How much does it cost to study abroad in Australia for one year? What are the influencing factors?

Published on 2024-07-11 Updated on 2024-11-04

Australia is a popular study destination for students around the world, highly respected for its high-quality education. One of the most common concerns for many colleagues who plan to study in Australia is tuition fees and the approximate cost of living per year. In this article, I will provide a brief introduction to answer this question.

image.png

Influencing factors

The cost of studying in Australia varies greatly, mainly depending on the type of school chosen, the major studied, and the city where it is located.

  • School type and degree level

The tuition fees for different types of schools and different levels of degrees vary significantly. Private universities usually have higher tuition fees than public universities, and the tuition fees for graduate courses are generally higher than those for undergraduate courses.

  • Professional choices

The tuition fees for different majors vary greatly. The tuition fees for science and technology majors such as medicine and engineering are usually higher than those for liberal arts majors.

  • Cities and regions where

Living in different cities in Australia, the cost of living and tuition fees will also vary. The cost of living and tuition fees in big cities like Sydney and Melbourne are often higher, while smaller cities or regions may be relatively economical.

  • Remittance to Australia

After understanding the relevant fees, you need to transfer money in advance to ensure security. Here, we recommend using services with lower costs and faster transfer speeds, such as bank telegraphic transfer or specialized remittance tools.

As for the remittance tool, you can use BiyaPay. It supports real-time exchange rate inquiry and exchange of more than 20 legal currencies and more than 200 digital currencies. The remittance fee is as low as 0.5%. It integrates local transfer methods and has zero cost in the middle of bank remittance. It can achieve instant remittance to Australia, and there is no limit to the amount.

Eight major universities in Australia

The eight famous universities in Australia include: Australian National University , University of Melbourne , University of Sydney , UNSW University of Wales , University of Queensland , Monash University, University of Western Australia and University of Adelaide. The specific colleges have differences, roughly as follows:

Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree
Living expenses 29710 AUD/year
Approximate tuition AUD 35,000-50,000/year AUD 35,000-55,000/year
Total budget for one year 64710-79710 AUD 64710-84710 AUD

The tuition fees of Australian universities are generally calculated based on course units. Each unit represents a different fee range, and most students study courses that include different combinations of units in different ranges, so the tuition fees for each person are different.

Some universities in Australia have released official cost estimates, using the Australian National University (ANU) as an example

Australian National University is the highest-ranked institution in Australia (ranked 30th in the 2023 QS World University Rankings). The annual cost of an undergraduate degree is roughly:

  • Liberal arts courses cost about AUD 42,560
  • Science or medical courses cost up to AUD 47,940

The annual cost of a graduate degree starts from AUD 45,360 and can reach up to AUD 47,940. The price of a doctoral program is similar, starting from AUD 39,870. Medical and surgical doctoral programs are unique, with a cost of AUD 85,120.

Other universities

Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree
Living expenses 29710 AUD/year
Approximate tuition 20,000-40,000 AUD/year 20,000-40,000 AUD/year
Total budget for one year 49710-69710 AUD 49710-69710 AUD

List of affordable universities in Australia:

  • Flinders University from AUD 10,350/year
  • IPAG Business School from AUD 13,000/year
  • University of Wollongong from AUD 18,800/year
  • New England University from AUD 19,100/year
  • Victoria University from AUD 21,800/year

TAFE

TAFE is the name of Australia’s public Vocational Education schools, funded by the governments of each state in Australia, aiming to provide students with more practical courses.

The cost varies greatly depending on the chosen course, city, and type of school. Prices range from AUD 6,000 to AUD 22,000 per year, including training materials.

TAFE training courses TAFE Bachelor’s Degree
Living expenses 29710 AUD/year
Approximate tuition From AUD 6,000/year 12,000-15,000 AUD/year
Total budget for one year From AUD 35,710 41710-44710 AUD

Living expenses

Tuition fees are usually the largest part of the cost of studying abroad, but living expenses cannot be ignored. Here are some common costs:

  • Accommodation costs

Most universities provide a small number of student dormitories for on-campus accommodation. Therefore, more international students can only choose to rent private properties or live with local families (homestays).

Average prices of common accommodation options:

  • Homestay: 450-1,200 AUD/month
  • Student dormitory: 440-1,100 AUD/month
  • Renting an apartment: 750-1,700 AUD/month
  • Shared apartment/residence: 380-850 AUD/month
  • Food costs

Daily groceries can be purchased at local supermarkets, usually costing around 500-1000 Australian dollars per month. You can also choose to shop at the cheapest local supermarkets, such as Aldi, Coles, and Woolworths.

The average cost of dining at a discounted restaurant is AUD 18, while sharing three dishes for two people costs AUD 80.

  • Travel costs

Some universities in Australia have private transportation providers that provide affordable public transportation facilities for students on campus or those who need to reach some remote areas.

The cost of a student’s public transportation card ranges from 30 to 70 Australian dollars per month. Some areas within certain states offer transportation discounts, such as Queensland, South Australia, or Victoria.

Students can also use bicycles for transportation. If you rent a bicycle, it costs about 40 Australian dollars per day.

Summary

The above is a rough inventory of the tuition and living expenses required for studying abroad in Australia for one year. You can take it as a reference. For more information, you can check the target university to make a budget plan.

Finally, I wish everyone a smooth study abroad plan!