Canada vs Australia: Which is better for education and work?

Canada vs Australia: Which is better for education and work? Let’s find out! Canada and Australia are among the most popular English-speaking countries. They both attract nearly 50% of international students every year.  Therefore, to study an undergraduate or masters, Indian students enrol in Australian National University (#1 nationally and #30 globally) or Canada’s McGill University (#1 nationally and #31 globally).

To choose between Canada and Australia, this blog post allows you to compare their education system, universities, courses, living cost, etc. After the comparison, you can make an informed decision.

Table of Contents

• Canada vs Australia: Key Highlights
• Canada vs Australia: Education System
• Canada vs Australia: Top Universities for Indian Students
• Canada vs Australia: Popular Courses for Indian Students
• Canada vs Australia: Cost of Living for Indian Students
• Canada vs Australia: Job Opportunities
• Canada vs Australia: Student Visa
• Canada vs Australia: Permanent Residency (PR)
• Canada vs Australia: Climate and Weather Conditions
• Canada vs Australia: Which is better for Indian Students?
• FAQs

Canada vs Australia: Key Highlights

If you’re a fresh graduate from India, planning for a higher education? Then get yourself updated with the key highlights of Australia vs. Canada.

S No	Factors	Australia	Canada
1	Language of instruction	English	English, French
2	Average cost of study	AUD 20,000 - AUD 45,000 or INR 11,00,567 - INR 24,76,276 per year	CAD 25,000 or Rs. 15,23,709 per annum
3	Average cost of living	AUD 18,000 / year or ₹ 9,90,510 / year	CAD 15,000 / year or ₹ 91,44,50 / year
4	Exams required	IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/GRE/Duolingo	IELTS exam/TOEFL/PTE Academic and GMAT/GRE
5	Intakes	Three (3) intakes in a year - Semester/Trimester 1, Semester/Trimester 2, Semester/Trimester 3	Three different intakes a year - Fall (Sep), Spring (Jan), and Summer (May).
6	Funding sources	Scholarships, financial aids, part-time jobs, paid internships	Part-time jobs, university grants, fellowships, bursaries, etc.
7	Types of Degree levels	Diploma (level 5), Associate degree/Assistant degree (level 6), Bachelors (level 7), Bachelors Honors (level 8), Masters (level 9), Doctorate (level 10)	Associate Degree, Undergraduate Degree, Graduate Degree, and Doctorate Degree
8	Top Universities	Australian National University The University of Melbourne The University of Sydney The University of Queensland Monash University The University of Western Australia The University of New South Wales	McGill University University of Toronto University of British Columbia University of Alberta University of Montreal McMaster University University of Waterloo
9	Top Courses	Computer Science, IT, Engineering, Business Management, Medicines, Health & Science, Law, Arts and Design, Banking and Accounting, Education and Teaching	Computer Science and IT Engineering, MBA Finance, Business Administration, Media and Journalism
10	Best student cities	Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane	Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Waterloo, Calgary, Quebec, Ottawa

Canada vs Australia: Education System

Canada’s education system includes kindergarten, primary/secondary schools, and universities. More than 10,000 undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered in 213 colleges and 223 public and private universities. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, Canadian universities are among the top 50s. Indian students take Medicine, Law, IT, and Engineering in Canada for their quality education and research facilities. The government offers subsidised tuition fees and scholarships in Canada for Indian students. 

Australia has a three-tiered education system that follows the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) standards. The education system in Australia is further divided into 10 levels. Levels 1 - 4 are certificate courses, level 5 are diploma programs, and level 6 are PG diplomas & associate degrees. Levels 7 and 8 represent bachelor's and bachelor's honour’s degrees. Level 9 denotes master's degrees, and level 10 refers to PhD or doctorate degrees. Since many Australian universities are among the top 30s in the QS World University Rankings, Indian students choose MS/MBA courses in Australia.

Even though the Australian education system is well-organised (primary, secondary and tertiary institutions) compared to Canada, Indian students prefer the Canadian education system for low tuition fees, student-friendly environment, and quick student visa approval.

Canada vs Australia: Education System
S No	Factors	Australia	Canada
1	Types of Institution	Colleges, universities, TAFE (Technical and Further Education), and Australian Institute of Technology	Colleges and universities
2	Total Indian Students	95,394	1,80,275
3	Average 1st Year Tuition Fee	INR 25.65 Lakh	INR 21.81 Lakh
4	Acceptance Rate	70 - 80%	75%

Canada vs Australia: Top Universities for Indian Students

Here is the list of top universities from Australia and Canada. Indian students can compare them based on the QS University World Rankings 2025 and choose the best universities.

