Australia part-time work rules: what you can earn

If you are planning to fund Australia with part-time work, start here: on the Student visa (subclass 500), you can work 48 hours per fortnight during term and unlimited during scheduled course breaks. That is the rule people break by accident when they treat a fortnight like a week.

If you go over the limit, you are not just “making extra money”. You are risking your visa condition. That can make the rest of your stay much harder, so do not budget on the assumption that you can work more than the rule allows.

This is the part-time work limit to plan around for all study in Australia decisions, not just the visa form.

For most Indian students, part-time work helps, but it does not remove the need for a proper budget. The visa asks you to show ₹17L for 12 months of living costs, plus first-year tuition and return travel. That means Australia expects you to arrive with proof of funds, not with a plan that relies only on future wages.

The pressure is higher in big cities. Living costs are listed at ₹1.2L – ₹1.6L / month for Sydney and Melbourne, ₹87,000 – ₹1.2L / month for Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and ₹70,000 – ₹99,000 / month for regional cities. The official figure the visa requires you to show is ₹17L for living costs.

So the honest answer is: part-time work can reduce stress, cover groceries and some local bills, and help you avoid borrowing for every small expense. It should not be treated as the main source of funding for your course, visa or rent.

The cost families forget is not just tuition. You also pay the student visa fee and Overseas Student Health Cover. The Student visa (subclass 500) fee is ₹1.4L (AUD $2,500), and it is non-refundable even if refused. OSHC is compulsory for the whole visa length and costs ₹35,000 – ₹1.4L / year.

Put those together and the visa plus OSHC alone runs to roughly ₹2.3L before tuition. That is before you even reach your first semester fees. Tuition itself depends on the course: ₹15L – ₹26L / year for a bachelor's, ₹17L – ₹29L / year for many master's programmes in business, IT and engineering, ₹17L – ₹26L / year for nursing and health, and ₹4.6L – ₹12L / year for vocational diplomas.

If your budget is tight, Australia is usually not the country to choose on the promise that “work will pay for most of it”. It suits students whose family can front-load the cost and who want the work rights as support, not rescue.

The visa you need is the Student visa (subclass 500). Processing time is listed at 4 to 12 weeks, and it varies by institution risk rating. That means the school you choose can affect how carefully your file is reviewed.

The big refusal trap is not a missing dream statement. It is weak evidence. You must show funds that are genuine, traceable and available at application. The guidance says to prepare bank statements, loan sanctions and sponsor documents only if the money can be traced properly.

You also need the Genuine Student statement. This replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant test in 2024. It should explain why this course, why Australia, and what you plan to do afterwards. Generic answers are one of the most common refusal reasons, so write it yourself and keep it specific.

The fee is charged per application and is not returned if you are refused, so do not lodge until your finances and statement are ready.

Australia is attractive because the work path does not end at graduation. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) gives you 2 – 3 years of work rights, depending on the qualification and study route. It has open work rights with any employer.

That matters because it is the cleanest way to move from student work into full-time work without changing employers every few months. It also explains why many families accept the higher entry cost: the country rewards you later through wages and post-study work access.

If you are choosing a country only for the cheapest degree, Australia is usually not the fit. If you want a study path where part-time work is real but limited, and post-study work is clearly built in, it is worth serious attention.

Australia suits you if you can show funds, want a mainstream English-speaking destination, and are happy to keep work within a strict visa limit. It suits students who want a realistic chance to work while studying without depending on those earnings to pay everything.

It does not suit you if your plan is to arrive with a very small budget and then work enough hours to solve the gap. It also does not suit you if you are likely to ignore visa conditions when shifts get busy. Overworking is not a minor mistake in Australia; it is a visa problem.

Before you commit, check the university and course against the official register. CRICOS is the government register of providers and courses allowed to enrol international students, and the provider should have a valid CRICOS code before you accept any offer. If you are still shortlisting, compare institutions and course types on the official register and then confirm your budget, because the right course choice changes both fees and visa risk.

First, decide whether your family can cover tuition, visa, OSHC and the required living-cost proof without depending on overtime. Then choose the intake that fits your timeline: February and July are the main options, with February being the main university intake.

After that, line up your offer letter, deposit and Confirmation of Enrolment, English test, Genuine Student statement, financial evidence and OSHC before you lodge. Do not book flights until the visa is granted.

If you want the wider decision-making picture — fees, courses, city choice and post-study options — use our country guide, then confirm the exact visa page and your university’s CRICOS details before you pay anything.

Check your budget against the actual visa proof-of-funds rule before you apply. Then choose a CRICOS-registered course, keep your work within 48 hours per fortnight in term time, and lodge only after your Genuine Student statement and financial evidence are ready.

How many hours can I work in Australia as a student?

You can work 48 hours per fortnight during term and unlimited during scheduled course breaks.

What happens if I work more than the allowed hours?

You risk breaching your visa condition, which can create serious visa problems.

Can part-time work pay for my living costs in Australia?

It can help with day-to-day spending, but you should not rely on it to fund tuition, visa costs or the full cost of living.

How much money do I need to show for the visa?

You must show ₹17L for 12 months of living costs, plus first-year tuition and return travel, and the money must be genuine, traceable and available at application.

How long does the student visa take to process?

Processing time is 4 to 12 weeks, depending on institution risk rating.

Can I stay and work after I finish studying?

Yes. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) gives 2 to 3 years of post-study work rights.