Generally, students wonder about Canada or Australia, which is a better study abroad destination. As Indian and other international students highly prefer both these countries for their superlative educational systems, public amenities, and high quality of life, it’s difficult to choose one for higher education. Yet, there are several parameters that students can carefully assess before making any final decision.
Important Links: Study in Canada | Study in Australia
Table of Contents
Canada or Australia: Which is Better for Students? Key Highlights
The Australia vs. Canada debate has been ongoing among students keen on pursuing higher education in either of these two countries. Coming to the core question, which is better Australia or Canada? Here are some key aspects that you can note in this regard.
Factors Australia Canada Language of instruction English English, French Average cost of study AUD 20,000 – AUD 45,000/ year CAD 25,000/ year Average cost of living AUD 18,000/year CAD 15,000/ year Exams required IELTS/TOEFL/PTE and GMAT/GRE IELTS/TOEFL/PTE and GMAT/GRE Intakes Three intakes in a year – Semester/Trimester 1, Semester/Trimester 2, Semester/Trimester 3 Three intakes in a year – Fall, Spring, and Summer Funding sources Scholarships, aids, and part-time jobs Part-time jobs, scholarships, bursaries, grants, fellowships Types of degrees Diploma (level 5), Associate Degree/Assistant Degree (level 6), Bachelors (level 7), Bachelors Honors (Level 8), Masters (level 9), Doctorate (level 10) Associate Degree, Undergraduate Degree, Graduate Degree, Doctorate Degree Top courses Computer Science and IT, Engineering and Management, Business and Management, Medicines, Health and Science, Law, Arts and Design, Accounting, Education and Teaching Computer Science and IT Engineering, MBA, Business and Finance, Media and Journalism Best student cities Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec, Calgary, Waterloo
Read More: Study in Australia from India | Career Opportunities in Australia
Canada vs. Australia for Study: Education System in Both Countries
Which country is better, Australia or Canada, from an educational perspective? We will help you find out. Canada has two types of educational systems offering high-quality education – private and public- university and colleges. The Canadian education system offers more than 10,000 graduate and undergraduate programs across 213 public colleges and 223 public and private universities.
On the other hand, the education system in Australia is one of the most sought-after education systems for being well-structured and rightly formulated. Thanks to the AQF or Australian Qualifications Framework that was introduced in 1995. The higher education system in Australia begins with Diploma (level 5) and Doctorate (level 10).
Study in Canada
Type of Institution Key points Colleges Also known as Institutes of Technology or Science, Community Colleges, or Colleges of Applied Arts or Applied Technology, these colleges offer training in applied fields of work. Universities Most universities offer undergraduate and graduate programs. However, some also train students to excel in applied fields of work.
Study in Australia
Type of institution Key points Public universities A number of research institutions fall under this category, and all of them are aided by the government. Private universities Cater to short-duration courses. Private College Offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees. TAFE: Technical and Further Education Focuses on apprenticeships, vocational and work experience courses. Institutes of Technology/ Australian Technology Network Offers courses on technology and practical education
Read More: Cost of studying in Canada for overseas students | Cost of studying in Australia
Top Universities: Australia vs. Canada for Indian students
Many popular universities in Australia and Canada excel in several aspects of teaching and research. Listed below are the top institutions in both the countries as per QS World Rankings 2023 and their average tuition fees.
Top Universities According to QS University World Rankings 2023
Australia Canada Universities Average annual tuition fees Universities Average annual tuition fees The Australian National University AUD 33,000 – AUD 50,000 McGill University CAD 21,000 – 56,000 The University of Melbourne AUD 30,000 -AUD 48,000 University of Toronto CAD 30,000 – 58,000 The University of Sydney AUD 30,000 – AUD 59,000 University of British Columbia CAD 32,000 – 55,000 The University of New South Wales AUD 16,000 – AUD 40,000 University of Alberta CAD 13,000 – 49,000 The University of Queensland AUD 30,000 – AUD 43,000 University of Montreal CAD 18,000 – 36,000 Monash University AUD 25,000 – AUD 37,000 McMaster University CAD 25,000 – 60,000 The University of Western Australia AUD 23,000 – AUD 53,000 University of Waterloo CAD 30,000 – 62,000 The University of Adelaide AUD 23,000 – AUD 53,000 Western University CAD 21,000 – 52,000 University of Technology Sydney AUD 20,000- AUD 37,000 University of Ottawa CAD 16,000 – 32,000 University of Wollongong AUD 20,000- AUD 30,000 University of Calgary CAD 18,000 – 36,000
Popular Courses in Canada & Australia
In the tussle between Canada vs. Australia, it depends on the students and the courses they want to pursue. Both countries offer a host of courses in engineering, business management, and medicine, which are widely opted for by students across the globe.
