Study in Australia from Chennai
Australia suits students who want a longer degree with strong work rights and do not mind a higher tuition bill. Two intakes a year also make it the natural choice if you have missed a September deadline.
Studying in Australia from Chennai: the short answer
Australia gives Indian master’s graduates three years of post-study work under the India–Australia trade agreement, more than most destinations. The cost is high: A$29,710 a year in living funds on top of tuition, and a A$2,500 visa charge from July 2026. February and July intakes suit students who missed September.
Why Australia, and what does it cost you?
A two-year Australian master’s earns an Indian graduate three years on the Temporary Graduate visa, under the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement. Graduates who studied at a regional campus and then live and work in a regional area can apply for a second post-study visa.
Tuition is among the highest we quote, but part-time work rights during study are generous at 48 hours a fortnight, and hourly wages are high enough to cover a meaningful share of living costs.
- Course length
- 1.5–2 years (master’s)
- Post-study work
- 3 years for Indian master’s graduates
- Main intakes
- February and July
- Living funds to show
- A$29,710 a year
How much does it cost to study in Australia from India?
A year in Australia costs most Chennai students ₹43–56 lakh, the highest of our destinations after the US. The living figure is the one Home Affairs asks you to prove; tuition and health cover are indicative.
| Item | AUD | INR approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, master’s (indicative) | A$30,000–48,000 | ₹20–33 L |
| Living funds, Home Affairs figure for 12 months | A$29,710 | ₹20.2 L |
| Overseas student health cover (indicative) | A$650–2,000 | ₹0.4–1.4 L |
| Visa application charge (from 1 July 2026) | A$2,500 | ₹1.7 L |
Worked example: a two-year master’s in Melbourne
A two-year coursework master’s at A$40,000 a year, budgeted at the Home Affairs living-cost figure, with A$1,000 a year set aside for health cover.
| Item | AUD | INR approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, two years | A$80,000 | ₹54.4 L |
| Living, two years at A$29,710 | A$59,420 | ₹40.4 L |
| Health cover, two years (planning figure) | A$2,000 | ₹1.4 L |
| Visa application charge | A$2,500 | ₹1.7 L |
| Total before flights | A$143,920 | ₹97.9 L |
The visa asks for twelve months only: first-year tuition, A$29,710 and A$2,000 for travel. Alternatively, a parent’s income of at least A$87,856 in the previous twelve months can be shown instead. Part-time earnings reduce the real cost, but budget without them.
Figures checked 24 September 2026 against Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500); Study Australia: Student visa application charge increase. Rules change, so confirm them yourself on the day you apply.
INR at rounded mid-market rates on 23 September 2026: £1 ≈ ₹127, €1 ≈ ₹109, US$1 ≈ ₹96, C$1 ≈ ₹68, A$1 ≈ ₹68, SEK 1 ≈ ₹9.7, AED 1 ≈ ₹26.
Want the exact figure for your shortlist?
Send us your marks and budget. We cost your Australia options in rupees, free.
When should you apply for the Australia February intake?
February is the main intake. For it, start in the middle of the year before. For July, shift everything five months later.
May–July, the year before
Shortlist, book IELTS or PTE, and decide between a city and a regional campus.
July–September
Apply. Offers typically come back within weeks for complete applications.
September–November
Accept, pay the deposit, receive your Confirmation of Enrolment, buy health cover and get the loan sanctioned. Draft your Genuine Student answers, then lodge the visa.
December–January
Visa grant, flights and accommodation. Your health cover must start on the day you arrive.
How does the Australian student visa (subclass 500) work?
The subclass 500 visa is decided on four things: a Confirmation of Enrolment, health cover for your whole stay, enough money, and whether you are a genuine student.
Confirmation of Enrolment
Issued by your provider once you accept and pay the deposit. It must still be valid when the visa is decided.
Overseas Student Health Cover
From an approved Australian insurer, for the whole stay, starting on the day you arrive rather than the day your course starts.
Financial capacity
Twelve months of costs: A$29,710 for living, first-year tuition and A$2,000 for travel, from deposits, loans from a financial institution or scholarships. Or a parent’s income of at least A$87,856 in the past year.
Genuine Student answers
You answer a set of questions in the online application, each with a 150-word limit, explaining why this course, this provider and Australia make sense for you.
Lodge and pay
Online through ImmiAccount. The charge is A$2,500 from 1 July 2026. Health checks and biometrics follow if requested.
How we handle it
The Genuine Student test is where Chennai applications most often fail. We build the answers around your academic and career logic and rehearse them before submission.
We also check that the funds are the right kind: Home Affairs accepts loans from a financial institution, but the evidence has to show the money is genuinely available to you.
Student visa assistanceScholarships worth applying for
- Australia Awards Scholarships
- Destination Australia, for regional study
- University international merit scholarships, a share of tuition
- Research training program stipends
Can you work in Australia while studying and after?
During term you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight. Students on a master’s by research or a doctorate have no limit.
For Indian nationals, the Temporary Graduate visa runs three years after a master’s (coursework, extended or research), two years after a bachelor’s, three after a bachelor’s with first-class honours in STEM, and four after a PhD. You must be 35 or under when you apply.
If your degree was from a regional campus and you live and work in a regional area on your first post-study visa, you may qualify for a second one.
Figures checked 24 September 2026 against Study Australia: Student visa (subclass 500); Home Affairs: Temporary Graduate visa, post-higher education work. Rules change, so confirm them yourself on the day you apply.
Is Australia right for you?
It suits you if
- You want the longest post-study work period available to an Indian master’s graduate.
- You have missed the September cycle and want a February or July start.
- You can fund two years at a higher cost, or a parent’s income meets the visa threshold.
Think again if
- Your budget cannot stretch to roughly ₹1 crore for a two-year master’s.
- Your reasons for the course are thin. The Genuine Student test will find that.
- You are over 35 and counting on the post-study visa.
Universities and colleges we place into
University of Melbourne
Engineering, business, IT. Competitive entry, strong global reputation.
Monash University
Broad master’s catalogue, accessible entry for good second-class degrees.
RMIT University
Design, engineering, business. Industry-linked and practical.
Regional universities
Lower living costs than Sydney or Melbourne, and a route to a second post-study visa.
How we help with Australia
Every service is free to students. Most Australia applicants need the visa file and the loan sanction first, so those lead.
Student visa assistance
Financial documents, CAS and interview practice, prepared to current rules.
Education loan assistance
Lenders compared, collateral explained, sanctions chased for you.
University & course selection
A shortlist built around your marks, budget and the career you actually want.
Application & documentation
SOPs, LORs, transcripts and portals handled to deadline, checked before submission.
Travel & pre-departure
Accommodation, flights, forex and the first-week checklist for your city.
Australia questions we get every week
Know where you stand before you spend a rupee.
Book a free 45-minute consultation with Mansoor, in Egmore or on a call. Bring your marksheets and a budget range, and leave with a shortlist you can act on.