The short answer
Among the universities you can apply to through Craydel, the University of the Sunshine Coast (Adelaide) has the lowest median first-year fee at about AUD 30,148, followed by the University of Notre Dame Australia and Victoria University; the most affordable degree-teaching colleges start from about AUD 16,000, and foundation or diploma pathways lower still. Fees are set per course.
Australia is not a cheap study destination, but the price gap between institutions is large — and where you start matters as much as which university you finish at. Among the institutions you can apply to through Craydel, bachelor’s first-year tuition starts from about AUD 16,000 at the most affordable colleges and about AUD 30,000 at the most affordable universities, rising to over AUD 52,000 at the priciest — and foundation or diploma pathways start lower still.
This guide ranks the most affordable options on real first-year fees — degree-awarding universities first, then the cheaper pathway colleges that feed into them — and shows the honest levers that bring an Australian education within reach for an African student.
Which are the cheapest universities in Australia?
Among the degree-awarding universities you can apply to through Craydel, the University of the Sunshine Coast (Adelaide) has the lowest median first-year fee at about AUD 30,148, followed by the University of Notre Dame Australia and Victoria University. The most affordable degree-teaching colleges — such as Canterbury Institute of Management and the Victorian Institute of Technology — start lower still, from about AUD 16,000 a year. Fees are set per course, so your actual figure depends on the degree you choose.
| University | Median first-year fee | ≈ KES / NGN |
|---|---|---|
| University of the Sunshine Coast (Adelaide) | AUD 30,148 | ≈ KES 2.7m / NGN 28.9m |
| University of Notre Dame Australia | AUD 34,327 | ≈ KES 3.1m / NGN 32.9m |
| Charles Sturt University (Sydney & Melbourne) | AUD 34,338 | ≈ KES 3.1m / NGN 32.9m |
| Victoria University | AUD 36,484 | ≈ KES 3.3m / NGN 34.9m |
| James Cook University (Brisbane) | AUD 37,709 | ≈ KES 3.4m / NGN 36.1m |
| Western Sydney University (Sydney City) | AUD 40,201 | ≈ KES 3.7m / NGN 38.5m |
| University of Tasmania | AUD 40,755 | ≈ KES 3.7m / NGN 39.0m |
| Edith Cowan University | AUD 41,952 | ≈ KES 3.8m / NGN 40.2m |
Median first-year fee net of discounts, across each institution’s published courses. Converted at the 2026 exchange rate (≈ KES 90.8 / NGN 958 per AUD) — indicative only, rates move. By comparison, the University of Western Australia (AUD 52,120) and Swinburne (AUD 45,488) sit at the higher end.
Zoe Craydel, Senior counsellor, Craydel Australia
Cheaper still: pathway colleges
If your budget or grades don’t yet reach a direct bachelor’s place, a pathway college is the lowest-cost way in. These providers run foundation, diploma and International Year One programmes that articulate into a university degree — their first-year fees can be a fraction of a full bachelor’s. They are entry routes, not degree-awarding universities, so you finish your degree at the partner university.
| Pathway college | Courses | Median first-year fee |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Institute of Technology | 109 | AUD 3,971 |
| ECA College | 10 | AUD 6,132 |
| Victorian Institute of Education | 17 | AUD 10,731 |
| Danford College | 19 | AUD 12,264 |
| University of Canberra College | 25 | AUD 20,081 |
| Murdoch College | 6 | AUD 22,201 |
| Kaplan Business School | 23 | AUD 27,098 |
Median first-year fee across each college’s published courses; the cheapest single course at the Engineering Institute of Technology is about AUD 1,395. Pathway programmes lead into a partner university, where later years are charged at the university’s rate.
Read a “cheap” first year correctly. A low pathway fee covers the foundation or first stage — once you articulate into the bachelor’s, the remaining years are charged at the university’s fee. The pathway saves money and rescues a below-line grade, but budget for the full degree, not just year one.
Which subjects are cheapest to study?
Field of study moves the price as much as the university does. Across Australian bachelor’s courses, practical and business-facing fields tend to be the most affordable, while lab-heavy sciences, health and environmental degrees sit at the top. A few representative medians:
Median first-year bachelor’s fee by field, net of discounts. See the full breakdown in our cost by course in Australia guide.
