Australia offers great work opportunities to international students as is witnessed by thousands of students who apply to Australian universities each year. These universities offer students great future job prospects and living conditions, which is why Australia is a top destination for international education for students.
Education is not cheap and if you are going to pay yourself for it, it may become even harder if you do not have working rights or working opportunities but thankfully Australia gives you both. Read ahead if you are looking for all the information on the best work opportunities while studying in Australia for international students:
Ways to Work While Studying in Australia
1. University Placements and Internships
Almost all universities in Australia have a student placement office where students can go and ask to be enrolled in various internships and industrial placements. These offices are well equipped with the latest available opportunities so you should get in touch with them if you are looking for such opportunities. You will need to provide a good CV and a sector where you wish to be placed. Business and the IT sector have the most internships and student placement opportunities, so if you belong to any of those sectors, you are in luck.
Most times the internships will be paid opportunities, but sometimes they may not be. You might need to work there without any base pay or incentives but you will still be gaining experience. So make sure that you choose a place that will work best according to your needs.
For instance, the University of Sydney allows students to complete such additional programs by completing projects or periods of work related to their area of study. These areas of study include Business, Arts & Social Sciences, Law, Medicine & Health, and Science.
2. Part-Time Work Opportunities
Students in Australia can work part-time in any sector of their choice. This is the best use of the work limitations that are in place. They can take up jobs in the hospitality sector, in an educational setting, or in a very casual industry. This will help them explore their skills and get new ones at the same time.
3. Full-Time Work
As international students are only allowed to work 40 hours in a fortnight, they cannot pursue full-time jobs in Australia but this does not mean they cannot work in those positions. This all depends upon the employer and yourself and how you negotiate the terms of your work and working hours. If the employer sees potential in you and is willing to keep you, the work will be sorted.
This sort of work will add greatly to your resume and experience as a professional. You will get to know so much about the work culture and how everything is done. The pay will be above the base wage and will help you financially so you are not overly burdened.
4. Self Employment or Freelancing
International students in Australia can take up self-employment or freelancing work to make ends meet while studying. They are allowed to work for 40 hours a fortnight which they can use in freelancing or self-employment. However, you will need to make sure that you have informed the government that you will be self-employed and they will issue you an Australian Business Number (ABN). This will be to track your finances which will ultimately be linked with your Australian Tax File Number (TFN).
Create a list of all the skills you know and pick one that you are best at, market yourself, and sell according to your prices. You can use famous websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour to start your freelancing career. Make sure to keep your contracts within the limits of 40 hours per fortnight.
5. International Students in Education
International students in the postgraduate sector are always provided with a standard stipend. This stipend is enough to help them for a month and is given to them fortnightly. So if you are an international student in the higher education sector in Australia and your research is funded by the university and has a scholarship, you will be eligible for a stipend. Alternatively, if the stipend is not sufficient for you, you can take up other jobs like an assistant or a lab technician.
FAQs: Working While Studying in Australia
Is there A Work-Study Program in Australia?
No, Australia does not offer a work-study program. However, the Australian immigration system allows students to work and study at the same time. Now there are some limitations imposed by the government on the number of hours a student can work while pursuing higher education. A student is only allowed to work 40 hours in a fortnight during the semester and unlimited hours on semester breaks. These programs include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs spread across various subjects and fields.
What Are the Benefits of Working While Studying in Australia?
The benefits of working while studying in Australia for international students are that students can earn and pay for their education while not entirely depending on their parents or other sources of money. Secondly, working in an Australian setting will give them all the necessary real-life education that will come in handy in their professional life. Finally, through these programs, the Australian community has become more culturally diverse which has only benefited the Australians and the immigrants.
Here we come to the end of the article. We hope you had a good read and now can positively make a decision for yourself regarding the work-study programs in Australia. Good luck!
Hopefully, this article on the Ways to Work in Australia While Studying for International Students was informative. You can also visit the Study in Australia and Available Programs for International Students pages for more articles about studying in Australia!
