Study in Australia as an Indian Student: Your 2025 Guide to Universities, Funds Required, and Student Life 

Australia’s easygoing lifestyle, multicultural cities, and relatively low cost of living have made it a popular study abroad destination, attracting thousands of international students to its stunning shores each year. Currently, over 800,000 international students are studying in Australia at varying study levels, and Indian students accounted for 16% of this number in 2024.

India is the second-largest country for international students in Australia, and in this blog, we look at why it’s such a popular destination for Indian students. We also explore leading Australian universities, popular courses, tuition fees, and student life so you can understand whether Australia is the right fit for you. Additionally, you can access our checklist at the end of the blog, where we provide you with important pointers about migrating to Australia to help you in your move. Let’s get started.

Why choose to study in Australia?

Over the past decade, Australia has become a top destination for students seeking high-quality tertiary education as the country boasts a modern education system, with universities offering globally-recognised qualifications at all levels of study, from diploma courses to PhDs.

In addition to providing a world-class education, Australia offers international students a number of other benefits that we’ve outlined below.

• High-quality Research and Development (R&D) – Australian R&D has led to important, life-changing innovations like the Cochlear implant, cervical cancer vaccine, Wifi, the Black box flight recorder, Google Maps, and silicon photovoltaic solar cells. Universities in the country are consistently ranked among the world’s best for the quality of their research, and international students make up more than 30% of the student population of all Australian research degrees.
• Strict quality standards for education – Every course offered to international students by an Australian educational institute is required to meet the Australian government’s strict quality standards, accreditation, and requirements for delivery. In addition to this, the government helps you receive a high-quality education in a safe and fair environment through the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act).
• Dedicated support for international students – Australian universities have committed support staff, known as international student advisors, to address the needs of international students around the clock. You can also reach out to international student centres and 24-hour phone lines in most cities and towns for free support services like counselling and legal advice.
• Friendly and welcoming Australian culture – As almost a third of the Australian population was born overseas and 23% speak a language other than English at home, you will also be joining a diverse community, wherever you choose to study in Australia. This multicultural environment, combined with Australia’s easy going lifestyle, will help you settle down into your new student life quickly.

Of course, another top reason to study in Australia is its stunning natural landscapes. Blue, warm waves meet the golden Australian coastline in picturesque harmony, offering you endless entertainment options year-round. Depending on where you’re located, you can find tropical rainforests, beautiful cascading waterfalls, snowy mountains, and semi-arid deserts – this diversity of environments is a testament to what makes Australia unique.

Your university life is enriched by the environment you’re in, and Australian universities are often surrounded by or close to nature. In the next section, we explore ten leading Australian universities spread across the country.

Top universities and courses in Australia for Indian students

Australia is home to nine of the world’s top 100 universities, demonstrating its commitment to offering high-quality education to students. We have highlighted some of the most popular universities for Indian students in the table below, along with some top courses you can follow at each institution.

Australia has over 1,000 educational institutions, including 43 universities offering over 22,000 courses. If you’re exploring universities at the moment, here are some key questions to ask yourself when creating your university shortlist:

• What’s the university known for?
• Does the university provide career-building opportunities?
• What’s the campus culture like?
• Where is the campus located?

Another important consideration when selecting universities is their eligibility criteria. We will be exploring these in more detail next.

Admissions requirements for Indian students to study in Australia

To be accepted at an Australian university or college, international students must meet certain entry requirements. This includes satisfying criteria in areas such as:

• Academic qualifications – To gain entry into an undergraduate course, you’ll need to have the Indian Senior School Certificate, the Indian School Certificate, or the Higher Secondary Certificate (State Boards). If you wish to pursue a postgraduate degree, you must have completed at least one degree at the undergraduate level.
• Course-specific requirements – Some courses may also have specific prerequisites. For example, many engineering and science undergraduate degrees require you to have completed advanced mathematics studies, while postgraduate degrees may test your pre-existing research knowledge. If you do not meet the prerequisites of your desired course, you can explore short bridging courses, designed to provide you with the foundational skills you need to succeed in your degree.
• English language proficiency – If English is your second language, there is usually an English language requirement for entry into most courses.

These academic and English language proficiency test requirements vary depending on the universities you’re applying for, along with the educational qualification you’re aiming to study. Once you shortlist your preferred universities, it’s best practice to carefully go through the entry requirements of the courses you’re applying for and keep them saved for easy reference while you’re filling your applications.

