The short answer is yes. Under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), all Indian nationals who graduate with a Masters degree—whether it is by coursework, research, or extended—are eligible for a 3-year Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa.

While most international students in 2026 are restricted to just 2 years for a Masters by Coursework, Indian students retain a critical 1-year advantage, regardless of their field of study.

1. AI-ECTA: The “Field-Agnostic” Rule

One of the biggest misconceptions in 2026 is that the extension only applies to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) degrees.

• The Reality: The AI-ECTA agreement specifically covers all Masters degrees for Indian citizens.
• Included Degrees: MBA, Master of Business, Master of Marketing, Master of Professional Accounting, and Master of International Business all qualify for the 3-year stay.

2. 2026 Comparison: Business Grads by Nationality

The disparity in 2026 is significant due to the recent “Migration Strategy” rollbacks that shortened stay periods for most countries.

3. The Age 35 Trap for Business Graduates

While your degree field doesn’t limit your duration, your age might.

• The Rule: In April 2026, you must be 35 years of age or under at the time of application for the Post-Higher Education Work stream.
• The Exception: Only Masters by Research and PhD graduates can apply up to age 50.
• The Business Impact: If you are 36 and finishing an MBA (Coursework), you are ineligible for the 485 visa, even with the AI-ECTA agreement.

4. Can You Add a Regional Extension?

If you studied your Master of Business in a regional area (e.g., Adelaide, Geelong, or Perth), you can potentially turn that 3-year visa into a 4 or 5-year stay.

1. Initial AI-ECTA Stay: 3 Years.
2. Regional Bonus: Apply for a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa (1–2 extra years) if you lived and studied regionally