Study in Australia

Why students choose Australia

Australia consistently ranks among the top four destinations for international students worldwide. Six of its universities sit inside the global top 100, and the country has built a reputation not just for academic quality but for the experience of living and studying here. The cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide — are genuinely multicultural, with large communities of students from India, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, and beyond. That matters when you are moving somewhere new for the first time.

Australia's location in the Asia-Pacific gives it a particular draw for students from the region. It is a shorter flight than London or Toronto, time zones are closer to home, and Australian employers have genuine ties to Asia. If your career plans involve working across the region after you graduate, a degree from Australia carries real weight in those markets.

The post-study work rights have historically been one of Australia's strongest selling points, allowing graduates to work in Australia for several years after completing their degree. For students from India in particular, Australia has been a top choice for engineering, IT, accounting, and healthcare — fields where Australian qualifications open doors both locally and internationally.

Popular fields of study

• Business, Commerce & Management
• Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Mining)
• Information Technology & Computer Science
• Health Sciences & Nursing
• Architecture & Built Environment
• Accounting & Finance
• Education
• Environmental Science & Sustainability

Health-related programs in particular are popular with students from the Philippines, where Australian nursing and allied health qualifications are highly regarded. IT and engineering programs attract a large number of students from India, and business degrees draw students from across all five of Loft Learn's key markets.

What students should know

Australia is an excellent choice — but it is not without challenges. Here are the things worth knowing before you commit:

• Accommodation in Sydney and Melbourne is expensive and competitive. Major cities have tight rental markets, and on-campus housing is limited at most universities. Budget for this early and research university accommodation options before you arrive.
• Entry requirements have become more competitive. Processing times for student visas and admission to oversubscribed programs (like nursing and education) have increased. Start your application process earlier than you think you need to.
• Regional study opens better pathways. Studying at a university in a regional area of Australia (outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and a handful of other centres) can qualify you for extended post-study work rights and better access to skilled migration pathways. This is a genuine strategy worth exploring — not a fallback.
• Work rights during study are subject to visa conditions. The rules around how many hours you can work while enrolled have changed several times in recent years. Always check the current conditions directly with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent — do not rely on what you read in a Facebook group.

Scholarship opportunities

There are genuine scholarship opportunities available to international students in Australia at both government and university level.

• Australia Awards — Funded by the Australian Government, these cover full tuition, return airfares, and living costs for students from eligible countries. Highly competitive but life-changing if awarded. Open to students from over 60 countries including India, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
• Destination Australia Program — Government-funded scholarships specifically for students who study and live in regional Australia. Up to AUD 15,000 per year. A strong option if you are open to study outside the major cities.
• University-specific scholarships — Every major Australian university offers merit and need-based scholarships for international students. The Group of Eight universities (University of Melbourne, ANU, University of Sydney, UNSW, Monash, University of Queensland, University of Adelaide, University of Western Australia) have particularly strong programs. Check each university's scholarship database directly — amounts and eligibility vary widely.

Pathway to permanent residency

Australia does have genuine skilled migration pathways that international graduates can pursue, but it is important to be realistic: PR is not automatic, and pathways have become more competitive over the past several years.

The main pathways available to graduates include the Skilled — Independent visa (subclass 189), the Skilled — Nominated visa (subclass 190), and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). Eligibility depends on your occupation, skills assessment, age, English level, and points score. Regional study and work experience attract additional points.

Some occupations that were once straightforward to migrate under have moved onto state-specific nomination lists or been removed entirely. The occupation lists change, and the points required to receive an invitation have been high in recent years for competitive occupations. If PR is a significant factor in your decision to study in Australia, get proper migration advice from the start — not just when you graduate.