Job Opportunities in Australia for International Students: Work while you Study, Post Degree Courses and Jobs after MS

Covid 19 pandemic has affected the economy and employment rate all around the globe; countries have faced huge losses during these times. Australia, one of the most highly economic countries due to its large storage of natural resources, has retained its employment rate and is providing great working opportunities for people migrating to Australia in 2022.

Being the third most popular international student destination in the world, Australia is taking over the UK as the world’s second most popular study destination, according to the University College of London’s Centre for Global Higher Education. Australia is home to nearly 700,000 international students, studying at the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, and Monash University, all ranked in the top 100 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.

Such a large population of students is attracted by innovation, creativity, and independent thinking throughout Australian universities. International students who study and live in the country have access to beautiful surroundings, top-notch academics, and unlimited opportunities for work and research. Students from all over the world who successfully complete their degrees realize that they have a special place in today’s international job market. Keeping in mind the advantages of studying in Australia, let's have a look at statistics for pursuing higher education in Australia.

ROI: Study in Australia

As per Australian Government (studyinaustralia.gov) site, tuition fee for studying at top universities ranges between:

Cost of studying in Australia can be upto 75,000 AUD, living and accommodation can cost upto 150 AUD per week- 22,000 AUD a year and other expenses can range between 280 AUD - 300 AUD per week, the expenses depend upon the course, institution, duration, place and individual budget plans. The Department of Home Affairs in Australia has made it necessary to have a budget of AUD 20,290 in order to get a student visa.

Australia ranks fifth among top countries with highest average income. Hence, a large number of international students are pursuing Business, Management and STEM fields due to their job prospects and higher potential salaries and ROI percentage.

Based on surveys conducted by PayScale.com, listed below are a few starting salaries of jobs related to the popular fields of study.

The expenses for studying at top universities in Australia can be made affordable as international students are eligible for part-time or full-time jobs while completing their education.

Work while you Study in Australia

Australia has a high employment rate due to low density of population, hence it provides a range of working options. International students can work while completing their studies and supplement some of the cost of attendance.

Work Options in Australia: International Students

Some of the industries have flexible hours and a large number of opportunities for international students. These include:

• Retail - including supermarkets and department stores
• Hospitality - restaurants and delivery services
• Farming and fruit-picking (seasonal work)
• Services – childcare and aged care
• Tutoring

Jobs in Australia: How to Find Them?

Ways for international students to look for part-time work or full-time employment while applying at Australian universities for studies, include:

• Asking friends or colleagues
• Online job websites
• Dedicated websites and job notice boards at the university or college
• Professional recruitment companies
• Alumni groups at the institution
• Students with prior experience in fields like writing, designing, etc can search for freelance work on online websites.
• Several charities and NGOs in Australia need volunteers for help with various works. International students can apply for various volunteerships.

Also Check: Part time jobs in Australia

Average Salary for International Students

Field-wise average salary offered to international graduates in Australia is:

Eligibility Criteria for International Students Working in Australia

An international student looking to supplement the cost of living in Australia, can work while pursuing studies if they're fulfilling the following criteria:

• Subclass 500 student visa with work permission
• Admitted to a full-time course.
• Supplement the income to support the expense of study.
• Working is a course requirement and a part of course completion and evaluation.

Student visa (Subclass 500)

Australian student visa allows international students to stay for the duration of the study program. International students must abide by all the instructions given in student visas and ensure the validation period is effective. Students who want to work even after graduation should apply for a working visa before their student visa expires.

Eligibility Criteria

• Students must be enrolled in a full-time study program in Australia.
• Age of students must be equal to or more than 6 years.
• Proof of welfare arrangement in case if age is less than 18 years.

485 Post-study Work Stream Visa

The new post-study work stream visa, offered by the Australian Government allows international students to study, live, and work for up to four years after completion of their studies. International Students need to present standardized exam scores in order to apply for a working visa.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age less than 50
• Subclass 500 student visa
• Academic qualification in a CRICOS-registered course.
• Proficiency in English and other certificates

To know more about Australian Work Visa, its types and application process, Click Here! 

Important Points for Working International Students

International students choosing to work while studying in Australia need to remember a few things.

