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Human life is filled with making choices every day. In 10th grade, we choose between arts and commerce, after 12th grade, the college, but those were not big decisions as compared to the one you are going to make in the next few days. This decision will change your life forever, as you choose the correct country for your study abroad adventure.

You came to this blog because you want to choose between Canada and Australia: the two most popular destinations for international students, while planning to study abroad. These two giants have actually got everything a student requires to succeed in their academic career. But the real question is how to choose between two so good study destinations.

Hmm. The choice is challenging but not impossible. Just stay with us till the end, as we are going to decode both destinations on 10 factors to help you choose the best country.

Canada Vs Australia: Highlights

Before diving into every factor individually, let’s see a quick comparison between Canada and Australia as follows:

Parameter	Canada	Australia
Features	Globally Recognized Qualifications, Affordability, and Multicultural Environment	Work Integrated Learning, High Quality Lifestyle, and Safety
Available Intakes	Fall, Winter, and Summer	July, November & February
Total students in 2024	4,27,000	1,22,202
Top Universities	(U15) University of Alberta University of British Columbia University of Calgary Dalhousie University Laval University University of Manitoba McGill University McMaster University University of Montreal University of Ottawa Queen’s University University of Saskatchewan University of Toronto University of Waterloo Western University	Group of Eight (Go8) Australian National University Monash University University of Adelaide University of Melbourne University of New South Wales University of Queensland University of Sydney University of Western Australia
Popular Courses	Computer Science, Technology & Engineering, Health Science	Law, Business, Hospitality & Tourism Management
Average Annual Tuition Fee	INR 9 lakh to INR 33 lakh	INR 16 lakh to INR 50 lakh
Average Annual Cost of Living	INR 12 lakh	INR 18 lakh

Canadian vs Australian Education System

There is no doubt that both Australia and Canada provide high-quality education, which compels millions of students to pursue their studies in these countries every year. However, there are some differences between the education systems of Canada and Australia as follows:

1. System Structure
The Canadian education system is divided into four levels: elementary, primary, secondary, and post-secondary and is regulated by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC).

On the other hand, the is made up of three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary and is managed by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

2. Hands-On Learning Opportunities
While studying in Canada, international students get practical experience through internships and co-op programs.

Whereas to get real-world experience in Australia, one can pursue vocational education and training (VET) programs. Both the bachelor's & master's programs have work-integrated learning options.

Top Universities in Canada and Australia

Canada and Australia are both home to world-class universities that ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and have given popular personalities to the world.

For example, Justin Trudeau graduated from McGill University, Canada and Elon Musk from Queen’s University, Australia. Here are the best universities in both nations:

Canadian Universities	QS World Ranking Universities 2025	Australian Universities	QS World Ranking Universities 2025
University of Toronto	25	The University of Melbourne	13
McGill University	29	The University of Sydney	18
University of British Columbia	38	The University of New South Wales	19
University of Alberta	96	Australian National University	30
University of Waterloo	115	Monash University	37
Western University	120	The University of Queensland	40
University of Montreal	159	The University of Western Australia	77
University of Calgary	198	The University of Adelaide	82
McMaster University	176	University of Technology Sydney	88
University of Ottawa	189	Macquarie University	133

Popular Courses in Canada or Australia

The following table shows the most sought-after courses in the great white north and the land down under:

Popular Courses in Canada	Popular Courses in Australia
MBA	Hospitality Management
Computer Programming	Nursing
Nursing and Medicine	Engineering
Engineering	Media & Journalism
Health & Management	MBA
Architecture	Psychology
Business Management	Agricultural Sciences
Media Studies	Tourism and Hospitality Management
Social Sciences	Accounting
Information Technology	Cybersecurity

Eligibility Criteria for Canada vs Australia

Eligibility Criteria	Canada	Australia
Academic Requirement (UG)	70% to 80% in Class 12th	60% to 95% in Class 12th
Academic Requirement (PG)	Bachelor’s Degree	Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 65%
IELTS Score	Overall 6.5 with no less than 6.0	Overall 6.0 with no less than 5.5
Financial Proof for living	CAD 20,635 (INR 13 lakh) per year	AUD 29,710 (INR 17 lakh) per year
Letter of Recommendation	1-2	Not required
Health Insurance	CAD 900 (INR 57,000/year)	AUD 609 (INR 34,000/year)

Cost of Studying 

A major factor to think of while deciding between Canada and Australia is the study cost. The tuition fee varies depending on the program you apply for. Tabulated below is an estimation of tuition fees while studying in Canada and Australia after 12th:

Particulars	Canada	Australia
UG Tuition Fees	INR 16 lakh to 22 lakh	INR 15 to 28 lakh
PG Tuition Fees	INR 9 lakh to 25 lakh	INR 19 lakh to 90 lakh

Canadian vs Australian Scholarships

While studying in the top destinations of Canada and Australia, one can avail of various university-provided scholarships:

Canadian Scholarships	Australian Scholarships
City University Entrance Scholarships	Charles Sturt University International Student Merit Scholarship
York University York International Transfer Award	Deakin University - Deakin India Marit Scholarship
Brock University Scholarship	La Trobe University La Trobe Master of Business Analytics Scholarship
Simon Fraser University The Bennett Family Entrance Scholarship	Griffith University - International Early Acceptance Award
Thompson Rivers University Academic Excellence Award

Also Read: France vs Germany: Which Is Better for International Students?

