Australia
At a glance
- Living index rating
- Expensive
- Monthly rent
- A$1,000 – A$2,000 (Sydney shared rooms A$1,300 – A$1,800)
- Monthly food
- A$400 – A$700
- Other monthly expenses
- A$350 – A$650 (transport, phone, utilities, OSHC health cover)
- Visa processing time
- Usually 4 – 8 weeks
- Family allowed for students
- Yes
Visa requirements
- Student visa (subclass 500) with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered course
- Genuine Student (GS) statement explaining your study plans and goals
- Proof of funds: at least A$29,710 a year for living costs, plus tuition and travel (more for family members)
- English test such as IELTS, PTE or TOEFL
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole stay
- Visa application fee of A$2,000
- Work limited to 48 hours per fortnight during term
Work permit after studies
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream
- Up to 2 years after a bachelor's or coursework master's; up to 3 years after a research master's or PhD
- You must be under 35 when you apply (up to 50 for research master's and PhD graduates)
- Extra time may be available after studying in regional areas
Citizenship route
- Permanent residence through skilled visas (such as subclasses 189, 190 or 491) or employer sponsorship, usually after gaining work experience on a 485 visa
- Citizenship after 4 years living in Australia, including at least 1 year as a permanent resident
- Citizenship test and good character requirement
Family details
- Spouse/de facto partner and dependent children can come as secondary applicants on your student visa
- You must show extra funds: A$10,394 for a partner and A$4,449 for each child
- Partners of master's and PhD students can work unlimited hours; others can work 48 hours per fortnight once your course starts
- School-age children must be enrolled in school, and fees may apply
Universities in Australia
Top-ranked
UNSW Sydney · Sydney, New South Wales
QS #19THE #75=ARWU #81
Famous for: Engineering, Mining engineering, Law
University of Melbourne · Melbourne, Victoria
QS #22THE #34=ARWU #37
Famous for: Medicine, Law, Education
University of Sydney · Sydney, New South Wales
QS #28THE #51=ARWU #79
Famous for: Medicine and health, Law, Architecture
Australian National University (ANU) · Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
QS #29THE #77ARWU 101–150
Famous for: Politics and international relations, Astronomy, Earth sciences
Monash University · Melbourne, Victoria
QS #31THE #61ARWU #76
Famous for: Pharmacy and pharmacology, Medicine, Education
The University of Queensland · Brisbane
QS #40THE #73=ARWU #73
Famous for: Business and Management, Engineering and Related Technologies, Other Natural and Physical Sciences
The University of Western Australia · Perth
QS #77THE #173=ARWU 101–150
Famous for: Other Society and Culture, Other Natural and Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences
Adelaide University · Adelaide
QS #79THE #141=ARWU 101–150
Famous for: Business and Management, Law, Teacher Education
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) · Sydney
QS #87THE #152ARWU 201–300
Famous for: Communication and Media Studies, Business and Management, Other Natural and Physical Sciences
QS #119THE #239=ARWU 301–400
Famous for: Business and Management, Other Natural and Physical Sciences, Graphic and Design Studies
QS #126THE #161=ARWU 301–400
Famous for: Other Mixed Field Programmes, Business and Management, Behavioural Science
THE #292=ARWU 201–300
Famous for: Business and Management, Public Health, Rehabilitation Therapies
All other universities and colleges (181), A–Z
Academies Australasia Polytechnic (AAPoly) · Sydney, Melbourne
Acknowledge Education (Stott's Colleges) · Melbourne, Brisbane
Adelaide Institute of Higher Education · Melbourne, Adelaide
AIE Institute · Sydney, Canberra
Apex Institute of Higher Education · Sydney, Melbourne
Astra Institute of Higher Education · Sydney
Australasian Academy of Higher Education · Brisbane, Melbourne
Australian Catholic University · Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other cities
THE 401–450ARWU 501–600
Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) · Sydney
Australian Institute of Advanced Technologies (SSR Higher Education) · Melbourne, Adelaide
Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors · Perth, Melbourne
Australian Institute of Technology and Commerce · Sydney
Australian International Institute of Higher Education · Brisbane, Sydney
Australian University College of Divinity · Sydney, Melbourne
THE 401–450ARWU 901–1000
Bureau of Meteorology · Melbourne
Central Institute of Technology and Innovation · Sydney
Central Queensland University · Rockhampton and other Queensland cities
THE 451–500
Charles Darwin University · Darwin
THE 451–500
Charles Sturt University · Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and other NSW campuses
THE 651–700
Collarts (Australian College of the Arts) · Melbourne, Sydney
Crown Institute of Higher Education · Sydney, Canberra
Deakin University · Melbourne and Geelong
THE #218ARWU 201–300
ECA College of Health Sciences · Brisbane, Sydney
Edith Cowan University · Perth
THE 351–375ARWU 901–1000
Edvantage Institute Australia · Melbourne
Emmaus Bible College (Australian College of Christian Studies) · Sydney
Federation University Australia · Ballarat
THE 501–550
Flinders University · Adelaide
THE 301–325ARWU 401–500
Global Higher Education (IIBIT) · Adelaide, Sydney
Greystone Institute · Brisbane
Griffith University · Brisbane and Gold Coast
THE #266ARWU 301–400
Higher Education Australia · Melbourne
Higher Education Leadership Institute · Melbourne
International College of Hotel Management (ICHM) · Sydney, Adelaide
International School of Global Leaders · Sydney
James Cook University · Townsville and Cairns
THE 326–350ARWU 301–400
La Trobe University · Melbourne
THE #291ARWU 401–500
Laurus Higher Education · Melbourne
Lincoln Institute of Higher Education (Lincoln Education Australia) · Sydney
MEGA Higher Education · Sydney
Metavision Institute · Brisbane
THE 401–450ARWU 801–900
National Academy of Professional Studies · Sydney, Melbourne
Nexus Institute of Higher Education · Sydney
Ozford Institute of Higher Education · Melbourne, Brisbane
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) · Brisbane
THE #222=ARWU 301–400
South Australian Institute of Business and Technology (SAIBT) · Adelaide
Southern Academy of Higher Education · Sydney
Southern Cross Education Institute (Higher Education) · Melbourne, Adelaide
Southern Cross University · Lismore, Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour
THE 551–600
Swinburne University of Technology · Melbourne
THE #294ARWU 201–300
Sydney Institute of Business and Technology (SIBT, Navitas) · Sydney
Sydney International School of Technology and Commerce (SISTC) · Sydney, Melbourne
Sydney Metropolitan Institute of Technology (Sydney Met) · Sydney
The Institute of International Studies (TIIS) · Melbourne, Sydney
The University of Notre Dame Australia · Fremantle and Sydney
THE 801–1000
Torrens University Australia · Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
Trident Institute Australia · Melbourne
University of Canberra · Canberra
THE 401–450
University of Newcastle · Newcastle
THE #295ARWU 401–500
University of Southern Queensland · Toowoomba
THE 376–400ARWU 701–800
University of Tasmania · Hobart and Launceston
THE #277=ARWU 301–400
University of the Sunshine Coast · Sunshine Coast
THE 551–600ARWU 701–800
University of Wollongong · Wollongong
THE #247=ARWU 301–400
Victoria University · Melbourne
THE 551–600
Western Sydney University · Sydney
THE 301–325ARWU 301–400
Western Sydney University International College · Sydney
No universities match your search.
This guide is for general information. Visa and immigration rules change often, so always check the official government website before you apply. Last updated 6 October 2026.