S No	Top Universities in Australia	QS University World Rankings 2025	Average Annual Tuition Fees in AUD
1	The Australian National University	30	AUD 33,000 - AUD 50,000 / INR 1807883 - INR 2739218
2	The University of Melbourne	13	AUD 30,000 - AUD 48,000 / INR 1643530 - INR 2629649
3	The University of Sydney	18	AUD 30,000 - AUD 59,000 / INR 1643530 - INR 3232277
4	The University of New South Wales	19	AUD 16,000 - AUD 40,000 / INR 876549 - INR 2191374
5	The University of Queensland	40	AUD 30,000 - AUD 43,000 / INR 1643530 - INR 2355727
6	Monash University	37	AUD 25,000 - AUD 37,000 / INR 1369609 - INR 2027021
7	The University of Western Australia	77	AUD 23,000 - AUD, 53,000 / INR 1260040 - INR 2903571
8	The University of Adelaide	82	AUD 23,000 - AUD 53,000 / INR 1260040 - INR 2903571
9	RMIT Technology	123	AUD 16,000 - AUD 40,000 / INR 876549 - INR 2191374
10	Macquarie University	133	AUD 30,000 - AUD 43,000 / INR 1643530 - INR 2355727

 

S No	Top Universities in Canada	QS University World Rankings 2025	Average Annual Tuition Fees in CAD
1	McGill University	29	CAD 21,000 - CAD 56,000 / Rs. 1284913 - Rs. 3426435
2	University of Toronto	25	CAD 30,000 - CAD 58,000 / Rs. 1835590 - Rs. 3548808
3	University of British Columbia	38	CAD 32,000 - CAD 55,000 / Rs. 1957963 - Rs. 3365249
4	University of Alberta	96	CAD 13,000 - CAD 49,000 / Rs. 795422 - Rs. 2998130
5	University of Montreal	159	CAD 18,000 - CAD 36,000 / Rs. 1101354 - Rs. 2202708
6	McMaster University	176	CAD 25,000 - CAD 60,000 / Rs. 1529658 - Rs. 3671180
7	University of Waterloo	115	CAD 30,000 - CAD 62,000 / Rs. 1835590 - Rs. 3793553
8	Western University	120	CAD 21,000 - CAD 52,000 / Rs. 1284913 - Rs. 3181690
9	University of Ottawa	189	CAD 16,000 - CAD 32,000 / Rs. 978981 - Rs. 1957963
10	University of Calgary	198	CAD 18,000 - CAD 36,000 - Rs. 1101354 - Rs. 2202708

As of 2022, there are 99,783 and 319,132 Indian students enrolled in Australian and Canadian universities, respectively. It reveals that Indian students join more in Canada than in Australia.

Canada vs Australia: Popular Courses for Indian Students

In the competition between Canada vs Australia: the popular courses for Indian students are Engineering, Medicine, Law, IT and MBA. The Canada popular courses are 2 - 4 years B.Sc. Nursing programme, M.A. Media Studies (part-time), and LLM (1 - 2 years duration). Similarly, popular courses in Australia are BMed + Medical Doctor (5 - 6 years duration), B. Eng Mechanical Engineering and M.Sc. Data Science (1.5 - 2 years).

Popular Courses in Australia

S No	Popular Courses in Australia	Duration	Average Annual Tuition Fees
1	B.Eng Civil Engineering	3 years	AUD 35,000 or ₹19,18,108 per year
2	B.E. Mechanical Engineering	3 years	AUD 34,000 or ₹18,63,305 per year
3	MBA	2 years	AUD 60,000 or ₹32,88,186 per year
4	LLM	1 year	AUD 28,000 or ₹15,34,487 per year
5	BMed + MD (Medical Doctor)	5 - 6 years	AUD 28,000 or ₹15,34,487 per year
6	MSc Computer Science	2 years	AUD 35,000 or ₹19,18,108 per year
7	MSc Data Science	1 - 2 years	AUD 45,000 or ₹24,66,139 per year
8	MA Applied Economics	2 years	AUD 25,000 or ₹13,70,077 per year
9	MSc Information Technology	2 years	AUD 30,000 or ₹16,44,093 per year
10	MA English Literature	2 years	AUD 30,000 or ₹16,44,093 per year

Popular Courses in Canada

S No	Popular Courses in Canada	Duration	Average Annual Tuition Fees
1	BSc Nursing and Medicine	2 - 4 years	CAD 33,000 or 20,22,106 INR per annum
2	MSc Nursing	2 years	CAD 44,000 or 26,96,142 INR per annum
3	M.Eng Aerospace and Engineering	3 years	CAD 38,000 or 23,28,486 INR per annum
4	M.Eng Industrial Systems and Engineering	2 years	CAD 45,000 or 27,57,417 INR per annum
5	BBA	3 years	CAD 35,000 or 21,44,658 INR per annum
6	MBA	1 - 2 years	CAD 38,000 or 23,28,486 INR per annum
7	MA Media Studies	2 years	CAD 35,000 or 21,44,658 INR per annum
8	MSc Business Management	1 year	CAD 30,000 or 18,38,278 INR per annum
9	M.Eng Information Technology	2 years	CAD 44,000 or 26,96,142 INR per annum
10	MA Social Sciences	2 years	CAD 33,000 or 20,22,106 INR per annum

Canada vs Australia: Cost of Living for International Students

Since the Indian rupee value (INR) is weaker than Canadian and Australian dollars, Indian students are concerned about the cost of living. However, the daily lifestyle plays a major role in the cost of living, including the studying cost.  

