Cost of Studying in Australia 2025

The average cost of studying in Australia for Indian students typically ranges from AUD 20,000 to AUD 50,000 (10,84,673 INR to 27,11,683 INR) per year. The expenses vary depending on the course type, university, and location. When planning to study in Australia, students must consider the study costs, such as tuition fees, living expenses, and other expenditures, as they are important factors in overseas education.  

As of 2024, Australia (the largest country in Oceania) has enrolled 567,505 international students, according to the Australian Government, Dept. of Education. This consistent influx of international students not only determines a huge economic shift but also ranks Australia as the 2nd most popular study-abroad destination, after the USA. Moreover, Australia boasts some of the best universities in the world and promises excellent living conditions and student life. Quality education, better infrastructure, excellent faculties, and steady innovation are the engines that drive Australian universities towards academic excellence.

Today, we will examine the key expenses associated with the cost of studying in Australia, starting with university tuition fees, followed by living costs, and the costs of an Australian student visa. Plus, we will share valuable tips to manage these study costs in Australia.

What is the tuition cost for studying in Australia?

Tuition costs are the foremost element of any costs associated with studying abroad. Now, let us look at the education cost in Australia for international students at different levels. The table below shows the range of costs for different types of qualifications. These costs in Australia include books & supplies, student service & amenities fees, recreation fees, security funds, registration fees, etc.

Education Level	Tuition Cost/Year	Duration of study
School	AUD 7,800 – 30,000	13 years
Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree	AUD 20,000 – 45,000	3 years
Postgraduate Master’s Degree	AUD 22,000 – 50,000	2 years
Doctoral Degree	AUD 18,000 – 42,000	3 years (full-time), 6 years (part-time)
Vocational Education and Training (Certificates, Diploma and Advanced Diploma)	AUD 4,000 – 22,000	2 – 3 months
English language studies	AUD 300 per week	5 weeks

Note: Compared to other countries like the USA, Bachelor’s degrees in Australia are relatively shorter in duration.

Now let’s see the cost of courses from some of the best Australian universities below.

University Name	QS World University Rankings 2025	BE/BTech First Year Tuition Fee	MS First Year Tuition Fee	MBA First Year Tuition Fee
Australian National University (ANU)	30	AUD 48,384	AUD 48,384 – 50,400	AUD 50,4000
The University of Melbourne (Unimelb)	13	AUD 43,520	AUD 37,760 – 41,536	AUD 89,500
The University of Sydney (USyd)	18	AUD 39,240 –48,500	AUD 37,500 – 49,000	AUD 50,000 – 67,000
The University of Queensland (UQ)	40	AUD 45,120	AUD 41,040 – 47,120	AUD 80,808
University of New South Wales (UNSW)	19	AUD 47,760	AUD 34,020 – 47,280	AUD 66,262

From the above table, it’s clear that MBA is more expensive than regular MS courses. Similarly, veterinary and medical courses cost substantially more compared to other courses. Conversely, humanities, education and arts are a little cheaper. 

Besides tuition fees that contribute the majority of expenses for international students, sundry expenses are also taken into account. These expenses are mandatory and closely associated with tuition costs. Sundry costs can be charged annually (one-time) or per semester. So before calculating the study cost in Australia, students are advised to understand this important expense and plan their budget accordingly.

Cost of Studying in Australia: City Wise

After exploring the study and living costs above, let’s quickly check how much it costs to study and live in cities in Australia from the table below.

S No	City	Study Costs	Living Costs
1	Melbourne	UG: INR 21.50 L PG: INR 28.08 L	AUD$ 1,096.8 (INR 58,812) per month
2	Sydney	UG: INR 20.39 L PG: INR 25.04 L	AUD$ 1,166.6 (INR 62,555) per month
3	Adelaide	UG: INR 18.30 L PG: INR 25.70 L	AUD$ 1,271.0 (INR 68,153) per month
4	Brisbane	UG: INR 17.65 L PG: INR 24.76 L	AUD$ 1,095.4 (INR 58,737) per month
5	Perth	UG: INR 19.50 L PG: INR 25.32 L	AUD$ 1,147.3 (INR 61,520) per month

Australian Student Visa Costs

After securing an admission letter from an Australian university, candidates will apply for an Australian Study Visa to legally enter the country to study. According to the Australian government, Dept. of Home Affairs’s current visa pricing, the cost of an Australian Student Visa (subclass 500) Base Application Charge is AUD 710. Additional applicant charges are AUD 530 (18 and above) and AUD 175 (under 18).

What is the Cost of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)?