• International students can work up to 40 hours every two weeks while studying, and unlimited hours during vacations.
• Students will be paid minimum wages. (AUD 18.23 per hour or AUD 719.20 per 38 hour week).
• Help is always available from the government and private organizations as well as education providers.
• When working in Australia, students need to pay taxes depending on how much they earn. Get a Tax File Number (TFN) before starting the job and provide it to the employer.
• International students must get a payslip within one day of getting paid.
• Australian law states that the employer must have insurance called Workers' Compensation, which will provide for the medical treatment or any other charges while the employee is sick and not able to work.

Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) Australia, is an independent government agency helping citizens to understand work rights and responsibilities under Australian laws. FWO provides following services:

• Gives accurate information on all work rights including rates of pay
• Check that Australian workplace laws are being followed.
• Offers advice and support on workplace issues.
• Helps in resolving workplace issues.
• Advises and provides information about working visas for international students.

Further Studies in Australia

After completing a degree course, international students can extend their student visa and opt for further studies such as Ph.D. or Masters in Australia. Top Universities and TAFE Colleges offer Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate courses in various fields. Those who want to take up research work can also enroll themselves at universities.

Extending Australian Student Visa

Students cannot extend their existing student visa, they need to apply for another student visa or visitor visa, at least 3 months before their current visa expires. Procedure and requirements to apply for Australian student visa are listed below:

• Enrol in a course and get a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) form.
• Contact the Health Insurance Agency and extend your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy.
• On their ImmiAccount, students can access the Health Assessment tab to look for My Health Declarations service which comprises the status of Health Examinations, they need to appear for their new student visa application.
• Required documents for submitting the visa application include:
  • Personal Documents including Birth Certificate, Passport identity page, National identity Card, All pages of household registration book, and a curriculum vitae (certified by the local authorities).
  • Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) codes or a letter from education provider.
  • OSHC policy number
  • Personal statement to satisfy the GTE requirement
  • Evidence of financial capacity
• Submit your visa application on ImmiAccount.

After successful submission of visa application, the Department of Home Affairs will send a letter of acknowledgement, along with a copy of a Bridging Visa (BVA) for students to stay in Australia while their visa application is processed.

Graduate Diploma Courses in Australia for International Students

Foreign students who wish to upgrade their knowledge and skills can take up certificate/ Diploma courses. Also, these can prove to be a pathway to various job opportunities for international students. Some of the popular Graduate diploma/ certificate among international students include:

• Clinical Psychology
• Health Professions Education
• Taxation law
• Human Resource Management
• Heritage studies
• Social research methods
• Sports and recreation

PhD in Australia for International Students

Australia, being a hub for research and innovation, has plenty of options for international students to undertake PhD at Australian Universities. The country offers unique options for research ranging from Marine biology to anthropology.

In order to continue research, extension of student visa must be taken in order to live and work in the country. Typically, the length of PhD degree is 3 years and the average tuition fee ranges between AUD 11000 to 29000. However, numerous Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards are granted to students of high academic capabilities from the Government of Australia.

Salary after Masters in Australia

It is easier to stay back in the country and work after you've completed your studies, when compared to other study abroad destinations.

For students enrolled in their postgraduate degree, a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight of work is allowed during the early stages whereas an unlimited number of work hours is allowed for students starting their doctoral or masters by research degree.

Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply for a two year work visa. The period gets extended to three years for a masters by research degree and four years for a PhD graduate.

Below mentioned are average salaries students can expect at first job after completing MS.

Top Recruiters in Australia

The Department of Employment in Australia has predicted that the job market here will see an overall increase of 12.8%.

Top Companies recruiting International Students (Glassdoor.com):

Explore: MBA Jobs in Australia

Extend Stay in Australia

Extending stay for studies, travel or job is quite easy in the country. If a student visa expires with the completion of degree, immediately apply for Bridging Visa E-BE (subclass 050-051). This will allow a student to apply for a valid visa or time to prepare for departure from the country.

• Working holiday: Apply for a ‘work and holiday visa (subclass 462), to travel and work for up to 12 months.
• Travel: After finishing a degree from Australian Universities, students can stay for a while and explore the country. In such a case, a tourist visa (subclass 600) or other type of temporary visa would be a good option.

International students studying in Australia can support their finances by applying for part-time jobs while continuing their studies. Students having completed their studies can apply for a tourist visa or another student visa for further studies or to work.

Frequently Asked Questions