Canada Vs Australia Country Comparison for International Students

Difference Between Canada Vs Australia in Education System

The Canadian Education system is divided into four stages: preschool, primary education, secondary education, and post-secondary education. The last stage, i.e., post-secondary, consists of all university and college courses.

The post-secondary stage is subdivided into three stages: Undergraduate Bachelor's degree, Postgraduate Master's degree, and PhD. All the degree lasts over 2-6 years.

On the other hand, the Australian education system consists of only three tiers: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The tertiary tier is further subdivided into ten levels: a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree, bachelor's honours degree/ graduate certificates and diplomas, master's degree, and doctoral degrees. Like Canada, Australian university courses also last for 2-6 years.

Canada Vs Australia Admission Process

Admission Process in Canada

To enrol in a Canadian college or university, students need to appear for an entrance exam and an English proficiency exam. The preferred entrance exams are SAT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE a, and MCAT, while the select English proficiency tests are IELTS, TOEFL a, and PTE. Students must also meet some primary criteria:

• Completed 10+2 with 70 – 80 % marks
• IELTS score of 6.5 with all bands more than 6.0.
• Must appear for SAT/ACT and other entrance exams.

When applying for Postgraduate programs, students need to:

• Complete a first-class bachelor's degree
• Minimum work experience of 2-3 years to get enrolled in MBA
• GMAT score above 550 to get into management programs
• GRE may be required in specific colleges
• IELTS score of 6.5 with all bands more than 6.0.

Admission process in Australia

Students need to appear for an English proficiency test to enrol in an Australian college or university. They don't necessarily need to appear for any such entrance exams. Although, the accepted English proficiency tests students need to give our IELTS, TOEFL, CAE: advanced, PTE, and OET.

Other than this, a student must fulfil two criteria:

• Completed 12 years of pre-university education.
• Minimum IELTS score of 5.5 overall

For postgraduate admission, students must have the following qualifications:

• Completed degree of UG level
• GRE scores may be required for some courses
• Minimum IELTS score of 6.0.

Top Universities in Canada vs Australia

Both Canada and Australia have some of the top universities in the world. These provide excellent quality of education along with great accommodation facilities. 

Below is a list of some of the top colleges in Canada and Australia, along with their QS Ranking:

Suggested: Other Universities in Canada Vs Australia

Scholarships for International Students in Canada Vs Australia

There are various scholarships available in Canadian and Australian colleges for international students. To apply for these scholarships, students need to fulfil specific criteria different from all scholarships. All the scholarships cover over 25-100% of tuition fees with additional allowance. Some of the top scholarships in Canada and Australia are

Quick Read: Scholarships in Canada Vs Scholarships in Australia

Australia vs Canada Immigration

It can get challenging to choose between Canada and Australia when it comes to immigration as both the countries have very different and diverse immigration. Since both Canada and Australia have excellent colleges and Universities, the immigration process plays an essential role in deciding which country to pursue studies in.

Given below are the top 10 differences between Canadian and Australian Immigration:

Costs of Studying in Canada Vs Australia

Along with other factors cost of education plays an essential role in deciding where to study. Canada is much cheaper than Australia in terms of tuition fees. Students who wish to study abroad at an economical rate must consider it. The average tuition fee to study in Canada is USD 18,723, while that for USD 32,989.

Following is a comparison of the expected annual fee to study various courses in Canada and Australia.

Cost of Living in Australia vs Canada

The cost of living also plays an important role when deciding where to study. Whichever place a student picks, they will have to spend the next few years there. It is essential to budget beforehand to avoid financial troubles later. The average living cost in Canada is USD 7,965 – 9,558, while that of Australia is USD 14,146 – 14,890. Comparatively, the average living cost in Canada is almost 50% less than that of Australia.

Here are some of the primary expenses incurred while studying in Canada and Australia:

Read More: Cost of Living Australia Vs Canada

Student Visa Process in Canada vs Australia

A student Visa is a must for every student furthering their studies abroad, irrespective of the country they will be pursuing in. Student Visas allow students to live and study in their respective countries. Many study visas also enable students to work and even accompany family members.

Canada Student Visa Process

• The cost to apply for a Student Visa in Canada is USD120.
• It is mandatory for the student and accompanying family members to provide their medical certificates at the application.
• Family members can apply to accompany students to Canada, regardless of the level of study they will be pursuing in Canada.
• The Visa also allows students to work up to 20 hours a week during regular school sessions and 40 hours a week during scheduled breaks such as summer sessions, school holidays, etc.
• In the case of a spouse or common-law partner accompanying the student to Canada, the companions are entitled to work for up to 40 hours a week. At the same time, the duration of their work permit depends on the student's duration of the study.
• Students whose visa application is approved outside Canada get the Visa in the form of a sticker affixed to their passport. During the entry to Canada, a CBSA officer issues the respective student a study permit and a work permit.
• Students can also apply for Post Graduate Work Permit within 90 days of completing their study.

Australia Student Visa Process

• The cost to apply for a study visa in Australia is approximately USD 535.
• Study Visa holders in Australia are permitted to work for up to 40 hours a fortnight.
• Spouses can only get dependent visas if students pursue a Master's degree or PhD. Thus, otherwise, the spouse needs to apply for an individual visa to work for endless hours.

 Australia vs Canada Job Opportunities

The last factor that students need to consider while choosing a suitable country to pursue studies in is the country's post-graduation job opportunities. Both Australia and Canada are booming with job opportunities due to tremendous growth and development. But not all jobs have good scope.

One important point that a student must remember is that not all Canadian and Australian colleges have college placements. Most of the students are expected to look for jobs and internships themselves.

Job Opportunities in Canada

Job opportunities in Canada like a teacher, pharmacist, financial manager, construction manager, nurse practitioner, program analyst, etc., are some of Canada's most popular and high-demand jobs. Students can opt to work in one of these according to their qualifications.

Students can also get a Post Graduate work visa (PGWV) within 90 days of graduation to work right after graduation. In Canada, students can get a PGWV for three years or more.

Job Opportunities in Australia

In Australia, fields like education, hospitality industry, medical services, accounting, computer system design, etc., are very famous. All Bachelor's and master's graduates can work in any of these fields by simply applying for Post Graduate Work Visa (PGWV) and working for 18 months or more.

After considering all the essential factors, we can tell that Canada is a suitable option for students who wish to pursue their study abroad but at the same time want the process to be economical and not cause financial strain in any way. As Canada has some of the best colleges and scholarship programs, students get the total exposure they need while staying on budget.

While students who wish to go all out and have a higher budget should consider Australia as it does have great colleges and a better QS Ranking of most of its colleges, students can also enjoy up to 100% tuition fee redemption with an added stipend by enrolling in various scholarship programs.

Finally, it's up to the student to make the right choice now that they know everything they need to know.

Still unclear about anything? Well, not to worry. Contact AECC and get your queries answered today! AECC is one of the world's leading educational consultancies with versatile expert professionals who are ready to help you with any queries you may have. Contact us so we can be of assistance to you in your journey to achieving your dream.