Canada and Australia are two of the dream study destinations for international students. Both countries are highly preferred for pursuing higher education for their commitment to provide a matchless global education experience. Canada and Australia are modern and developed countries with hi-tech teaching and research facilities. The faculties are highly educated and experienced, capable of offering students one-of-a-kind learning experiences and transforming them into competitive and skilled graduates.
Currently, Canada is in the 4th place, while Australia occupies the 2nd place on the list of best countries to study abroad. Both countries are chosen for their exceptional performance in high-quality teaching, helping students achieve their career goals, contributing to their personal development, offering opportunities to network and language learning.
Besides, Canada and Australia are popular for their diversity and lifestyle, which is the other major reason students choose them for education and employment, ultimately leading to their permanent settlement.
To talk about facts, can you imagine that around lakhs and lakhs of students travel to both the countries each year to pursue their higher education? Canada currently hosts more than 8 lakh international students, while Australia hosts more than 5 lakh students. Moreover, Canada has a 96.3% study-visa acceptance rate and Australia has a 96.8% indicating that if students meet the eligibility requirements, it is easy to study in both countries.
Table of Contents
- Difference between Canada vs Australia in Education System
- Canada vs Australia Admission Requirements
- Top Universities in Canada vs Australia
- Scholarships for International Students in Canada vs Australia
- Canada vs Australia Immigration
- Costs of studying in Canada vs Australia
- Cost of Living in Canada vs Australia
- Student Visa Requirements in Canada vs Australia
- Canada vs Australia Job Opportunities
Difference Between Canada Vs Australia in Education System
Known for their unparalleled education standards, Canada education system and Australia education system consistently keep up to offer students, quality education. The effort starts at the primary level of education and goes till the tertiary level.
Canada's Education System
Primary or Elementary - This is the first level of education in Canada and is offered through preschool, kindergarten and primary schooling (Grade 1 to 6).
Secondary Education - Secondary education starts from Grade 7 and lasts till Grade 12.
Post-Secondary Education - Post-secondary education is the higher education in Canada which is offered through Universities and Colleges. Besides, Canada has educational institutions for offering Professional and Language certifications to international students.
Australia Education System
Primary Education - Primary education starts from Kindergarten/Preparatory school and lasts till Grade 7.
Secondary Education - Secondary school is for three years, which starts from Grade 8 and ends in Grade 10. Secondary Education has a subset of Senior Secondary Education which lasts for two years, Grade 11 and Grade 12 and this is the final stage of schooling.
Tertiary Education - Tertiary education is the higher education in Australia and is offered through Universities and Vocational Education Training (VET) Institutes.
Canada Vs Australia Admission Process
To study in either Canada or Australia, there are certain requirements students must meet. These requirements are made mandatory as it reflects the capabilities of students to study at universities that have high standards of teaching and education. Apart from academic requirements, language proficiency is also needed to convince the selection committee of the universities that they can comprehend the teaching and sustain in a foreign environment that has a different official language.
Let us see the standard requirements expected to study at Canadian and Australian Universities.
Admission Process in Canada
- Students must pass an entrance exam and also score marks expected by the Canadian universities.
- They must have had 12 years of schooling and scored 70% and above in Grade 12.
- They need a good score in any of the English Language proficiency exams.
- PG aspirants need a 4-year Bachelor's degree, 2 to 3 years of working experience and proof of their published work/portfolio.
- MBA aspirants need a GMAT score of 580 to 600 minimum and 2 -3 years of working experience.
- Medical aspirants need an MCAT score of 124 minimum in each section.
- Law aspirants need an LSAT score of 80% and above minimum.
- 1 Statement of Purpose
- 2 Letters of Recommendation.
- Proof of Fund.
- Document stating reasons for the gap in education or work.
- A Valid Passport.
Admission process in Australia
- Mandatory completion of 12 years of schooling from an accredited school.
- Students need a good score in any of the English Language proficiency exams.
- UG aspirants need an average score of 70% and above in their 12th board.
- PG aspirants need a Bachelor's degree and 2 to 3 years of working experience.
- Medical aspirants need to score a 92% in UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) to study Medicine at Australian Universities.
- Law aspirants need a 150+ score in LSAT to study Law.
- MBA aspirants need to score 600+ in GMAT and must have 2 to 3 years of working experience in Australia's Business schools.
- 1 Statement of Purpose.
- 2 Letters of Recommendation.
- Proof of Fund.
- A document stating reasons for gaps in education or work.
- A valid passport.