Your application process to Australia also involves formulating a funding plan for your studies. Australian universities have a variety of tuition fees, while your living expenses will vary depending on where your university is located. Let’s explore tuition expenses and scholarship opportunities for Indian students in Australia in the next two sections.

Tuition fees in Australia for Indian students

Your tuition fees in Australia will vary depending on your university and your level of study. Here’s an overview of the approximate tuition fees required for each level of tertiary education in Australia:

You can get funding support to manage some of these expenses with a scholarship to Australia. Let’s look at some scholarships in Australia that you can apply for as an Indian student next.

Scholarships for Indian students to study in Australia

A scholarship can help you focus on your coursework without worrying too much about the expenses involved. The Australian government, Australian universities, and private entities provide a range of scholarships for Indian students planning to study in Australia.

Here’s a list of top scholarships in Australia that Indian students can apply for:

Australian universities also often offer scholarships to qualifying international students based on academic merit. When applying to a university, it’s always a good idea to contact the admissions team or international office at your university for information on scholarships so that you don’t miss out on good opportunities.

Once you’ve secured a spot in your preferred university, it’s time to apply for your Australian Student visa. We’ve outlined this process in the next section.

The visa process to study in Australia as an international student

Once you’re enrolled in your preferred course of study in Australia, you must apply for the Student visa (Subclass 500), which gives you the right to stay in Australia for the duration of your course. In general, here are the steps you must follow when applying for your visa:

1. Get an understanding of the visa processing times so you can apply for your Student visa well in advance.
2. Gather your documents using the Australian government’s Document Checklist Tool as a reference.
3. Apply for the visa online through your ImmiAccount.
4. After submitting your application, respond to any queries for additional information promptly by regularly logging into your ImmiAccount to check for messages from the Home Affairs Department.
5. Once you receive your visa, keep a copy of the decision with you when you’re in Australia.

One of the most important prerequisites for an Australian Student visa is adequate health insurance. We go into detail about health coverage for Indian students in the next section.

Health insurance in Australia for Indian students

You must be covered by the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an approved Australian health insurance provider for the duration of your stay in Australia. When obtaining your health insurance, you must ensure that your coverage starts from the day you arrive in Australia, not the day your course begins.

To obtain OSHC, you must find an approved provider and pay for your policy. Your university will most likely arrange OSHC for you, and once they do, you will need to know the name of your health insurance provider, the date that your policy starts and finishes, and the terms and conditions of your policy. Your university will also include your health insurance information on your Certificate of Enrolment (CoE) which you can then use to apply for your Student visa.

If you arrange OSHC coverage yourself, you will need to know the policy number to include in the visa application.

Before arriving in Australia, you have to obtain both the OSHC and your Student visa – these require payments from your end. We dive into the pre-arrival expenses you are likely to incur before arriving in Australia next.

Pre-arrival expenses to Australia

Your pre-departure preparations include a number of expenses, mostly related to your Student visa. To obtain your Student visa, you must pay an application fee of AUD 2,000. In addition to this, you’ll likely be required to pay a fee to obtain your police certificates and give your biometrics to a visa centre.

Your visa application also requires you to declare the minimum living costs needed for your stay in Australia and pay for your health insurance, which typically costs AUD 478 per year for a single coverage.

Now that we’ve gone through your study options in, and application and visa processes to Australia, let’s have a look at what your student life will be like there.

Life in Australia for Indian students

Australia is considered one of the most popular destinations in the world for international students, as it provides you with a safe and supportive environment to grow and learn in. In the next few sections, we explore different aspects of student life in Australia, offering you key insights into what life will look like once you start your studies there.

Locations in Australia

Australia is a massive country – driving around the entire country would take you at least three months, and transport you from cold to hot to tropical to dry climates and diverse environments. When considering Australia, you can go through its eight states and territories to understand which living environment would suit you best:

While taking into account the climates, environments, and entertainment options in the region of Australia you wish to live in, you must also consider living expenses.

Living costs

Gathering information about your potential living expenses is an important part of preparing for your student life in Australia. Depending on the region you’re studying in, your cost of living will vary. For instance, most smaller cities have relatively affordable rental accommodation, transport, and entertainment options. We’ve outlined an estimate for rent, utilities and internet, food and groceries, transportation, and other miscellaneous costs for each city in the table below:

You can work part-time to manage some of these expenses.

Working in Australia while studying as an international student

If you’re a Student visa holder, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while studying. The adult national minimum wage in Australia is AUD 23.23 per hour, allowing you to cover some of your living expenses during the course of your studies. You must also make sure you are aware of any changes to visa conditions, including work rights before finding part time work in Australia.

