Indonesian Students: How to Study in Australia and Plan Your Career

TL;DR

Indonesia is a priority source country for Australian education, and universities are actively building partnerships to attract Indonesian students. The student visa (500) requires passing the genuine student test, meeting raised English and financial thresholds, and holding OSHC. Smart course and location choices create a clear pathway from graduation to post-study work rights and skilled migration.

Introduction

Australia and Indonesia have one of the closest education relationships in the region. Around 25,450 Indonesian students are enrolled across Australian institutions — a number that has grown 41% since 2018. Australia has explicitly named Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, as a priority region for its international education program. Universities that demonstrate deeper engagement with Indonesia can receive extra allocations for international students.

At the same time, the rules have tightened. The visa fee has doubled. English requirements are higher. Financial proof thresholds have increased. And the old Genuine Temporary Entrant test has been replaced by the more rigorous Genuine Student requirement.

This guide covers the full journey — from your student visa application to post-study work rights, costs, and planning your career after graduation. For the broader context, see the Indonesia to Australia overview.

Student visa (subclass 500): what you need

The student visa (subclass 500) is your entry point. Indonesian applicants are classified at Evidence Level 2, which means additional document verification may apply.

### Genuine student test

This is the most critical part of your application. The genuine student (GS) test replaced the old Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement in March 2024. You answer targeted questions in your online ImmiAccount application, each capped at 150 words:

- Why this course? Show a logical link between your previous education in Indonesia, this course, and your career direction.
- Why this institution? Demonstrate you researched and chose this provider for genuine educational reasons — not just because it was the cheapest option.
- Why Australia? Explain why studying in Australia makes more sense than studying in Indonesia or another country for your particular goals.
- Your financial situation and ties to Indonesia. Show you have the resources to fund your studies and that you have considered this decision carefully.

The GS test is assessed alongside your full immigration history, education background, and English proficiency. Reports from 2026 indicate that interview quotas have increased significantly as part of an integrity review — some applicants will be asked to attend an interview to verify their responses.

Important change from the old GTE: The new system does not penalise you for having future migration intentions. You can genuinely want to study and also hope to build a career in Australia afterward. What matters is that your primary purpose is genuine education.

Common mistakes Indonesian applicants make:

- Choosing a course that does not follow logically from previous study or career experience.
- Providing generic answers that could apply to any student from any country.
- Making large, unexplained deposits into bank accounts shortly before the application.
- Failing to explain why the specific institution was chosen over alternatives.

### Confirmation of Enrolment

You need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered institution before applying. Confirm that your institution and course are both registered for international students.

### English language requirements

The visa minimum was raised to IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) or PTE Academic 50. This is up from the previous requirement of 5.5.

University admission requirements are higher:

- Standard bachelor's or master's: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) or PTE 58+
- Group of Eight universities: IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.5 to 7.0) or PTE 65+
- Health and nursing courses: IELTS 7.0 in all bands

From August 2025, scores are assessed per skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) at most visa levels. Only in-person tests at approved centres are accepted — online or at-home versions are not valid.

If your English is below the visa minimum, you can enrol in an ELICOS (English language intensive course) first. The ELICOS visa minimum is IELTS 5.0 (up from 4.5 previously).

### Financial requirements

You must demonstrate:

- Living costs: AUD 29,710 per year
- Tuition fees: For the first year of your course
- Return airfare to Indonesia
- Dependant costs (if applicable): AUD 10,394 for a partner, AUD 4,449 per child

Home Affairs examines the source and history of your funds. Steady savings or documented family income is stronger than sudden large deposits. Financial documentation should be clear, consistent, and verifiable.

### Health cover and other requirements

- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): Mandatory for the entire visa duration. Approximately AUD 623 to AUD 806 per year from approved providers (ahm, Allianz Care, Bupa, Medibank, nib).
- Health examination and police clearance from Indonesia
- Visa fee: AUD 2,500 (from 1 July 2026). Partner: AUD 1,530. Child: AUD 500.

Applications are processed using a traffic-light priority model introduced in November 2025. Institutions below 80% of their cap (Green zone) are processed fastest. Those at or near capacity (Red zone) face longer wait times.

Popular courses and occupation alignment

Your course choice shapes both your education and your post-graduation options. Here are the most popular fields among Indonesian students, and how they connect to skilled migration pathways.

