AUSTRALIA · CHAPTER 1
Why Australia,and is it right for you?
Australia offers globally ranked universities, the right to work 48 hours a fortnight during term, and a Temporary Graduate visa that is longer for Indian graduates under the Australia–India trade agreement. The trade-offs are high tuition, an AUD 2,500 visa fee from July 2026, a strict Genuine Student test and high city rents.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
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- Student visa fee
- AUD 2,500
- From 1 July 2026
- Work in term
- 48 h / fortnight
- Living funds (visa)
- AUD 29,710 / year
- 485 after master's (Indians)
- Up to 3 years
- Under ECTA
What Australia does well
- Strong universities and practical, career-focused programmes
- Two main intakes (February and July)
- Generous work rights during study
- Temporary Graduate visa with India-specific lengths under ECTA
- Regional study can extend post-study stay
The honest trade-offs
Visa refusals rose with the Genuine Student requirement; your study plan must be coherent. Visa and Temporary Graduate visa fees rose sharply in 2025–26, and Sydney and Melbourne rents are high.
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Where students go
| City | Strengths | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Finance, tech, healthcare; largest job market | Highest |
| Melbourne | Universities, IT, arts, large Indian community | High |
| Brisbane | Engineering, mining tech, lower rent | Medium |
| Adelaide | Defence, space, health; regional migration benefits | Lower |
| Perth | Mining, energy, engineering | Medium |
| Canberra | Government, research, ANU | Medium |
Know the trade-offs
- Visa fee and living-cost requirements have risen
- Enrolment caps and stricter Genuine Student checks
- Distance and flight cost to India
- Strong post-study visa for Indians under the India–Australia trade agreement (ECTA)
- Regional study can add post-study time and migration points
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Yes for students choosing reputable universities and in-demand fields. Indians get longer post-study work rights under ECTA, and wages for part-time work are high, but living and visa costs are significant.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
AUSTRALIA GUIDE
Universities & degrees
Bachelor's, master's by coursework and research, TAFE, Group of Eight, CRICOS registration and February and July intakes.
AUSTRALIA GUIDE
Fees & cost of living
Australian tuition, AUD 2,500 visa fee, OSHC, AUD 29,710 living-funds requirement and monthly costs in Sydney, Melbourne and other cities.
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Compare countries
Compare countries on fees, living costs, visa rules and post-study work, in one table.
FROM INDIA
Month-by-month timeline
Month-by-month study abroad plan from India for a September 2027 start: tests, applications, scholarships, loans, visa, flights and a document checklist.
FRANCE
Study in France
The full France guide: degrees, fees, Campus France, visa, housing and work, chapter by chapter.
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