Australia vs Ireland
For Indian students — costs, work rights, visas and what we actually list, side by side.
| Australia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Postgrad tuition / year | AUD 22,000–50,000/yr (Group of Eight MBA/medicine can reach AUD 60,000–95,000+) | €13,000–€35,000/yr (higher for business, data & health) |
| Undergrad tuition / year | AUD 20,000–45,000/yr | €10,000–€28,000/yr |
| 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) | €1,100–€1,800/month (Dublin at the higher end) |
| Work while studying | Up to 48 hours per fortnight while course is in session; unlimited hours during official course breaks | 20 hrs/week during term; up to 40 hrs/week in official holiday periods |
| 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... | Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G): 12 months for an honours bachelor's (NFQ Level 8), up to 24 months for a master's/PhD (NFQ Level 9/10) |
| Main intakes | February (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2); some courses also offer a smaller November intake | September (main), January (limited) |
| English (typical) | IELTS 6.0–7.0 overall (6.5 with no band below 6.0 is common) | IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall (some courses require 6.5–7.0) |
| Student visa | Student visa (subclass 500) | Long Stay 'D' Study Visa (called the "long term study visa" by Immigration Service Delivery) — applied for online through AVATS, and registered in Ireland after arrival as Stamp 2 student pe... |
| 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.... | As published at irishimmigration.ie/preclearance-and-entry-visas-fees/: Single entry €60, Multi entry €100 (Transit €25). ISD states the fee is an administration fee that "cannot be refunded... |
| 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... | India-specific, as published by the Embassy of Ireland New Delhi Visa Office (processing-times table, marked "Update: 31 May 2026"): Study — 4-8 weeks for a first-instance decision; 6 calend... |
| 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... | As published at irishimmigration.ie (student finances page, last updated 30 June 2025): for all academic courses beginning after 1 July 2023 you must show evidence of "immediate access to at... |
| Universities we list | 12 | 9 |
| Programmes we list | 29 | 26 |
| Scholarships we list | 48 | 48 |
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
- More programmes with a fee we have checked against the university (23 vs 15).
- More universities live on Vibedu (12 vs 9).
- Post-study work: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream: around 2 years after a Bachelor's o...
Where Ireland comes out ahead
On the measures we hold verified data for, Ireland doesn't lead — which doesn't make it the wrong choice. Fit, course and city matter as much as cost.
Study in IrelandAustralia vs Ireland — 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+). Ireland is €13,000–€35,000/yr (higher for business, data & health). 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 Ireland: Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G): 12 months for an honours bachelor's (NFQ Level 8), up to 24 months for a master's/PhD (NFQ Level 9/10)
Australia: Up to 48 hours per fortnight while course is in session; unlimited hours during official course breaks Ireland: 20 hrs/week during term; up to 40 hrs/week in official holiday periods
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 Ireland 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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