Canada vs Australia for International Students: Which Country is Better?

Choosing between two countries for an international student is usually difficult because of the course offering and then the future prospects. This also requires a tough call for choosing one university in the country of choice. Both Australia and Canada are top-ranking English-speaking nations which attract over 50% of international students each year. Australia's Australian National University ranks #1 nationally and #34 globally as per QS World University Rankings, 2024, whereas Canada's McGill University ranks #1 nationally and #30 globally. Let's check out all the information by drawing a comparison between Canada and Australia.

Some of the top cities in Australia for higher education include Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, etc. Canada's top cities for studying are Toronto, Edmonton, Ontario, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, etc. 

This article focuses on the top two countries which stand against each other in every academic session that is, Canada and Australia. The article would also throw light on the popular question - Canada or Australia which is better for Indian students. There is a detailed section on the popular courses and admissions at each level in Canada and Australia along with the costs of studying, living, and many other aspects to help students choose between Canada and Australia.  

Canada vs Australia Highlights

Canada vs Australia for Indian Students

In order to study in Canada or Australia, Indian students should be able to differentiate between the rules of both these countries abroad. The admission requirements, popular courses, immigration rules, visa requirements and PR processes vary for Canada and Australia. So if an Indian student wishes to study in Canada or Australia they must note the following bits of information given in details for reference:

Popular Courses in Canada & Australia

This section aims to throw light on the popular courses opted for by the majority of international students in Canada and Australia. Read on for more details:

Popular Courses in Canada

Following is a list of popular courses offered in Canada to international students:

• MBA in Canada
• Hospitality Management
• Computer Programming
• Nursing
• Engineering
• Media & Journalism
• Health & Management

Popular Courses in Australia

The following are some of the most popular courses in Australia that are taken up by international students at large:

• MBA in Australia
• Architecture
• Psychology
• Agricultural Sciences
• Tourism and Hospitality Management
• Accounting
• Cybersecurity
• Business and Management

Admission Requirements for Canada vs Australia

The admission requirements for Canada and Australia vary to a great extent. The following sections have been divided and detailed information for admission requirements for Canada and Australia have been outlined.

Admission Requirements for Canada

For undergraduate (UG) courses, you need to have completed 12 years of schooling. To get admission, you need to appear for the SAT exam. the duration for degree courses is four years, and that of a diploma is two to three years.

In postgraduate (PG) courses, getting admission to vocational courses is easier as the admission criteria are a lot more relaxed. To get admission for management degrees you will have to appear for GMAT, and for engineering degrees, you need to give the GRE exam. 

The concept of cutoffs doesn’t apply to Canadian Universities. Colleges provide average scores accepted to different courses on their websites. That will give some idea about what’s considered a good score. You will also need to appear for language exams like TOEFL or IELTS, irrespective of the degree. There are some colleges that may not require language tests for Indian students, but it is advisable you still give either TOEFL or IELTS as they are important for the purpose of getting a visa. If the visa interviewer is not sure of your spoken skills, they may not grant you the visa.

Check: TOEFL Practice Papers

Australia Admission Requirements

In order to pursue higher education in Australia as an Indian student, applicants will have to fulfil the admission criteria for the following level of courses they wish to opt for:

• For UG courses in Australia, almost all universities require 12 years of pre-university education, which makes it easier for Indian students to get admission directly to the course/degree of their choice plus TOEFL / IELTS / PTE scores. 
• In PG courses admission in Australia, you can get admission after finishing a three-year UG degree. In the case of engineering, you will need a four-year UG degree in engineering. To get admission in PG courses you will have to appear for GMAT, while the GRE exam is hardly accepted for PG courses admission at Australian Universities. But ELP tests will be accepted for admission. 

You might not be required to have work experience in the case of management courses at some colleges. In the case of no work experience, you need to enrol in a graduate certificate or graduate diploma program. TOEFL or IELTS may be waivered by the university but are important for the purpose of admission. Read here for IELTS Dates.

The overall cost to study in Canada and the cost of studying in Australia is dependent on many factors like university, course, and location plus the personal expenses as per one's requirements.

Cost of UG Courses in Canada vs Australia

The following table draws a comparison between studying an undergraduate course in Canada and Australia for various types of courses:

(Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Cost of PG Courses in Canada vs Australia

The cost of pursuing a postgraduate course in Canada versus Australia for various courses is compared in the table below for reference:

(Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Student Visa for Canada vs Australia

International students who qualify for admission to Canadian and Australian universities have to apply for a student visa in order to study at these universities. The student visa requirements vary for each country, the following details have been elaborated on country-wise for reference:

Canada Study Visa

The Canadian student visa has the following regulations -

• You will have to apply for a post-graduation work permit within 90 days of finishing your studies.
• The visa application process to Canada requires a compulsory medical test for Indian applicants.
• Spouses can also work full-time if his/her stay is for a year or more.
• It costs $150 to apply for this visa.
• You cannot work more than 20 hours per week. During holidays, breaks and summer sessions, the student may work up to 40 hours per week.

