How Much Does It Cost to Study in Australia? (2026)
Australia ranks among the world’s top study destinations, with more than 650,000 international students enrolled across its universities in 2025. Understanding the full cost before applying avoids surprises.
How much is international student tuition in 2026?
International students pay full, unsubsidised fees — domestic students pay significantly less through the HECS-HELP government loan scheme. 2026 indicative ranges:
| Field | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Arts, humanities, education | A$25,000–A$35,000 |
| Business, accounting, law | A$32,000–A$45,000 |
| Engineering, IT, science | A$33,000–A$48,000 |
| Medicine, dentistry | A$55,000–A$70,000 |
Group of Eight universities sit at the top of each range. Always confirm fees on the specific course page before applying.
What living costs must I show for a student visa?
The Department of Home Affairs financial capacity requirement from 2025 is A$29,710/year for the main applicant. This is a visa requirement floor, not a realistic budget. Actual average annual student living costs by city:
- Sydney, Melbourne: A$24,000–A$30,000
- Brisbane, Perth: A$20,000–A$26,000
- Adelaide, Canberra: A$18,000–A$23,000
Which city is cheapest?
Adelaide consistently leads affordability surveys. On-campus accommodation runs A$250–A$330/week; off-campus shared housing A$180–A$250/week. Adelaide hosts the University of Adelaide (QS 2026: #82), Flinders University, UniSA and Carnegie Mellon Australia.
Canberra is similarly affordable — ANU (QS 2026: #30) with student accommodation averaging A$200–A$300/week.
Government scholarships
Australia Awards (government-funded): full tuition + living allowance + return flights, targeting applicants from the Indo-Pacific, Africa and Middle East. Around 3,500 awarded annually. Applications open 12 months before commencement.
University merit scholarships: all Go8 universities offer partial to full scholarships for academically high-achieving applicants, typically requiring GPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent.
Working while studying
Up to 48 hours/fortnight during semester, unlimited during official breaks. At the July 2025 minimum wage of A$24.10/hour, 20 hours/week for 30 weeks generates approximately A$14,460 — covering a significant portion of annual living costs.
Total cost estimate
A three-year engineering degree at UNSW (QS #19) in Sydney:
| Category | Per year | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | A$43,000 | A$129,000 |
| Living (Sydney) | A$27,000 | A$81,000 |
| Visa + OSHC | A$2,100 | A$6,300 |
| Total | A$72,100 | A$216,300 |
A regional university arts degree could total as little as A$120,000 over three years.
Sources: Department of Home Affairs 2025, universities’ official fee schedules, QS World University Rankings 2026.