⚖️ Compare Study Abroad Countries
Compare any two study destinations side by side for Indian students: funds to show in rupees, tuition examples, visa fees, work hours, post-study work after a 1-year or 2-year master's and the route to PR.
All seven at a glance
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇺🇸 USA | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-year money needed: tuition + living + travel funds (example) | C$70,448 ≈ ₹47.9 lakh | £36,539 ≈ ₹46.3 lakh | A$77,330 ≈ ₹51.9 lakh | $53,000 ≈ ₹50.5 lakh | €12,604 ≈ ₹13.4 lakh | €30,000 ≈ ₹31.9 lakh | NZ$60,000 ≈ ₹32.2 lakh |
| Example tuition | C$45,000 a year (example: a master's at a large Ontario university) | £26,000 a year (example: a one-year taught master's) | A$45,120 a year (example: a University of Melbourne course at the low end) | $35,000 a year (example: a public university for out-of-state students) | €700 a year (two semester contributions at a public university) | €20,000 a year (example: a taught master's) | NZ$38,000 a year (example: a taught master's) |
| Visa fee | C$150 + C$85 biometrics | £558 + £776 a year health surcharge | A$2,500 | $185 + $350 SEVIS (+$250 integrity fee where collected) | €75 | €60 (+€300 residence card on arrival) | about NZ$750–850 (check Immigration NZ's fee finder) |
| Work while studying | 24 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks | 20 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks | 48 hours a fortnight in term; unlimited in breaks | 20 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks | 140 full or 280 half days a year | 20 hours a week; 40 in holiday periods | 25 hours a week in term; full-time 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)) | £12.71 an hour (National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026) | A$26.44 an hour (national minimum wage from 1 July 2026) | $15 an hour (example on-campus wage; the federal minimum is $7.25 and many states and universities pay more) | €13.9 an hour (statutory minimum wage from 1 January 2026; a mini-job pays up to €603 a month) | €14.15 an hour (national minimum wage from 1 January 2026) | NZ$23.95 an hour (adult minimum wage from 1 April 2026) |
| Post-study work after a 1-year master's | 3 years | 1 year 6 months | Not eligible | 1 year | 1 year 6 months | 2 years | 3 years |
| Post-study work after a 2-year master's | 3 years | 1 year 6 months | 3 years | 1 year | 1 year 6 months | 2 years | 3 years |
| English test | Usually needed; required later for the PGWP | Some universities accept Class 12 English or their own assessment | Approved test needed for the visa unless exempt | Many accept Duolingo or waivers; no test for the visa | Course-dependent; German helps a lot for jobs | Usually needed | Usually needed by universities |
| Medical | Medical exam for stays over 6 months (India is a designated country) | TB test certificate | Health exams incl. chest X-ray | None for the visa | None for the visa (health insurance needed) | None for the visa (private insurance needed) | Chest X-ray (over 6 months); full medical too (over 12 months) |
| Route to permanent residence | PGWP → Canadian Experience Class or a provincial nomination → PR | Graduate route → Skilled Worker → settlement (10-year baseline from 2027 under Earned Settlement; 5 years above £50,270) | 485 → points-tested 189, 190 or 491 visa (65 points minimum, though invitations usually need far more; regional study adds 5) | OPT → wage-weighted H-1B lottery → green card (decades-long EB-2/EB-3 queue for Indians) | 18-month job search → EU Blue Card → settlement after 21 months (with B1 German) or 27 months (with basic A1 German) | Stamp 1G → Critical Skills Employment Permit → Stamp 4 residence after 2 years | Post-study work visa → Skilled Migrant Category (6 points) |
Popular comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheapest for Indian students?
Germany, by a wide margin: public universities charge only semester contributions, and you show about €11,904 in a blocked account (about ₹13 lakh). On our example courses, Ireland and New Zealand come next, then the UK and Canada, with Australia and the USA the most expensive to start.
Which country gives the longest post-study work after a 1-year master's?
Canada and New Zealand give 3 years after a master's even if it is only 1 year long (New Zealand needs at least 30 weeks of study on the master's). Ireland gives up to 2 years, the UK 18 months for applications from 2027, Germany 18 months, and the USA 12 months of OPT (36 with STEM). Australia needs about 2 years of study before its 485.
Which country is fastest to permanent residence after study?
It depends on your job. Germany's EU Blue Card can lead to settlement after 21 months with B1 German (27 months with basic German); Ireland's Critical Skills permit leads to Stamp 4 after 2 years; Canada and Australia use points systems where Canadian or Australian work experience helps a lot. The USA is the slowest for Indians because of green card backlogs.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 3 November 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.