Australia and New Zealand are not only among the top study abroad destinations but also countries with similar education systems and learning exposures. From average tuition fees to stay-back periods, the two countries can be found mirroring each other in several instances.
While this similarity allows international students to easily understand international education in both New Zealand and Australia, the same makes it all the more difficult for students to choose between the two countries.
So, to give a better understanding of Australia vs New Zealand and which is better among the two, here is everything you need to know about the two countries when it comes to higher education.
Our study abroad experts have helped numerous students get admission to their dream universities.
Study Abroad in the Best Universities in Australia/New Zealand!
Overview of Ausvs NZ
Australia and New Zealand are both island countries. This geographical location is not just a characteristic of the two countries, but heavily impacts the study abroad possibilities within the two nations.
Here is a comprehensive comparison of various aspects of studying in Australia vs New Zealand:
|
Comparison Parameters |
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
Intake Seasons |
February and July |
January and July |
|
Application Documents |
Student CV, Application Form, Academic Transcripts, SAT/ACT, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo, SOP, LOR(s), Bank Statements, Passport |
Student CV, Application Form, Academic Transcripts, SAT/ACT, GMAT/GRE, IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo, SOP, LOR(s), Application Essays |
|
Average SAT & ACT Scores |
SAT: 1000-1210 ACT: 21-23 |
SAT: 1300 ACT: 21-23 |
|
Average GRE & GMAT Scores |
GRE: 305 GMAT: 695 |
GRE: 300 GMAT: 650 |
|
English Language Proficiency Tests Scores |
IELTS: 6.0 TOEFL: 90 PTE: 65 Duolingo: 110 |
IELTS: 6.5 TOEFL: 80 PTE: 64 Duolingo: 115 |
|
Top University World Ranking (THE) |
#33 |
#137 |
|
Annual Tuition Fees (INR) |
Bachelors: 13,90,000 Masters: 19,50,000 Doctorate: 20,00,000 |
Bachelors: 14,50,000 Masters: 15,30,000 Doctorate: 5,00,000 |
|
Top Courses |
Agricultural and Earth Sciences Biomedical Engineering Core Sciences Architecture Hospitality and Tourism |
Animation CS and Engineering Medicine Agriculture and Forestry Hospitality Business and Management |
|
Scholarships |
Government-funded, university-specific, and third-party organisations |
Government-funded, university-specific, and third-party organisations. |
|
Average Acceptance Rate |
50%-70% |
40%-60% |
|
Average Graduation Rate |
48% |
58% |
|
Average Employability Rate |
86.3% |
77% |
|
Average Starting Salaries of Masters Students (INR) |
35,00,000 |
30,00,000 |
|
Overall Environment |
Relaxed and welcoming environment, except for lifestyle challenges. |
Quality life and education with an easy-to-adapt environment. Climate conditions could pose challenges. |
Tuition Fees and Cost of Living in Australia vs New Zealand
The study abroad expenses in Australia vs New Zealand include not only educational expenses but also other living expenses that an international student has to bear.
Tuition Fees
The tuition fees are decided by the respective universities in Aus vs NZ. The annual tuition fees vary as per the university, the course offered, stream, qualification level, and the additional techniques applied by the university for course study.
The difference in tuition fees of universities in Australia vs New Zealand is often driven by the reputation of the institute, practical training, quality and accessibility of study equipment, course material, testing schedules, etc.
|
Stream and Qualification |
Annual Tuition Fees (INR) |
|
|
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
|
Arts and Humanities - Bachelors Courses |
16,45,000-26,35,000 |
10,50,000-15,90,000 |
|
Arts and Humanities - Masters Courses |
8,00,000-21,00,000 |
12,95,000-18,40,000 |
|
Business and Management - Bachelors Courses |
7,60,000-25,30,000 |
13,93,000-18,90,000 |
|
Business and Management - Masters Courses |
12,50,000-27,50,000 |
14,92,000-19,90,000 |
|
Engineering and Technology - Bachelors Courses |
20,30,000-26,90,000 |
14,42,000-20,30,000 |
|
Engineering and Technology - Masters Courses |
15,45,000-25,50,000 |
19,50,000-28,95,000 |
|
Medical Sciences - Bachelors Courses |
20,00,000-35,00,000 |
17,45,000-38,25,000 |
|
Medical Sciences - Masters Courses |
35,00,000-90,50,000 |
15,50,000-32,00,000 |
Accommodation Rent
International students will find the universities in Aus vsNZto be well equipped to accommodate international students for a living. The majority of universities in Australia vs New Zealand have on-campus accommodation available for students at minimised rent in comparison to off-campus accommodation.
