Australia vs Canada
For Indian students — costs, work rights, visas and what we actually list, side by side.
| Australia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Postgrad tuition / year | AUD 22,000–50,000/yr (Group of Eight MBA/medicine can reach AUD 60,000–95,000+) | CAD $16,000–$40,000/yr (master's; the national average for international graduate students is about CAD $24,000, with MBAs higher) |
| Undergrad tuition / year | AUD 20,000–45,000/yr | CAD $15,000–$45,000/yr (national average for international undergraduates is about CAD $42,000; varies widely by province and program) |
| Living cost / month | AUD 1,800–2,800/month (varies by city; visa proof-of-funds is set at AUD 29,710/yr living costs) | CAD $1,500–$2,500/month (roughly CAD $18,000–$30,000/yr; higher in Toronto/Vancouver) |
| Work while studying | Up to 48 hours per fortnight while course is in session; unlimited hours during official course breaks | Up to 24 hrs/week off-campus during academic terms; full-time (unlimited) during scheduled breaks like summer and winter holidays |
| Post-study work | Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream: around 2 years after a Bachelor's or coursework Master's, 3 years for a research Master's and 4 years for a PhD, wi... | Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): 8 months up to 3 years, based on program length (2+ year programs and master's degrees can qualify for the full 3 years). Requires an English/French test... |
| Main intakes | February (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2); some courses also offer a smaller November intake | September (Fall, main intake), January (Winter), May (Summer/limited) |
| English (typical) | IELTS 6.0–7.0 overall (6.5 with no band below 6.0 is common) | IELTS Academic 6.0–7.0 overall (commonly 6.5, with no band below 6.0 for many programs) |
| Student visa | Student visa (subclass 500) | Study permit (issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). The study permit is not a visa — if approved, IRCC also issues a temporary resident visa (visitor visa) or eTA in the s... |
| Visa fee | From AUD2,500.00 for the main applicant, as published at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (charge increased from 1 July 2026). "There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa.... | Two IRCC fees, both in Canadian dollars: study permit processing fee CAN$150 per person, and biometrics CAN$85 per person (maximum CAN$170 for a family of 2 or more applying together). Total... |
| Visa processing | Home Affairs publishes no single figure — it publishes a stream-by-stream guide based on recently decided applications. Checked on the Department's visa processing times guide tool on 14 Aug... | IRCC's published processing time for a study permit applied for from OUTSIDE Canada by an applicant in India is 5 weeks (IRCC processing-times tool, "Study permit outside Canada — India", la... |
| Funds to show | As published at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (Student visa 500 — Gather your documents), you must show enough money for travel + 12 months of course fees + 12 months of living costs (pro rata for... | For applications submitted on or after 1 September 2025, for study OUTSIDE Quebec, you must show living-expense funds for the first year of CAN$22,895 for a single applicant. With accompanyi... |
| Universities we list | 12 | 15 |
| Programmes we list | 29 | 42 |
| Scholarships we list | 48 | 51 |
Costs and visa figures are the published ranges from official sources — your exact fee depends on the university and programme, and we confirm it free. Universities, programmes and scholarships are live counts of what we currently list, not the size of the country's whole sector.
Where Australia comes out ahead
- Post-study work: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream: around 2 years after a Bachelor's o...
Where Canada comes out ahead
- More programmes with a fee we have checked against the university (39 vs 23).
- More universities live on Vibedu (15 vs 12).
- More scholarships we can point you at (51 vs 48).
- Post-study work: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): 8 months up to 3 years, based on program length (2+ year programs and mast...
Australia vs Canada — FAQs
5 questions
Compare the tuition and living rows above: Australia postgrad tuition is AUD 22,000–50,000/yr (Group of Eight MBA/medicine can reach AUD 60,000–95,000+). Canada is CAD $16,000–$40,000/yr (master's; the national average for international graduate students is about CAD $24,000, with MBAs higher). Living costs and the funds you must show for the visa matter as much as tuition — we work out the all-in number for your city and course, free.
Australia: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream: around 2 years after a Bachelor's or coursework Master's, 3 years for a research Master's and 4 years for a PhD, with extra time for study in regional areas Canada: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): 8 months up to 3 years, based on program length (2+ year programs and master's degrees can qualify for the full 3 years). Requires an English/French test result and, for some applicants, a program tied to an in-demand field.
Australia: Up to 48 hours per fortnight while course is in session; unlimited hours during official course breaks Canada: Up to 24 hrs/week off-campus during academic terms; full-time (unlimited) during scheduled breaks like summer and winter holidays
Neither is automatic. What actually decides it is documentation: funds held for the required period, a genuine study plan and a clean application. See our Australia and Canada visa guides for each official process, fee and document list.
No. Shortlisting, applications, SOP/LOR/Resume and visa guidance are free — we are paid by partner universities, not by you.
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