Now let’s take a look at your housing options in Australia.

Types of accommodation

There are many different accommodation options in Australia, so that students can pick the one that suits them best depending on their budget and lifestyle. When you first arrive in Australia, you’ll most likely stay in short-term housing like hotels and hostels while you familiarise yourself with your new city and meet new friends to move in with. Once you’ve settled in, you can choose long-term accommodation from a number of different options like:

• Rental apartments
• Share houses
• Managed or ‘purpose-built’ student residences
• University-managed accommodation
• On-campus residential colleges
• Homestays

When navigating through your housing choices, it’s important to keep in mind that a suitable living environment offers you the space to both study and relax as that’s an essential component of your success as a student. If you need extra advice on accommodation or about any other aspect of your student life in Australia, you can reach out to student support services.

Student support services

International students are welcome in Australia, and as such, have access to a wide range of support services. During your time as a student in Australia, you can reach out to specialised support addressing your health, safety, and wellbeing concerns.

We’ve outlined key support areas below:

• Legal rights and protections – The Australian government has appointed an independent advocate for international students called an Overseas Student Ombudsman who can help you with any issues or complaints about your educational institute.
• Health and wellbeing – Australia has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. If you​​ ​experience ​any ​difficulties ​during your student life such as stress, homesickness, culture shock, or illness​, there are​​​​​​​​​ ​​health care professionals ​that can ​help you.
• On-campus support – Australian universities have committed student support staff to look after international students, guiding you from the moment you arrive in Australia. You can get to know the campus during an orientation programme and reach out to academic advisors for help with your studies. Other services provided on campus for international students include childcare services, careers advice, and language support.

Next, we look at how you can prepare for your journey to Australia as an Indian student.

Migration advice

Migrating to a new country can be a daunting process as there are so many aspects of your journey that you must consider carefully. In the below checklist, we’ve listed some key things to keep in mind when making the move to Australia.

• Check that your passport is valid for at least six months prior to your arrival in Australia and leave a copy of your passport with a family member in case of an emergency.
• Ensure you have a valid visa for entering and studying in Australia well before your departure date and that you have all your visa documentation (including the Confirmation of Enrolment from your university) with you on your flight. Along with your visa, you’ll be required to show these documents to immigration officials when you arrive in Australia.
• Book your flight once you’ve been granted your Student visa. Make sure that your arrival date in Australia is at least a week before your course starts, as this would give you enough time to settle in before commencing your studies.
• It’s a good idea to consider a travel insurance policy, covering issues such as cancelled flights and some medical costs.
• Consult a money exchange service in India to obtain Australian currency before you land in Australia.
• Arrange your accommodation before booking your flight.
• Research travel and border requirements before arriving in Australia, so you’re prepared to go through immigration and customs.

If you need help applying to universities, understanding your Student visa requirements, or advice on arriving in Australia, we’re here to help you.

Steps to study in Australia with StudyIn

Diverse courses, quality education, and globally recognised qualifications make Australia a top destination for Indian students seeking a world class study abroad experience. If you’re planning to study in Australia, you can follow the steps below:

• Step 1 – Choose your study area and course
• Step 2 – Choose your university
• Step 3 – Plan your budget
• Step 4 – Prepare your student visa application
• Step 5 – Get ready to arrive in Australia and start your studies

Our StudyIn experts can guide you through each step of your journey to Australia, including by giving you personalised advice on course selection and finances. Contact us today to clear your doubts about studying in Australia as an Indian student.

FAQs

How can Indian students obtain a scholarship to study in Australia?

The Australian government, Australian universities, and private entities provide a range of scholarships for Indian students planning to study in Australia. You can research different options through entities like the Australian High Commission in New Delhi or through individual university websites. Our experts at StudyIn can also offer personalised advice to maximise your chances of securing a scholarship to Australia.

How much does it cost for Indian students to study in Australia?

Your expenses in Australia will include tuition fees and living costs like rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation. On average, you’ll need between AUD 18,000 and AUD 40,000 to cover your tuition and living expenses in Australia. To manage some of these expenses, you can obtain a scholarship or find part time work during your studies.

How can Indian students study an MBBS in Australia?

After completing your high school education, you can apply for an MBBS programme at an Australian university. To be eligible, you generally need a minimum score of 94% for the Indian Higher Secondary Certificate and an overall band score of 7.0 with a band score of 7.0 in all bands for the IELTS Academic test.