Australia's 2025 Graduate Outcomes: What International Students Actually Get

If you are an international student weighing up study in Australia, the 2025 graduate outcomes data gives you a clear, evidence-based picture of what happens after graduation. The headline is this: employment and salary outcomes vary significantly by study level, and the figures you see are survey estimates, not a census of every graduate. The most useful way to read them is to compare across undergraduate, postgraduate coursework and postgraduate research, because each group tells a different story about the Australian labour market.

What the 2025 QILT Data Shows by Study Level

The Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) 2025, published by QILT, reports results for graduates who completed their studies in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The figures below are for all graduates from all provider types, so they represent the national picture rather than any single institution or course.

For undergraduates who completed in 2025, the full-time employment rate was 50.8%. Overall employment, which includes part-time and casual work, was 70.7%. The labour force participation rate was 74.9%, meaning about three-quarters of these graduates were either working or looking for work. The median annual full-time salary was $70,000, and 33.1% were in full-time study.

Postgraduate coursework graduates from 2025 had a full-time employment rate of 52.2% and an overall employment rate of 73.7%. Their labour force participation rate was 87.1%, noticeably higher than undergraduates. The median annual full-time salary was $69,400, and 16.5% were in full-time study.

Postgraduate research graduates from 2025 showed the strongest employment outcomes. The full-time employment rate was 71.8%, overall employment was 84.0%, and the labour force participation rate was 91.8%. The median annual full-time salary was $100,000, and 12.0% were in full-time study.

These numbers are point estimates from a sample survey. They come with confidence intervals, which means the true population figure is likely to fall within a certain range around each estimate. When you see a single percentage, it is the best estimate from the sample, not an exact count of every graduate in Australia.

How the 2025 Results Compare with Earlier Years

Looking at trends across the three cohorts reported in GOS 2025 helps you understand whether outcomes are improving or softening. For undergraduates, full-time employment fell from 59.7% for the 2023 cohort to 52.3% for 2024 and then to 50.8% for 2025. Overall employment moved from 72.6% to 66.5% and then back up to 70.7%. Median full-time salaries rose from $65,000 for 2023 graduates to $68,000 for 2024 and $70,000 for 2025.

Postgraduate coursework graduates followed a similar pattern. Full-time employment was 60.7% for the 2023 cohort, 56.1% for 2024 and 52.2% for 2025. Overall employment went from 73.1% to 70.4% and then to 73.7%. Median salaries moved from $65,000 to $70,000 and then to $69,400.

Postgraduate research graduates had the most stable outcomes. Full-time employment was 76.7% for 2023, 77.5% for 2024 and 71.8% for 2025. Overall employment stayed high at 86.6%, 86.7% and 84.0%. Median salaries climbed steadily from $92,000 to $95,600 and then to $100,000.

What these trends suggest is that the labour market for recent graduates has softened in terms of full-time employment, particularly for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework graduates. However, overall employment remains relatively stable, and salaries have generally increased. The postgraduate research pathway consistently shows the strongest outcomes, which reflects the specialised skills and often longer-term commitment associated with research degrees.

What the Student Experience Survey Adds

Employment data is only one part of the picture. The Student Experience Survey (SES) 2025 measures how students rate their education across several dimensions. For undergraduates from all provider types, the results are broken down by stage of study, gender, age group and home country.

For commencing undergraduates in 2025, the overall educational experience rating was 79.7%. Skills development scored 84.3%, teaching quality and engagement 84.7%, learning resources 87.9%, student support and services 80.8%, and peer engagement 72.0%.

Later-year undergraduates rated their experience somewhat differently. Overall educational experience was 74.2%, skills development 85.8%, teaching quality and engagement 81.9%, learning resources 81.4%, student support and services 76.4%, and peer engagement 76.2%.

The gender breakdown shows female undergraduates rated their overall experience at 78.7%, compared with 74.4% for male undergraduates. By age group, those aged 30 to 39 gave the highest overall rating at 82.3%, while those under 25 gave 76.3%.

When you look at home country data, the differences become more pronounced. Undergraduates from India rated their overall educational experience at 78.9%, with skills development at 90.0% and student support and services at 85.0%. Those from China rated overall experience at 74.1%, with learning resources at 89.2% but peer engagement at 67.2%. Undergraduates from Nepal rated overall experience at 78.9%, with peer engagement at 83.0%.