Popular Courses in Australia
Popular courses Duration Average annual tuition fees B.Eng Civil Engineering 3 years AUD 35,000 BMed + MD 5-6 years AUD 28,000 LLM 1 year AUD 28,000 MBA 2 years AUD 60,000 MSc Information Technology 2 years AUD 30,000 MSc Data Science 1-2 years AUD 45,000 MSc Computer Science 1.5 – 2 years AUD 35,000 MA Applied Economics 2 years AUD 25,000
Popular Courses in Canada
|
Popular courses |
Duration |
Average annual tuition fee |
|
BSc Nursing |
2-4 years |
CAD 33,000/ year |
|
LLM |
1-2 years |
CAD 20,000/ year |
|
MSc Nursing |
2 years |
CAD 44,000/ year |
|
MEng Aerospace and Engineering |
3 years |
CAD 38,000/ year |
|
MEng Industrial Systems and Engineering |
2 years |
CAD 45,000/ year |
|
MBA |
1-2 years |
CAD 38,000/ year |
|
MSc Business Management |
1 year |
CAD 29,000/ year |
|
MA Media Studies |
2 years |
CAD 35,000/ year |
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Academic Requirements/Eligibility Criteria: Canada vs Australia
Australia Canada Undergraduate/bachelor’s degree Masters degree
Academic Cycles/Intakes: Canada vs. Australia
Australia Canada
Cost of Studying for International Students in Canada vs. Australia
In the battle between Canada or Australia, which is better, both countries compete with each other in terms of studies. One common link between the two countries is that the tuition fees for international students are more than for domestic students. The tuition fees also differ across universities and courses in both countries. Therefore, we present to you the average annual tuition fees.
Comparative Study of Cost of Study in Canada and Australia
Degree type Average annual tuition fee in Canada Average annual tuition fee in Australia Bachelors CAD 8,000 – 35,000 AUD 30,000 – AUD 400,000 Masters CAD 10,000 – 52,000 AUD 20,000 – AUD 50,000
Living in Canada vs. Australia – Which is better?
The cost of living in Australia and Canada for international students depends on the lifestyle of the students. Students interested to know if Australia is better than Canada in terms of living expenses can refer to the table below.
Expenses Average cost per year Average cost per year Rent AUD 1,020 – AUD 5,280 On-campus accommodation: CAD 8,000 Shared Apartment Off-campus: CAD 9,000 Food and expenses incurred on dine-out AUD 960 – AUD 3,360 CAD 6,000 Transportation AUD 960 – AUD 1,800 CAD 1,200 Books and supplies AUD 960 – AUD 1,800 CAD 800 Miscellaneous AUD 3,600 – AUD 6,000 CAD 4,000
Canada vs. Australia – Job Opportunities in the Most Popular Sectors
Area of specialization for job opportunities in Australia Average annual salary Area of specialization for job opportunities in Canada Average annual salary Healthcare AUD 60,500 Healthcare CAD 68,611 Statistics/Data Science AUD 1,15,000 Statistics/Data Science CAD 87,248 IT & Computer Science AUD 1,22,445 Chemical Engineering CAD 75,768 Business Management AUD 1,10,000 Management CAD 86,733 Education & Training $80,332 Electrical & Electronics Engineering CAD 56,794
Start Your Study Abroad Journey: Bachelors in Canada | Bachelors in Australia
Best Student Cities
Australia Average cost of living per year Canada Average cost of living per year Sydney AUD 22,800 – AUD 28,800 Toronto CAD 22,000 Melbourne AUD 18,000 Montreal CAD 15,000 Adelaide AUD 24,000 Vancouver CAD 17,000 Perth AUD 16,200 Ottawa CAD 15,000 Brisbane AUD 9,600 Quebec CAD 20,000
Canada vs. Australia- Permanent Residency
Canada enables applications for Permanent Residency during the period of the post-graduation work permit under the Canadian Experience Class. Since the country has a lower population, there is a shortage of skilled professionals, so getting a permanent residency is easier in Canada compared to several other countries.
