Moving to Australia from India to study
If you’re considering Australia as a destination to continue your studies, here are some things to consider.
Sorting out your student visa
In order to study in Australia you’ll need the right student visa. Every visa has conditions attached, such as whether you’re able to work, so it’s important you understand these upfront before applying. The place to find out detailed information about student visas is the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website
Keeping contact with home
There’s a good chance your educational provider will have an international office that’ll be able to point you in the direction of local Indian-Australian organisations. Alternatively, the Indian High Commission of Australia website has a handy reference of organisations in each state.
Make sure you factor in health insurance
If you’re coming to Australia on a student visa you’ll need to arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in advance. Your OSHC provides medical and hospital cover while you’re studying in Australia and can either be arranged through your education provider, or you can arrange it yourself with an approved OSHC provider. Keep in mind your OSHC coverage needs to be for the entire duration of your study visa.
Find out more about health insurance for students.
Where to live?
Most likely you’ll have a variety of different accommodation options to suit a range of budgets and lifestyles. Common options include on campus accommodation, homestays and shared accommodation. If you need help with accommodation it’s worth getting in touch with your educational provider as they may have services available to help. Take a look at their website or contact them directly.
Budgeting for living costs
Along with tuition costs and course fees, you’ll need to budget for living costs while you’re studying. As a condition of your visa you’ll need to show evidence that you’ll be able to support yourself and any dependents while you’re studying. For details on current financial requirements take a look at the Home Affairs website
Working in Australia while you study
If you’re in Australia on a student visa, you’ll most likely be able to work while you study. It’s important you check your visa conditions, but you can generally work up to 40 hours a fortnight during term time as well as unlimited hours during course beaks.
Find out more about student visa work conditions
Setting up an Australian bank account
Sorting out your banking in Australia could be easier than you’d think. Once you arrive in Australia, you can open an everyday bank account online with Westpac.
Get $50 on us
New arrivals to Australia aged 18 years or older
Simply open a new Westpac Choice account online or at a branch by 31 March 2025, and make a single deposit of $100 within 10 days of opening#.
T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply.
Alternatively, you can open an account in of our one of our local branches.
Find out more about opening an account with Westpac
Want to know more about studying in Australia?
When it comes to studying in Australia, one of the best online resources is the Australian Government’s studying in Australia website
Things you should know
This information does not take into account your personal circumstances and is general in nature. It is intended as an overview only and it should not be considered a comprehensive statement on any matter or relied upon as such.
This information is general in nature and has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.
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$50 Cashback offer: Fees and charges apply. Read the
Deposit Accounts for Personal Customers Terms and Conditions (PDF 645KB) before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. To receive AUD$50, you must: open a new Westpac Choice account between 1 December 2024 and 31 March 2025, have never held a transaction account with Westpac before, and deposit a minimum of $100 into the new account within 10 days of account opening. The offer is available for customers who are new to Australia (arrived in the last 12 months) and over 18 years of age. Customers must hold a valid foreign issued identification document in our
identification checklist (PDF 657KB). For joint accounts, both account holders must not have held a Westpac transaction account before. The AUD$50 promotion amount will be paid into the Customer’s Westpac Choice account within 50 days of meeting these Terms and Conditions. The Westpac Choice account must remain open during that period to receive the cashback reward. Limited to only one eligible account per eligible individual (including where it is a joint account) and paid to the Westpac Choice account that was opened first. Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless we determine otherwise. We reserve the right to withdraw, amend or extend this offer at any time. We recommend you seek an independent, professional tax advice to determine tax implications on the cashback based on your personal circumstances.