Choosing the right course in Australia starts with your budget, not your favourite subject. Work out what you can actually afford before you compare course options.
What should guide your course choice first?
Money matters more than most students expect at first. You need enough for course fees and living costs for your whole course, not only the first year. The current first-year living-cost requirement is AUD $29,710, separate from tuition.2 Ask us for the current fee for any course you are considering before you decide.
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Ask yourself what you want in the next few years. If you want to start working quickly, trade courses often move faster than degrees. If you want a global career or a longer stay, degrees in fields like health, information technology, or engineering may fit better. Be honest with yourself about which goal matters more right now.
Should you follow your strengths or the job market?
Both matter, in different ways. Pick a subject you can actually sustain through a demanding course. Also check whether the course leads to real jobs in Australia. Studyaway can talk you through which courses connect to current skilled-occupation lists.
Does work experience matter for your course choice?
Yes, especially if you hope to stay in Australia after you graduate. Relevant work experience during your course can matter for later visa options. Even part-time or volunteer experience in your field can help you decide if a course fits you.
How does location affect your course choice?
Sydney and Melbourne offer more job opportunities, but they cost more to live in. Regional areas often cost less. Weigh location against your budget and your support network, such as family or friends already living in Australia.
What visa comes with your course?
Most international students study on a student visa (subclass 500). This visa lets you:
- study full-time;
- bring family members only in some cases, such as a Pacific or South-East Asian passport, or a PhD;3
- work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods.4
The visa application charge:
- AUD $2,500 for most applicants.
- AUD $2,050 for citizens of 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, and for students taking only an English course (ELICOS) or a non-award course.
- AUD $745 for citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste, for any course.1
The student visa page lists the countries. Some courses have different visa settings. For example, a student taking only an English course (ELICOS) pays a lower charge and does not need an English test for the visa.5 Ask us which settings apply to your course.
Is the course and college registered for international students?
Check that both the course and the college sit on Australia’s CRICOS register. CRICOS stands for the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. Only a CRICOS-registered course can issue you a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for your visa. Ask your agent to confirm CRICOS registration before you pay any deposit.
What questions should you ask before you enrol?
Ask about the total course length, including any breaks between qualifications. Ask what work placement or practical hours are included. Ask what happens if you want to change course or college later. Since 2 October 2026, a student visa holder in Australia can apply there for a new student visa only in set cases. Two of them are finishing the same course with the same college, and moving up to one course at a higher level. Other changes that need a new student visa are applied for from outside Australia.6 Ask exactly what your fees include, and what they do not.
How do you actually decide?
List your goals, your budget, and your strengths on paper. Compare two or three courses against that list, not against what a friend chose. Talk to an education agent who will tell you honestly if a course is not a good fit, not just sell you one.
This article is general information only, not migration advice. Figures checked July 2026 against official sources; the visa figures were read at source on 22 October 2026. In Australia, immigration assistance may only be provided by a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner - Studyaway provides all students with access to a Registered Migration Agent.
Sources
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, item 1222(2) (the visa application charge), Compilation No. 289. Read 22 October 2026.
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, clause 500.214; LIN 19/198, section 6(2) (funds), Compilation No. 2. Read 22 October 2026.
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, item 1222(3)(da)(i) and (5A) (family members), Compilation No. 289. Read 22 October 2026.
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 8, condition 8105 (48 hours a fortnight), Compilation No. 289. Read 22 October 2026.
- LIN 25/090, section 7(1)(b)(ii) (no English test for an English course alone); Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, item 1222(2)(a)(ic). Read 22 October 2026.
- Department of Home Affairs, Subclass 500 Student visa page (updated 12 October 2026); Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, item 1222(3)(aa) and (3A); LIN 20/158, sections 18 and 19. Read 22 October 2026.
Checked and updated 20 October 2026.
