Skip to content
Australia Study logoAustralia Studyan Edumapple guide +91 62385 03277

Degrees in Australia for Indian Students: Bachelor's, Master's, Graduate Diplomas and PhD on the Australian Framework

Australian qualifications sit on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF): a bachelor's is AQF level 7, an honours degree or graduate diploma level 8, a master's level 9 and a doctorate level 10. For an Indian student the length of the course matters as much as the level, because the 485 visa needs at least two academic years of study in Australia.

Leonid Kurza, co-founder of EdumappleBy Leonid Kurza · co-founder of Edumapple · checked

  • AQF 7bachelor's, 3 years
  • AQF 9master's: 3-year 485 for Indians
  • 92 weeksof study needed for a 485
  • 1024courses on our list

Each level and the visa after it

QualificationAQF levelUsual length485 for an Indian graduate
Bachelor's degree73 years; engineering and some health 42 years
Bachelor's with first-class honours in STEM84 years3 years
Graduate certificate or diploma86 months to 1 yearCounts only with a related degree
Master's by coursework91–2 years3 years
Master's by research9Up to 2 years3 years
Doctorate103–4 years4 years

Every row assumes the 92-week, 16-month study rule is met. A graduate who holds the first 485 and lived and studied in a regional area can then apply for a second one; see after graduation.

Free counselling

Shortlist Australian universities for your marks and budget

Expect a call or a WhatsApp message from an Edumapple adviser within one working day. You pay nothing for that first consultation.

  • Courses your marks and degree qualify for
  • Tuition and the visa living funds, counted in rupees
  • GS answers, visa timing and your 485 plan
WhatsApp +91 62385 03277

Choosing a route

Bachelor's degrees straight from Class 12; master's after a degree, which is how most Indians arrive; graduate certificates and diplomas as a bridge into a new field; PhD for research with scholarships and unlimited work hours.

Questions from Indian students: Degrees in Australia

How long is a master's in Australia?
One to two years. Most coursework master's for graduates of a three-year Indian degree take two years; one-year and eighteen-month master's exist for graduates in the same field or with honours.
Does a one-year master's lead to a 485 visa?
Not on its own. The 485 needs at least two academic years of study, 92 weeks of registered course time, completed over at least 16 months in Australia. A one-year master's after an Australian bachelor's can count together with it.
Is a three-year Indian bachelor's accepted for a master's in Australia?
At most universities, yes, as the equivalent of an Australian bachelor's. Deakin and Flinders say so directly; Go8 universities add grade thresholds such as a credit (65%) average at Sydney and UNSW.
What is an honours degree in Australia?
Either a fourth year after a three-year bachelor's or a four-year degree such as engineering honours. Honours is AQF level 8 and is the usual entry to a PhD.
How long is a PhD in Australia?
Three to four years full time. Research students have no work limit, and Indian PhD graduates get a four-year 485.

Sources we checked