Choosing a top university in Australia, the UK or New Zealand starts with rankings and reputation, but the real key is matching each university to your child’s interests, budget and long‑term plans.

Why Australia, the UK and New Zealand?
The UK has a long academic history and globally recognised universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. It is usually at the higher end of the fee range for international students.
Australia and New Zealand both offer multiple universities in the global top 100, strong student support and relatively high graduate employability, often at lower tuition costs than comparable UK options. These universities include Australian National University (ANU), University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of Adelaide etc. Top universities in New Zealand include the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, University of Otago etc.

Step 1: Use rankings as a starting point
Check global rankings such as the QS World University Rankings to find universities in your child’s subject area that consistently appear in the top 100–200, rather than focusing only on one “brand name”.
Look at subject‑specific rankings (for example business, engineering, health) to see which universities are strong in the field your child actually wants to study.
Step 2: Match course to interests
Start with your child’s strengths and interests: medicine vs veterinary science, business vs data, arts vs STEM, then shortlist universities known for those programs.
Check details such as entry requirements, course length, work placements or internships, and whether honours or postgraduate pathways are options after graduation.

Step 3: Understand the costs
UK undergraduate degrees are often three years but can cost from roughly HKD 110,000–380,000 per year in tuition at current exchange rates, depending on course and university.

Australian and New Zealand universities typically sit in a similar but often slightly lower band overall, though you still need to factor in living costs and exchange rate movements as well as the possibility of scholarships or bursaries. For example an Australian university will cost approx HKD $100,000 – $225,000 and a New Zealand university will cost approx. HKD $160,000 – 250,000

Step 4: Check visa and living requirements
For Australia, students must show they can cover living costs as part of their visa application, with current guidance requiring evidence of at least about AUD 29,710 in annual living and study‑related funds for a single applicant.
Research how safe a city is and the affordability of accommodation in each city; a slightly lower‑ranked university in a safer, more affordable city can be a better choice overall than a top‑ranked university in a location your child will struggle in.

Step 5: Look at graduate employability outcomes
Compare graduate outcomes: employment rates, typical starting salaries, and whether the university offers strong career services, internships and alumni networks in your child’s field.
Explore student support and wellbeing services, especially for international students, including mental health support, learning support and orientation programs.
Step 6: Visit (in person or virtually)
Whenever possible, attend open days, school visits or virtual tours to get a feel for campus culture, class sizes and the type of students and staff your child will be surrounded by.
Encourage your child to speak to current students or recent graduates online to ask practical questions about teaching quality, workload and social life.

Involving your child and getting help
Your child should have a strong voice in choosing both course and university; careers counsellors at school can help them understand entry requirements and realistic options.

For those considering courses for 2026 and 2027, SEA will be working alongside our partners at AAS Education, if students are looking to enrol in Australian, United Kingdom, New Zealand Universities this Sunday 8 February at Marco Polo Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui from 1PM-5PM. Contact us for further information. We can explain the application process and visa steps and can provide one to one consultations

If you’re interested in learning more about SEA’s services, contact us for more information.

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