Apart from hostel accommodations, students can also choose from various other available accommodation types in Australia. New Zealand offers accommodation in form of homestays as well.
|
Type of Accommodation |
Monthly Rent (INR) |
|
|
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
|
On-campus accommodation - Single |
10,000-75,000 |
4,900-17,500 |
|
On-campus accommodation - Shared |
7,500-45,000 |
3,500-15,500 |
|
Off-campus hostel accommodation - Single |
21,500-87,500 |
8,900-19,900 |
|
Off-campus hostel accommodation - Shared |
15,300-55,500 |
7,500-15,000 |
|
Private Rentals |
65,000-1,15,000 |
75,000-1,07,000 |
|
Home Stays |
24,000-59,200 |
25,000-45,000 |
Food and Other Necessities
International students in Australiavs New Zealand will have to undertake certain expenses, such as food and other basic necessities. These can be as follows:
|
Expenses |
Monthly Costs (INR) |
|
|
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
|
Food and Groceries |
15,000-28,000 |
19,500-29,600 |
|
Electricity |
7,600-30,200 |
6,500-44,500 |
|
Clothing |
3,900-26,500 |
2,500-35,980 |
|
Phone and Internet |
4,000-12,000 |
3,600-17,500 |
Travel Expenses
International students in Australia can choose among various transport options to commute to their university, or around the city. These may include private vehicles like personal vehicles, cabs, etc., or public transport such as buses, ferries, trams, and trains. The average monthly travel expenses in Australia amount to INR 21,200.
On the other hand, New Zealand is slightly more expensive than Australia in terms of travel expenses. However, transportation options are more readily available in New Zealand. Students can choose among trains, buses, ferries, and funiculars for public transport. Rental bicycles are also extremely popular in New Zealand at affordable and much cheaper prices. The average monthly travel expenditure in New Zealand can reach up to INR 35,000.
Entertainment Expenses
International students often make the mistake of not taking entertainment expenses into account while preparing a budget to study abroad. Since the study abroad period is lengthy, it can be confirmed that entertainment expenses shall occur, both in Australia and in New Zealand.
Entertainment expenses can differ hugely on the basis of region and city, as well as the type of entertainment chosen. So, here are entertainment expenses for international students in Aus vs NZ:
|
Expenses |
Per Session Cost (INR) |
|
|
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
|
Eating Out |
800-2,500 |
550-2,500 |
|
Movies (Students) |
500 |
670-950 |
|
Museums |
800 |
900 |
|
Amusement Parks |
4,000-5,000 |
3,700-8,900 |
Miscellaneous Expenses
There are many expenses which cannot be budgeted due to their sudden or one-time occurrence nature. Here are some of the possible miscellaneous expenses while living as an international student in Australia vs New Zealand.
|
Expenses |
Average Cost (INR) |
|
|
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
|
One-time Medical Assistance |
2,700-7,150 |
0-300 |
|
One-time Medical Assistance - serious |
27,400-85,900 |
Free OR Subsidised |
|
Round Flight to India |
130,000-2,00,000 |
65,000-1,20,000 |
|
Stationary and Books Annual Cost |
32,900-39,500 |
28,000-35,000 |
|
Everyday Petty Expenses |
900-2,500 |
500-2,500 |
Universities and Colleges in Australia vs New Zealand
Australian universities are highly recognised to be at par with universities in the US and UK. Moreover, the education system and timeline of Australian universities match a lot with the Indian education system. This makes it fairly easier for Indian students to adapt themselves to studying in Australia.
Universities in New Zealand are well respected around the world for their research-intensive course design. The universities aim to inculcate a practice of independent and innovative thought processes and steps to develop the same into fruitful research initiatives. Heres a comparison between universities in Australia vsNew Zealand:
|
Parameters |
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
Best STEM Universities |
Monash University University of Melbourne University of Queensland |
University of Auckland University of Canterbury University of Waikato |
|
Best B-Schools |
University of Melbourne UNSW Sydney Australian National University |
University of Otago University of Auckland AUT |
|
Best Law Schools |
University of Melbourne UNSW Sydney Australian National University University of Sydney University of Queensland |
University of Auckland Victoria University of Wellington University of Otago |
|
Best Art Schools |
Australian National University University of Melbourne University of Sydney University of Queensland Monash University |
University of Auckland AUT Victoria University University of Waikato |
|
Number of Universities in Top 150 THE Rankings |
9 |
1 |
|
Number of Universities in Top 150 QS Rankings |
9 |
1 |
|
Number of Universities in Top 150 US News and Report Rankings |
9 |
1 |
|
Number of Universities in FT MBA Rankings |
2 |
0 |
Find the Right Country to Study Abroad!
International Scholarships in Australia vs New Zealand
International students in both Australia and New Zealand have a lot of scholarship programmes to choose from. They can find various government- or university-funded, or external scholarships to study in Australia vsNew Zealand.
