Top Universities and Colleges in Australia - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades

Australia is among top five study-abroad destinations for international students planning to pursue their higher studies and comprises more than 900 globally renowned universities. Among the top universities to study in Australia for international students, UG Diploma, UG certificate, PG Diploma, BBA, B.E. / B.Tech, MBA are some top streams chosen by international students in Australia. 

All interested students must appear for at least one of the following English proficiency exam(s): IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo to get enrolled as a student in any Australian university. If possible, students must prioritize IELTS scores as it is accepted by all the universities in Australia. A lot of top unis in Aus also requires other entrance exams, like GMAT/GRE scores for universities. Cost of studying in Australia for international students range between INR 20 L – INR 40 L.

As of Aug 2024, there are more than 960,000 international students study in Australia, which is a 15% growth from the previous record. China, India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Vietnam are the top five overseas contributors to the student population in the country.

Here’s detailed information about the- Top 10 Public Universities in Australia for 2026

Why Study in Australia? 

Australia is a very favorable destination for overseas students, as it is home to several globally renowned universities. Australia offers higher education degrees that are accepted and recognized throughout the world, and the majority of Australian courses encourage students to obtain experience while they are enrolled, providing them with professional experience. Below are top reasons why Australia could be a dream destination for students-    

• Availability of scholarships- More than 100,000 scholarships are available to support education, and one of the main draws to Australia is the country's affordable educational system. 

• Job Opportunities- All universities in Australia for international students provide internship and full-time job opportunities through their dedicated job portals. International students studying in Australia are permitted to work part-time jobs for up to twenty hours per week, and they are also permitted to work full-time during the summer. 
• English Taught Programs- All programs in Australian universities are offered in English which makes it easier for international students. 

Also Read- Student Guide to Australia for International Students 

Top MBA Degree Courses in Australia for Indian Students  

International students get to choose between a variety of courses which are offered by the best universities in Australia. UG Diploma is among the most popular degree in the country for international students. For the unversed, apart from UG Diploma, various other degree programs are available for local as well as international students such as UG certificate, PG Diploma, BBA, MBA/PGDM, etc.  

Many of these courses can be pursued either full-time or online. There are 973 universities in Australia that offer full-time courses and 19 universities offer courses in online mode.

Top Universities in Australia   

There is a high demand for various programs in Australia due to the country being home to some of the world's top colleges for the course. According to QS Rankings, metrics on which universities are ranked are Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty/Student Ratio, Citations per faculty and International Faculty Ratio. Table mentioned below shows top ten universities in Australia by QS World University Rankings 2026, along with Shiksha Popularity Ranking for Australian Universities 2026-  

University Name	QS World University Rankings 2026	Shiksha Popularity Rankings 2025
The University of Melbourne	#19	#1
University of Sydney	#25	#2
University of New South Wales (UNSW)	#20	#3
Monash University	#36	#4
The University of Queensland	#42	#5
Australian National University	#32	#6
The University of Western Australia	#77	#7
The University of Adelaide	#82	#8
University of Technology Sydney	#96	#9
Macquarie University	#138	#10

Related Reads 

Popular Job Sectors in Australia

Know all about the Education System in Australia

Best Business & Management Universities in Australia 

As per the QS World University Rankings for Business & Management, below are the top univ in Australia: 

University Name	QS Subject Rankings 2025
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)	#35
The University of Melbourne	#50
The University of Sydney	#56
Australian National University	#68
Monash University	#77
The University of Queensland	#81
RMIT University	#149
Deakin University	#151-200
Macquarie University	#151-200
Queensland University of Technology	#151-200

Best Engineering Universities in Australia 

As per the QS World University Rankings for Engineering & Technology, the best uni in Australia are: 

University Name	QS Subject Rankings 2025
The University of New South Wales	#25
The University of Melbourne	#50
The University of Sydney	#60
The University of Queensland	#68
Australian National University (ANU)	#76
Monash University	#78
The University of Adelaide	#102
University of Technology Sydney	#107
RMIT University	#152
The University of Newcastle, Australia	#164

Read more:

Top-ranked MS universities in Australia

Top-ranked LLM universities in Australia

Studying in Australia Eligibility 

To be eligible for studies at one of the 973 Universities in Australia, you would need to meet certain conditions as specified by the college or university on its official website. Though the eligibility criteria in Australia can vary for different courses and universities, here are some general conditions you would need to meet as an Indian student at most good universities in Australia. 

