Study and work on the same trip.
English, vocational courses, bachelor's and master's — all on a student visa that allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight. The destination for people who need the numbers to actually work.
- Work while studying
- 48 h
- Per fortnight, while the course is in session
- Visa
- Subclass 500
- From English courses to postgraduate
- Worth it from
- 24+ weeks
- Below that, fixed costs dominate
- Cost of living
- AUD 1,810–2,180
- Per month, shared housing, depending on the city
- Health insurance
- Mandatory
- OSHC for the whole visa period
The destination where the numbers add up.
The difference between Australia and Canada fits in one sentence: in Australia the student visa allows work, in Canada it doesn't. The subclass 500 explicitly covers English courses for overseas students (ELICOS) and allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight while the course is in session. It's not a loophole — it's how the program is designed.
That changes who can go. For an adult changing stages in life who can't spend months only spending, the hours worked usually cover shared housing and food, and a local job is where English really takes off.
The honest calibration: work doesn't pay for the course and almost never pays for the flight. And the fixed costs — flights, visa, OSHC, settling in — don't change with the length, so short programs are proportionally expensive. Below about 24 weeks, Australia is rarely the right choice.
What you can study
English (ELICOS)
General, business and academic English, and IELTS/PTE preparation, in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
Learn moreVocational (VET)
Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses with a practical, career-focused approach.
Learn moreUniversity
Pathway programs, bachelor's degrees (3–4 years) and master's (1–2 years).
Learn moreLC's teen programs are in Canada, where we have local presence and partnerships with the schools.
Where to study
Sydney
The country's biggest job market, with more contact with finance and law. Also the highest cost of living.
Melbourne
European feel and café culture — the sector that hires the most students. A strong corporate hub and a cooler climate.
Brisbane
Warm all year round, much cheaper than Sydney and easy to get around without a car.
Monthly estimate with shared housing, food, transport, leisure and utilities. Tuition not included.
A visa that lets you work.
The subclass 500 is the Australian student visa. It covers ELICOS (English), VET (vocational), bachelor's, postgraduate and pathway courses, and comes with work rights built in: up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, unlimited during scheduled breaks.
The application requires a confirmation of enrolment from a CRICOS-registered institution, OSHC health insurance for the whole period, proof of funds and, depending on the course, proof of English (IELTS or PTE). Processing times vary a lot throughout the year.
LC prepares the process from start to finish: choosing the school, enrolment, documents, forms, insurance and follow-up until the outcome. The decision belongs exclusively to the Department of Home Affairs.
Update of 2 October 2026: for applications lodged from that date, the subclass 500 no longer accepts partners and children as dependants, except for PhD students, students sponsored by DFAT or Defence, foreign government scholarship holders and students from Pacific and ASEAN countries. Applications lodged before that date follow the previous rule.
Questions about Australia
Can I really work while studying in Australia?
Yes. The student visa (subclass 500) covers everything from English courses (ELICOS) to postgraduate study, and allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight while the course is in session — with no limit during scheduled course breaks. Master's by research and PhD students have no hour limit.
Will work pay for the trip?
Part of it. In practice, 48 hours per fortnight at the Australian minimum wage usually covers shared housing and food. It usually doesn't cover tuition, and almost never the flight. People who expect it to pay for everything get frustrated; people who expect to control monthly costs and gain work experience in English are usually very satisfied.
What if I work more than allowed?
Breaching the work condition is a ground for cancelling the student visa. A fortnight is any 14-day period starting on a Monday, and the limit applies even in exam weeks.
How long should I stay for it to be worth it?
Financially, from about 24 weeks. Flights, visa, mandatory health insurance (OSHC) and settling in are fixed costs that don't change with the length — on a short program they dominate the cost per week. If your time is short, Canada is usually cheaper, because courses of up to 6 months need no study permit.
Do I need health insurance?
Yes, it's mandatory. OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) must cover the whole visa period and is a condition for the visa to be granted. LC arranges it together with the process.
Do I need to prove my English for the visa?
It depends on the course and your profile. Academic courses usually require IELTS or PTE; for ELICOS the requirement is lower or doesn't apply, since the course itself is English. LC checks the requirement for your course and institution before preparing the application.
Is LC based in Australia?
LC's founder lives in Toronto, Canada. The Australian process is prepared and followed by LC — school, visa, insurance, accommodation and transfer. If having someone physically at the destination matters most to you, Canada is where LC has that presence.
Ready to plan your next step?
Tell us what you have in mind — country, course, dates — and we'll reply with a clear plan. No pressure.
Contact us