Top 10 Universities in Australia For Indian Students

Among the various study-abroad destinations, Australia remains a popular choice for many Indian students. With top-ranking universities, various study programs, and multiple scholarship options, Australia is ideal for Indians to study. Every year, there is a rising number of Indian students who wish to study in Australia. Considered to have one of the best education systems in the world and known to offer a high standard of living, is what makes Indians opt for Australia to pursue higher studies. Apart from these, in Australia, there are many scholarships provided by universities and institutions and many post-study work opportunities. The diverse cultural background in Australia allows students to interact and learn from their peers from different parts of the world. In this blog, we will look at the top 10 universities in Australia that are favorite amongst Indian students.

1. University of Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia’s cultural capital is a thriving hub of art and music, and in the middle of all this, you have the University of Melbourne which was founded in 1853. It is the leading university in Australia. Its main campus is located in Parkville. It is ranked 8th in Graduate Employability worldwide. Popular subjects to study here are Computer Science, MBA, Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Marketing, and Media and Communication. Students are given a year to explore a variety of courses before they get to pick their major.

In India, it has its own Melbourne Research Global Centre in New Delhi which facilitates collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two countries. It has also partnered with many prestigious universities in India such as IIT Delhi, JNU, and IISC, Bengaluru. Notable Indian alumni include Randeep Hooda, Pallavi Sharda, and Tahir Raj Bhasin.

The University of Melbourne provides around $30 million in scholarships for Indian students. The widely recognized Melbourne India Postgraduate Scholarship is valued at AUD 40,000 per year for a period of 2 years. Over 40% of the overseas crowd at the University of Melbourne consists of Indians.

For direct entry, the university accepts the International Baccalaureate, A levels, and US High School Diplomas. It also accepts students from the graduate with a CBSE All India Senior School Certificate (AISSC)/ CISCE Indian School Certificate (ISC). Documents like a portfolio, academic transcripts, a personal statement, and aptitude test results are required while applying to study at the University of Melbourne.

2. Australian National University (ANU)

Established in 1946, the Australian National University is the only university to have been created by the Parliament of Australia. It is in the 30th position as per the QS World University Rankings 2025. Majors in Hindi language and Indian and South Asian Studies are prominent courses to be taken up by Indians who study here. One of the former permanent representatives to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin is a notable Indian alumnus of ANU.

To nurture Indian talent, the Future Research Talent Awards (FRT) is jointly offered by the ANU College of Science, ANU College of Health and Medicine, and ANU College of Engineering, Computing, and Cybernetics. It provides Indian students an opportunity to travel to ANU for 10-12 weeks to conduct research. The value of each FRT is AUD 8,500.

The ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship offers an opportunity for meritorious students from India and some other countries who are enrolled in full-time courses at the university. To apply to ANU, Indian students must submit the following documents: Academic transcripts, English language test scores, Resume/CV, SOP, and LORs. It is best to consult professional SOP and LOR writers who are familiar with what the university wants when it comes to a college application.

3. University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is ranked 19th as per the QS World University Rankings 2024. It was built in 1850, making it the oldest university in Australia. It comprises 8 academic faculties. Sydney is a cosmopolitan city and the university reflects this diversity. The most sought-after programs taught here are Architecture and Design, Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Education and Social Work, Law, Engineering and Computer Science, Music, Science, Medicine and Health.

The University of Sydney has several partnerships with major institutions in India such as TISS, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, and Public Health Foundation of India, to name a few. It works with these institutions in the fields of public health, One Health, environmental sciences, energy, sustainability, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.

The Sydney Law School and the Jindal Global Law School have entered into a dual degree pathway agreement that allows Jindal final-year LLB students to complete a Sydney LLM and count credits back to their Jindal LLB. Akhilesh Yadav, a famous Indian politician has been a student at the University of Sydney. The Sydney Scholars India Equity Scholarship is meant to provide financial support of AUD 10,000 to one postgraduate student, who is academically strong and comes from a family with a low income.

As part of its application process, it requires students to submit a high school certificate, academic transcripts, proof of English proficiency, scholarship documentation (if any), a resume or a CV, SOP, and LOR. To write in a way that describes your interests and career goals appropriately, consult study abroad consultants dealing with SOP and LOR writing services.

4. University of Adelaide

Formed in 1874, the University of Adelaide is the 3rd oldest university in Australia. It is a member of the prestigious Group of Eight research-intensive universities in Australia. It is recognized as one of the most research-intensive universities in Australia. It is known for teaching subjects such as Computer Science, Dentistry, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Health and Medical Sciences.

The University of Adelaide and the Indian Institute of Science have collaborated to work in the fields of energy and sustainability. The university has also led an international consortium of vocational education and training (VET) by introducing five new agricultural vocational training courses in India.

It offers the Global Citizens International Scholarship to students with academic merit in their previous studies. The scholarship offers a reduction of either 15% or 30% of the tuition fee for the duration of the chosen undergraduate or postgraduate award program, at the University of Adelaide. Its application requirements are the same as the universities discussed above.

5. University of Queensland (UQ)

Located primarily in Brisbane, the University of Queensland was founded in 1909 by the Queensland Parliament. The university’s research advancement includes pioneering the development of cervical cancer vaccines. It has won more Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) than any other university in Australia.

It is also a founding member of edX and the international research-intensive Association of Pacific Rim Universities. It has 6 faculties to support both research and teaching activities. Popular courses for Indians at the University of Queensland are Management and Commerce, Business and Commercial Law, Dental Studies, Occupational Therapy, and Sport Science.

