Study in Australia for Indian Students: Universities, Fees in INR, Subclass 500 and 485 Guide

What Australia offers, and what it costs

• The longest post-study visa for Indians. Under the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, an Indian master's graduate gets a three-year 485 and a PhD graduate four; see after graduation.
• Regional study as a lever. A degree from Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, the Gold Coast or Hobart adds five migration points and a second 485 of one year; Darwin, Townsville, Cairns and Ballarat add two.
• Work while you study. 48 hours a fortnight in term at a minimum wage of A$26.44 an hour; see work rules.
• The cost. Fees among the highest in the world, A$29,710 a year of living funds to show, and rent of A$600 a week or more for a flat in Melbourne or Brisbane.

Universities and their fees

Group of Eight research universities

Technology and metropolitan universities

Regional universities

Each Australian university's cheapest bachelor's and master's, as yearly international tuition, mostly for 2027 entry. Exchange rates: 1 AUD = ₹66.97, 1 NZD = ₹53.45, 1 USD = ₹95.22, 1 GBP = ₹126.53, €1 = ₹106.01. Source: European Central Bank reference rates (cross rates via the euro), 28 October 2026.

From shortlist to arrival

1. Shortlist (6–9 months before the start)

   Fix the course, then the university: Class 12 or bachelor's marks, budget and whether you want a regional campus decide most of it.

2. Apply (by November for February, by May for July)

   Each university admits directly or through an authorised agent; some, such as Adelaide University, accept Indian applicants only through agents.

3. Accept and pay

   Pay the first semester's tuition or the deposit the university asks for and buy Overseas Student Health Cover. The university then issues your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

4. Student visa (subclass 500)

   Lodge online from India with the CoE: A$2,500, the four Genuine Student answers and the documents the Document Checklist Tool lists. Half of higher-education decisions came within 16 days in 2026.

5. Arrive (February–March or July)

   Most universities start Semester 1 in late February and Semester 2 in July; trimester universities add a November or a later start.

6. Graduate and stay

   Apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (485) within six months of finishing: two to four years for Indian graduates, more after study in a regional area.

There is no central admission system for international students: each university assesses you and issues the offer and the CoE the visa depends on. More on admission, intakes and deadlines and the student visa.

The visa has become the hard part

Home Affairs granted 59.5% of offshore student visa applications from Indian nationals decided between October and December 2025, against 83.8% for all applicants outside Australia. Since 2 October 2026 most students can no longer bring family members, and most visitors and other temporary visa holders can no longer switch to a student visa inside Australia. A well-chosen course, a coherent Genuine Student statement and clean financial papers matter more than ever; see refusals and how to avoid them.

Where Indian students go

Melbourne and Sydney have the largest Indian communities: about 242,000 and 185,000 India-born residents at the 2021 census, concentrated in Tarneit and Truganina in Melbourne's west and in Parramatta, Harris Park and Blacktown in Sydney. Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane each have 40,000–60,000 and lower rents. Compare them on cities.