Australia has a strong and consistent reputation for education across the world. They have one of the world’s highest percentages of higher education qualified population. The country also continues to record high literacy and education rates. Australia boasts a world class education system, offering high quality education for fair tuition fees.
There are 37 government funded universities located in Australia, and 2 private universities. You will also find a number of other specialist higher education institutions. There are 26 Australian institutions in the 2022 QS World University Rankings top 500, 7 of which are in the top 100. The highest ranked of these is The Australian National University, which is placed at 27th. The next highest ranked are the University of Melbourne, which is placed at 37th, and the University of Sydney, which is placed at 38th.
About Australia
Australia is one of the most welcoming and diverse countries. Almost half of the population were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. There are over 260 languages being spoken in homes across Australia! It will be a privilege to study and live within such a diverse society.
Australia is known for being the oldest, flattest and driest inhabited continent, and is a megadiverse country. This is due to its vast range of landscapes and habitats for plants and animals. As well as the rainforests, mountain ranges, and deserts, there are also many modern and developed cities and towns. These cities are home to a variety of tourist attractions and facilities that will be enjoyable for many different people. You will find that you are able to live a metropolitan life in the city, as well as taking in the beautiful scenery of the coast and inland areas.
The tuition fees you will be charged for study in Australia will depend on more than one variable. One of these is your home country, and the other is whether you choose to study at a public or private institution. Private higher education institutions are likely to charge more for their courses.
If you are a domestic student, you will not be liable to pay a full tuition fee for your course. This means that you will pay a smaller amount towards your institution fees, and the remaining amount is paid by the Australian government. The student contribution will differ depending on where you choose to study. For information about how much you will be expected to contribute as the student, please contact the specific institution you are interested in applying to.
If you are an international student, you will be liable to pay a full tuition fee for your course. For an undergraduate bachelor degree, this can be between A$15,000 and A$33,000. For a masters degree, this can be between A$20,000 and A$37,000. For a doctoral degree, this can be between A$14,000 and A$37,000. These tuition estimates do not account for higher value courses, such as veterinary science or medicine. For fee information about these types of course, please visit the institution website. You might also be interested in an international scholarship, which could help to fund your studies and living costs. These might be offered by Australian universities, or by an independent funding body.
If you wish to study an English language programme, you can expect to pay around A$300 per week, depending on the length of your course. If you are applying for a vocational course, for example Certificates I to IV, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas, you should expect to pay between A$4,000 and A$22,000 depending on the level at which you will be studying.
Another cost that international students need to be aware of is health insurance. You will need to have adequate health insurance cover for the duration of your studies in order to obtain a student visa. The specific type of cover needed for Australia is called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
You may also choose to purchase a private health insurance policy to cover the things that the OSHC does not. This is not mandatory, but it is worth considering in order to make your time in Australia enjoyable.
In order to fund your studies, you are able to work part-time. If you are studying for an undergraduate degree, you are able to work up to 40 hours per fortnight during term-time. If you are studying for a masters or doctorate degree, you are allowed to work unlimited hours, as long as you are meeting your coursework requirements. If you have to take part in a mandatory work placement for your degree, this does not count towards your 40 hours per fortnight.
Funding to study in Australia
If you are an international student, you will not have access to the same funding assistance as domestic students. This means that if you require help with funding your studies, you will need to apply for a scholarship or bursary to help. Australia has a long history of welcoming international students, so there are normally many options for funding.
As well as individual institutions offering scholarships and funding, there are also government associated scholarships available for international students.
Find out more about funding your studies in our Funding and Scholarships for International Students advice article.
How to Apply
There is no centralised application system for applying to an Australian institution as an international student. This means that you will need to apply to each of your chosen institutions individually.
Each institution might have different requirements for your application, however there are some standard requirements across institutions. These include proving that you have sufficient funds, can understand the tuition language to a certain level, and have arranged to be covered by health insurance as an international student. If you require more information, please contact your institution of choice, as they will be able to provide you with assistance.
Want to study abroad but not sure on how to begin? Take a look at our advice article on Deciding to study abroad: The first steps.
Australian Student Visas
In order to study in Australia, you will need to obtain a student visa. With a student visa, you will be permitted to study for up to five years, at a recognised higher education institution. To be eligible to apply for a visa, you will need to be enrolled in a higher education course in Australia. If you will be under the age of 18 when you commence your studies, you will need to provide information about your living and welfare arrangements. It is also important that you have made arrangements for adequate health cover for the duration of your stay. Your institution will be able to provide more information about health insurance and the correct health cover for you.
If there is any change in your circumstances, it is important that you inform your institution. If you do not, it is possible that your visa can be revoked, and you will have to leave Australia to restart the application process.
Each person has a different case, therefore requirements and processes vary for everyone. You are recommended to read about visas here: Australian Student Visa.