EdMIUMCovid 19 pandemic has affected the economy and employment rate all round 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 job opportunities in Australia for people in 2021. 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.
In this article, let us look at:
- Study in Australia
- Work while you Study in Australia
- Eligibility Criteria for International Students Working in Australia
- Important Points for Working International Students
- Salary after Masters in Australia
- Extend Stay in Australia
1. Study in Australia
As per Australian Government (studyinaustralia.gov) site, tuition fee for studying at top universities ranges between:
| Qualification | Tuition Fee (AUD) |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15,000 to 33,000 |
| Master’s degree | 20,000 to 37,000 |
| Doctoral degree | 14,000 to 37,000 |
The price for studying in Australia can be upto 75,000 AUD, living and accommodation can cost upto 150 AUD per week – 22,000 AUD a year. It is ranked fifth among top countries with highest average income. Listed below are a few starting salaries of jobs related to the popular fields of study:
| Job Description | Average Salary (AUD) |
| Human Resource | 51,000 to 90,000 |
| Business Manager | 65,000 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 92,482 |
| Engineering | 60,100 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 84,183 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | 50,000 |
2. Work while you Study in Australia
International students can work while completing their studies and supplement some of the cost of attendance.
Job opportunities in Australia: International Students
Some of the industries have flexible hours and a large number of job opportunities in Australia 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
How to Find Jobs?
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.
Average Salary for International Students
| Field | Average Salary (AUD per annum) |
| Healthcare and Medical | 60,000- 300,000 |
| Legal | 60,000- 120,000 |
| ICT | 80,000- 100,000 |
| Accountancy | 70,000- 85,000 |
| Banking and Finance | 40,000- 100,000 |
| Consultancy | 80,000- 100,000 |
| Rail and Maritime Transport | 80,000- 100,000 |
| Mining Jobs | 100,000- 250,000 |
| Sales | 50,000- 100,000 |
| Marketing and Communication | 60,000- 80,000 |
3. 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 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 their course. International students must abide by all the instructions given in student visas and ensure the validity of the visa. 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
4. 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 organisations as well as education providers.
- When working in Australia, students need to pay tax 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.
5. 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. 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:
- Electrical and Computer Engineer: AUD 78118.93
- Business and Management Manager :AUD 64561.10
- Humanities and Social Sciences Professional: AUD 49712.05
- Accounting: AUD 56,153
- Actuarial Science: AUD 99,121
- Agricultural Science: AUD 42,000 to AUD 49,000
- Architecture: AUD 56,238
- Earth sciences and related fields: AUD 91,215
- Psychology: AUD 76,126
- Tourism and Hospitality Management: AUD 83,000
6. 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.
1. Working holiday: Apply for a ‘work and holiday visa (subclass 462), to travel and work for up to 12 months.
2. 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.
Conclusion
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.
Such a large population of students are attracted by innovation, creativity, and independent thinking throughout Australian universities. International students who study and live in the country have access to the beautiful surroundings, top notch academics and unlimited job opportunities in Australia for work and research.