As of today,
1 Australian Dollar (AUD) = 54.86 INR
1 Canadian Dollar (CAD) = 61.30 INR

Now, refer to the table below to see whether Australia is better than Canada in terms of living expenses or vice versa.

Expenses	Average cost per year in Australia	Average cost per year in Canada
Rent	AUD 1,020 - AUD 5,300 (Rs. 55,922 - Rs. 2,90,579)	On-campus accommodation: CAD 8,000 (490,294 INR) Shared Apartment Off-campus: CAD 9,000 (551,581 INR)
Food expenses incurred on dine-out	AUD 960 - AUD 3,360 (Rs. 52633 - Rs. 1,84,216)	CAD 6,000 (3,67,721 INR)
Transportation	AUD 960 - AUD 1,800 (Rs. 52633 - Rs. 98,687)	CAD 1,200 (73,544 INR)
Books and supplies	AUD 960 - AUD 1,800 (Rs. 52,633 - Rs. 98,687)	CAD 800 (49,029 INR)
Health Insurance	2,000 AUD (1,09,614 INR)	600 - 800 CAD (36,772 - 49,029 INR)
Tuition Fee for UG	BSc - INR 19.12 Lakhs BTech - INR 22.73 Lakhs BBA - INR 16.22 Lakhs	BSc - INR 15.05 Lakhs BTech - INR 20.75 Lakhs BBA - INR 17.00 Lakhs
Tuition Fee for PG	MA - INR 19.37 Lakhs MS - INR 25.38 Lakhs MBA - INR 91 Lakhs	MA - INR 9.75 Lakhs MS - INR 11.22 Lakhs MBA - INR 25.00 Lakhs
Miscellaneous	AUD 3,600 - AUD 6,000 (Rs. 1,97,375 - Rs. 3,28,958)	CAD 4,000 (2,45,147 INR)

From the above table, it’s clear that:

• the room rent in Canada is 40% higher than in Australia
• the food expenses in Canada are 50% higher than in Australia
• the transportation cost in Australia is 20% higher than in Canada
• the book and supplies in Australia are 40% higher than in Canada
• the health insurance in Australia is 50% higher than in Canada
• the tuition fee for UG and PG in Australia is 30% higher than in Canada
• the way of life in Australia is 35% higher than in Canada

Overall, the cost of living in Australia is 10 - 20% higher than in Canada for Indian students.

Canada vs Australia: Job Opportunities

Job opportunities are a key factor for international students. After graduation, students apply for a post-graduate work visa in Canada and Australia. To meet their financial needs, students get into both part-time and full-time jobs. 

Campus placements and off-campus recruitment drives are conducted in both Canada and Australia. Students with the right skill set can apply for internships and get selected as permanent employees.

Popular Jobs in Canada

Nursing, Graphic Designer, Digital Marketer, Pharmacist, Financial Analyst, Construction Manager, Mechanical Engineer, and Medical Practitioner are some popular jobs in Canada. International students can work in any field or industry under their work permit. The minimum hourly pay in Canada is 10 CAD.

Popular Jobs in Australia

Data Scientist, Programme Coordinator, Teacher, Content Creator, Business Analyst, Computer Engineer and Banking are the top jobs in Australia. Students can work 40 hours per fortnight and unlimited hours during holidays. The minimum hourly pay in Australia is 18.63 AUD.

Canada vs Australia: Student Visa

International students planning to study abroad in Canada or Australia have to apply for a student visa. The student visa for each country is given below for your reference.

Canada Student Visa

Australia Student Visa

The Canadian student visa application process requires a medical test for Indian students. Spouses can work full-time if his/her stay is more than a year. The visa application fee is 150 CAD. The visa holder cannot work more than 20 hours per week. The student can work full-time (40 hours per week) during holidays, breaks and summer sessions. Students can choose Student Direct Stream (SDS) for quick visa approval.

The Australian student visa process requires academic and professional documents. If the candidate pursues a Master’s degree or PhD, his/her spouse can get a dependent visa. The spouse can work for unlimited hours. Student visa holders can work for up to 40 hours per fortnight during their course in Australia.

