New Zealand vs Australia: Best Country for Indian Students

Australia or New Zealand? Australia has more globally ranked universities, a larger job market, and up to 4 years of post-study work for Indian master’s and PhD graduates. New Zealand has lower living costs, smaller classes, and an open post-study work visa of up to 3 years. This guide compares fees, visas, work rights, PR and scholarships for 2026.

Australia is usually the stronger choice for Indian students who want highly ranked universities and a bigger job market. Studying in New Zealand works better for students who want lower living costs and a simpler post-study work route. In 2024, 1,22,202 Indian students were studying in Australia, compared with 7,300 in New Zealand (Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India). The right pick depends on your course, budget and long-term plans.

Australia vs New Zealand have similar education systems and course curricula. But reasons to study in Australia can still be very different from those siming for New Zealand.

Deciding between Australia and New Zealand for study can be tough. To make it easier, we have curated an end-to-end guide for you. This guide on New Zealand vs Australia compares both countries on rankings, courses, fees, admission rules, student visas, part-time work, post-study work, PR and scholarships.

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Australia vs. New Zealand Country Highlights

Popular Courses in New Zealand vs Australia

The following are the popular courses opted for by international students in both Australia and New Zealand; read on for more details:

Popular Courses in New Zealand

Some popularly opted courses in New Zealand are in Business, Engineering & Technology, Sciences and Arts & Humanities. The following is a list of top courses offered in New Zealand for international students:

• Engineering
• Business Studies
• IT/Computing
• Tourism & Hotel Management
• Visual Communications

Popular Courses in Australia

Some popular courses offered to study in Australia are in the areas of Business, Technology & Engineering, Science, Arts & Humanities, Social Work and others. Popularly opted courses in Australia by international students are as follows:

• Accounting
• MBA
• Health Care
• Information Technology
• Education
• Hotel Management

Top Universities in Australia & New Zealand

Students planning to apply to universities in either Australia or New Zealand based on ranking can check out the latest rankings below:

Admission Requirements: Australia vs New Zealand

This section highlights the admission requirements at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in New Zealand and Australia for international students who choose to apply to these countries.

New Zealand Admission Requirements

It is easier to get into diploma courses than degree courses in New Zealand, as the level of competitiveness is different for both these qualifications. Higher education or tertiary education in New Zealand has 10 levels of study. Level 1 is for a certificate, and level 10 is for a PhD.

Here are the levels and their corresponding qualifications -

• Certificates - Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Diplomas - Levels 5 and 6
• Graduate Certificate / Graduate Diplomas / Bachelor's - Level 7
• PG Diploma / PG Certificate / Bachelors Honours Degree - Level 8
• Masters Degree - Level 9
• Research / Doctoral Degree - Level 10

For each course, Indian students must meet a minimum English language requirement. Generally, getting admission to a degree program is more difficult than getting a diploma.

• Bachelor’s degree after Class XII can apply directly to a bachelor’s degree if they meet the university’s Class XII score and subject requirements. Thresholds vary by university and course.
• Students who fall short of direct-entry scores can take a foundation program or a Level 5–6 diploma, then move into a degree.
• Diplomas are generally easier to get into than degrees.
• Every course sets a minimum IELTS, TOEFL or PTE score.

Australia Admission Requirements

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. For PG courses in Australia:

• A three-year UG degree is generally accepted for master’s entry. Engineering master’s programmes usually need a four-year engineering degree.
• GMAT/GRE is not mandatory for most programs.
• Australian universities assess Indian qualifications using Australian Government country-education guidelines.
• Some universities do not require work experience for management courses. Applicants without experience may need to start with a graduate certificate or graduate diploma.
• IELTS, TOEFL or PTE are required. Waivers depend on the university and course.

The cost of studying and living in New Zealand and Australia depends on factors like university, course, and location.

Cost of Studying in New Zealand & Australia

The cost of studying in New Zealand and Australia varies for each course level; the following is a brief reference for some of the top courses and their fee structure.

Costs for UG Courses in New Zealand vs Australia

To understand the fee that is required at the undergraduate level for international students choosing to study in either New Zealand or Australia can be compared from the table below:

(Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Cost of PG Course in New Zealand vs Australia

The following table draws a comparison between various postgraduate courses and their corresponding fees in New Zealand and in Australia for prospective international students. This will help you to know the average cost of studying in Australia and New Zealand.

(Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Australia vs New Zealand Student Visas

The most important section of the student visa throws light upon the different requirements for applying for and obtaining a student visa in New Zealand and Australia. Read on for more details.

New Zealand Student Visa Requirements

For NZ student visas, the following rules apply, along with these requirements:

• About NZD 850 (INR 47,100) for an online application.
• Apply at least 3 months before your course starts, and check Immigration New Zealand’s current processing times before you apply.
• Financial proof of NZD 20,000 (INR 11.1 lakh) per year of study for living costs.
• Work rights for up to 25 hours a week during term, and full-time during scheduled breaks.
• Partners and dependent children can apply for visas linked to yours. Partner work rights depend on your level of study.