International Scholarships in Australia for Indian Students
Here are some of the famous scholarships for Indian students to study in Australia:
|
Name of Scholarship |
Funded By |
Description |
|
Australia Awards Scholarship |
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
For international students from Indo-pacific native countries For full-time courses at Australian universities and TAFE institutions Covers full tuition fees + return air travel + establishment allowance + living expenses + OSHC |
|
Destination Australia Scholarships |
Australian Government |
To study in regional Australian universities INR 8,28,200 awarded to over 1000 students |
|
ARTP Scholarships |
Australian Government |
For full-time Master's research degree (2 years) and PhD research degree (3 years) Internship under leading Australian researchers Covers tuition fees + health cover costs |
|
Griffith Remarkable Scholarships |
Merit-based scholarship For full-time bachelors, master's, or doctoral courses Covers 50% of the tuition fee |
International Scholarships in New Zealand for Indian Students
Indian students can apply for the following scholarships to study in New Zealand:
|
Name of Scholarship |
Funded By |
Description |
|
Tongarewa Scholarship |
Victoria University of Wellington |
For full-time bachelors, masters, and PhD courses INR 2,48,500-4,97,200 |
|
AUT International Excellence Scholarships |
Auckland University of Technology |
merit-based scholarship For bachelor, master, and PhD students INR 3,72,890 |
|
Commonwealth Scholarships |
FCDO |
For master's and PhD courses Covers tuition fee + living allowance + establishment cost + medical insurance + air travel expenses + travel insurance + research costs |
|
New Zealand International Scholarships |
Ministry of Education |
For selected full-time bachelor's, master's, and PhD courses Required 6.0 IELTS bands Covers tuition fees + airfare + living allowance + establishment cost + medical insurance + research costs |
Student Visa for Indian Students in Australia vs New Zealand
A summary of the process to apply for Australia Student Visa and New Zealand Student Visa has been summarised below:
|
Parameters |
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
Cost to Apply for Student Visa (INR) |
36,000 |
17,100 |
|
Documents Required to Apply for Student Visa |
LoE Passport Application fee Academic Transcripts Work Experience documents English Proficiency Test scores Standardised test scores Intent to return Bank statements |
LoE Passport Application fee Academic Transcripts Work Experience documents English Proficiency Test scores Standardised test scores Intent to return Bank statements |
|
Special Requirements |
Medical Insurance is compulsory |
Travel and medical insurances are compulsory |
|
VisaApproval Duration and Level (weeks) |
4-8 |
4-9 |
|
Student VisaISA Rejection Rate |
8% |
26% |
Job Opportunities in Ausvs NZ
There are many job opportunities available for international students after graduation from universities in Australia vsNew Zealand.
Australia
International students in Australia can refer to the following facts to understand the job opportunities available in Australia after graduation:
-
Graduates can expect a starting salary of INR 35,00,000 after graduating from master's courses.
-
Over 80% of international students manage to find themselves employed within one year from their date of graduation.
-
Graduates can apply for jobs in various sectors, including corporate, teaching, research cell, freelancing, business start-up, etc.
-
International graduates can also apply for jobs with the Australian government as well.
New Zealand
International students in New Zealand can take advantage of various job opportunities which the country has to offer. Some of the relevant facts are:
-
The New Zealand government and banks are highly cooperative with international graduates who wish to induce innovation and creativity into the countrys economy. They help with required capital support.
-
The agricultural sector, which comprises over 70% of the countrys GDP, employs over 20,000 international graduates.
-
The forecast reports for 2025 show a requirement of over 50,000 skilled labour force, which cannot be met by the countrys human resources alone.
-
Some of the highest paying jobs for international graduates in New Zealand include IT Manager, Construction Manager, Ophthalmologist, Marketing Manager, Pathologist, and Judge.
Stay Back Period in Australia vs New Zealand
International students can choose to stay back in Australia for up to a period of two years after completing their course in Australia. However, the stay back period shall be determined on basis of their course and qualifications.
International students can live after their graduation by applying for a stay back opportunity in New Zealand, with or without a job. They can apply for Post Study Work visa with a job offer, which allows a longer stay back period with easier extension. They can, alternatively, apply for stay back without any job offer, however, they may be asked to state their intentions behind their stay back.
Here is an overview of the stay back periods in Aus vs NZ:
|
Parameters |
Stay Back Period (Years) |
|
|
Australia |
New Zealand |
|
|
STEM Courses |
2 |
3 |
|
Medical Students |
2 3-4 (regional areas) |
1-3 |
|
Masters Graduates |
2 |
3 |
|
PhD Graduates |
2-3 |
3 |
PR in Australia vs New Zealand
International students can migrate to study abroad destinations, including Australia and New Zealand, by applying for a PR visa after completing their studies. They can apply for an Australia PR visaor New Zealand PR visa, through the following guidelines:
-
Australia PR visa can be applied for on basis of skills, employment, dependent relations, partner, or nomination. After four years of living as a resident in Australia, Australia PR visa holders can apply for citizenship in Australia.
-
Australia PR points calculator also considers the region in which international student completed their studies from.
-
New Zealand PR visa can be applied for after living in New Zealand for two years. Hence, international graduates can apply for a PR visa after completing their stay back period.
-
Skilled migration, business investment, and special skill-based migration are some of the pathways highly supported by the two countries while issuing PR visas.
If international students see themselves as better suited for research, forestry, agriculture, or the mining sector, then New Zealand is a better study abroad destination. On the other hand, Australia as a study abroad destination will benefit them more if their interest lies in geological sciences, construction, and building, hospitality industry, or natural resources management.
You can consult our study abroad experts to guide you better to choose between Australia and New Zealand.
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