Australia vs New Zealand
For Indian students — costs, work rights, visas and what we actually list, side by side.
| Australia | New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Postgrad tuition / year | AUD 22,000–50,000/yr (Group of Eight MBA/medicine can reach AUD 60,000–95,000+) | NZD 30,000–55,000/yr (varies by subject; higher for MBA/clinical) |
| Undergrad tuition / year | AUD 20,000–45,000/yr | NZD 30,000–55,000/yr (higher for engineering/science) |
| 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) | NZD 1,500–2,500/month (Immigration NZ requires proof of ~NZD 20,000/yr) |
| Work while studying | Up to 48 hours per fortnight while course is in session; unlimited hours during official course breaks | Up to 25 hrs/week during term, full-time during scheduled 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-Study Work Visa up to 3 years for degree-level (Level 7+) graduates, open work rights |
| Main intakes | February (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2); some courses also offer a smaller November intake | February (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2); some courses have November intake |
| English (typical) | IELTS 6.0–7.0 overall (6.5 with no band below 6.0 is common) | IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall for undergraduate, 6.5 overall for most postgraduate (no band below 5.5–6.0) |
| Student visa | Student visa (subclass 500) | Fee Paying Student Visa (Immigration New Zealand). This is the standard route for Indian students who pay international tuition fees themselves, via family, a loan, or a partial scholarship.... |
| 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.... | Published as "From NZD $850" on the Immigration New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa page. Separately, most student visa applicants must also pay the International Visitor Conservation and To... |
| 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... | Published by Immigration New Zealand as "80% within 8.5 weeks" for the Fee Paying Student Visa. INZ separately recommends: "We recommend applying for a student visa 3 months in advance of yo... |
| 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 tertiary, English language or other non-compulsory study, as published: "NZD $20,000 for each year, if you are studying for 1 year or more, or NZD $1,667 for each month" if your study is... |
| Universities we list | 12 | 8 |
| Programmes we list | 29 | 21 |
| Scholarships we list | 48 | 47 |
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 6).
- More universities live on Vibedu (12 vs 8).
- More scholarships we can point you at (48 vs 47).
- Post-study work: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream: around 2 years after a Bachelor's o...
Where New Zealand comes out ahead
- Post-study work: Post-Study Work Visa up to 3 years for degree-level (Level 7+) graduates, open work rights
Australia vs New Zealand — 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+). New Zealand is NZD 30,000–55,000/yr (varies by subject; higher for MBA/clinical). 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 New Zealand: Post-Study Work Visa up to 3 years for degree-level (Level 7+) graduates, open work rights
Australia: Up to 48 hours per fortnight while course is in session; unlimited hours during official course breaks New Zealand: Up to 25 hrs/week during term, full-time during scheduled 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 New Zealand 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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