Management and Commerce is consistently the top field for Indonesian students — business, accounting, and finance. Accounting graduates can pursue professional registration and skilled migration. A Professional Year program adds 5 points toward migration.

Engineering — Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering are on the MLTSSL and assessed by Engineers Australia. Starting salaries of AUD 90,000 to AUD 140,000+. Strong graduate employment rates.

IT and Computer Science — Growing fast among Indonesian students, especially programs in data science and cybersecurity. Software engineers and ICT professionals are on the skilled list. Starting salaries of AUD 95,000 to AUD 150,000+.

Health Sciences and Nursing — The strongest employment and migration pathway. Graduate employment rates of 82 to 92%. Nursing is the most in-demand occupation in Australia. Requires IELTS 7.0 in all bands for registration.

Education — Early childhood and secondary teaching are in shortage across all states. Growing in popularity among Indonesian students.

Society and Culture — International relations and communications are popular, though these fields have fewer direct migration pathways. Consider pairing with a skill-specific qualification if long-term migration is a goal.

When choosing a course, check whether the occupation it leads to appears on Australia's skilled occupation list. Not every popular course leads to a migration pathway.

Post-study work visa (subclass 485)

After completing your studies, the subclass 485 gives you the right to work full-time in Australia.

Duration by qualification:

Requirements:
- Complete at least two academic years of study at a CRICOS-registered institution
- Apply before age 35
- Meet the English language requirement — test results must now be less than one year old
- Hold OSHC

Visa fee: AUD 5,750 (from 1 July 2026)

What changed: The previous two-year extension of post-study work rights was discontinued in mid-2024. The maximum duration is now shorter than it was in 2023-24. Note that Indian graduates receive extra post-study time under the Australia-India ECTA — no equivalent bilateral arrangement exists for Indonesian graduates at this time.

Regional bonus: Regional graduates who have lived in a designated regional area for at least two years can apply for additional post-study work time:

- Category 2 areas (Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Hobart): +1 year
- Category 3 areas (smaller regional centres like Townsville, Cairns, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga): +2 years

A bachelor's graduate in a Category 3 area can access up to 4 years of post-study work rights. This makes regional study a strong strategic choice.

Working rights

Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, and unlimited hours during official course breaks.

A proposal to raise the cap to 60 hours per fortnight has been discussed. The Parliamentary Budget Office estimated this would generate an extra AUD 334 million in income-tax revenue. However, no legislation has passed. The 48-hour limit remains the rule.

Exceeding work hour limits can result in visa cancellation. International students are entitled to the same minimum wage and workplace protections as Australian workers. If an employer underpays you or pays cash to avoid records, you can report this to the Fair Work Ombudsman without risking your visa status.

Cost of living

Tuition fees (annual ranges for international students):

Fees rose approximately 4.2% from 2025 to 2026. Popular programs like business, engineering, and law have seen increases above 10%. Regional universities are generally 20 to 30% cheaper than their metro equivalents.

Monthly living costs (excluding tuition):

City comparison: Adelaide and Darwin are the cheapest major cities (total monthly around AUD 3,500 to 3,700 including rent). Sydney and Canberra are the most expensive.

Total annual cost (tuition plus living plus OSHC): Exceeds AUD 65,000 for a single student in Sydney or Melbourne. Budget AUD 45,000 to 55,000 in regional areas. For detailed cost information, see the cost of moving to Australia from Indonesia.

Scholarships for Indonesian students

LPDP-Australia Awards Scholarships — The most prominent option. A joint Indonesian-Australian government program for master's degree study. Fully funded: tuition, living allowance, health insurance, and travel. The 2026 round targets blue economy, green and renewable energy, and digital technology. Applications for the 2027 intake run from 2 April to 4 May 2026. Open to all eligible Indonesian citizens.

Australia Awards Postgraduate Scholarships — Fully funded by the Australian Government for master's or PhD study. Includes pre-departure academic and English preparation.

University-specific scholarships — Many Australian universities offer merit-based and need-based scholarships for Indonesian students. Some range from partial tuition discounts to full funding. Universities are now required to demonstrate scholarship offerings for Southeast Asian students to increase their international allocations.

Indonesian student community

Indonesia is one of Australia's top 10 source countries for international students. You will find established Indonesian communities in every major Australian city.

