How to find work in Australia

In recent years, Canada has carved out its place on the map as a destination for international students. In fact, the number of students from abroad has tripled over the past decade - and the country is now ranked third in the world for attracting international learners.  

It’s no wonder. With top universities, multicultural cities, and incredible natural landscapes, Canada is an excellent place to call home and propel your career. So, what type of visa do you need to study in Canada? In this blog, we’ll go through Canada student visa requirements and learn what it takes to apply:  

Why study in Canada 

Want to study along the pacific coast with a mountain view? What about in a creative city close to incredible National Parks? Or a stone's throw away from the mighty Niagara Falls? Canada has it all. The country’s landscapes and cities are incredibly diverse - and people who study here will have the opportunity to explore all Canada has to offer. 

Canada was named the best country for quality of life in 2020. And according to the QS Best Student Cities 2019 ranking, three Canadian cities are listed among the top in the world - including Montreal (6), Toronto (11),and Vancouver (16). Canada is also home to a number of world-class institutions, many of which are ranked in the top 50 globally by the same QS ranking. These include:  

• University of Toronto (25) 

• McGill University (31)  

• University of British Columbia (45)  

Finally, there’s a good job market for international students in Canada. Between 2009-2019, almost 1.8 million jobs were created in Canada for university graduates. What’s more, 80% of employers say hiring graduates with international experience enhances their companies.  

Canada student visa requirements 

To study in Canada, you need to apply for a study permit. This isn’t a visa, because alone, it doesn’t let you enter the country.  But if your study permit is approved, Canada will also grant you either a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization. This will allow you to travel to Canada. 

Before applying for a study permit, there are a few requirements to keep in mind. For one, you need to already be enrolled at a designated learning institution, which has been approved by the government to accept international students. Check to see if your university or college is on the list.  

You also need to prove you have enough money to pay for tuition, living expenses and travel costs associated with studying abroad. If you’re alone in Canada and aren’t settling in Quebec, you will need to have at least $10,000 per year - not including tuition. You can demonstrate this money through bank statements, loan information, or proof of a scholarship. Learn more about scholarships for international students in Canada. 

Finally, you will also need to be in good health, have no criminal record, and be able to prove you will leave Canada when your study permit is no longer valid. 

Read more in our article about the cost of living in Canada.

How do you apply?  

You can apply for your Canadian study permit online or on paper through the mail. You can also apply from outside Canada or inside Canada. You’ll have to make sure you have all your documents ready to submit.  This includes an acceptance letter from your institution, passport, and proof of funds. If you’re planning to study in Quebec, you’ll also need to apply for a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).  

After you submit your application, you’ll need to give biometrics. You will also likely need to provide a police certificate and pass a medical exam. If you apply from outside Canada, the application process will take about eight weeks. If you apply from inside Canada, it will take about nine weeks.  

That said, there is a way to get your permit approved sooner. If you’re from Senegal, Vietnam, Pakistan, Morocco, India, China, or the Philippines, you can apply through something called the Student Direct Stream. You should get your permit in just three weeks.  

Learn more about how to apply on the Canadian government website.  

How much does it cost? 

A Canadian study permit costs $150, and this usually includes biometrics. But don’t forget to budget in the price of a police certificate or medical exams, if you need them. Depending on where you currently live, these can increase your costs by quite a lot.  

What can you do on a student permit?  

If you’re a full-time student, you can work while studying in Canada (as long as your course  lasts longer than 6 months). But first, you’ll need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) - this can be done in just a few minutes online, for free. You can work either on-campus or off-campus. If you get a job off-campus, you’ll be able to work 20 hours per week - and full-time during school breaks.  

And what about Canada’s publicly funded healthcare? Well, not all international students are eligible. Since each province administers their own healthcare, it depends on where you study.  

For example, many international students in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador have access to free healthcare. But students in Ontario don’t. So, it’s best to reach out to your university or college to see what the situation will be for you. At the same time, you can learn about the insurance options available if you aren’t covered through your province.  

Staying in Canada after graduation  

Can you stay in Canada after graduating to work? Yes! International students who’ve finished a course longer than 8 months can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWD). This can be valid for up to 3 years.  

Canada also has a number of streams for permanent residence, which you might be eligible for as an international student. To find out if you can apply, check out this tool on the government’s website.  

Ready to move to Canada? We’ll help you hit the ground running.  

Our computer- based language test at PTE Academic is accepted by 200 top Canadian institutions for proof of English proficiency -  including the University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Waterloo, and McMaster University. 

Learn more about PTE English tests for Canada.  

Please note: we are not immigration agents. For all up-to-date information about visa rules and regulations, see the official guidelines on the Government of Canada website.   

In the Philippines, there has long been a culture of emigration. It’s common for Filipinos to move overseas to work, study and live. In fact, there are more than 10 million Filipinos living and working around the world. What’s more, about 60,000 people have emigrated each month since the start of 2021!   

PTE teacher Jurine Ruperto helps students get ready for the linguistic challenge of moving overseas. She is the owner of Ace Review Center, a language school that prepares students to take the language tests they’ll need for working visas and university applications.  

We spoke to Jurine to find out about her experience of teaching PTE, and the advice she would offer to other teachers.  

How Jurine prepares her students for PTE  

Ace Review Center was one of the first language schools in the Philippines to offer PTE preparation, and they have been helping Filipino professionals and skilled workers prepare for the test for six years.  

Now, the teachers at Ace Review Center have years of experience in preparing students for the exam - and when it comes to results, their experience shows. 

“We have a high passing rate - and a good number of students who’ve scored a perfect 90,” says Jurine.  

So what’s her secret? According to Jurine, she builds her students’ skills slowly as they learn the basics of each task type, through a range of different activities.  