The average cost of overseas student health cover (OSHC) ranges around $350 a year (indicative). OSHC is the medical insurance mandatory for international students pursuing formal studies in Australia and their dependents (including spouses and children under 18).

Affordable Universities in Australia

The top 5 most affordable universities in Australia for international students are in the table below. Here, the university application fee is somewhere between 50 and 100 Australian dollars.

S No	Affordable Universities	Average annual cost in Australian Dollar ($)
1	Federation University	$22,000 – $29,000
2	Australian Catholic University	$23,000 – $28,000
3	University of Sunshine Coast	$23,000 – $29,000
4	Western Sydney University	$25,000 – $32,000
5	Edith Cowan University	$26,000 – $32,000

Scholarships and Student Funding in Australia

The scholarship and student funding are financial support provided by the government and private organizations to help deserving students. Here are some Australian scholarships available for your dream course in the country. 

ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship: This scholarship is designed to attract a diverse range of high-calibre international students. It awards a tuition fee reduction of 25% or 50% based on academic merit. It can be granted to 80 Indian students. 

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Gates Cambridge Scholarships: This scholarship grants £20,000 for 12 months; pro rata for courses less than 12 months duration. PhD scholars get funds for up to 4 years, along with inbound visa costs, one-way airfare, 100% fee remission, and the Immigration Health Surcharge cost. 

UNSW’s Future of Change Scholarship: This scholarship is dedicated to support ambitious future students from India. A stipend of AUD 10,000 per annum is awarded to Indian students of UG and PG without allowances. 

Global Excellence Scholarship at UWA: This scholarship offers an annual tuition fee discount for the normal full-time duration of students to ensure low-cost study in Australia. Undergraduate students receive scholarships of up to AUD$48,000 (for 4 years) or AUD$36,000 (for 3 years), while postgraduate students receive up to AUD$24,000 for 2 years.

Part-Time Jobs in Australia

The Australian student visa allows international students to work part-time—20 hours weekly during studies and full-time during semester breaks. By doing part-time jobs, students get easy money to relieve financial burdens and gain professional work experience. Apparently, the student’s income from part-time jobs is taxable. So students must submit a Tax File Number (TFN) online. A sum of AUD$ 18,200 or more is taxable income. 

Some of the popular part-time jobs in Australia are:

• Driver
• Personal trainer
• Freelancer
• Tutor
• Research Assistant
• Caretaker
• Delivery Person
• Babysitter
• Customer Service

What is the cost of living in Australia?

The cost of living in Australia is given in the table below.

Type of Expense	Costs
Accommodation	450 - 1,900 AUD/month (approx.)
Food/Groceries	450 - 1,000 AUD/month (approx.)
Transportation	40 - 70 AUD per month (approx.)
Utilities	200 AUD/month (approx.)
Internet	70 - 120 AUD/month (approx.)
Books and other study materials	500 - 1,000 AUD/year (approx.)
Health insurance	30 AUD/month (approx.)

 

Now you have enough idea of how much it costs to study in Australia. So the next thing to do is start researching all universities in Australia and plan your study abroad in a cost-effective way. For advice from a study abroad expert, feel free to contact us. All the best!

FAQs

1. What is the average tuition fee for studying in Australia?

The average tuition fee for studying in Australia is AUD$20,000 (US$13,675) for bachelors and AUD$45,000 (US$30,769) for master’s degree courses.

2. What is the annual tuition fee for doctoral degrees in Australia?

According to The University of Queensland, the annual PhD tuition fee is AUD$42,048 for full-time and AUD$21,024 for part-time.

3. Is it expensive to study in Australia?

Yes, it is quite expensive to study in Australia, but there are various scholarships and grants available for international students to study with low tuition fees.

4. How much does it cost to study IT in Australia for international students?

To study Information Technology in Australia, it costs between AUD 18,000 and 35,000 per year for international students.

5. Can I study in Australia for cheap?

No. You cannot study in Australia for cheap. Due to a high cost of living, Australian colleges and universities are simply not affordable as most European universities.

6. Is Australia costly for Indian students?

Yes. Australia is costly for Indian students. That’s why they take education loans or scholarships to study in Australia.

7. How much does it cost to study in Australia for Indian students?

The cost of study in Australia for Indian students ranges from INR 12 Lakhs to 35 Lakhs, depending on the course type, university and location.

8. What are the pre-approval and post-approval costs in Australia?

The pre-approval costs in Australia include entrance exam fees (IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT) and flight tickets (one-way). Similarly, the post-approval costs include tuition fees and cost of living.

9. Is education free in Australia?

Education is not completely free in Australia. Government schools must cover all the teaching expenses within the cost of a school. However, some public schools request parents to pay a voluntary financial contribution.