Want the cheapest route that still fits your grades?
A Craydel counsellor will line up the lowest-fee universities and pathways you’ll actually get an offer for — matched to your results and budget — at no cost to you.
The cheapest city to live in
Tuition is only half the budget. Living costs vary widely by city, and Perth is the most affordable of the major study cities at about AUD 8,041 a year, with Brisbane the dearest. Choosing a lower-cost city can save more over a degree than a modest tuition difference.
Off-campus mean estimated annual living cost by city. Note the trade-off: the University of Western Australia sits in low-cost Perth but has the highest tuition — the cheapest city and the cheapest fee are not the same institution.
How to bring the total cost down
The real saving comes from stacking a few decisions, not from one magic “cheap” university.
Foundation or diploma entry
A foundation programme or International Year One costs less than a first bachelor’s year and rescues a grade below the direct-entry line, then articulates into the degree.
Pick a lower-fee discipline
Business, IT, social work and creative fields sit below lab sciences and health. If two courses fit your goals, the fee gap is worth weighing.
Course discounts do exist
University of Adelaide College and Murdoch College offer course fee discounts of up to about AUD 8,124 — see our scholarships guide for the full list.
24 hours a week in term
A Subclass 500 lets you work up to 24 hours a week during term to help with living costs — useful, though never a substitute for the funds you must prove for the visa.
What “cheap” should not cost you
The lowest fee is not automatically the best value. Every institution above is one you can genuinely apply to and be placed into through Craydel, but pick on fit as well as price. A course that matches your career goal and that you’ll actually complete is cheaper in the long run than a bargain degree you drop. Check that the course leads where you want to go, that the campus city suits your budget, and that your funds are genuine and provable — the visa depends on it. There are only fee discounts in the Australian data (no blanket scholarships), so treat any promise of a “free” Australian degree with caution.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the cheapest university in Australia?
Among the universities you can apply to through Craydel, the University of the Sunshine Coast (Adelaide) has the lowest median first-year fee at about AUD 30,148, followed by the University of Notre Dame Australia and Victoria University; the most affordable degree-teaching colleges start from about AUD 16,000 a year. Fees are set per course, so your exact figure depends on the degree.
Are pathway colleges cheaper than universities?
Yes. Pathway colleges run foundation, diploma and International Year One programmes with first-year fees far below a full bachelor’s — from about AUD 3,971 median at the Engineering Institute of Technology. They are entry routes that articulate into a partner university, where the later years are charged at the university’s fee, so budget for the whole degree.
What is the cheapest course to study in Australia?
Across bachelor’s courses, practical and business-facing fields are the most affordable — game development (about AUD 23,811), film and media, social work, IT and business sit below lab sciences, health and environmental degrees (up to about AUD 49,973). See our cost-by-field guide for the full breakdown.
Does a cheaper university mean lower quality?
Not necessarily. A lower fee often reflects the university’s city, funding model or course mix rather than teaching quality. Pick on fit — the course, the city and your chances of an offer — as well as price, and check the specific course rather than judging a university by its headline fee.
Which is the cheapest Australian city to live in as a student?
Perth is the most affordable of the major study cities at about AUD 8,041 a year in estimated off-campus living costs, with Sydney and Melbourne in the middle and Brisbane the dearest at about AUD 18,849. Choosing a lower-cost city can save more over a degree than a small tuition difference.
Can I get a scholarship to cut the fee?
In the Australian data there are course fee discounts rather than blanket scholarships — University of Adelaide College and Murdoch College offer discounts of up to about AUD 8,124 on specific programmes. Combine a discount with a lower-fee field and city for the biggest saving.
Sources
- Craydel course, campus and admissions data (2026) — median first-year fees by institution and by field, published course counts, living costs by city, and course fee discounts.
- Exchange rates for USD→AUD/KES/NGN conversion (2026); rates move daily and are indicative only.
- Australian Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (Subclass 500) work conditions. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Study Australia — official guidance on costs of studying in Australia. studyaustralia.gov.au
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