Study Abroad: UK vs. Australia - A Comprehensive Comparison

Australia and the UK are both exciting study abroad destinations! While the UK is known to have universities among the top 10 in the world and multicultural cities, Australia is known for its high quality education and stunning beaches. In this article, let us understand the university experience these countries offer.

Indian Presence in the UK and Australia: A Comparison

According to official immigration data from the Australian government, the number of student visa grants for Indian students in July-August 2022 was close to 9000. The Higher Education Student Statistics for the UK reported the number of Indian students in the UK, in 2020-21, at 605,130.

If your desire is a study abroad destination with a significant Indian community base, the UK is the choice for you. 

Top Universities- Global Index

According to Times Higher Education Rankings for 2023,  the UK’s universities took the number 1, 3, and 10 spots, with the University of Oxford taking the crown. 

Based on the 2020 rankings, the number of universities under 200 kept declining between 2016 and 2020 for both the US and UK, while Australia’s universities kept improving. It is the only country to depict strong performance whilst improving in all the metrics. 

As you can see from the table below, in terms of the number of universities in the top 200 of the world, the UK takes second position, while Australia comes at a close fourth. 

Top Universities- the UK

UK’s 10 universities that ranked in top 100 in the world in 2023 are shown below

Top Universities- Australia

Australia’s 7 Universities that ranked in the top 100 in the world in 2023 can be seen in the table below.

Popular Courses- the UK and Australia

Listed below are the most popular courses in the UK and Australia. So, for instance, if you are a student of business and management, the UK might be a better destination for you than Australia. On the other hand, if you’re a student of accounting or tourism studies, Australia might be your preferred destination. 

Admission Requirements

The UK

To be eligible to apply for a postgraduate course in the UK, you need to have successfully completed a three year undergraduate degree in India. There may be additional eligibility criteria on which undergraduate courses qualify based on the field of study you apply to. 

You may also be expected to provide scores for the following tests:

1. GMAT– Management courses typically require a GMAT score for eligibility. 
2. GRE– Some Masters programs in science may require you to give the GRE exam. 
3. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE- Most universities in the UK require English language proficiency test results as part of their admission process. Check with your university on which test in specific you need to provide. 

UK universities can be extremely specific about which English test results they accept, so make sure to check on this. 

Australia

To be eligible to apply for a postgraduate course in Australia, you need to have successfully completed a three-year degree course and in case of engineering, you are required to complete a four-year undergraduate engineering degree.

Admission to vocational courses tend to have relaxed criteria. However, all other courses require a bunch of test scores including

1. GMAT– Management courses typically require a GMAT score for eligibility. 
2. GRE– Some Masters programs in science as well as engineering programs may require you to give the GRE exam. 
3. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE- Most universities in Australia require English language proficiency test results as part of their admission process. Check with your university on which test in specific you need to provide. 

Some universities waive the requirement of IELTS or TOEFL scores for the admission process but, it is required to get the visa.

Cost of Living

The UK

Tuition fee is one major factor that you need to consider while deciding on which country to opt for. The tuition fee for postgraduate courses in the UK ranges between £9,000 – £15,000 (approximately 8.39 lakhs – 14 lakhs INR) per year. Most of the postgraduate courses in the UK are of one-year duration.

In addition to the tuition fee, you need to pay for the rent, food and living for the duration of your course. These costs on average sum up to £12,180 (approximately 11.2 Lakhs  INR) per year. If you wish to live in London then the costs increase and you are required to have at least  £15,180 (approximately 14 Lakhs  INR) per year. In order to get the Visa, you are required to show the proof of having the above-mentioned amounts. 

Also read top 10 affordable student cities in the UK

Australia

Compared to the UK, the tuition and living costs in Australia are high. For postgraduate courses, the tuition fees in Australia ranges from AUD 29,309 – 54,223 (approximately 14.18 lakhs – 26.24 lakhs INR) per year.

Apart from the tuition fees, living costs range from AUD 27,843 – 29308 (approximately 13.37 lakhs – 14.18 lakhs INR) per year.

Student Visa – The UK and Australia

UK

As a student accepted to study abroad in the UK, you will need to apply for a UK Student visa (formerly Tier 4 UK Visa). Recently, UK Post-Study Work Visa Rules were relaxed for international students. To be eligible for the visa you need to prove that:

• You have been accepted to a full-time study program
• You can make a payment of the £363 visa processing fees to apply for a UK Student Visa.

The UK student visa allows you to work part-time up to 20 hours per week (on campus or off campus), and full-time during vacations (only on-campus). 

Australia

To study in Australia, you need to apply for a Student Visa. Australia also provides a post study work permit that allows you to stay in the country for up to 2 years until employed. 

To apply for the Australian Student Visa you will need 

• To make application fee of  620 AUD ( approximately 30,020 INR)
• To have been accepted to a full-time study program

With an Australian student visa, you can only work for 40 hours per fortnight during your study

Post-graduate Work Visa in UK and Australia

UK

The Graduate Route Visa allows international students who have earned a degree from a recognized university in the UK to stay in the country for up to 2 years and look for gainful employment. If you want to work there after your studies, then you need to apply for a Graduate Visa (PSW UK). 

The application for the Graduate Route visa happens once you can prove successful completion of your study program. Once your application is accepted, your UK Student visa converts to a Graduate Route Visa. 

Australia

Similar to the new visa rule of the UK, Australia also provides a 2-year post-study work visa for international students with an undergraduate degree and above. Under this work permit, the student can work in any field or industry.

Permanent Residency Opportunities

UK

Getting a permanent residence is not that easy but it is not impossible. In order to apply for the permanent visa also called Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you need to complete 5 years of a graduate job. Along with a stable full-time job with good income, you should also have good moral conduct with no criminal record to get the ILR. Approximately, 40,000 Indians were granted permanent residency in 2016. 

Australia

Getting Australian Permanent Residence (PR) is far easier than in the UK. You can also apply for citizenship after 3 years of formal work after your graduation. Australia has a point based system that awards points based on your age, education, language proficiency, skillset and work experience. It is typically easy to get 65+ points on the test, which is usually enough to grant permanent residency. 

The Climate in the UK and Australia

For some students who feel they cannot handle extreme temperatures or climatic conditions, the weather might be another important factor to consider when applying to the two countries. 

The UK

In the UK, average temperature in the summer months ranges from 15-25°C. 

Winters in the UK are characterized by cold weather, rain, and sometimes snow and fog with winter temperatures ranging from 0 to 7 degrees Celsius.

The UK is known for its unpredictable rain.

Australia

Climate is the biggest boon for Australia and is one of the main reasons for international students to choose the country. It is sunnier compared to the UK and the beautiful beaches add to the balanced weather conditions. 

The temperature ranges between 20°C to 25°C throughout the year.

Which One’s For You- The UK or Australia?

As you can see, the answer to this question will depend on your situation and individual dreams. The UK is more affordable than Australia but also has many scholarship opportunities. On the other hand, those looking to return to India to work in the public sector or study further are more likely to choose Australia. Those looking for specialized education in specific fields such as tourism and earth sciences, are likely to choose Australia. 

If you have trouble making a decision and need more clarity, feel free to contact our student support team, who will work with you to bring the clarity you need. 

All the best!