Indian students are the 2nd largest international cohort at UQ. The UQ Indian Student Club supports Indian students and encourages them to celebrate Indian culture and festivals. Famous Indians who have studied here are Professor Tadimety Chakrapani Rao and Madhan Karky.

It has also collaborated with IIT Delhi for a joint PhD program. The UQ-India Equity Postgraduate Coursework Scholarship is offered for a Masters degree in all the fields at the university. It requires students to submit a resume and 2 LORs as part of its application process.

6. Monash University

Built in 1858, Monash University is the 2nd oldest university in the state. It is a member of the Australia’s Group of Eight research universities. Monash’s original campus was in Clayton’s suburb where it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1858. It offers a wide range of programs, out of which the most famous ones are Arts and Global Studies, Arts and Health Sciences, Political Science, History, Economics, Law, and Engineering. It also offers a range of English language courses.

It has several connections with India including its partnership with IIT Bombay, which started in 2008. Both universities offer joint PhD programs that focus on multidisciplinary research and solving global issues. Apart from this, Monash University has also ties with Indian corporations and government ministries to create new education and research opportunities.

Study grants valued at AUD 10,000 are available for Indian citizens. Monash University pays great attention to a student’s LOR and research proposal for research-oriented courses. At times, based on the course you have chosen to study, you might be asked to be a part of a group discussion or give an interview.

7. University of New South Wales

Ranked 6th in Australia, the University of New South Wales began its operations in 1949. Based in Sydney, it is one of the founding members of the Group of Eight, a coalition of Australian research-intensive universities. It comprises 7 academic faculties and has partnered with over 200 universities around the world. It is ranked No.1 in Australia for five subjects – Civil and Structural Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Manufacturing Engineering, Accounting and Finance, Statistics and Operational Research.

All Indian students are eligible for the university’s International Student Award which covers 15% of their tuition fees. The University of New South Wales puts great emphasis on a student’s personal statement, to see how his/her inclination toward the course s/he is about to study will benefit their career plans and how they can be a valuable asset to the university. To seek admission into a highly credible university like Monash University, it is advised to seek help from professional SOP writers well-versed in the nuances of academic writing.

8. University of Western Australia (UWA)

The 6th oldest university in Australia, the University of Western Australia was founded in the year 1911. It is classified as one of the “sandstone universities’’ of Australia. It is among the world’s top 100 universities. Popular subjects taught here are Agriculture and Forestry, Anatomy and Physiology, Geology, Earth and Marine Sciences, Geophysics, Psychology, Petroleum Engineering, and Mineral and Mining Engineering.

In 2019, an Australia India Institute was established with the explicit aim of promoting India-focused research at UWA. To celebrate Indian culture and support Indian students, UWA has a society named Sanskriti. The UWA International Achievement Scholarship is meant for high-achieving undergraduate and postgraduate students who have citizenship from India and other countries and have applied for courses like Commerce, Engineering, Computer Science, and Data Science, at UWA.

Suppose if you wish to apply at the UWA, you need to come up with a compelling resume, personal statement, and 1-2 LORs that highlight the unique aspects of your personality and bring into the picture your eagerness and preparedness for the subject you are about to study. For this, seek help from professional SOP and LOR writers, who will improve your writing skills.

9. University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

The University of Technology, Sydney traces its origins back to 1988. It is a founding member of the Australian Technology Network and is a member of the Universities Australia and the Worldwide Universities Network. It is ranked 4th in the world for graduate employability. It is Australia’s leading technology university and is known for teaching programs like Nursing, Information Technology, Data science and innovation, Biotechnology, Forensic Science, Food Science, and Environmental Sciences.

UTS and the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata have a joint research cluster focusing on real-world issues like AI, document analysis, biometrics, character, and video recognition. It has a dual degree pathway agreement with Jindal Global Law School. It also has partnerships with other institutes in India like the IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, and TISS.

UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship- South Asia supports students from India, who are enrolled in UG and PG courses at the university, by covering 15% of their tuition fees. As part of its application requirements students need to submit their English language proficiency test scores, academic transcripts, and a personal statement. Based on the course you have applied for, you might be asked to give a portfolio, audition, or interview.

10. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)

An international university of technology and design and Australia’s largest tertiary institution, the RMIT University was formed in the year 1887. It is the 7th oldest institution of higher learning in Australia. It is known for having a multidisciplinary approach to studying design. It is famous for offering various courses in Communication Design, Digital Design, and Industrial Design. RMIT has a joint venture with the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad that aims to nurture research talent in India. Apart from this, it is also working with India to tackle several cybersecurity-related problems.

RMIT’s Future Leaders Scholarship is awarded to Indian students who will commence a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at the university. It reduces 20% of their tuition fees. To be admitted to RMIT University, Indian students must submit a resume, research proposal, or statement of interest and a portfolio and appear for an interview, based on the program they are about to pursue.

Conclusion

Many international students, especially Indians are choosing Australia as their study abroad destination. It offers a high standard of living and top-notch education facilities. Not only do its universities feature among the top 100 universities in the world, but are also highly ranked in the list of Graduate employability. These universities have world-class infrastructure, teaching, and research facilities. They have many Indian students and offer numerous scholarships as well. They also have ties with major institutions and companies in India to nurture the brightest minds of Indian students studying in Australia. They work closely with universities in India by offering joint degrees or collaborating on research projects. 

Choosing to study in Australia is a life-changing experience. A decision like this requires proper planning and introspection. To be on the right track, one must seek help from study-abroad consultants like Contentholic who provide career counseling, visa guidance, and SOP and LOR writing services. We will be there to guide you throughout your study abroad plans. Feel free to contact us.