Australia
~1,15,000 (Australian Govt Education Dept 2023)
- Cost summary
- Tuition AUD 30k–50k/year for international UG; AUD 28k–48k for PG. Living AUD 21k–25k/year. 2-year PG ~AUD 80k–130k.
- Application timeline
- Feb intake (main): apply Aug–Nov prior year. July intake: apply Feb–May. Application via individual university portals.
- Visa type
- Subclass 500 Student Visa
- Post-study work
- Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485): 2–6 years depending on degree level + qualifying area. Recent extensions for STEM degrees.
- PR pathway
- Skilled Independent (189) / Nominated (190) / Regional (491) visas. SOL (Skilled Occupations List) governs eligibility. Tighter than Canada but still attainable for STEM/healthcare graduates.
- English test required
- IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT
Official visa portal
We never collect documents or process applications. Visa applications are filed directly with the Australia government.
Open official Subclass 500 Student Visa info ↗Pros and cons for Indian applicants
Pros
- Strong PSW visa (2-6 years)
- High quality of life + weather (compared to UK/Canada winters)
- Strong Indian community in Sydney + Melbourne
- Healthcare via OSHC mandatory but cheap
Cons
- Higher absolute cost than Canada / Germany
- Distance from India + jet lag for visits
- PR pathways tightening (occupation list keeps narrowing)
- Recent visa fee hikes (AUD 1,600 for 500 visa as of 2024)
Top universities (10)
Rankings shown are QS World University Rankings. THE/national rankings are visible on each university's detail page.
University of Melbourne
QS #13Melbourne, VIC
Top-ranked Australian university; Melbourne Model (broad UG, specialised PG); large Indian community.
AUD 50k/year + AUD 25k living · ~2,000 Indian students
University of Sydney
QS #18Sydney, NSW
Oldest Australian university (1850); strong professional schools; expensive Sydney rent.
AUD 50k/year + AUD 27k living · ~2,500 Indian students
Australian National University (ANU)
QS #30Canberra, ACT
Research-focused; smaller cohort; strong PhD pipelines + government policy connections.
AUD 50k/year + AUD 22k living · ~600 Indian students
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
QS #19Sydney, NSW
Engineering-strong; trimester system; very active Indian student body in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
AUD 50k/year + AUD 25k living · ~3,000 Indian students
Monash University
QS #37Melbourne, VIC
Multi-campus Melbourne university with strong Indian intake; pharmacy + medicine well-known.
AUD 45k/year + AUD 22k living · ~3,500+ Indian students
University of Queensland
QS #40Brisbane, QLD
Brisbane base — cheaper cost of living than Sydney/Melbourne; strong life-sciences research.
AUD 45k/year + AUD 20k living · ~1,200 Indian students
University of Western Australia
QS #72Perth, WA
Perth-based; strong resources sector connections; significantly cheaper than east-coast cities.
AUD 42k/year + AUD 20k living · ~1,000 Indian students
University of Adelaide
QS #89Adelaide, SA
Adelaide is a designated regional area — bonus PR points; lower cost of living than Sydney/Melbourne.
AUD 40k/year + AUD 18k living · ~1,200 Indian students
RMIT University
QS #123Melbourne, VIC
Strong applied / vocational orientation; CBD Melbourne campus; large Indian student body.
AUD 42k/year + AUD 22k living · ~2,500+ Indian students
Deakin University
QS #197Geelong, VIC
Lower tuition than Group of Eight; strong IT + engineering programs; large Indian intake.
AUD 38k/year + AUD 20k living · ~2,000+ Indian students
English test prep (IELTS Academic)
The first hurdle. We have an honest prep guide for IELTS Academic.
Education loan landscape
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