Australian student visa cost | Know all associated costs of studying in Australia

We have heard plenty from people about how an Australian student visa costs a fortune. But does it really? If yes, how much? What is the amount of money you will be looking to spend if you choose to study in Australia? What’s the Australian student visa cost? In this post, we break down the cost of an Australian student visa in the simplest way possible and answer the most common question.

There are a variety of costs you will incur while preparing your student visa application to Australia. To put it simply, you have the education cost and the migration costs.

Your migration cost or the direct cost for student visa application to Australia will more or less be the same irrespective of your level of intended study. However, your education cost obviously depends on the education provider you pick and the level of study you undertake.

Education cost:

You may also have to take an English language test to meet criteria for course enrolment or for visa application. The cost of English test may also vary depending on your location. Your total tuition fee varies depending on the education provider and your course.

Initial payment for confirmation of enrolment:

This amount varies depending upon your education provider. Usually, vocational education courses usually require you to deposit a couple of thousand dollars. Whereas higher education providers request for a full payment of the first semester to confirm your enrolment. 

To take an average, a Bachelor’s degree in Australia typically costs around AUD 16,000 to AUD  30,000 per year. A master degree costs a couple of thousand dollars more around AUD 22,000 to AUD 36,000, but you do have some affordable options as well.

There are universities as well as private colleges, and educational institutions that offer CRICOS registered courses for international students. This gives you the flexibility to choose a course or a provider that suits you. 

Health insurance costs:

As an international student in Australia, it is mandatory to have appropriate student health cover. You must pre-pay the entire health insurance cost for your study period before you lodge the visa. The cheapest insurance is about $600-$700 per year. Usually, your education provider will do this for you when they process your course application.

VISA related costs:

The Australian student visa application fee is the same for all international students i.e. AUD 2,000.

Check Department of Home Affairs website for up-to-date fees. Other costs associated with Visa include biometric fees, the cost for medical health examination for the visa. These costs will vary from country to country. 

Apart from that, other costs that you need to think about while thinking about coming to Australia as a student are the living costs. 

Living costs in Australia:

The Department has set approx. AUD 29,710 as the average living cost for a single person in Australia. This includes the entire cost of living – accommodation, food, transportation, etc. As expected, living expenses are the highest in cities, highest in Sydney followed by Melbourne. 

Depending upon your country of passport, at the time of student visa application, you may be required to provide evidence of financial capacity to support your living and tuition costs for at least a year. 

Accommodation costs: 

Rent is the second biggest expense for international students in Australia after the tuition fee. 

There are various accommodation options in Australia, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Students can choose from the homestay, student hostels, rent an apartment on their own or share a house or apartment with others. You can choose the one that suits your preferences and the budget the most.

In Melbourne, the cheapest option is shared houses or shared apartments, where you can find a single room for yourself for about $800 per month or even less about half an hour away from the city. If you are happy to share a room, rental expenses can be as low as $500 per month. In cities like Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, Brisbane, the cost is even lower.

Food costs:

Grocery is another major expense for students. The amount of money you spend on groceries will vary according to your dietary habits, and lifestyle. For a single person, you can expect to spend at least $400 per month on groceries. 

Transportation costs:

The other major cost is transportation which is the highest in Sydney and Melbourne. 

As you go away from the metropolitan cities, public transportation costs are way lower. 

In Melbourne, you can expect to incur about $300 per month if you get a monthly pass for public transportation in Melbourne. Some students also prefer to buy a car for their convenience as Australia allows students to drive with your international license while you hold a temporary visa. If you are thinking of getting one when you study in Australia,  you must think about the registration fee, and maintenance costs as well.

Agency fees

Lastly, you may have to pay your agent some charges for their services. This completely depends upon your arrangement with the agency. Most agencies only charge for visa applications, whereas all the services such as providing your genuine advice for both education and visa, course application, enrolments, liaising with the education provider on your behalf, etc. are free of charge for the student.

If you have any education or migration-related query, please feel free to contact us for a FREE consultation from a registered migration agent or a certified education consultant.

Lastly, don’t forget to check out our article that provides you with an overview of Australian Student visa.