Cost of Living

Apart from tuition fees, international students also have to pay for living expenses while studying abroad. Tabulated below are the figures for monthly living costs for Canada and Australia:

Expense Type	Canada	Australia
Hostels	CAD 280 – 610 (INR 17,600 – 38,500)	AUD 300 – 600 (INR 16,710 – 33,430)
Shared Rentals	CAD 240 – 580 (INR 15,120 – 36,600)	AUD 350 – 850 (INR 19,490 – 47,360)
Private Rentals	CAD 400 – 1500 (INR 25,210 – 94,600)	AUD 700 – 1800 (INR 38,990 – 100,280)
Food	CAD 600 – 800 (INR 37,760 – 50,350)	AUD 70 – 300 (INR 3,890 – 16,720)
Transport	CAD 100 – 200 (INR 6,303 – 12,610)	AUD 20 – 50 (INR 1,110 – 2,790)
Internet	CAD 50 – 90 (INR 3,151 – 5,700)	AUD 20 – 50  (INR 1,110 – 2,790)

Study Visa

One has to apply for a study visa, no matter which country you want to study in: Canada or Australia. Let’s see how both countries differ in terms of study visas:

1. Canadian Student Visa

• One has to apply for PGWP within 180 days of the course completion date.
  
  
• The cost for a Canadian study visa is CAD 150.
  
  
• Students can work 24 hours a week and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks.
  
  
• A medical test is mandatory to get the visa.
  
  
• Spouse can work on SOWP if the student goes for a master's degree of 16 months or longer and for certain professional degrees like BSN, B Ed, JD, BE, etc.
  
  

2. Australian Student Visa

• International students don’t get a physical sticker for a visa.
  
  
• Student visa fee is AUD 2000
  
  
• One is allowed to work for up to 48 hours in 2 weeks.
  
  
• Only if students are pursuing master’s or PhD courses, spouses can work unlimited hours

Job Roles in Canada vs Australia

Jobs in Canada	Average Annual Salary	Jobs in Australia	Average Annual Salary
Digital Marketing Manager	CAD 58,000 (INR 3,648,200)	Functional Consultant	AUD 155,000 (INR 8,579,250)
UX/UI Designer	CAD 60,000 (INR 3,774,000)	Reliability Engineer	AUD 158,300 (INR 8,767,905)
Civil Engineer	CAD 60,000 (INR 3,774,000)	Electrical Supervisor	AUD 164,500 (INR 9,105,075)
Mechanical Engineer	CAD 61,000 (INR 3,836,900)	Financial Planning and Analysis Manager	AUD 167,400 (INR 9,269,490)
Financial Analyst	CAD 62,000 (INR 3,899,800)	Engineering Lead	AUD 171,400 (INR 9,490,590)
Business Analyst	CAD 64,000 (INR 4,025,600)	Engineering Manager	AUD 181,700 (INR 10,060,395)
Registered Nurse	CAD 65,000 (INR 4,088,500)	Staff Specialist	AUD 222,500 (INR 12,315,375)
Cybersecurity Analyst	CAD 68,000 (INR 4,276,400)	General Practitioner	AUD 232,400 (INR 12,867,540)
Software Engineer	CAD 70,000 (INR 4,403,000)	Project Director	AUD 232,600 (INR 12,878,610)
Data Scientist	CAD 72,000 (INR 4,529,600)	Psychiatrist	AUD 236,000 (INR 13,068,600)

Permanent Residency 

The one thing which almost every study abroad aspirant dreams of is becoming a permanent resident in the country. The average time it takes to get PR in Canada is 6 months to 2 years, while for Australia, it may take 6 to 18 months. The pathway to getting PR is very different in both countries.

1. PR in Canada
There are multiple routes for PR, but the listed ones are more popular currently:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
• Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)

2. PR in Australia
To obtain PR in Australia, students can choose from the following pathways:

• Skilled Migration Pathway
• Employer-sponsored Pathway

Conclusion

Choosing any country between Canada and Australia will lead you to a prosperous academic and professional career, since both have top-ranked universities, most sought-after qualifications and a promising job market.

Whether you dream of becoming Aussie or Canuck, depends on various factors like living cost, study cost, job opportunities, culture, PR opportunities and more. Connecting with �鶹����’s study abroad consultants  will help you choose the best country that aligns with your interests and long-term goals.