Which country offers lower tuition and longer post-study work options, and clearer pathways to permanent residency: Canada or Australia?

It depends on your priority, since Canada and Australia are each stronger on a different factor for Indian students rather than one country winning outright on all three.

Canada vs Australia at a Glance

Why the Answer Isn't a Simple Winner

• Tuition: Canada's average graduate tuition is generally lower, though provincial variation is significant.
• Post-study work advantage: Australia's Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement gives Indian master's and PhD graduates longer work rights than most other nationalities get there.
• PR structure: Canada's Express Entry system is comparatively easier to understand, while Australia's PR routes depend more heavily on your specific occupation and state nomination.
• Neither guarantees PR: Meeting minimum requirements in either country does not guarantee an invitation, since both systems are competitive and rules change.

My Advice

If minimizing cost matters most, lean toward Canada; if you specifically have a master's or PhD and want maximum post-study work time, Australia's Indian-specific visa lengths are hard to beat, so decide based on your field, budget, and long-term migration goals rather than picking one country as universally better.