Australia remains a major destination for international education. Many international students choose Australia for its universities, student services, lifestyle, and the opportunity to gain work experience while studying. If you plan to apply to Australian universities, it is important to understand your visa work conditions before you start a job.
Education can be expensive, and work can help with living costs. International students on a Student visa (subclass 500) generally have work rights in Australia, but those rights come with hour limits and other conditions. Read ahead if you are looking for information on work opportunities while studying in Australia as an international student.
Ways to Work While Studying in Australia
1. University Placements and Internships
Many Australian universities have career services, placement teams, or faculty-based staff who help students find internships, work-integrated learning, and industry placements. These services can help you explore opportunities related to your field of study, prepare your resume, and understand the eligibility requirements for each placement. Availability varies by degree, faculty, employer, and visa conditions, so it is best to contact your university or faculty early.
Some internships and placements are paid, while others may be unpaid work experience or student placements. In Australia, unpaid internships are only lawful in certain circumstances, such as approved student or vocational placements or arrangements where there is no employment relationship. If an employment relationship exists, the employer must pay the student at least the applicable minimum entitlements.
For instance, the University of Sydney explains that, depending on the degree, students may have the opportunity to complete additional programs that involve a project or a period of work in a workplace related to their area of study. These opportunities may be optional, vary in duration and requirements, and are offered across areas such as Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Law, Medicine and Health, and Science.
2. Part-Time Work Opportunities
Students in Australia can work part-time or casual jobs in many sectors, including hospitality, retail, administration, tutoring, customer service, and other casual industries, as long as the work complies with their visa conditions. During study terms and semesters, most Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. They can work unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Before starting work, students should apply for a Tax File Number (TFN), understand their workplace rights, and check their visa conditions through VEVO.
3. Full-Time Work
International students generally cannot work full-time during teaching periods if doing so would exceed the 48-hour-per-fortnight limit. However, they may be able to work full-time hours during scheduled course breaks. Students who have already started a master’s degree by research or doctoral degree have no student visa work-hour limit during their studies, but they must still maintain their enrollment and meet course progress requirements. Always check your visa grant letter and VEVO before accepting additional hours.
Work experience in Australia can add value to your resume and help you understand local workplace culture. Any paid employment should meet Australian workplace laws, including the applicable minimum wage, award rate, or enterprise agreement rate for the job.
4. Self Employment or Freelancing
International students in Australia can do freelancing or self-employment if the work complies with their visa conditions. For most Student visa holders, self-employment and freelance hours count toward the 48-hour-per-fortnight limit during study terms and semesters, unless an exemption applies, such as for students who have already started a master’s degree by research or doctoral degree.
If you are carrying on a business or enterprise as a sole trader, you may need to apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN). Not everyone is entitled to an ABN, and you are not entitled to one for work you do as an employee, even if someone calls it contracting. You will also need to keep records, report your income, and meet your tax obligations. Your Tax File Number (TFN) may also be needed when applying for an ABN.
Create a list of your strongest skills, choose the services you can provide professionally, and market yourself carefully. Platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour can help you start, but make sure your workload stays within your visa limits and that you understand your tax responsibilities.
5. International Students in Education
Not all postgraduate students automatically receive a stipend. However, students in higher degree by research programs may receive a stipend if they are awarded a scholarship, such as an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or a university-funded scholarship. RTP scholarships can include a tuition fee offset, a stipend for living costs, and allowances, but eligibility, selection, and payment arrangements are administered by individual universities.
For 2026, the Australian Government RTP full-time base stipend rate is AUD 34,315, and the full-time maximum stipend rate is AUD 53,608. If your scholarship or stipend is not enough for your living costs, check your scholarship conditions, university rules, and visa conditions before taking on additional work such as tutoring, research assistance, or lab work.
FAQs: Working While Studying in Australia
Is there A Work-Study Program in Australia?
No, Australia does not have a single national work-study program for international students in the way the term is used in some countries. However, the Australian student visa system allows many international students to work while studying. Most Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study terms and semesters and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Students who have already started a master’s degree by research or doctoral degree have no student visa work-hour limit during their studies.
These rules can apply to students in bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, vocational, pathway, ELICOS, and other eligible study programs, depending on the visa and course. Because visa conditions can vary, students should always check their visa grant letter and VEVO for the conditions that apply to them.
What Are the Benefits of Working While Studying in Australia?
The benefits of working while studying in Australia include earning money to help with living expenses, gaining local work experience, building professional networks, and improving communication and workplace skills. Working in an Australian setting can also help international students understand local expectations, workplace culture, and employment rights.
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!
