🇦🇺 Australia vs New Zealand 🇳🇿 for Indian Students
Australia or New Zealand for an Indian student? Funds to show in rupees, visa fees, work hours, post-study work after a 1-year or 2-year master's, and the route to PR, side by side.
The short answer
New Zealand gives 3 years of post-study work after a master's with at least 30 weeks of study, needs less money up front, and lets you work 25 hours a week; Australia has a bigger job market and higher pay but needs about 2 years of study for its 485.
Side by side
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year money needed: tuition + living + travel funds (example) | A$77,330 ≈ ₹51.9 lakh | NZ$60,000 ≈ ₹32.2 lakh |
| Example tuition | A$45,120 a year (example: a University of Melbourne course at the low end) | NZ$38,000 a year (example: a taught master's) |
| Visa fee | A$2,500 | about NZ$750–850 (check Immigration NZ's fee finder) |
| Work while studying | 48 hours a fortnight in term; unlimited in breaks | 25 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks |
| Typical pay | A$26.44 an hour (national minimum wage from 1 July 2026) | NZ$23.95 an hour (adult minimum wage from 1 April 2026) |
| Post-study work after a 1-year master's | Not eligible | 3 years |
| Post-study work after a 2-year master's | 3 years | 3 years |
| English test | Approved test needed for the visa unless exempt | Usually needed by universities |
| Medical | Health exams incl. chest X-ray | Chest X-ray (over 6 months); full medical too (over 12 months) |
| Route to permanent residence | 485 → points-tested 189, 190 or 491 visa (65 points minimum, though invitations usually need far more; regional study adds 5) | Post-study work visa → Skilled Migrant Category (6 points) |
First-year money is example tuition plus the official living-cost funds (and travel money where required); the UK uses the outside-London rate, which rises to £1,203 a month for applications from 30 November 2026. Rupee values at approximate 29 October 2026 rates. Post-study work assumes an Indian graduate of a coursework master's applying in 2027.
Choose Australia if…
- You want a large job market and higher wages
- You will study for at least 2 years
- You want regional bonuses: 5 points and a longer 485
Choose New Zealand if…
- You want a 1-year master's with 3 years of post-study work
- You want to show less money (NZ$20,000 a year for living costs)
- You like a simpler residence test (6 points in the Skilled Migrant Category)
Work out your own numbers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia or New Zealand better for Indian students?
New Zealand gives 3 years of post-study work after a master's with at least 30 weeks of study, needs less money up front, and lets you work 25 hours a week; Australia has a bigger job market and higher pay but needs about 2 years of study for its 485.
Which is cheaper, Australia or New Zealand?
On our example courses, New Zealand needs less money in the first year (tuition plus the living-cost funds you must show): Australia about ₹51.9 lakh and New Zealand about ₹32.2 lakh at 29 October 2026 rates. Your own tuition changes this.
How long can I stay to find a job after a master's in Australia or New Zealand?
After a 1-year master's: Australia Not eligible, New Zealand 3 years. After a 2-year master's: Australia 3 years, New Zealand 3 years (Indian graduate, applying in 2027).
How many hours can students work in Australia and New Zealand?
Australia: 48 hours a fortnight in term; unlimited in breaks. New Zealand: 25 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 3 November 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.