Australia as a study destination is desirable for higher learning because it provides international students with quality and diverse learning programs within a multicultural community. Supported by first-class universities and focusing on research, students will be able to acquire essential competencies and remarkable experience, which will help them gain a competitive edge at the international level.

This article will also give information about the academic and living expenditures that international students are likely to incur during their study in Australia.

Costs of Studying in Australia

Academic Costs / Tuition Fees

The general cost of tuition and other fees differ according to university type and the program offered to international students in Australia. In general, the tuition expenses are relatively high for international students compared to home students.

The average tuition fees for international students are as follows:

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTION AVE. UNDERGRADUATE TUITION AVE. POSTGRADUATE TUITION
University of Sydney AU$45,000 – AU$52,000 AU$40,000 – AU$56,000
Monash University AU$39,000 – AU$52,200 AU$41,000 – AU$53,000
University of Melbourne AU$32,000 AU$36,000 – AU$50,000
University New South Wales AU$41,000 – AU$49,000 AU$33,000 – AU$48,000
University of Queensland AU$35,000 – AU$45,000 AU$25,000 – AU$60,000

These figures reflect the range of tuition fees for various programs, with fees for postgraduate courses generally being higher than those for undergraduate courses.

Other Academic Costs

Thus, international students in Australia have to be prepared for many other academic costs which may influence their costs. Some of these fees commonly are: most universities have an application fee which varies between AU$50 and AU$100.

For example, the University of Sydney has an application fee of AU$150 for international students and the University of Melbourne charges a similar fee for most programs. Moreover, students may have to pay the student services fees depending on each institution’s rate which can be anywhere between AU$ 300 and AU$ 1000 per year.

Besides, the costs of books and other necessary materials must be considered, as these can cost over AU$ 1,000 per year depending on the level of studying and certain requirements of the chosen field. It thus becomes important to appreciate these other expenses as one plans financially when seeking higher education in Australia.

Costs of Living in Australia

The cost of living in Australia varies significantly depending on the city and lifestyle choices. Here are some popular study destinations for international students in Australia:

A comparison of the living cost is discussed in the table:

City Accommodation
(monthly)
Utilities
(monthly)
Transportation
(monthly)
Food
(monthly)
Miscellaneous
(monthly)
Sydney AU$1,000 – AU$2,000 AU$300 – AU$600 AU$60 – AU$120 AU$320 – AU$600 AU$300 – AU$600
Melbourne AU$800 – AU$1,600 AU$240 – AU$600 AU$40 – AU$100 AU$280 – AU$480 AU$240 – AU$600
Brisbane AU$720 – AU$1,400 AU$210 – AU$480 AU$40 – AU$80 AU$240 – AU$400 AU$210 – AU$480
Perth AU$720 – AU$1,400 AU$210 – AU$480 AU$40 – AU$80 AU$240 – AU$400 AU$210 – AU$480

1. Sydney

Sydney is one of the most preferred study-abroad destinations among International students intending to study in Australia. There are several universities in the city such as the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales that offer quality education to the student.

2. Melbourne

Melbourne is famous for its arts culture, coffee breaks, and multicultural setting, which are appealing to international students. There are many different types of accommodation in the city and some of the most famous universities are the University of Melbourne and Monash University.

3. Brisbane

Brisbane has comparatively low costs of accommodations and hosts various educational establishments such as the University of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology. As the arts culture increases, picturesque parks, and a beach are nearby; therefore, Brisbane offers students the best balance between academics and recreation.

4. Perth

Perth is often regarded as one of the most affordable cities for international students in Australia. Perth offers a relaxed atmosphere while still providing access to quality education at institutions such as Curtin University and the University of Western Australia. The city’s vibrant culture and community events make it an appealing choice for students looking to study abroad.

Ways to Minimize Academic and Living Costs in Australia

Scholarships for International Students

International students in Australia can apply for various scholarships to help reduce their academic costs. Many universities offer scholarships specifically for international students, which can cover tuition fees and living expenses. Here are some examples of scholarships available to international students in Australia:

AUSTRALIA INSTITUTION SCHOLARSHIPS
University of Sydney Sydney International Student Award (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.)
International Scholarship (Master’s, Ph.D.)
Monash University Monash International Leadership Scholarship (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.)
International Merit Scholarship (Bachelor’s, Master’s)
Graduate Scholarship (Master’s, Ph.D.)
University of Melbourne Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship (Bachelor’s)
Commerce Global Scholarship (Bachelor’s)
Graduate Research Scholarships (Master’s, Ph.D.)
University of New South Wales International Student Award (Bachelor’s, Master’s)
Full-time MBA Scholarships (Master’s)
University of Queensland UQ International Excellence Scholarship (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
Graduate School Scholarship (Master’s, Ph.D.)

Part-time Work for International Students

Foreign students in Australia are permitted to work part-time while studying, and there are no restrictions when the session of university is off. This can assist in balancing expenses for living expenses since the youth is most likely to be also paying rent or bills. Some common part-time jobs for international students include:

  • Retail Assistant
  • Hotel and restaurant employee (waiter, bartender, and the like)
  • Administrative assistant
  • Tutor or teaching assistant
  • Customer service representative

 

Education in Australia may be fruitful to those who make up their mind to become international students, but one should be aware of what conditions should be met and what amount of money is required.

 

Hopefully, this article is useful in showing how international students can approximate the costs as well as gain a comprehensive knowledge of what scholarships and part-time jobs are available to avoid facing financial challenges while studying in Australia. To learn more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students and Australia Study Guide sections!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hi! I am Hyun, and I am the founder at Global Scholarships. I've received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College and a $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for my undergraduate degree and was offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. You can read more about my scholarship journey here. If you are interested, you can follow me on Linkedin where I regularly write about scholarships. I also provide consulting services as well, and you can check the consulting services page for more information.

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2 Comments

  1. Angeline Y Tomah July 30, 2023 11:56 pm - Reply

    I’m Angeline Y Tomah, a Liberian and graduate of the university of Liberia, with BA degree in sociology and emphasis in social work, hoping to get an opportunity to study master programs in another country.
    Thanks 🙏🙏

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