Australia is a well-renowned study-abroad destination that offers top-notch education, a diverse range of courses, and a high standard of living. The country boasts 42 top-notch universities and colleges, including the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney).
As per the QS World University Rankings 2025, the 10 top universities in Australia rank among the leading 100 global institutions. Indian students must take at least an English proficiency exam or required entrance exams to enrol in these institutions.
Moreover, according to recent research, Australia has approximately 6,55,000 students. This year, there were 15% more active visas than the previous year, showing Australia’s popularity as a study-abroad destination. Thus, Indian students can expect a high-quality education, diverse cultural experiences, and work prospects.
Here, we have provided all the essential details of universities in Australia that you must be aware of before going to study there.
There are 42 universities in Australia, 38 public and 4 private. Understanding about universities and their average educational costs, popular streams, required exams, and more is essential for Indian students applying to Australia. Check out the key highlights concerning universities and colleges mentioned in the table below.
Parameter |
Statistics |
Number of universities in Australia |
42 |
Tuition fees of top universities in australia |
INR 10L to INR 40L |
Top Streams in Australia |
UG Diploma, BBA, MIM, B.E./B.Tech, MBA/PGDM |
English language exams required |
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo |
Entrance exams required |
GMAT/GRE in some courses |
Australia is the most famous study-abroad destination for Indian students, and the reason behind this is its prominent universities that are well-recognised around the world. A myriad of diverse courses encourage students to gain practical experience while studying in Australia.
More than 1,00,000 scholarships and financial aid are available to help with expenses related to studying, working, or staying in Australia. That’s what makes Australia an affordable study-abroad destination. All 42 of the best universities in Australia have support systems, such as job portals for students, that provide various internships and full-time job opportunities.
International students who wish to work there are allowed part-time jobs along with their studies for up to 40 hours every two weeks during their academic year. They can also work full-time during the summer vacation period. This kind of employment can not only help with your studies but also help you gain work experience and earn money for your expenses.
The education system in Australia is widely renowned for its high quality, and students benefit from classroom instruction and hands-on experience. Hence, studying here is an appealing destination for international students worldwide because of its academic excellence, practical work opportunities, and financial support through scholarships.
Some of the highly-ranked top universities in Australia are the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Monash University, and the Australian National University (ANU). These universities are among the world’s top 50 institutions. Head over to the list of universities and colleges in Australia as per QS and THE rankings:
University Name |
Australia University Rankings (QS) 2025 |
THE World Rankings 2024 |
13 |
37 |
|
18 |
60 |
|
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) |
19 |
84 |
30 |
67 |
|
37 |
54 |
|
40 |
70 |
|
77 |
143 |
|
82 |
111 |
|
88 |
148 |
|
123 |
251-300 |
|
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) |
133 |
180 |
167 |
201-250 |
|
174 |
201-250 |
|
179 |
201-250 |
|
197 |
251-300 |
Various business and management-related programs exist at top-notch universities and colleges in Australia. The table below shows those institutions that provide business and management courses.
University Name |
QS Ranking |
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) |
35 |
The University of Melbourne |
45 |
The University of Sydney |
54 |
Monash University |
62 |
Australian National University (ANU) |
70 |
The University of Queensland |
72 |
University of Technology Sydney |
138 |
RMIT University |
148 |
Deakin University |
151-200 |
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) |
151-200 |
151-200 |
|
The University of Adelaide |
151-200 |
The University of Western Australia |
151-200 |
University of Wollongong |
151-200 |
Some of the top universities in Australia provide a diverse range of engineering programs. Below is a list of those universities.
University Name |
QS Ranking |
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) |
31 |
The University of Melbourne |
49 |
The University of Sydney |
68 |
Monash University |
73 |
The University of Queensland |
78 |
Australian National University (ANU) |
86 |
University of Technology Sydney |
106 |
The University of Adelaide |
126 |
RMIT University |
151 |
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) |
186 |
The University of Western Australia |
195 |
The University of Newcastle, Australia (UON) |
200 |
University of Wollongong |
212 |
Curtin University |
220 |
Among several universities and colleges, the top universities in Australia offer students an abundance of law courses. Such universities providing varied programs are listed below.