• A Class 12th completion certificate (for UG) or a UG degree in the relevant field (for PG courses) 

• Proof of Finances 

• USA Student Visa 

• Valid scores in IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo or PTE Academic 

• Valid GRE or GMAT score 

Study in Australia Requirements for International Students 

Apart from the general requirements in Australia given above, here are some documents you would need to submit as part of the Admission process for top rated universities in Australia. 

• Valid passport 

• Letters of Recommendation 

• Personal Essays 

• Statement of Purpose 

• A Professional CV or Resume 

• University Entrance Exam Scores 

• A holistic review of extracurriculars 

Entrance exams accepted by universities in Australia 

A few universities in Australia require GMAT/GRE scores as an entry requirement, and international students must fulfil this criterion to get admission, especially in Business & Management courses. 

Entrance Exams Accepted	Count of Universities
GMAT	12
GRE	5

English language requirements by universities in Australia 

All international students are required to provide proof of proficiency in the English language as an admission requirement to get into a university in Australia. Most Australian universities accept IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo score(s) for their English language requirements. All universities accept IELTS scores in Australia, hence, students must take this test (if possible). 

English Proficiency Exams Accepted	Count of Universities
IELTS	973
TOEFL	109
PTE	302
Duolingo	87

Cost of Studying in Australia 

On average, the cost of studying in Australia is moderately expensive for international students as the tuition fees of the top-ranking universities are on the higher end. However, the majority of Australian universities have an annual tuition fee between INR 20 L – INR 40 L, which makes them ideal study-abroad options. Some most prestigious university in Australia have fee above INR 40 L also.

First-Year Tuition Fee Range	Count of Universities
Up to INR 10 L	846
Up to INR 20 L	949
Up to INR 30 L	965
Up to INR 40 L	966
More than INR 40 L	45

Living Expenses in Australia 

Australia is a popular choice among students all around the globe, even though its cost of living is quite heavy on the pocket. On average, the annual living cost in Australia for international students ranges between AUD 29,710 - AUD 40,000 (INR 18.19 L - 24.49 L). However, the expenses are very subjective, depending on the lifestyle and purchasing power of the student residing and studying at a university in Australia. 

Conversion Used: 1 AUD = INR 61.23

Students can refer the video below to know about the PR in Australia-

Scholarships Offered by Universities in Australia 

Several best unis in Aus offer scholarship to international students, and some are publicly funded, to help students cut down the expenses of studying abroad. It is interesting to note that the University of Melbourne also accepts GMAT scores as an English proficiency exam score waiver. Some scholarships which can be availed to study in Australia for Indian students are listed below: 

Scholarship Name	Maximum Disbursement Amount
K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad	INR 10 L
Haini Zeini Scholarships	INR 86,777
Narotam Sekhria’s Scholarships	NA

Job Opportunities after Study in Australia 

Studying in Australia is very fruitful for students around the world, as the return on investment is huge. Some of the most popular and highest-paying job sectors for international students in Australia are Psychiatrist, Project Director, General Practitioner, Staff Specialist & Engineering Manager. 

Job Sector	Average Salary in AUD	Average Salary in INR
Psychiatrist	AUD 236,055	INR 1.44 Cr
Project Director	AUD 232,682	INR 1.42 Cr
General Practitioner	AUD 232,450	INR 1.42 Cr
Staff Specialist	AUD 222,503	INR 1.36 Cr
Engineering Manager	AUD 181,703	INR 1.11 Cr
Engineering Lead	AUD 171,441	INR 1.04 Cr
Financial Planning & Analysis Manager	AUD 167,445	INR 1.02 Cr
Electrical Supervisor	AUD 164,545	INR 1 Cr
Reliability Engineer	AUD 158,347	INR 96.95 L
Functional Consultant	AUD 155,266	INR 95.06 L

Source: Seek Australia 

Conversion Rate: 1 AUD = INR 61.23 

Kanishka Gambhir02-16-2026 11:52