Study in Australia

Cost of Studying and Living in Australia

The currency used in Australia is the Australian Dollar (A$) or AUD.

The tuition fees you will be charged for study in Australia will depend on more than one variable. One of these is your home country, and the other is whether you choose to study at a public or private institution. Private higher education institutions are likely to charge more for their courses.

If you are a domestic student, you will not be liable to pay a full tuition fee for your course. This means that you will pay a smaller amount towards your institution fees, and the remaining amount is paid by the Australian government. The student contribution will differ depending on where you choose to study. For information about how much you will be expected to contribute as the student, please contact the specific institution you are interested in applying to.

If you are an international student, you will be liable to pay a full tuition fee for your course. For an undergraduate bachelor degree, this can be between A$15,000 and A$33,000. For a masters degree, this can be between A$20,000 and A$37,000. For a doctoral degree, this can be between A$14,000 and A$37,000. These tuition estimates do not account for higher value courses, such as veterinary science or medicine. For fee information about these types of course, please visit the institution website. You might also be interested in an international scholarship, which could help to fund your studies and living costs. These might be offered by Australian universities, or by an independent funding body.

If you wish to study an English language programme, you can expect to pay around A$300 per week, depending on the length of your course. If you are applying for a vocational course, for example Certificates I to IV, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas, you should expect to pay between A$4,000 and A$22,000 depending on the level at which you will be studying.

Another cost that international students need to be aware of is health insurance. You will need to have adequate health insurance cover for the duration of your studies in order to obtain a student visa. The specific type of cover needed for Australia is called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). You can see a comparison of different policies and their prices here: OSHC Compare.

You may also choose to purchase a private health insurance policy to cover the things that the OSHC does not. This is not mandatory, but it is worth considering in order to make your time in Australia enjoyable.

In order to fund your studies, you are able to work part-time. If you are studying for an undergraduate degree, you are able to work up to 40 hours per fortnight during term-time. If you are studying for a masters or doctorate degree, you are allowed to work unlimited hours, as long as you are meeting your coursework requirements. If you have to take part in a mandatory work placement for your degree, this does not count towards your 40 hours per fortnight.

Funding to study in Australia

If you are an international student, you will not have access to the same funding assistance as domestic students. This means that if you require help with funding your studies, you will need to apply for a scholarship or bursary to help. Australia has a long history of welcoming international students, so there are normally many options for funding.

As well as individual institutions offering scholarships and funding, there are also government associated scholarships available for international students.

Find out more about funding your studies in our Funding and Scholarships for International Students advice article.

How to Apply

There is no centralized application system for applying to an Australian institution as an international student. This means that you will need to apply to each of your chosen institutions individually.

Each institution might have different requirements for your application, however there are some standard requirements across institutions. These include proving that you have sufficient funds, can understand the tuition language to a certain level, and have arranged to be covered by health insurance as an international student. If you require more information, please contact your institution of choice, as they will be able to provide you with assistance.

Visas

In order to study in Australia, you will need to obtain a student visa. With a student visa, you will be permitted to study for up to five years, at a recognized higher education institution. To be eligible to apply for a visa, you will need to be enrolled in a higher education course in Australia. If you will be under the age of 18 when you commence your studies, you will need to provide information about your living and welfare arrangements. It is also important that you have made arrangements for adequate health cover for the duration of your stay. Your institution will be able to provide more information about health insurance and the correct health cover for you.

If there is any change in your circumstances, it is important that you inform your institution. If you do not, it is possible that your visa can be revoked, and you will have to leave Australia to restart the application process.

Each person has a different case, therefore requirements and processes vary for everyone. You are recommended to read about visas here: Australian Student Visa.

Language

Although Australia has no official language, its national language is English. You will also hear a variety of different languages being spoken throughout the country.

Most courses are taught in English, and it is likely that you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as part of the entry requirements. The level of language proficiency will depend on where you choose to study. If you do not meet the required standard for you course, it is common for institutions to offer English language courses to help you improve.

If your native language is not English, you should make the most of your opportunity to learn the language as you study. Communicating with the locals and other students is the perfect way to practice. This is a skill that will look great on your CV/resume.

Cities

Sydney

The largest city in Australia, Sydney is home to over 5 million people. Due to the nature of Australia and its population distribution, Sydney is the residence of around 65% of the country’s population. Due to its Indigenous Australian history, the city is particularly rich in Aboriginal archaeological sites.

Located in the city are several higher education institutions. This includes the country’s first university, the University of Sydney. As well as this, you will also find the University of New South Wales, the University of Technology Sydney, and Western Sydney University.

Melbourne

The capital city of the state of Victoria, Melbourne is home to around 4.9 million people. Founded in 1835, the city now boasts many of the country’s cultural attractions. These include the National Gallery of Victoria and the Royal Exhibition Building. As well as this, Melbourne is known as the birthplace of Australian Rules football.

There are seven higher education institutions located in the city. These include the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Victoria University, La Trobe University, Deakin University, Monash University, and the Swinburne University of Technology.

Brisbane

Capital city of the state of Queensland, Brisbane is home to around 2.5 million people. It is among the oldest cities in Australia, and was founded on the ancient homelands of the indigenous Turrbal and Jagera peoples. The city of Brisbane is famous for its distinct Queenslander architecture, and is a popular tourist destination.

You will find several universities located in the city. These include the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Griffith University, and James Cook University. As well as these, there is a number of higher education institutions also located in Brisbane. These include JMC Academy, the Australian College of Natural Medicine, and the Jazz Music Institute.

Adelaide

The capital city of the state of South Australia, Adelaide is home to over 1.3 million people. The city is home to over 75% of the South Australian population, making it the most centralised population of any state in Australia. It has long been referred to as the ‘City of Churches’, which is a comment on its diversity of religions. Adelaide is known to have a high quality of life, and hosts many festivals, sporting events, and other cultural events.

Located in the city of Adelaide you will find a number of higher education institutions. These include both public and private universities. The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, and Torrens University Australia are all located in the city.

Perth

The capital city of the state of Western Australia, Perth is home to a population of 2.04 million. This makes it the fourth-most populous city in Australia. It has been recognised as a Beta World City since 2010, and is one of the world’s most liveable cities.

Located in the city are several universities, both public and private. These include the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Murdoch University, and Edith Cowan University. The University of Notre Dame is the only private university in the city of Brisbane.