 43 | 50 |
Job prospects in Australia
Did you know that you can cut down your cost of living and gain work experience while pursuing your study program in Australia? Thanks to Australian laws, working part-time on a student visa for up to 40 hours every two weeks is permitted.
Employment options:
On-campus
Retail
Hospitality
Tutoring
Office jobs
Freelance
Miscellaneous
Volunteering
Cost of living in Australia
According to the Human Development Index 2022 and the Quality-of-Life Index 2022, Australia is ranked among the top 10 nations*, which implies Australia is counted in the top countries in terms of GDP, education system, and purchasing power parity index. So, along with the high level of income, it enjoys an excellent quality of health awareness, the medical system, and political stability. So, excited?
You should also consider these common expenses when creating your budget:
| Living expenses | Weekly budget (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Groceries and eating out | $140 to $280 |
| Gas, electricity | $10 to $20 |
| Phone and Internet | $15 to $30 |
| Public transport | $30 to $60 |
| Car (after purchase) | $150 to $260 |
| Entertainment | $80 to $150 |
