Key takeaways
- 9 Australian universities are in the QS World University Rankings 2027 top 100, and 27 in the top 500.
- Melbourne ranked third, Sydney fourth and Adelaide eighth in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026.
- Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight in session and without limit during scheduled breaks.
- The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) usually allows degree graduates to stay and work for two to three years.
- Two main intakes a year (February/March and July), with some universities running three terms.
- Student visa fees start from AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026, so budget for it.
In this article
Australia brings together what a Saudi student and their family look for in one place: universities at the top of the global rankings and approved by the Saudi Ministry of Education, cities that lead the world’s liveability indexes, and the right to work during study and after graduation. Here are ten reasons, each with a number and a source you can check, plus what sets Australia apart from the UK and the US.
Why study in Australia? Ten reasons, with numbers
1. Nine universities in the world’s top 100
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, 9 Australian universities placed in the top 100, 27 in the top 500 and 35 in the top 1,000, according to Study Australia (22 June 2026). In the same ranking, UNSW Sydney placed 19th, the University of Melbourne 22nd, the University of Sydney 28th, the Australian National University 29th, Monash University 31st and the University of Queensland 40th, as reported by citing QS (24 June 2026). This matters directly to Saudi scholarship applicants: the Arruaad track requires admission to a top-30 institution, and the Emdad and Research and Development tracks require a top-200 institution, according to the King Salman Scholarship Program (برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث); details are in our guide to the Arruaad track.
2. Ministry-approved universities in six cities
The Australia page of the King Salman Scholarship Program lists approved universities across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and beyond, and notes that the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (الملحقية الثقافية السعودية) operates from Canberra. You can choose between cities with different climates and costs within the same approved list, and verify any university through the ministry’s recommended universities enquiry service.
3. Three cities in the world’s ten most liveable
In the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2026, Melbourne ranked third, Sydney fourth and Adelaide eighth, making Australia the only country with three cities in the top ten, according to (9 July 2026). The index scores stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
4. Two of the world’s top ten student cities
In the QS Best Student Cities 2026, Melbourne ranked fifth and Sydney sixth, according to (15 July 2025). The ranking weighs a city’s desirability, diversity, employer activity and the views of students themselves.
5. Work while you study: 48 hours a fortnight
A Student visa (subclass 500) holder can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, with no limit during scheduled course breaks, and master’s by research and doctoral students are not subject to the cap, according to Study Australia (as at September 2026). The national minimum wage is updated every 1 July, so check the current rate with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
6. After graduation: two to three years of work rights
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets degree graduates stay and work usually for two to three years depending on the qualification, and diploma and trade graduates for up to 18 months, with applicants aged 35 or under at the time of applying (exceptions apply), according to Study Australia (as at September 2026). That is real work experience to bring home, subject to the conditions of your scholarship track.
7. Two intakes a year instead of one
The academic year starts in February or March, mid-year entry starts in July, and some providers run three terms, according to Study Australia. Missing one deadline does not cost you a whole year.
8. Mild weather and reversed seasons
Australia’s seasons are the reverse of Saudi Arabia’s: summer falls in December and January, winter in June and July, and winter in most university cities is mild. KD summed it up in a post on X (July 2023): Australia is the third most popular destination for Saudi students after the US and the UK, for its quality of life and year-round climate.
9. Legal protection for international students
Every institution that enrols international students in Australia must be registered on the government’s CRICOS register and operate under the ESOS framework and the National Code 2018, which regulates even the conduct of education agents, according to the Australian Government Department of Education. Look up your university on the register before you apply.
10. A Saudi community and student clubs
The Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in Australia website links to Saudi student clubs in each city, the first thing a newcomer asks about. KD also holds graduation ceremonies for scholarship students in Newcastle, Melbourne and Sydney, hosts university representatives from Monash, Macquarie, Wollongong, Sydney and Torrens, and organised the Australian Universities Forum in Riyadh (2023 and 2024) attended by the Australian ambassador.
What sets Australia apart from the UK and the US?
All three are approved scholarship destinations, and the choice depends on your field, track and budget. The structural differences you actually feel:
| Criterion | Australia | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Intakes | February/March and July, some universities three terms | Two or three chances a year instead of one main intake |
| Work during study | 48 hours a fortnight and unlimited in breaks, according to Study Australia | A clear limit written into the visa condition itself |
| After graduation | Subclass 485, two to three years for degree graduates, according to Study Australia | Duration tied to the qualification, not the field |
| Liveability | Three cities in the EIU 2026 global top ten, according to | No other country has three cities in the top ten |
| Seasons | Reversed relative to Saudi Arabia | The Australian summer break coincides with the Saudi winter |
What should you weigh before deciding?
It is not cost-free. Student visa fees start from AUD 2,500 per application from 1 July 2026 unless exempt, according to Study Australia. Tuition and housing vary widely by city and field, so check the current figure on the university’s website. And the distance is real: a long flight and a time difference that takes some arranging with family. Read what your track covers in our overview of Saudi scholarship programs before you decide.
How do you start?
- Choose your field and confirm it is within your scholarship track’s list.
- Shortlist three or four universities from the ministry’s list, in different cities.
- Sit your English test early.
- Apply six to nine months before your target intake.
- Secure the unconditional offer, then lodge the scholarship application on Safeer.
KD helps you choose the university and city that fit your track and field. Our admissions service is free for students applying to scholarship-program fields at universities approved by the Saudi Ministry of Education. Start with the application form or contact us with your first question.
Frequently asked questions
Top-ranked universities (9 in the QS 2027 top 100), cities in the world’s ten most liveable, the right to work 48 hours a fortnight during study, a post-study work visa of two to three years, and two intakes a year.
Yes. The Australia page of the King Salman Scholarship Program lists approved universities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and beyond. Verify any university through the ministry’s recommended universities enquiry service.
Yes, up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session and without limit during scheduled breaks, according to Study Australia. Master’s by research and doctoral students are not subject to the cap.
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) usually lets degree graduates stay for two to three years depending on the qualification, and diploma graduates for up to 18 months, provided the applicant is 35 or under when applying, with exceptions.
Two or three intakes a year instead of one main intake, a clear work limit written into the visa condition, post-study work rights tied to the qualification, three cities in the world’s ten most liveable, and seasons reversed relative to Saudi Arabia.
Melbourne and Sydney are in the QS Best Student Cities 2026 top ten, and Adelaide is in the EIU 2026 top ten for liveability. The best city for you is the one with an approved university for your field and costs that fit your track.
From AUD 2,500 per application from 1 July 2026 unless exempt, according to Study Australia. Check the current figure before applying.
Official sources
- Australia excels again in QS World University Rankings 2027 — Study Australia (Australian Government)
- Student visa (subclass 500) — Study Australia (Australian Government)
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — Study Australia (Australian Government)
- Understanding mid-year entry — Study Australia (Australian Government)
- Minimum wages — Fair Work Ombudsman
- Standard 4: Education agents — National Code 2018 — Australian Government Department of Education
- CRICOS — Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students — Australian Government
- برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث — أستراليا — وزارة التعليم السعودية
- الملحقية الثقافية السعودية في أستراليا — وزارة التعليم السعودية
Ready to start?
KD International helps you choose a university, prepare your admission and visa file, and answers your questions about Saudi scholarships and studying in Australia. Apply now or message us on WhatsApp.
Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.