Melbourne is particularly popular. The University of Melbourne alone has over 1,200 enrolled Indonesian students. Active Indonesian student associations (PPI - Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia) operate in every major city, providing support, networking, and social events.

Popular suburbs: In Melbourne, look at Footscray, Sunshine, Clayton, Caulfield, Carlton, and Fitzroy for student-friendly areas with good transport and affordable housing. In Sydney, areas around major university campuses in the inner west and south-west are popular with Indonesian students.

Indonesian food, halal options, and Muslim-friendly facilities are widely available in all major Australian cities. Direct flights connect Jakarta to Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.

Regional campus advantages

Studying at a regional campus offers concrete benefits beyond the post-study work visa extension:

Lower costs. Regional universities charge 20 to 30% less in tuition than their metro counterparts. Rent and daily living costs are also significantly lower.

Extra migration points. Regional study and residence earns 5 extra points under the skilled migration system. The 491 regional visa adds 15 points through state or territory nomination.

Destination Australia Scholarship. Up to AUD 15,000 per year for students at regional institutions.

Notable regional universities with strong Indonesian connections: James Cook University (Townsville), University of Tasmania (Hobart), Charles Sturt University, Federation University (Ballarat), CQUniversity, Southern Cross University, University of New England (Armidale), and Deakin University (Geelong campus).

Universities that demonstrate engagement with Southeast Asian countries — including Indonesia — can apply for extra international student allocations. This means some regional institutions are actively increasing their capacity and support for Indonesian students.

Next steps

1. Choose your course strategically. Pick a course that matches your interests and career goals, and check whether the occupation it leads to appears on the skilled occupation list. This keeps your migration options open.
2. Prepare your English. Book IELTS Academic or PTE Academic. You need at least 6.0 overall for the visa, and most universities require 6.5 or higher. Start preparation early.
3. Build your financial evidence. Gather proof of funds now. You need at least AUD 29,710 for living costs plus tuition and airfare. Steady savings history carries more weight than last-minute deposits.
4. Check scholarship deadlines. The LPDP-Australia Awards round for 2027 intake closes in May 2026. University-specific scholarships have varying deadlines — apply early.
5. Consider regional institutions. The extra post-study work time, lower costs, and migration points advantage make regional campuses a strong option for students thinking long-term.
6. Write strong genuine student responses. Your 150-word answers must be specific to you, your course, and your institution. Avoid generic answers.
7. Speak with a MARA-registered agent. A migration professional can assess your study pathway and future migration options together. Search for agents who work with Indonesian students through Migratio's directory.

Related resources

- Moving to Australia from Indonesia — 2026 overview
- Indonesia to Australia visa options
- Cost of moving to Australia from Indonesia
- Vietnamese international student to Australia (comparison)
- Nepali international student to Australia (comparison)

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How much does it cost to study in Australia as an Indonesian student?

Total first-year costs range from roughly AUD 40,000 to AUD 70,000 depending on your course and city. This includes tuition (AUD 20,000 to 50,000), living costs (AUD 29,710 minimum required by Home Affairs), OSHC (AUD 500 to 800 per year), and the visa fee (AUD 2,500). Regional universities are generally 20 to 30% cheaper than metro equivalents.

Can I work while studying in Australia?

Yes. Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term and unlimited hours during official course breaks. A proposal to raise this to 60 hours per fortnight has been discussed but is not yet legislated. Exceeding the work limit can result in visa cancellation.

What happens after I finish my course?

If you complete at least two academic years of study, you can apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). This gives you 18 months to 4 years of full work rights depending on your qualification level. Regional graduates can add 1 to 2 extra years. Use this time to build Australian work experience toward skilled migration.

Are there scholarships for Indonesian students?

Yes. The LPDP-Australia Awards Scholarship is the most prominent — a fully funded program for master's study covering tuition, living allowance, health insurance, and travel. The 2026 round targets blue economy, renewable energy, and digital technology. Many Australian universities also offer merit-based and need-based scholarships for Indonesian applicants.

Does studying in a regional area help my visa prospects?

Yes. Regional graduates can extend their 485 post-study work visa by 1 to 2 years. Regional study also earns 5 extra points under the skilled migration points test. Living costs in regional cities are lower, and universities in regional areas are often 20 to 30% cheaper. Institutions that demonstrate engagement with Indonesia can receive extra international student allocations.