Australia Student Visa

For this visa, these rules apply -

• An Australian student visa is not granted in the form of a sticker. 
• It costs AUD 650 for UG and AUD 680 for postgraduate courses to apply for an Australian student visa.
• Spouses get dependent only if the student is pursuing a Master's degree or PhD. The spouses of Master's and PhD students can work unlimited hours.
• Student visa holders are allowed to work up to 40 hours per fortnight during their study in Australia. 

Post-graduate Work Visa in Canada & Australia

There are certain requirements which need to be fulfilled in order to qualify for a post-graduate work visa. The requirements for both Canada and Australia have been given below:

Canada Post-Graduate Work Visa

The Canadian Post Graduation Work Visa allows students graduating from any post-secondary institute to work post-studying for an uptime period depending on the duration of their course to a maximum of three years. Under this work permit, the student can work in any field or industry.

Post-Graduate Work Visa for Australia

Graduates who have completed a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree from Australian Universities and hold a study visa are eligible to apply for a post-study work visa. Diploma holders or other qualified graduates may be eligible to apply for an 18-month subclass 485 visa through the graduate work stream in Australia. Applicants are eligible to extend their stay in Australia by two years and up to six years based on the level of study. Check out more details here - Australia’s PSW extension by two years per level of study. 

Also Read: All about Post Study Work Permit in Australia

Popular Job Sectors in Canada & Australia

There are a few job sectors which are popular in each country and finding jobs in these areas is easier than usual, hence a lot of international students apply for courses that may make them eligible to find jobs in these popular sectors of Canada and Australia, given below:

Popular Job Sectors in Canada

In terms of jobs, Canada has been in the limelight for quite some time after COVID. Jobs like nurse practitioner, programme analyst, teacher, pharmacist, financial manager, construction manager etc. are some of the most sought-after positions in Canada.

Also Read: Most Popular and Highest Paying Job Sectors in Canada

Popular Job Sectors in Australia

Top jobs in Australia are in education, medical services, the hospitality industry, computer system design, accounting etc.
Note - The Indian concept of campus placements and on-campus recruitment does not apply to foreign universities. Students are expected to look for internships and jobs on their own.

Also Read: Life after MBA from Australia: Placements and Job Prospects

PR in Canada & Australia

With an aim to settle in a foreign land after studying from there is an aspiration of many students. Check out the PR-related information for Canada and Australia in their respective sections below:

PR in Canada

During this period of Post Graduation Work permit, you can apply for Permanent Residency under the Canadian Experience Class. Since the country is sparsely populated, there is a shortage of highly skilled employees. Compared to most other countries, getting PR in Canada is very easy.

PR Points for Canada

Also Read about:

PR in Australia

Getting a permanent residency permit to Australia is possible but it is a long process. The immigration officials conduct a thorough background check on the candidate to make sure s/he is not fraudulent. Because of the complicated process, the PR permit may take some time to get approved but it is possible to get Australian citizenship.

Check:

• PR Courses in Australia
• How to get PR in Australia with Student Visa?

Scholarships for International Students in Canada & Australia

Abroad, most universities have a provision for financial aid. You can find out about the scholarships your university offers through its Financial Aid department. Apart from universities, there are a lot of scholarships made available to organizations, funds etc. here are a few scholarships for Indian students interested in studying in either Canada or Australia.

Climate in Canada & Australia

In order to stay in a foreign country for a long period of time, it is mandatory for international students to take note of the climatic conditions of where they would be staying to make their stay comfortable. Below is the detail for the climate in Australia and Canada for reference:

Climate in Canada

Weather in Canada varies widely depending on where you are. Canada stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, covering five time zones. In Toronto, winter is milder than most Canadian cities, yet still cold and snowy. Montreal Weather in winter is cold and snowy. Usually, the country experiences pleasantly cool summers.

Australian Climate

The country is located in the southern hemisphere. This means Australia's summer starts in December and winter begins in June. Nearly a third of Australia is in the tropics where the average temperatures are in the mid-20 degrees Celsius. The southern areas are in a temperate zone.

Read More: All about Post Study Work Permit (PSW) in Australia for Indian Students