Study in Australia Post-Study Work 2026

Post-study work is often the ROI question for Australia. Details below; full destination context is in the country guide.

Can I Work While Studying in Australia?

Yes. As of 2026, Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Higher Degree by Research (Master's by research and PhD) students have no weekly work-hour cap at all.

Australia's minimum wage - over AUD 24/hour as of 2026 - makes part-time work a genuinely practical way to offset living costs, even if it won't cover tuition on its own.

What Is the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)?

The Subclass 485 is Australia’s main post-study work visa — full-time work for any employer, no sponsorship required, after you complete an eligible qualification at an Australian provider.

Which 485 stream fits you?

Stream	Who it is for	Typical length
Post-Higher Education Work stream	Bachelor’s, Master’s (coursework or research), doctoral degrees from a CRICOS course	2 years (up to 5 years if you studied at a regional campus — confirm your campus classification)
Post-Vocational Education Work stream	Eligible VET qualifications on the skilled list	Generally up to 2 years, tied to occupation list rules

Doctoral graduates often receive 4 years under the higher-education stream — verify against the current legislative instrument for your qualification level.

2026 costs and English (budget these early)

• Visa application charge increased sharply in March 2026 — plan AUD 4,600+ for the primary applicant, not the older ~AUD 2,300 figure still quoted on outdated blogs
• Age: generally under 35 at application (with exceptions for research graduates — check Home Affairs)
• English: commonly IELTS 6.5 overall with minimums in each band (up from earlier thresholds) — see what IELTS score do you need?

Application order

1. Complete your course and obtain completion evidence
2. Sit or refresh English if your Subclass 500 score will not meet 485 rules
3. Apply online in ImmiAccount before your Student visa expires (onshore applicants)
4. Hold valid health insurance and meet character requirements

485 is not permanent residency. Graduates in Skills in Demand occupations get priority pathways toward skilled migration or employer sponsorship — pair with the Australia hub for course choice.