🇨🇦 Canada vs Australia 🇦🇺 for Indian Students
Canada or Australia 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
Canada is cheaper to start and gives a 3-year work permit even after a 1-year master's; Australia pays more per hour and rewards regional study, but a 1-year master's alone does not qualify for its post-study visa.
Side by side
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year money needed: tuition + living + travel funds (example) | C$70,448 ≈ ₹47.9 lakh | A$77,330 ≈ ₹51.9 lakh |
| Example tuition | C$45,000 a year (example: a master's at a large Ontario university) | A$45,120 a year (example: a University of Melbourne course at the low end) |
| Visa fee | C$150 + C$85 biometrics | A$2,500 |
| Work while studying | 24 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks | 48 hours a fortnight in term; unlimited in breaks |
| Typical pay | C$17.95 an hour (Ontario minimum wage from 1 October 2026 (British Columbia: C$18.25 from 1 June 2026)) | A$26.44 an hour (national minimum wage from 1 July 2026) |
| Post-study work after a 1-year master's | 3 years | Not eligible |
| Post-study work after a 2-year master's | 3 years | 3 years |
| English test | Usually needed; required later for the PGWP | Approved test needed for the visa unless exempt |
| Medical | Medical exam for stays over 6 months (India is a designated country) | Health exams incl. chest X-ray |
| Route to permanent residence | PGWP → Canadian Experience Class or a provincial nomination → PR | 485 → points-tested 189, 190 or 491 visa (65 points minimum, though invitations usually need far more; regional study adds 5) |
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 Canada if…
- You want a 1-year master's and still a 3-year work permit (PGWP)
- A lower first-year amount to show matters
- You plan to use Canadian work experience for Express Entry or a provincial nomination
Choose Australia if…
- You will do a 2-year master's (Indian graduates get 3 years of post-study work)
- You value a higher minimum wage (A$26.44 an hour)
- You are open to a regional campus for extra points and a longer stay
Work out your own numbers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada or Australia better for Indian students?
Canada is cheaper to start and gives a 3-year work permit even after a 1-year master's; Australia pays more per hour and rewards regional study, but a 1-year master's alone does not qualify for its post-study visa.
Which is cheaper, Canada or Australia?
On our example courses, Canada needs less money in the first year (tuition plus the living-cost funds you must show): Canada about ₹47.9 lakh and Australia about ₹51.9 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 Canada or Australia?
After a 1-year master's: Canada 3 years, Australia Not eligible. After a 2-year master's: Canada 3 years, Australia 3 years (Indian graduate, applying in 2027).
How many hours can students work in Canada and Australia?
Canada: 24 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks. Australia: 48 hours a fortnight in term; unlimited 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.