Study in Australia
Tuition, visas, work rights, and settlement options explained.
Book free consultationWhy You Should Study In Australia
Australia has been one of the world's most popular study destinations for decades for real reasons. Its universities are globally respected, its cities are genuinely multicultural, its climate and quality of life are consistently cited by students as reasons they came and reasons they stayed.
What many students do not fully account for is how expensive it is and how sharply costs vary between cities. A student in Adelaide pays fundamentally different monthly costs than a student in Sydney. That difference, compounded over one or two years, can represent tens of thousands of dollars.
Understanding the financial reality of your specific city and programme before you commit changes everything about how you plan.
This page helps you decide:
- Whether Australia fits your budget and goals
- Whether you can bring dependants
- What real living costs look like
- Whether Australia supports your long-term plans
- Whether post-study work aligns with your goals
Who Australia is best for
Solo students
Students targeting post-study work who are planning to gain Australian work experience
Students with family
Students with dependants who are planning to include a spouse or children
Career planners
Career planners who want a long-term strategy who value quality of life and lifestyle balance.
Long-term planners
Long-term planners exploring migration pathways
What it actually costs
Tuition range
Typically from AUD $20,000 per year. Some programmes such as MBA, engineering, and health-related degrees may be significantly higher depending on the institution.
Living costs
Students should budget approximately from AUD $400 per week and above, or from AUD $21,000 per year and above. Costs vary depending on city, accommodation, and lifestyle. The living cost requirement for the visa is subject to change, so always check the current figure with the Department of Home Affairs before applying.
Visa fees
Fees Include: Student visa fee from AUD $2,000 (subject to change). Other costs to consider: Overseas Student Health Cover (mandatory), medical examination if required, biometrics if required, flight costs, initial accommodation deposit. Visa processing times: Processing times vary depending on provider risk level and application completeness. Applications are typically processed within several weeks to a few months. Applying early is strongly recommended.
Living cost estimates
AUD $1,600 to $3,200 per month depending on city. Sydney and Melbourne are the most expensive. Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth are noticeably more affordable.
Note: We'll confirm your exact budget based on your city, school, and family size during your consultation.
Key things to note
- Australia has one of the stricter student visa assessment processes. The Genuine Student requirement must be satisfied. Course progression is carefully assessed, financial evidence must be clearly documented, and prior visa refusals or immigration history are closely reviewed.
- Students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods.
- Post-study visa (Temporary Graduate Visa 485): graduates may be eligible to apply after completing an eligible qualification. Duration depends on qualification level and immigration policy at the time of application.
- Dependants: Eligible family members may be included. Partner work rights depend on course level and additional financial evidence is required.
Schools / regions
We'll help you choose the best regions to suit your funds
Melbourne and Victoria
Australia's top student city by global ranking, home to eight universities and over 270,000 students. The University of Melbourne and Monash University are consistently world-ranked. Strongest for arts, law, business, medicine, and education.
Sydney and New South Wales
Australia's financial capital and most internationally recognised city. UNSW, the University of Sydney, and UTS are all strong globally. Sydney offers more corporate internship access than any other Australian city. It is also the most expensive city in Australia.
Queensland (Brisbane)
Brisbane is growing in popularity because it offers quality education at lower costs than Sydney or Melbourne. The University of Queensland, QUT, and Griffith University are all based in or near Brisbane. The climate is warmer and rents are considerably more manageable.
South Australia (Adelaide)
Adelaide is Australia's most affordable major city for students. The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, and Flinders University offer strong programmes in medicine, engineering, business, and science. Graduates who study and remain in South Australia can access state-sponsored migration pathways not available in larger states.
How Shuri supports you end-to-end
Timeline:
Profile review (budget, background, dependants, timelines)
Country and school pathway planning
Document and application support
Visa readiness and submission guidance
Pre-departure planning (housing, guidance and initial plan)
Profile review (budget, background, dependants, timelines)
Country and school pathway planning
Document and application support
Visa readiness and submission guidance
Pre-departure planning (housing, guidance and initial plan)
Are you ready to plan this properly?
We help you choose the right country, school and pathway based on your real situation.
Book a Free Consultation