There is a detail in Australian visa rules that gives the University of Western Australia an edge many Indian families miss. Perth is classed as a Category 2 regional city, so a UWA graduate who stays and works in Perth may be eligible for an extra year of post-study work rights that a Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane graduate cannot get. Add a scholarship that is awarded automatically on your marks, and UWA offers strong value for Indian students.
UWA is ranked =77 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the top-ranked university in Western Australia, and says it has 10 subjects ranked in the world's top 50 across the QS 2026 and ShanghaiRanking subject tables. Its main campus at Crawley sits beside the Swan River in Perth. For Indian students planning to study in Australia, this guide explains how to study at the University of Western Australia as an international student: courses, fees, the scholarship bands, the visa and the Perth post-study advantage.
UWA at a Glance
What Can You Study at UWA?
1. Information Technology and Data Science
The Master of Information Technology (62510) takes 1.5 or 2 years depending on your IT background. It offers three specialisations, Applied Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Software Systems, each accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) against the international Seoul Accord standards. It covers machine learning, natural language processing, cloud and high-performance computing, and the internet of things, taught by staff from UWA's big data and optimisation research groups, with an optional industry internship. The Master of Data Science (62530) is a natural alternative if you want to specialise in analytics.
2. Engineering
The Master of Professional Engineering (62550) is a three-year program for graduates who want an Australian professional engineering qualification. For school-leavers, there is the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), which can also be combined with commerce, science or arts. Engineering students use EZONE UWA, the university's innovation hub for engineering and mathematical sciences.
3. Mining, Earth and Natural Sciences
Western Australia is one of the world's major resources regions, and UWA's teaching reflects it, with Earth sciences, geoscience and oceanography pathways and specialist programs such as the Master of Mining and Energy Law. If you're interested in resources, energy or the marine environment, Perth puts you close to the industries themselves.
4. Business and Biotechnology
The UWA MBA, Master of Commerce and Master of Biotechnology round out the options most popular with Indian postgraduates, alongside undergraduate degrees such as the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Biomedical Science.
Popular with Indian applicants: Master of Information Technology, Master of Data Science, Master of Professional Engineering, MBA, Master of Commerce, Master of Biotechnology, and the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
Entry Requirements for Indian Students
- Postgraduate academic threshold: UWA's master's degrees are set against a weighted average mark (WAM) equivalent. The Master of Information Technology, for example, requires a recognised bachelor's degree and the equivalent of a UWA WAM of at least 65%.
- Maths prerequisite: the Master of IT also asks for Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent, so keep your Class XII maths marks handy. They matter even for a master's application.
- The same marks decide your scholarship: your WAM equivalent also decides your Global Excellence Scholarship band, so presenting your full transcript clearly helps with both admission and your fee discount.
- Undergraduate: UWA compares international school results with its Australian ATAR-based entry standards. Confirm the conversion for your board before you apply.
- English: IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 for the Master of IT. Check each course page, as some professions set higher bands.
Tuition Fees (2026)
| Course | Annual fee | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Information Technology | A$52,000 | A$104,000 |
| Master of Data Science | A$52,000 | A$104,000 |
| Master of Professional Engineering (3 years) | A$52,600 | A$157,800 |
| Master of Business Administration | A$64,200 | A$96,300 |
| Master of Commerce | A$52,300 | A$104,600 |
| Master of Biotechnology | A$51,000 | A$102,000 |
| Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (4 years) | A$53,700 | A$214,800 |
| Bachelor of Commerce | A$50,700 | A$152,100 |
These are UWA's 2026 international fees from its official fee calculator. International students are charged per credit point, based on a 48-point annual load, and fees are indexed every year, so expect 2027 figures to be a little higher and check the calculator when it updates. The totals assume the full-length version of each course. If you qualify for the 1.5-year Master of IT, your total will be lower.
Scholarships: The Automatic Discount
- Global Excellence Scholarship (up to 20%)
- Open to students from all countries with an offer for an eligible 2027 course. Postgraduates with a UWA WAM equivalent of 65 receive 10% off tuition, and 75 or above receive 20%. For undergraduates, the thresholds are an ATAR equivalent of 85 (10%) and 90 (20%). It applies each year for the normal full-time duration of your course and is awarded automatically, with no separate application. The Juris Doctor, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Optometry and the medicine and dentistry Assured Pathways are excluded.
