World-class universities. Real post-study work rights of 2 to 5 years for Indian graduates. Transparent visa rules. A realistic PR pathway for the right course. Here's everything you need to weigh, sourced directly from studyaustralia.gov.au and the Department of Home Affairs.
Group of Eight (Go8) — Melbourne, Sydney, UNSW, ANU, Monash, UQ, UWA, Adelaide — plus strong public universities deliver consistently top-tier research and teaching across STEM, health, business and the arts.
Indian graduates qualify for extended Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) work rights of 2-5 years under the Australia-India ECTA Mobility arrangement — longer than the standard 2-4 years for other nationalities.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) credentials are accepted by employers and immigration authorities worldwide, ensuring your degree travels with you.
The ESOS Act, Tuition Protection Service (TPS) and mandatory Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) make Australia one of the safest study destinations.
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra all sit inside the QS Best Student Cities top 50 — for quality of life, employer activity and student mix.
Healthcare, education, engineering, ICT and skilled trades feature on the Skilled Occupations List, opening realistic pathways to Skilled (Subclass 189/190) visas after graduation.
Adapted from the official Study Australia 5-step framework, with practical detail for Indian applicants.
Pick the field that aligns with your career goal — STEM, health, business, arts, trades. Start with what you've already studied or worked in.
Compare AQF-aligned courses across universities, TAFEs and private providers using the Study Australia course search.
Estimate tuition (typically AUD 20k-50k per year), living costs (DHA benchmark AUD 29,710/yr for primary applicant), and OSHC insurance.
Get your CoE, evidence of finances, English score, OSHC, and a strong Genuine Student (GS) statement ready before lodging.
Once granted, plan your travel, accommodation, and orientation. Most providers offer airport pickup and first-week support.
Indicative tuition and the official Department of Home Affairs financial-capacity benchmarks. All figures in Australian Dollars.
| Item | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|
| 12-month living cost (primary applicant) | AUD 29,710 |
| Partner / de facto partner | AUD 10,394 |
| Each dependent child | AUD 4,449 |
| School-age child schooling | AUD 13,502 |
| Average tuition — Bachelor's | AUD 20,000-45,000 |
| Average tuition — Master's | AUD 22,000-50,000 |
Sources: Department of Home Affairs Subclass 500 financial requirements (updated 10 May 2024), Study Australia cost-of-living guidance.
It's Australia's primary student visa, allowing you to study full-time in a CRICOS-registered course. It's valid for the duration of your course plus a buffer, and lets you work limited hours during study.
From 23 March 2024 the Department of Home Affairs replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement with the Genuine Student (GS) test. You must show that you intend to study a real course and that your circumstances support that — your finances, course-career fit, ties to home, and overall narrative all matter.
As a primary applicant you need to demonstrate access to AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs, plus tuition for 12 months, plus travel costs. Add AUD 10,394 for an accompanying partner and AUD 4,449 per dependent child.
Yes — Subclass 500 holders are permitted to work, with a fortnightly cap during teaching periods (verify the current limit on the Home Affairs website before you plan). You can work unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
Under the Australia-India ECTA Mobility arrangement, Indian students completing eligible Australian qualifications can apply for a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa with 2 to 5 years of full work rights, depending on qualification level.
Most providers accept IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge or in some cases Duolingo English Test. Required scores vary by course (typically IELTS 6.0-7.0 overall with no band below 5.5-6.0).
Australia rewards prepared applicants. See where your profile stands today, with a transparent, counselor-grade probability score.
Check my visa probabilitySources cited on this page: studyaustralia.gov.au, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (Subclass 500). Last reviewed: June 2026.