“One of my favorite activities is idea building or [creating] mind webs, which are very useful in writing tasks,” she says. “Students are given a topic and are encouraged to contribute ideas related to it and expounding with supporting details.” 

According to Jurine, one of the most common challenges for test takers is vocabulary. In order to help them achieve better results, she encourages them to increase their exposure to English in their everyday lives. “Reading and watching movies and TV shows helps to build their knowledge and familiarity with English terminologies and word usage.”  

Building student confidence  

We all have those teaching moments that stick with us, for one reason or another. For Jurine, it's an experience she had with a learner with low confidence that comes to mind. 

The student needed to build his confidence back up when he came to her for PTE preparation classes. “One of my very first students in PTE had a bad experience in another English test,” she says. “He took the test several times with no success - despite only needing a band score of 5.”   

So, she said, he signed up for a month of PTE test preparation. It was then that he really started to believe in his language abilities. Jurine thinks the fact that PTE is computer-based made a difference.  

“It must have helped that the test is through a computer because he would easily get intimidated when facing an examiner during the speaking test,” she explains. His minimum target score for PTE was 54 - but on the day of the test he actually scored above this!  “By now,” she muses, “he must have already finished his culinary studies in Australia.” 

Jurine’s top tip for PTE teachers  

When we asked Jurine to share her top tip for other PTE teachers to help their students achieve success, she underlined the importance of really knowing the test inside and out. “It is best for teachers to immerse themselves in PTE sample practice tests to familiarize themselves with the test format,” she says. “That way, they will understand their learners' needs.”  

Further resources

You can access preparation resources to help your students through the PTE website, where there are a range of materials available, from Scored Practice Tests to a question bank with over 300 sample questions and answers.  

The Official Guide to PTE Academic will give you all the information you need to prepare your students thoroughly - and there’s even free course modules available to give your exam preparation teaching skills a boost!  

Do you have advice and insights to share with other PTE teachers? If so, we’d like to hear from you! Each month we’ll be shining a spotlight on someone from our global teaching community.  

Don’t forget to sign up for our monthly teacher newsletter, which shares teaching tips for test preparation.

Studying in Australia is a dream for many students. The country is known for its long stretches of white sandy beaches, rugged outback, and charming people. 

It’s also home to more than 1,100 world-class institutions - earning Australia a reputation for being a top study abroad destination. And don’t just take our word for it: 90% of international students reported being happy studying and living in Australia, according to a 2018 government report.  

For many international students, working in-between studies to pay for living expenses is also part of life in Australia. So what kinds of jobs are popular for students in the country? And what is the pay like? Let’s take a look:

1. Barista 

Coffee culture is huge in Australia. Because the country is famous for its “flat white” drinks and quality coffees, there are many different cafes for international students to apply at. After all, where there is a demand, there will always be jobs! 

Of course, working as a barista requires that you have strong customer service skills, are proficient in English, and are familiar with popular coffee orders and how to make them (although your workplace will likely also train you). Because cafe culture is so important to Australians, a job serving coffee is arguably one of the best ways to feel immersed in the local culture.  

2. Bartender  

For students, being a bartender has many perks. The hours you work rarely conflict with regular university class schedules. Being a bartender is a great way to meet new people. You could also earn tips. Tipping isn’t part of Australian culture per se, however it is becoming more common to tip service staff a small amount to thank them for good service.  

If you’re interested in serving drinks, you could also consider getting a job at an Australian winery. Because Australia has so many wineries (about 2,361 in total), wine culture is not only a prevalent part of life in Australia. It’s also always usually a thriving industry with lots of job opportunities. 

3. Server 

Keen on the hospitality industry? Serving is another great job. And, even better if you get to work at a beachside restaurant. The University of Adelaide, The University of the Sunshine Coast, and The University of Melbourne are all institutions located by the coast, where international students have the opportunity to earn a living part-time while also experiencing Australia’s beautiful beaches.  

4. Hotel and hostel jobs 

A bonus of studying in a place that happens to be an internationally-famous vacation spot is that there are many jobs in hospitality. Students studying at institutions like The University of Tasmania, for example, can benefit from the local tourism industry by applying for jobs cleaning in hotels or cooking in hotel kitchens.  

Australia’s hostels are also great spots to look for a job. Foreign students would be a great fit for hostel jobs like receptionists because of their international experience, age, and language skills. The bonus here is that you will find yourself working amongst like-minded and fun travelers.  

5. Fruit picking 

Australia has plenty of fruit picking jobs throughout the country. Strawberry, blueberry, and avocado picking jobs, for example, are all common jobs available to students in Australia. They’re also quite common to come across. Recently, the government also announced they’d allow students working in agriculture to work more hours every week - which is a big plus! We share more on that below.  

How many hours can I work? 

When studying in Australia, one of the main regulations for international student visa holders is that  they can work up to 48 hours every two weeks while studying and unlimited hours during study breaks on an Australian student visa. 

The government changed those restrictions for students working in certain industries to support these sectors during the pandemic. Now, students can work unlimited hours in healthcare, disability care, aged care, agriculture, and tourism. 

What’s the minimum wage in Australia? 

Australia is known for its high minimum wage. The minimum wage in Australia is $24.10 per hour or $915.90 per week - this is a huge draw for many international students.   

Where should I look for work?

Your institution in Australia should have a career center to help you look for work. They should provide you with resume and interview tips, as well as a job board that lists open positions. We always recommend visiting your institution’s career centre when beginning your job search.  

There are also job sites like Indeed, Seek, and Jobactive from the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Skills, and Employment. All of these sites list thousands of part-time jobs for international students to consider.  

Last updated 20 December 2024.

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