- International Student Award (10%)
- A 10% tuition discount for the full duration of your course for eligible international students starting in 2027.
- Forrest Research Foundation PhD Scholarships
- For outstanding international PhD candidates at Western Australian universities. UWA values the package at more than A$50,000, including a stipend, accommodation at Forrest Hall and a research and travel allowance.
Worked example. A Master of IT student with a WAM equivalent of 75 would receive 20% off A$52,000, which is A$10,400 a year at 2026 rates, with no extra application. For the Student visa you'll still need to show A$29,710 for 12 months of living costs, plus first-year tuition and A$2,000 for travel. Knowing which scholarship band your Indian marks convert to lets you plan the budget accurately, and our counsellors can help you work it out.
Your Student Visa and the Perth Advantage
- Student visa (subclass 500): the visa application charge is from A$2,500 for the main applicant (Home Affairs pricing from 1 July 2026). You'll need a Confirmation of Enrolment, OSHC health cover from the day you arrive, and financial evidence (A$29,710 for living costs plus first-year tuition and travel, or a parent or partner income of at least A$87,856).
- Genuine Student requirement: you answer questions in English, each with a 150-word limit, about your circumstances, why you chose this course at UWA and how it fits your future. Home Affairs says a later wish to apply for permanent residence does not count against you.
- Working while studying: up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Master's by research and PhD students have no limit.
- First Temporary Graduate visa (485): Indian nationals under AI-ECTA can stay 2 years after a bachelor degree, 3 years after a bachelor with first-class honours in STEM (including ICT), 3 years after a master's degree and 4 years after a PhD. You must be 35 or under when you apply, with exceptions for research graduates. The 485 visa charge is currently A$5,750.
- Second 485 in Perth: Perth is one of Home Affairs' Category 2 cities. Graduates who studied and have lived in a Category 2 area may apply for a second Temporary Graduate visa of 1 year, as long as they meet the other conditions, including at least 2 years living in an eligible regional area before applying.
Applying from Bangalore and Karnataka
For many Bangalore families, UWA's combination of an automatic scholarship, clearly published fees and extra post-study time in Perth adds up to strong value for money. Here is how Karnataka students can make the most of it.
- II PUC students: results from the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board are assessed against UWA's ATAR-equivalent standards. Confirm your converted score with UWA, because it decides both your admission and your 10% or 20% scholarship band.
- Graduates from VTU colleges, Bangalore University and Karnataka's autonomous institutes: your WAM equivalent is calculated from your transcript. Semester-wise marks with clear credit information make the conversion quicker and more accurate.
- Your Class XII maths still matters: the Master of IT asks for Mathematics Methods ATAR or a UWA-recognised equivalent, so keep your II PUC or Class XII marks sheet with your postgraduate documents.
- Lodging your visa from Bangalore: the Student visa is lodged online in ImmiAccount. If Home Affairs needs your biometrics, it tells you after you lodge how to provide them (at an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre or, if eligible, through the Australian Immi app) and gives you 14 days. India is not on Home Affairs' current list of collection-centre countries, so read the request letter carefully and act on it promptly.
- Local support: Falcon Nova's office is on the 7th floor of Kirloskar Business Park in Hebbal, North Bangalore, and free counselling is available in person or online.
Life at UWA
The Crawley campus is known for its sandstone arcades, courtyards and gardens along the Swan River, the setting shown above. UWA also has a campus at Albany on the south coast. Perth has a relaxed, outdoor lifestyle and sunny weather for much of the year, and its time zone is closer to India's than any other major Australian city, which makes calls home a little easier.
Comparing cities? Our guide to the University of Adelaide covers Australia's other Category 2 Group of Eight option, and our University of Queensland guide covers Brisbane.
Is UWA Right for You?
UWA is an excellent fit if you want a Group of Eight degree, an automatic scholarship linked directly to your marks, and the option of an extra post-study year in Perth. It is especially strong for IT, data science, engineering, resources and the natural sciences, and for students who value a calm, beautiful campus.
Turn Your Marks into a UWA Scholarship
At UWA, the grades on your transcript decide both your offer and whether you get 10% or 20% off tuition, and Perth may give you an extra post-study year. Falcon Nova Consultants has helped hundreds of Indian students apply to universities abroad. Book a free counselling session at our Hebbal office or online, and we will estimate your WAM equivalent, shortlist UWA courses and plan your fees, visa and long-term Perth strategy with you.
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