Study & Work Comparison: Portugal, Australia, UK & Canada (2025–26)
Wondering which country suits you best for international study and work opportunities? Here’s an easy-to-read comparison that lays out the essentials across four top destinations.
🇵🇹 Portugal
🎓 IELTS & Visa
- IELTS: 6.0–6.5 overall
- Student visa fee: ~€250 total
- Entry as Digital Nomad (D8 visa) also available
💸 Tuition
- Public uni tuition: €3,000–€10,000/year
🏠 Living Costs
- Monthly: €500–€800 (Lisbon more expensive)
💼 Jobs & Post-Study
- Legal part-time work while studying
- Long-Term or Temporary remote work visas
- Growing opportunities in Lisbon, Porto tech & creative sectors
🇦🇺 Australia
🎓 IELTS & Visa
- IELTS: 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0
- Student Visa (Subclass 500): proof of AUD 30,000 financial support
💸 Tuition
- Undergrad: AUD 20,000–45,000/year
- Postgrad: AUD 22,000–50,000/year
🏠 Living Costs
- Annual: ~AUD 29,700 (AUD 1,400–2,500/month)
- Sydney: ~AUD 1,900; Adelaide: ~1,300
💼 Jobs & Post-Study
- Up to 20 hours/week during studies
- 2–3 year post-study work visa
- Career paths in Business, IT, Health, Engineering
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🎓 IELTS & Visa
- IELTS: usually 6.5 overall
- Student visa application: ~£524
- Immigration Surcharge: £776/year
- Graduate visa: ~£880
💸 Tuition
- Undergrad fees capped at £9,535 in England (2025–26) for UK students—but international fees can reach £30,000+ per year (especially in fields like Medicine, Engineering) https://www.studies-overseas.com/Paul AbrahamThe SunWorld Immigration+3Study UK+3Prodigy Finance+3The Sun+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
🏠 Living Costs
- Outside London: £1,136/month (~£10,224/year)
- London: £1,483/month (~£13,347/year) GOV.UK+1Leeds Beckett University+1
- At universities like Oxford: £1,425–£2,035/month (nine‑month basis) GCQ Study Abroad+15University of Oxford+15Study UK+15
💼 Jobs & Career
- Part-time work allowed on student visa
- Graduate Visa gives 2 years of work stay
- Universities like UCL, Imperial, Edinburgh have strong job placement rates
- Note: UK tightening immigration rules and sponsorship conditions The Times+13Financial Times+13Study UK+13
🇨🇦 Canada
🎓 IELTS & Visa
- IELTS: 6.0–7.0 (higher for some programs)
- Study permit: CAD 150 + biometrics CAD 85
- Financial proof requirement raised to CAD 20,635 (from Jan 2025) Leeds Beckett University+15Paul Abraham+15World Immigration+15Wikipedia+2World Immigration+2GCQ Study Abroad+2
💸 Tuition & Living
- Tuition: ~CAD 36,100/year for undergraduates; ~CAD 21,100 for graduate students EduCanada
- Living costs: approx. CAD 15,000/year (~€9,500) EduCanadaShiksha
💼 Jobs & Pathways
- Work on/off campus allowed (20 hr/week limit during term)
- Post‑graduation work permit (PGWP) enables several years of work
- 1 million international students in Canada; supports strong job networks Government of Canadahttps://www.studies-overseas.com/+14Wikipedia+14World Immigration+14
📊 Comparison Table
| Country | IELTS | Tuition (Annual) | Living Cost p.a. | Visa Fees & Funds Required | Work Rights | Post-Study Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 6.0–6.5 | €3K–€10K | €6K–€9.5K | ~€250 visa; D8 long/short visa | Part-time OK; remote visa paths | Renewal or freelance-based visa |
| Australia | 6.5 (min 6.0) | AUD 20K–45K | AUD 29.7K | Proof of AUD 30K funds | 20h/week permitted | 2–3 year post‑study visa |
| UK | ~6.5 | £9.5K (UK students); intl £15K–30K+ | £10–13K/year | £524 visa + health surcharge | Part-time legal work allowed | Graduate visa = 2 yr work |
| Canada | ~6.0–7.0 | CAD 36K (ugrad); CAD 21K (grad) | CAD 15K/year | CAD 150 + biometrics; CAD 20,635 proof | Up to 20 h/week off campus | PGWP for multiple years |
✅ Top Universities & Courses Mentioned
- Portugal: University of Lisbon, University of Porto – strong in business, humanities, and science
- Australia: University of Melbourne, UNSW Sydney, University of Queensland – engineering, business, health
- UK: Imperial College London, UCL, University of Edinburgh – STEM, management, arts
- Canada: University of Toronto, McGill University, University of British Columbia – full spectrum of disciplines
🎯 Final Insights
- 💸 Choose Portugal if budget matters and you’re looking for affordable living and tuition in Europe.
- 🧪 Pick Australia if you’re aiming for long-term work rights and hands-on university experience with strong employment outcomes.
- 🎓 Consider the UK if you want access to globally recognized universities and shorter work-study duration.
- 🍁 Canada is ideal for those seeking dependable immigration pathways and a multicultural campus lifestyle.
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