Country guide

Study Abroad in Australia

Australia offers a large casual job market alongside study and a skills-based post-study visa, with better odds in regional areas and shortage occupations.

Updated 2026-09-20

Australia

Unemployment ~4–5%1
Cost of living
AUD 21,000–27,000/yr (higher in Sydney/Melbourne).2
Tuition (international)
AUD 25,000–45,000/yr for most master's programs.3
Work & internship access
Part-time work allowed up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying (unlimited for master's-by-research and PhD students); strong casual and part-time job market in cities. Internships and industry placements available in many programs.4
Post-study work visa
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485); duration depends on qualification level and location — typically 18 months to 3 years, with a 3-year stream for Indian nationals under the Australia-India ECTA for eligible master's/STEM qualifications.5
Work visa ease
Points-based skilled migration and employer-sponsored routes; easier in priority occupations and regional areas.
Long-term settlement
Historically strong for in-demand skills; policy and occupation-list dependent.

Study specialisations seen as strengths

EngineeringITBusinessHealth SciencesEnvironmental/MarineMining-related fields

Highest job-market demand

HealthcareITEngineeringEducationTrades & construction
Figures above are illustrative starting points, not verified statistics — confirm tuition, visa rules, and processing times with Australia's official immigration and university sources before deciding.

Sources

  1. Unemployment rate — Australian Bureau of Statistics — Labour Force, Australia (Tier 1, as of July 2026)
  2. Cost of living — Study Australia (Australian Government) — Living Costs (Tier 1, as of current (accessed 2026); Dept. of Home Affairs visa financial requirement is AUD $24,505/yr (2026) as a reference floor)
  3. Tuition — Study Australia (Australian Government) — official international education portal (Tier 1, as of current (accessed 2026))
  4. Work & internship access — Australian Government Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500) work conditions (Tier 1, as of current (accessed 2026); 48-hour fortnight cap effective since 1 July 2023)
  5. Post-study work visa — Australian Government Department of Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) (Tier 1, as of current (accessed 2026))
Common question

How long can I work in Australia after graduating?

How long can I work in Australia after graduating?

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets you stay and work after graduating; the exact duration depends on your qualification level and where you studied.

Weighing up Australia? Before you commit, work through our checklist of questions to ask universities, advisors, and yourself.

Work through the checklist →

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