Also Read: Difference between SDS and Non-SDS visa

Canada vs Australia: Permanent Residency (PR)

To settle in a foreign country like Canada or Australia, the first step is to apply for a permanent residence (PR). Now let’s find out the PR-related information for Canada and Australia below.

PR in Canada

To apply for PR in Canada under the Canadian Experience Class, you must have a Post Graduation Work permit. Since the Canadian government is looking for skilled workers from other countries, getting a PR is easier. 

PR in Australia

Obtaining a PR in Australia is a tiresome process. You need a minimum of 65 points to apply for PR. The immigration officials perform a thorough background check of the candidate to avoid fraudulent activities. Due to a lengthy procedure, the PR permit may require you to be patient.  

It is easier to get PR in Canada than in Australia due to more documents, procedures, and a point-based PR approval system.

Canada vs Australia: Climate and Weather Conditions

Australia is a relatively warm country with an average temperature of 5.7 °C (42.26 °F). It is more suitable for international students. On the other hand, Canada is one of the coldest countries in the world, with more short summers and more freezing winters throughout the year. Its average temperature is 2.1 °C (35.80 °F) due to the temperate zone.

When Indian students move to Canada, they face physical challenges from cold weather, strokes, and climate-borne diseases. However, when they move to Australia, they face fewer challenges like sunburn and food allergies. So it’s clear that Australia has a suitable climate and weather conditions compared to Canada.

Canada vs Australia: Which is better for Students?

By comparing Canada vs Australia for students, it’s evident that Canada is better than Australia in terms of the education system, cost of living, job opportunities, student visa and PR.

Therefore, Indian students can choose Canada over Australia for higher education.

FAQs

1. Which is better: Australia or Canada for international students?

Even though Australia and Canada offer the best education for international students, Canada is considered better due to the easy visa process, PR and low tuition fees.

2. Why choose Australia over Canada for international students?

Since Australia has more QS world ranking universities, its education system is better than Canada's. Some of the popular fields in Australia are Information Technology, Hotel Management, Education, MBA, Healthcare, and Business Administration.

3. Which is better to migrate: Canada or Australia?

Canada is better than Australia for migration purposes. The Canadian immigration office provides more options for international students to submit their applications. It includes English language proficiency, academic credentials, work experience certificates, extracurricular activities, and so on.

4. Which country gives PR easily for international students: Canada or Australia?

Canada gives PR easily for international students compared to Australia. The Canadian immigration office requires less documentation and less time to process the application.

5. Is PR easy in Canada?

Yes. PR is easy to get in Canada as it is famous for its high rate of ITA. Applicants need to submit the required documents and wait for the stipulated time.

6. Can I get PR in Australia after studies?

Yes. You can get PR (permanent residency) in Australia after completing your studies.

7. Where can earn more money: Canada or Australia?

You can earn more money in Australia than in Canada. Australia’s average labour growth exceeds Canada’s by 0.4 percentage points.

8. What are the scholarships for Indian students in Canada and Australia?

Almost all universities in Canada and Australia offer scholarships for Indian students. They are:

Canada scholarships

• International Research Linkages funded by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is funded by the Government of Canada
• Sauve Scholars Program by the Jeanne Sauve Youth Foundation
• Canada Asia-Pacific Awards (CAPA)
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships funded by the Government of Canada

Australia scholarships

• Endeavour Awards
• Australian Leadership Awards (ALA)
• University of Queensland Postgraduate Coursework Scholarships
• University of Adelaide Ashok Khurana Scholarship for Indian Students
• University of Queensland India-Australia BEL Excellence Scholarship

9. What are the tax payment options available in Canada and Australia for Indian students?

Indian students are eligible to pay taxes in both Canada and Australia. Whether it’s a part-time job or paid internship, they must pay the set taxes in Canada. Similarly, overseas students should pay the tax as residents of Australia. In case you’re earning income from other countries while living in Australia, you must disclose your income details.

10. What are the academic requirements/eligibility criteria of Canada vs Australia for Indian students?

Academic requirements for Canada
For undergraduate (UG) courses, 10th and 12th marksheet, diploma certificates (if any), IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo test scores, and other documents are required based on the university’s guidelines. 

Academic requirements for Australia
For UG and postgraduate (PG) courses, 12 years of pre-university education, TOEFL / IELTS / PTE scores, GRE / GMAT (in case of a four-year engineering program), and other documents. 

11. Which is better, living in Canada or Australia?

Australia is better than Canada because Australia has a better standard of living, quality education system, high-salaried jobs, public infrastructure, a low crime rate and free healthcare services. Moreover, as per the 2022 Human Development Index (HDI), Australia is 5th, and Canada is in the 15th position.