Cost of Living
Australia has a standard of living that is amongst the highest in the world. Living expenses and tuition costs in Australia are considerably lower than in the United States and United Kingdom. International students are also able to work part time while they study, allowing them to offset their living costs.
Tuition Fees
International students in Australia are required to pay their tuition fees up-front. Some institutions may also charge for other student costs, in addition to tuition fees. These may include library, laboratory, or sports facility costs. Students should also consider the costs of excursions, books, and stationery, as well as any essential materials specific to their course of study, such as lab coats or photographic supplies.
An undergraduate bachelor degree from an Australian university can cost anywhere from A$14,000 to 35,000 a year, while a postgraduate degree can cost from A$15,000 to 36,000 a year.
Scholarships
Although most international students in Australia are full-fee paying students, international students may also choose to apply for a scholarship. Scholarships in Australia are offered by the Australian government, education institutions, and a variety of other organizations. They cover vocational education and training, student exchanges, and undergraduate and postgraduate study and research. Australian Government scholarships are not available for international students who are undertaking English language training specifically in Australia, but several Australian institutions offer English language training scholarships.
The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) scheme enables international students to undertakes a postgraduate research qualification in Australia, allowing them to gain experience while working with leading Australian researchers. The scholarship covers tuition fees and health cover costs for scholarship holders, as well as health cover costs for their dependents.
The Australia Awards are intended to promote knowledge, education links, and enduring ties between Australia and neighboring countries through extensive scholarship programs. The Australia Awards are comprised or two streams: an achievement stream that allows the most promising students, researchers, and professionals to come to Australia, and for Australians to do the same in other countries; and a development stream that builds capacity in developing countries.
Working During Study
International students in Australia can receive permission to work part time (up to 40 hours per fortnight) while they study. Student visas in Australia automatically give permission to work. Visa information is held by the Australian Department of Immigration (DIAC) and can be accessed at any time using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system. International students in Australia very often find work in retail, hospitality, and administration. Working students in Australia are covered by Australian workplace law and practice. Any international student who intends to work in Australia should first obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Tax Office. He or she will need to provide his or her name, current address, and date of birth, and may also need to supply his or her date of arrival in Australia, passport, and proof of enrollment.
Living Costs
International students are required by Migration regulations in Australia to show evidence that they can contribute to the cost of living and studying in Australia, in order to ensure that students are able to make the most of their studies and have a safe and enjoyable experience in Australia. Although students can supplement their income with money earned through part-time work in Australia, the “living costs” requirement ensures that they don’t have to rely on this work to satisfy all of their expenses. Under the Migration regulations, prospective students visa applicants and their family members must have access to the following funds in order to meet the living costs requirements:
- A$18,610 a year for the main student;
- A$6,515 a year for the student’s partner;
- A$3,720 a year for the student’s first child; and
- A$2,790 a year for every other child and where required.
Prospective students must demonstrate that the funds upon which they are relying will be genuinely available to them while they are in Australia. Cost of living can vary depending on where a student lives in Australia, so prospective students should be prepared in case his or her living costs are greater than those listed here.