University Name |
QS Ranking |
The University of Melbourne |
10 |
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) |
12 |
The University of Sydney |
16 |
Australian National University (ANU) |
25 |
Monash University |
36 |
The University of Queensland |
52 |
University of Technology Sydney |
68 |
101-150 |
|
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) |
101-150 |
The University of Adelaide |
101-150 |
The University of Western Australia |
101-150 |
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) |
151-200 |
The University of Newcastle, Australia (UON) |
151-200 |
University of Wollongong |
151-200 |
Deakin University |
201-250 |
Despite being the most popular study abroad destination, a myriad of Australian cities are ranked high in the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2025. Melbourne and Sydney are the popular cities to which a majority of international students migrate. These cities are ranked #4 and #7, respectively.
Besides these two, a few more cities, such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, and Perth, are also famous for studying abroad. Not only for academic excellence, these cities also deliver a high standard of living and a vibrant student life.
Particulars |
QS Best Student City 2025 |
Melbourne |
4 |
Sydney |
7 |
Brisbane |
22 |
Adelaide |
26 |
Canberra |
30 |
Perth |
34 |
Gold Coast |
87 |
Australia is a globally recognised nation for its world-class academic excellence and diverse set of programs available. Several top universities in Australia offer popular courses like Bachelor of Business Administration, Master in Management, Bachelor of Technology, Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Master of Science, and many others. Such programs attract most of the indian students.
Courses |
No. of Universities |
UG Diploma |
74 |
BBA |
58 |
MIM |
54 |
B.E./B.Tech |
52 |
MBA/PGDM |
51 |
MS |
51 |
B.Sc. |
40 |
PG Diploma |
38 |
M.A. |
34 |
B.A. |
33 |
International students studying in Australia must first satisfy their eligibility for specific admission criteria. There’s no universal standard, as the requirements vary from university to university. Some fundamental eligibility and documentation are consistently common across various institutions.
Explore some of these common basic requirements in order to apply to these top universities in Australia.
A plethora of top universities in Australia seek GMAT or GRE scores as an admission requirement for business and management courses. Indian students have to meet this eligibility criteria to acquire seats in such programs.
The proof of English language proficiency is always a must-to-fulfil requirement, especially for English-speaking countries like Australia. The universities and colleges here must require Indian students to present band scores from exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo.
However, English proficiency exams can be of students’ choice, but many Indian students mainly choose IELTS exams.
Along with eligibility criteria and requirements, some documentation is required to apply to universities and colleges in Australia and acquire an Australia student visa. Below are the documents to be compiled.
Criteria |
Undergraduate |
Postgraduate |
10th and 12th standard academic transcript |
10th and 12th standard academic transcript along with bachelor’s degree certificate |
|
A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 bands or equivalent in any other proficiency test |
A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 bands or equivalent in any other proficiency test |
|
No LOR required |
Required on a case-by-case basis depending on the program |
|
Required |
Required |
Some major documents are mentioned above in the table, and the rest of the common documentation are as follows.
Test scores from standardised exams such as GMAT, GRE
Completed application form
Updated resume
Portfolio (if required)
Passport-size photographs (if requested)
Copy of your passport
There are several universities in Australia well-renowned for their academic excellence. In order to get admission here, students must understand that there are a total of 3 intakes to consider.
February Intake in Australia - This intake, also known as Semester 1 intake, is the primary & major intake that a myriad of international students mostly choose. That’s also because numerous institutions offer a diverse set of programs. This semester starts in February or early March and ends around late May or early June.