Australia Student Visa Requirements

For Australian student visas, the following rules apply:

• The Australian student visa is not granted in the form of a sticker.
• It costs AUD 2,500 for Subclass (500) visa to apply for either a UG or a PG program.
• Spouses get dependent only if the student is pursuing a master's degree or a PhD. The spouses of Master's and PhD students can work unlimited hours.
• Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying in Australia.

Health Insurance for Students in Australia vs New Zealand

Both countries require international students to hold health cover for the whole visa period.

• Australia: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a visa condition for Subclass 500 holders. You must buy it before the visa is granted.
• New Zealand: Students must hold acceptable medical and travel insurance while studying. Most universities sell an approved policy and enrol students in it by default.

Post-Study Work Visa in Australia vs New Zealand

This section focuses on the post-study work visas and their corresponding details for New Zealand and Australia. Check out PSW in NZ vs Aus for more details in the following sections.

PSW Visa in New Zealand

If you are a student with an offer of employment relevant to your qualification, you may be eligible for a post study work visa in New Zealand for a maximum period of 3 years depending on your qualification.

• Bachelor’s, master’s or PhD: A Level 7 bachelor’s degree or a Level 8–10 qualification studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand gets 3 years.
• Job offer: Not needed. Degree holders can work for any employer in almost any job.
• Visa fee: From NZD 1,670 (INR 92,500).
• Limit: You can usually hold this visa only once.
• Coming up: From 16 November 2026, eligibility extends to Level 7 graduate diploma holders who studied full-time in New Zealand.

Post-Higher Education Work Visa in Australia

Australia’s post-study work visa is the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485). It has two main streams:

• Post-Higher Education Work stream: For bachelor’s, master’s and PhD graduates.
• Post-Vocational Education Work stream: For diploma, associate degree and trade graduates. Stay of up to 18 months.

Indian nationals get longer stays under the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA):

Age limit: 35 or under at the time of applying (up to 50 for master’s by research and PhD graduates).

Regional bonus: Graduates from regional campuses may qualify for an extra 1–2 years under the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream.

Popular Job Sectors in Australia vs New Zealand

International students are usually interested in knowing about job prospects while they study abroad and pursue degrees that could give them jobs in the popular sectors. Since we are talking about NZ vs Aus, let us dig deeper into it. This section will highlight the popular job sectors of New Zealand and Australia, which usually have a high demand for the workforce.

Popular Job Sectors in New Zealand

The most popular job industries in New Zealand are as follows:

• Education
• Engineering
• Finance/business
• Medicine
• ICT and electronics
• Recreation
• Hospitality & tourism

For more details, check: Popular Job Sectors in New Zealand

Popular Job Sectors in Australia

The top job sectors in Australia are in the areas of:

• Education
• Medical services
• Hospitality industry
• Computer system design
• Accounting

Check: Popular Job Sectors in Australia

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.

PR in New Zealand vs Australia

Applying for permanent residency after studying abroad is usually the next best option for international students upon completing their studies. PR is offered to a limited number of applicants in New Zealand and Australia. More details are elaborated in the respective sections.

PR in New Zealand

New Zealand has ongoing skill shortages in several sectors. Graduates who find skilled employment can apply for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa. Applicants must be 55 or under and meet qualification, skilled job, English, health and character requirements before applying for a PR in New Zealand after study.

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.

Abroad, most universities have a provision for financial aid. You can learn about your university's scholarships through its Financial Aid department. Apart from universities, many scholarships are made available to organizations, funds, etc. Here are a few scholarships for Indian students interested in studying in New Zealand or Australia.

Check: How to get PR in Australia with Student Visa?

Various New Zealand Scholarships for Indian Students are available at the universities or externally funded. Similarly, there are a plethora of Australia Scholarships for International Students, both university and government funded.

Climate in New Zealand & Australia

It is important to understand the topography to adapt to a country where international students study. The following is a brief on the climatic conditions in both New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand Climate

Both the North and South Islands of New Zealand enjoy a moderate maritime climate and temperatures. The country is located in the southern hemisphere. This means summer starts in December, and winter begins in June. New Zealand has moderately high rainfall and many hours of sunshine throughout the country.

Australia 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 mid-20 degrees Celsius. The southern areas are in a temperate zone.

Australia or New Zealand Which is Better?

Applicants looking at admissions in Australia or New Zealand can choose between them based on four major factors:

• Globally ranked universities
• Course availability with the preferred curriculum
• Fee for studying in New Zealand or Australia and availability of scholarships
• Accommodation options are available easily on campus, if not, then decent off-campus options.

So, which country is better for international students, Australia or New Zealand? Based on these parameters, applicants can choose which of their shortlisted countries to apply to - Australia or New Zealand. Choose your options carefully, for more details also check out the top reasons to study in New Zealand.

If you are looking at admissions abroad, you can sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling and seek expert guidance for application and admissions.

Australia vs New Zealand - Which is Better? - FAQs