Top Universities in Canada vs Australia
Both Canada and Australia have esteemed universities that offer quality education to international students. They possess the best facilities for students to have an astounding student life experience and also provide opportunities to connect with fellow students to expand their network.
|
S.No |
Canadian Universities |
QS Rank 2024 |
Australian Universities |
QS Rank 2024 |
|
1. |
McGill University |
30 |
Australian National University |
34 |
|
2. |
University of Toronto |
21 |
University of Melbourne |
14 |
|
3. |
University of British Columbia |
34 |
University of Sydney |
19 |
|
4. |
University of Alberta |
111 |
University of New South Wales |
19 |
|
5. |
University of Montreal |
141 |
University of Queensland |
43 |
|
6. |
McMaster University |
189 |
Monash University |
42 |
|
7. |
University of Waterloo |
112 |
University of Western Australia |
72 |
|
8. |
Western University |
114 |
University of Adelaide |
89 |
Scholarships for International Students in Canada Vs Australia
Apart from excellent education performance, other talents are welcomed and recognised by both countries' universities to offer international students their scholarships. Some scholarships are worth thousands of dollars and pay students' full tuition fee and also their expenses.
Popular Scholarships offered by both Canadian and Australian Universities
|
S.No |
Canadian Scholarships |
Australian Scholarships |
|
1. |
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program |
Australia Awards |
|
2. |
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program |
Destination Australia Scholarships |
|
3. |
Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan |
Australia Research Training Program Scholarships |
|
4. |
Canada-ASEAN Seed |
Adelaide Global Excellence Scholarships for International Students |
|
5. |
Karen Mckillen International Leader of Tomorrow |
University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships |
|
6. |
York University International Student Scholarship |
Flinders International Postgraduate Scholarships |
|
7. |
IDRC Research Awards |
Griffith Remarkable Scholarships |
|
8. |
Ontario Graduate Scholarship |
Macquarie University International Scholarships |
|
9. |
Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship |
Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship |
|
10. |
University of Winnipeg President’s Scholarship for World Leaders |
International Student Academic Merit Scholarship |
Quick Read: Scholarships in Canada Vs Scholarships in Australia
Canada vs Australia Immigration
Canada and Australia have a simple Immigration policy for international students. The perks of immigrating to these countries are huge and it is a wonderful opportunity for students to choose their desired life.
Benefits of the Immigration Policies for International Students in Canada and Australia:
|
S.No |
Canada |
Australia |
|
1. |
Open-Work Permit to work in any field. |
Post Study Work Stream to work in their field of education. |
|
2. |
Stay back option of 3 years. |
Stay back option of 2 to 4 years. |
|
3. |
Can apply for Permanent Residence Permit just by completing one year of work. |
Can apply for Permanent Residence Permit after graduation if you have enough scores in your studies. |
|
4. |
Family members can apply for PR at any time. |
Students’ families can apply for a PR if they have received the PR. |
|
5. |
15th largest Economy and Demand for Skilled Labour. |
12th Largest Economy in the World and Demand for Skilled Labour. |
|
6. |
The top-most and best Immigrant-Friendly Country in the world. |
Second-most Immigrant-Friendly country in the World. |
|
7. |
High Standard of Living |
High Standard of Living. |
|
8. |
Best DLIs. |
Exceptional Universities. |
|
9. |
Access to Free Health Care Services. |
Access to Free Health Care Services. |
|
10. |
12th Safest Country in the World. |
27th Safest Country in the World. |
Costs of Studying in Canada Vs Australia
Canada has an affordable fee to study at its universities, while Australia is considered quite expensive. But students can base their decision upon their educational requirements and the employment opportunities they will have in both the countries.
|
S.No |
Degree |
Tuition Fee in Canada |
Tuition Fee in Australia |
|
1. |
Undergraduation |
$20,000 to $35,000 |
$20,000 to $45,000 |
|
2. |
Post-graduation |
$7000 to $20,100 |
$20,000 to $50,000 |
|
3. |
Doctorate |
$4000 to $15000 |
$18,000 to $37,000 |
|
4. |
MBA |
$30,000 to $40,000 |
$48,000 to $63,000 |
|
5. |
Medicine |
$125,000 - $350,000 |
$225,000 to $630,000 |
Cost of Living in Australia vs Canada
The Cost of Living purely depends on students' choice of lifestyle. But both the countries are affordable if students choose to live a modest lifestyle. For reference, we have given the monthly expenses for all their needs.
|
S.No |
Expenses |
Cost in Canada in CAD |
Cost in Australia in AUD |
|
1. |
Campus Accommodation |
$3,000 to $7,500 |
$440 to $1,100 |
|
2. |
Private Accommodation |
$400 to $1,500 |
$750 to $1,700 |
|
3. |
Food and Groceries |
$300 to $400 |
$200 to $300 |
|
4. |
Transportation |
$100 to 150 |
$100 to $200 |
|
5. |
Utilities |
$100 to $300 |
$200 to $300 |
|
6. |
Clothing |
$100 to $300 |
$200 to $400 |
Student Visa Requirements in Canada vs Australia
A Student Visa is a must to travel to any country abroad to pursue higher education. The requirements are more or less the same for both Canada and Australia except few. Give it a read to know and understand the requirements to receive the Student Visa successfully.