These SES figures are also survey estimates with 90% confidence intervals. For example, the overall educational experience for commencing undergraduates is reported as 79.7% with a confidence interval of 79.3 to 80.0. This means the survey design gives you a high level of confidence that the true value falls within that narrow range.

How to Verify These Figures Yourself

All the data discussed here comes from QILT, which stands for Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching. QILT is the Australian government’s official source of data on higher education quality and outcomes. The two main surveys are the Graduate Outcomes Survey and the Student Experience Survey.

The GOS collects information from graduates about their employment and study activities approximately four to six months after completing their course. The SES collects feedback from current students about their educational experience. Both are national surveys covering all Australian universities and a range of other higher education providers.

You can access the raw data and interactive tables through the QILT website. The site allows you to filter results by study level, provider type, field of education and other variables. This is the most reliable way to check figures for a specific institution or course rather than relying on the national averages.

ComparED is the companion website that lets you compare institutions side by side. It uses the same QILT data but presents it in a format designed for prospective students. You can search for a specific university or course and see its employment outcomes, salaries and student experience ratings alongside other providers.

When you use these tools, pay attention to the cohort year. GOS 2025 reports outcomes for graduates from 2023, 2024 and 2025. If you are looking at a specific institution, make sure you are comparing the same cohort year across providers. Also note that the data is based on surveys, so small differences between institutions may not be statistically significant.

What the Data Does Not Tell You

It is equally important to understand the limits of these figures. The national averages do not tell you what your personal outcome will be. Your employment prospects depend on your field of study, your prior experience, your English proficiency, your location and the state of the labour market at the time you graduate.

The data also does not distinguish between domestic and international students in the GOS tables used here. The figures cover all graduates from all provider types. If you want to see outcomes specifically for international students, you would need to look at more detailed breakdowns or consult the QILT data directly.

Another limitation is that the survey measures employment status, not job quality. A graduate in full-time employment may be working in a role that does not require their qualification. The salary figures are medians, so half of graduates earn more and half earn less. Your own starting salary could be well above or below these figures depending on your profession and location.

Finally, the data reflects the situation at a specific point in time. The labour market changes, and outcomes for graduates who completed their studies in 2026 may look different from those reported in GOS 2025. Always check the most recent release before making decisions based on these figures.

How to Use This Information in Your Planning

If you are choosing between study levels, the data suggests that postgraduate research offers the strongest employment and salary outcomes, but it also requires a longer commitment and is not suitable for everyone. Postgraduate coursework and undergraduate degrees have similar full-time employment rates, though postgraduate coursework graduates have higher labour force participation.

If you are comparing institutions, use ComparED to look at the specific course you are interested in. The national averages are useful for understanding the overall landscape, but they will not tell you how a particular university performs in your field. Filter the data by your field of education and study level to get a more relevant comparison.

If you are considering whether to study in Australia at all, the data gives you a realistic picture. Full-time employment for recent graduates is not guaranteed, and the rate has declined for the most recent cohorts. However, overall employment remains high, and salaries have been rising. The key is to combine this data with your own research on your specific profession and the demand for your skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these figures for international students only?

No. The GOS 2025 figures presented here are for all graduates from all provider types. They include both domestic and international students. To find data specific to international students, you would need to explore the detailed QILT data tables, which may offer breakdowns by visa status or country of origin.

What is the difference between full-time employment and overall employment?

Full-time employment means the graduate is working 35 hours or more per week. Overall employment includes full-time, part-time and casual work. A graduate who is working part-time while studying or looking for full-time work would count in overall employment but not in full-time employment.

Why do the postgraduate research figures look so much better?

Postgraduate research graduates tend to be older, have more work experience and have completed a longer period of study. They are also a smaller and more specialised group. The higher salaries and employment rates reflect these factors, not necessarily a guarantee that a research degree will lead to better outcomes for every individual.

How often is the data updated?

QILT publishes new data annually. The GOS 2025 release includes outcomes for graduates from 2023, 2024 and 2025. The SES 2025 release includes data from the 2025 survey. You should check the QILT website for the most recent releases, as figures from earlier years may be revised.

Can I use these figures to predict my own salary?

No. The median salary is a summary statistic for a large group of graduates. Your salary will depend on your specific field, employer, location and negotiation. Use the data as a benchmark for understanding the general market, not as a prediction of your personal outcome.