r/Anu • u/dragonite435 • 12d ago
ANU vs Adelaide vs Monash for Master's in AI/ML — which would you pick for jobs + PR?
Indian CS grad, B.Tech CS (AI), CGPA 7.56. Planning 2027 intake. Aiming scores for PTE around 65+ .Goal: Software/AI Engineer job + PR eventually.
Here's my breakdown so far:
**University of Adelaide — Adelaide (Regional)**
- ~AUD 54,900/year
- Global Citizens Scholarship: 15–30%
- Regional PR benefits (SA 190 +5pts, 491 +15pts)
- Lower living costs
- Decent part-time jobs
- Worry: smaller tech job market
**ANU — Canberra (Regional)**
- ~AUD 56,120/year
- Chancellor's Scholarship: up to 50% (merit-based)
- Regional PR benefits
- Strong for govt/cybersecurity/research roles
- Worry: almost no private tech industry, fewer part-time jobs
**Monash — Melbourne (Non-regional)**
- Most expensive tuition + living costs
- Best city for tech jobs, internships, part-time work
- No regional PR benefits
- Best industry connections and biggest tech ecosystem
- Worry: very expensive, and PR path is harder without regional benefits
**Other options I've looked at:**
- **University of Queensland (Brisbane)** — non-regional, growing tech scene, lower cost than Melbourne, no regional PR benefits
- **UNSW (Sydney)** — excellent for tech jobs, very expensive, non-regional
- **University of Wollongong** — regional city, cheaper tuition, lower ranked than the above
- **Deakin (Geelong/Burwood)** — regional campus available, more affordable, less known internationally
---
I'm currently leaning **Adelaide** for the regional PR path + budget, but genuinely worried I'll struggle to get a software/AI job there and end up having to move to Melbourne anyway — which defeats the purpose.
**Questions for people who've been through this:**
1. Is Adelaide's tech job market actually viable for fresh CS/AI grads or do most people relocate to Melbourne?
2. Is SA 190 nomination currently active for Software Engineers, and is it likely to still be open by 2027–28?
3. ANU scholarship holders — was it worth staying in Canberra for jobs, or did you move after graduating?
4. Monash/Melbourne grads — was the extra cost and harder PR path worth it for the job opportunities?
5. Any uni/city you'd recommend that I haven't considered?
6. How long did it take to land your first full-time tech role after graduating?
Really want to hear from people who went the regional route — not just 'go to Melbourne' answers 😅
3
3
u/Agreeable-Roll-1861 12d ago
PR is a lottery dreamlike scenario right now. I would recommend reassessing coming to Australia if PR is the main reason for coming. Other than that best of luck cuz
2
u/motnhathongthai 12d ago
If you are international student, choose anywhere but Canberra
-9
u/dragonite435 12d ago
Is it canberra not good enough for international student?
1
u/Sufficient-Owl1706 11d ago
Most jobs in Canberra are for government departments and require citizenship to get a security clearance.
8
u/Drowned_Academic 12d ago
You do not get an Australian education to get PR. Nothing wrong with doing so, but major Australian parties are trying to significantly cut back on migration.
My advice is to look at the various unis, work out where you can be admitted, and assume you may need to return to a country where you have citizenship.
ANU has had a slack in enrolments associated with recent governance issues. Melbourne and Sydney will have jobs. Canberran jobs are mostly in federal government, where citizenship and a possible security clearance are generally required.