July Intake in Australia - This intake is also referred to as Semester 2 intake. Unlike the February intake, this is the secondary intake season with most programs. Indian students who missed the February intake can smoothly apply for admission to this intake. This semester begins in the month of July or August and lasts till November.
November Intake in Australia - This intake is the least chosen among international students and is known as the Semester 3 intake or minor intake. Multiple universities and colleges open selected programs this semester. It commences in the month of late November and ends until January.
Australia has retained a steady flow of international students in its top-notch institutions over the years. Prospective students must consider the expenses before moving ahead with their applications. The cost of studying depends on the student’s desired university and chosen courses. On average, educational costs can range between INR 10L to INR 40L. Let’s take a look at the breakdown of the tuition fees.
Range of 1st-Year Tuition Fees |
No. of Universities |
Up to INR 10L |
76 |
INR 10-20L |
41 |
INR 20-40L |
1 |
INR 40L+ |
12 |
Note: In addition to tuition fees, students also have to manage sundry expenses, which encompass books and supplies, personal expenses, insurance, security funds, registration, and application fees, among others.
Living in Australia, either to study or to work, is quite expensive, so students must consider the second most significant expenditure. The cost of living in Australia is well-elevated than a usual expense. Also, these expenses depend on their lifestyle and spending habits.
According to Numbeo, the average living expenses lie around INR 92,617 (AUD 1,655). Following this, explore a more detailed breakdown of living expenses.
Cities |
Average Cost of Living |
Melbourne |
AUD 1,591.7 per month |
Sydney |
AUD 1,722.9 per month |
Brisbane |
AUD 1,653.6 per month |
Adelaide |
AUD 1,865.1 per month |
Canberra |
AUD 1,921.2 per month |
Perth |
AUD1,655.8 per month |
Gold Coast |
AUD 1,544.1 per month |
Besides tuition and living expenses, a visa is one of the most significant requirements for studying in Australia. Having a prominent level of institutions not only increases educational costs but also affects the difficulty of acquiring a visa.
Subclass 500 student visas allow students to study for a maximum of 5 years in line with their enrollment and permit them to work 48 hours a fortnight while pursuing their undergraduate studies. Students must be enrolled in a course of study, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and other eligibility. The student visa fees are around AUD 1,600 (INR 89,538).
The ever-expanding job market of Australia is expected to grow by 60% by 2025 and in the years ahead. The industries can be agriculture and energy, along with the services sector having the most active jobs, increased by 78.6% and 68% in wage dependency. The list below includes an explanation of prominent job prospects in Australia, along with salaries.
Job Title |
Average Salary |
State Government Administration Officer |
INR 46,04,993 (AUD 83,000) |
Health Analyst |
INR 58,25,557 (AUD 1,05,000) |
Professional Services Consultant |
INR 44,70,699 (AUD 80,580) |
Community Services Worker |
INR 46,17,558 (AUD 83,227) |
Consumer Goods in Retailing |
INR 38,83,705 (AUD 70,000) |
Temporary Administrator |
INR 43,30,442 (AUD 78,052) |
Supermarkets and Grocery Manager |
INR 39,39,186 (AUD 71,000) |
Registered Nurse (RN) |
INR 40,12,366 (AUD 72,319) |
Public School Teacher |
INR 42,57,428 (AUD 76,736) |
Personal Welfare Worker |
INR 39,97,164 (AUD 72,045) |
Notable universities in Australia, mainly encompassing public universities, offer a wide variety of scholarships for Indian students to cover their educational costs. For instance, the University of Melbourne accepts GMAT scores to waive the English proficiency exam. Let’s explore some of the pre-eminent scholarships for Indian students.
Scholarship Name |
Offered By |
Value |
K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad |
K.C. Mahindra Education Trust |
INR 8,00,000 |
Haini Zeini Scholarships |
Haini Zeini Foundation |
INR 82,500 |
Narotam Sekhsaria’s Scholarships |
Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation |
NA |
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