Canada Student Visa Process
The Student Visa Requirements in Canada are as follows: -
- An Admission offer letter received from any one of Canada's Designated Learning Institutes.
- Score certificate of the English Language Proficiency exam you attended.
- Academic and Work experience documents.
- Receipt of the tuition fee paid to the University.
- A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a Canadian Bank.
- A Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if applied to any Quebec university.
- Proof of education loan availed, if applied for one.
- Proof of Fund for the entire study period.
- SOP.
- LORs.
- Recent passport-size colour photographs.
- Health Insurance for the entire study period.
- Medical Clearance Certificate.
- Character Conduct Certificate.
- A Valid Passport.
Australia Student Visa Process
The Student Visa Requirements in Australia are as follows: -
- Confirmation of Enrollment letter received from An Australian University.
- Score certificate of the English Language Proficiency exam that you attended.
- Academic and Work experience documents.
- Receipt of the fee paid for visa application.
- Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement.
- Details of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
- Proof of Fund for the entire study period.
- SOP.
- LORs.
- Medical Clearance Certificate.
- Character Conduct Certificate.
- Recent passport-size colour photographs.
- A Valid Passport.
Australia vs Canada Job Opportunities
Canada and Australia has a promising economy and skilled labour market. Both countries welcome talented and qualified professionals to work in their countries. Besides, these countries also offer a high salary and other perks.
Some of the popular job roles in Canada and Australia are tabulated below with the average annual salaries.
|
S.No |
Job Roles |
Average Salary in CAD |
Job Roles |
Average Salary in AUD |
|
1. |
Business Intelligence Analysts |
$77,870 |
IT Systems Architect |
$140,000 |
|
2. |
Cloud Architects |
$121,555 |
IT Manager |
$125,000 |
|
3. |
Cloud Systems Engineer |
$120,000 |
IT Security Architect |
$124,000 |
|
4. |
IT Project Manager |
$91,300 |
Cloud Engineers |
$112,000 |
|
5. |
Data Scientists |
$85,461 |
Data Scientists |
$100,000 |
|
6. |
Developers (Web, Software, Mobile) |
$75,628 |
Python Developers |
$100,000 |
|
7. |
DevOps Engineers |
$89,187 |
IT Consultants |
$80,000 |
|
8. |
Full-Stack Developers |
$88,542 |
Project Managers |
$80,000 |
|
9. |
IoT Specialists |
$105,000 |
Technicians |
$80,000 |
|
10. |
Security Specialists (Data, Information, Network, Systems, Cloud) |
$100,000 |
DevOps Engineers |
$70,000 |
Studying in Canada or Australia is more easy now through AECC. Our counsellors will provide end-to-end assistance to help you have a smooth-abroad journey. Reach out to us now and get personalised guidance and assistance from our expert counsellors.
Start your Study-abroad journey with AECC today and fly to your desired country for the next intake.
FAQs on Canada Vs Australia Country Comparison for International Students
Is it better to go to Canada or Australia?
Even though there is no great difference between both the countries in the quality of education offered, Canada is often considered a better choice because of its easier visa processing and affordable tuition costs.
Is it cheaper to live in Australia or Canada?
The cost of living in Canada is lower than that in Australia. As such, Canada is cheaper to live in than Australia.
Why choose Australia instead of Canada?
Australia offers a vibrant campus life, better standard of living, and the presence of top-ranked universities are also higher.
Is education cheaper in Canada or Australia?
Generally, tuition fees are slightly lower in Canada than in Australia. However, overall costs for international students also depend on living expenses, which can vary by location within each country.
Which country is easier to get PR for international students: Canada or Australia?
Canada is often perceived as having more straightforward pathways to PR for international students, especially through programs like the Canadian Experience Class. However, both countries offer PR pathways, and ease of obtaining PR can depend on individual circumstances and immigration policies.
Which is better to migrate: Canada or Australia?
The choice depends on personal preferences, career goals, and lifestyle choices. Canada is known for its welcoming immigration policies and quality of life, while Australia offers a strong economy and high standard of living.
Where can earn more money: Canada or Australia?
Average salaries tend to be higher in Australia than in Canada, reflecting the higher cost of living. However, earning potential varies significantly by industry and profession.