Getting a permanent residency permit in Australia is a lengthy procedure, and immigration officials usually undertake extensive background checks on aspirants to ensure they are not fraudulent. Owing to a slightly complex procedure, the PR permit may require more time for approval in this case.
Taxation in Canada and Australia
Canada has a higher average practical tax rate of 28%. Employees in Canada earn an average of $35,500 per year in take-home salary. Taxes usually make a huge difference. The annual post-tax wage is what you get.
The average practical tax rate in Australia is 23.6%. The country’s progressive tax rate ensures that higher-income earners pay more tax. The tax-free threshold is $18,200, after which the tax comes in. There is no tax-free threshold for foreign residents in Australia.
Study Abroad with upGrad Abroad
Students who want to study in Australia or Canada can choose from universities and courses from upGrad Abroad. They get to study for the first year at a partner university in India and then move abroad to study on-campus at an institution of their choice. You can save up to one-fifth of costs and gain 4X ROI post the completion of your degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Canada has a lower cost of living than Australia since the latter has higher housing taxes and slightly more expensive food and other miscellaneous expenses. Canada is slightly more affordable than Australia. A: Canada is one of the foremost global educational tourism destinations. Canada welcomes visitors with an easier application procedure for visas and immigration policies. Student life is more fun and exciting along with offering high-quality and immersive experiences along with good job opportunities. It has almost a hundred highly accredited universities offering several courses including popular ones like Nursing, Engineering, Business Analytics, Computer Science, Data Science, and Psychology among others. Canada has sizable religious, linguistic, and ethnic diversity while students may also select bilingual courses. Global students can apply for varied scholarships and grants along with financial aid in Canada. It is ranked as one of the world’s best countries to live and work. A: Australia is one of the highly popular worldwide educational destinations for international students, courtesy of its highly rated universities and numerous courses and programs that have obtained global accreditation. Language barriers are not there in cosmopolitan and ethnically diverse Australia and there are unique specializations available for courses along with enriching student lifestyles. Australia has excellent opportunities for research and further studies with several universities actively pursuing research and encouraging skilled talents in these initiatives likewise. After-study visas are available for students who wish to work in a more diverse and top-rated work environment in Australia.
A: When it comes to job opportunities in Canada or Australia, it is quite similar in both countries, with a good job culture. In Australia, the pay scale is comparatively more than in Canada but getting a job in Australia is quite difficult. On the other hand, it is important to find a decent job in Canada with good pay because there are more occupations in demand for people who have the talent and skillset. A: If we compare the cost of living and education in both Australia and Canada, it can be ascertained that Canada is better for immigration since it is more affordable than Australia. On the other hand, applying for PR in Canada is also comparatively easier than in Australia.
A: In order to decide the best option to pursue MBA, both Australia and Canada are equally good in terms of learning and experience. However, it is important to consider factors such as course curriculum, finance, and future plans before deciding the country that would be ideal for you.
When it comes to expenses, Canada is more affordable than Australia both in terms of cost of living and cost of education. Moreover, the higher housing taxes and expenses incurred on food make Australia comparatively costlier than Canada. Both Canada and Australia are renowned for offering high-quality education to students. The discipline in which you want to pursue a master’s should determine which country to choose. If you want to study Business Management, Nursing, Engineering, Media, Hospitality, and Computer Science, then Canada is the country for you. On the other hand, if you want to pursue a master’s in fields like Information Technology, Accounting, Education, Healthcare, MBA, and Hotel Management, then you can choose Australia.Q1. Which has a lower cost of living- Canada or Australia?
Q2. What are the benefits of studying in Canada?
Q3. What are the benefits of studying in Australia?
Q4. Which country has more job opportunities Canada or Australia?
Q5. Australia or Canada – which is better for immigration?
Q6. Which country is better for MBA – Australia or Canada?
Q7. Which country is more expensive Canada or Australia?
Q8. Canada or Australia, which is better for masters?
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