Choosing what to study is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make, especially for the international students who are looking for strong career opportunities and earning potential after graduation. Australia offers a wide range of programmes across medicine, engineering, information technology, business, finance and other professional fields. Some of these fields lead to occupations with relatively high median earnings, although actual salaries vary by experience, specialisation, location, employer and professional registration requirements. Therefore, the students should consider factors beyond salary, such as course suitability, accreditation, registration requirements, employment opportunities, while comparing programmes.

The earning potential after graduation depends on the occupation, experience, specialisation, location, employer and professional-registration requirements. Here are the highest paying courses in Australia.

Fees vary a lot by university, and Australia sets no cap on international tuition, so check your target university's fee schedule.

Fees may vary annually.

International students pursuing high-paying courses in Australia may be eligible for scholarships offered by the Australian Government, universities and other organisations. However, the requirements may vary from eligibility and benefits.

International students planning to study a high-paying course in Australia generally need to apply for the Subclass 500 Student visa. However, students should not select a course solely on expected salary. They should also compare tuition fees, living costs, admission requirements, professional-registration rules, career opportunities and applicable visa conditions.

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) — Applicants generally need a current CoE for their intended course when applying.

Genuine Student (GS) — Applicants must demonstrate that studying in Australia is the primary reason for applying and answer questions about their circumstances, chosen course/provider and expected benefits.

Financial capacity — Evidence may be required to cover travel, 12 months of living expenses, tuition fees and applicable costs for accompanying dependants.

English proficiency — Where required, applicants must provide evidence of English ability through an approved test or an applicable exemption. Australian visa English-test rules changed from 7 August 2025.

OSHC — Overseas Student Health Cover is required for the student and accompanying dependents, subject to limited exemptions.

Health and character — Applicants must meet applicable health and character requirements.

Visa application — Applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount with the required supporting documents.

For international students, professional registration requirements in Australia depend on the course and the occupation. Completing a degree does not automatically give graduates the right to practise in a regulated profession. Students should check the relevant professional body or registration authority before choosing a course.

Medicine — Graduates who want to practise medicine must meet the requirements of the Medical Board of Australia/Ahpra.

Nursing — Nursing graduates must meet the registration requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia/Ahpra.

Engineering — Students should check whether their engineering program is accredited by Engineers Australia. Accreditation can support professional recognition and relevant assessment pathways. However, statutory registration requirements for engineers are determined by individual states and territories.

Psychology — Psychology has specific registration and training pathways. Depending on the pathway, graduates may need provisional registration to undertake further approved study and supervised practice.

Pharmacy — Pharmacists must meet the registration requirements of the Pharmacy Board of Australia/Ahpra.

Physiotherapy — Physiotherapists must meet the registration requirements of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia/Ahpra.

Teaching — Teacher registration is handled by the relevant state or territory authority, so requirements can differ between jurisdictions.

Business/MBA/IT and other non-regulated fields — Professional registration is generally not required simply to work in these fields, although some occupations or employers may have specific accreditation or skills-assessment requirements.

The highest-paying study options in Australia vary by city because employment opportunities are concentrated differently across industries and regions. Here are courses according to the cities.

Sydney — Courses in ICT, engineering, finance, healthcare and business.

Melbourne — Engineering, technology, healthcare and business-related programmes are relevant to the city's large professional and technical-services workforce.

Brisbane — Engineering, healthcare, construction and IT are relevant options.

Perth — Engineering and resources-related programmes can be particularly relevant because of Western Australia's resources economy. Students considering mining, petroleum, geology or engineering should also check professional accreditation and industry-specific requirements.

Adelaide — Engineering, cybersecurity, IT and healthcare can be considered alongside the city's defence and technology-related employment opportunities.

Canberra — Cybersecurity, IT, data science and related technology courses can align with the city's concentration of government and ICT-related employment.

Choosing a high-paying course in Australia should involve more than comparing potential salaries. Jobs and Skills Australia reports that medical occupations remain among Australia's highest-paid occupations, while labour-market conditions can change over time. For international students, it is also important to consider tuition fees, living costs, course duration, entry requirements, accreditation or registration, employment opportunities and applicable visa conditions before choosing a programme.