The short answer
Through Craydel you can apply to more than 40 Australian universities and pathway colleges. Five carry a world ranking — the University of Western Australia leads on QS (77), the University of Newcastle on THE (144), alongside La Trobe, Western Sydney and James Cook. Bachelor's tuition starts from about AUD 16,000 at the most affordable colleges and about AUD 30,000 at universities.
“Best” only means something if you can actually apply. So instead of a generic ranking of universities you may never get an offer from, this guide is built around the Australian universities you can apply to through Craydel — with live course data and admissions partnerships.
Five of these universities carry a QS or Times Higher Education (THE) world ranking; the rest are presented honestly by course choice and field strength, not by a ranking we can’t stand behind. If you’re weighing the money too, read this alongside our cost of studying in Australia guide.
How many Australian universities can you apply to through Craydel?
Through Craydel you can apply to more than 40 Australian universities and pathway colleges, spread across Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra. Together they publish over 2,000 courses — from a 275-course catalogue at the University of Western Australia to specialist colleges with a handful of programmes.
Zoe Craydel, Senior counsellor, Craydel Australia
World-ranked universities you can apply to
Five of these universities hold a QS or THE world ranking. If a global ranking is your priority, start here — these are the only ranking claims made in this guide, because they’re the only ones the evidence supports.
| University | City | World band | QS | THE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Western Australia | Perth | Top 1–250 | 77 | 153 |
| The University of Newcastle | Callaghan | Top 1–250 | 227 | 144 |
| La Trobe University | Melbourne | Top 1–250 | 233 | 251–300 |
| Western Sydney University | Sydney | Top 251–500 | 400 | 301–350 |
| James Cook University | Brisbane | Top 251–500 | 440 | 351–400 |
QS and THE world rankings; world band. Rankings are updated annually — check the latest edition for the current position.
The University of Western Australia is the standout on QS (77) and sits in the Top 1–250 world band, while Newcastle actually leads this group on THE (144). All five sit in the world’s top 500 on at least one system.
Universities by course choice
Ranking isn’t the only way to pick. If you want the widest choice of programmes — or a specific campus city — course volume is often the more useful signal. Here are the institutions with the most course choice you can apply to (of 40+ in total, including pathway colleges).
| Institution | Type | City | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Western Australia | University | Perth | 275 |
| Swinburne University of Technology | University | Melbourne | 260 |
| The University of Newcastle | University | Callaghan | 176 |
| Charles Sturt University | University | Wagga Wagga | 160 |
| Edith Cowan University | University | Joondalup | 140 |
| Engineering Institute of Technology | College | Perth | 109 |
| University of Notre Dame Australia | University | Fremantle | 86 |
| Navitas SAE Creative Media Institute | College | Adelaide | 48 |
| Navitas Curtin College | College | Perth | 34 |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | University | Sippy Downs | 31 |
| International College of Management, Sydney | College | Sydney | 29 |
| University of Canberra College | College | Canberra | 25 |
| Kaplan Business School | College | Adelaide | 23 |
| Victoria University | University | Sydney | 21 |
| James Cook University | University | Brisbane | 15 |
| Western Sydney University | University | Sydney | 14 |
| La Trobe University | University | Sydney | 13 |
| University of Tasmania | University | Melbourne | 5 |
Top institutions by course choice; a further 20+ universities and pathway colleges are also available. Course counts are the programmes you can apply to through Craydel, not each institution’s full catalogue.
A note on choice. The University of Western Australia and Swinburne together publish more than 500 courses — so if breadth of subject choice matters more than a ranking badge, that’s where you’ll find it. Course counts shown are the programmes you can apply to, not a university’s total catalogue.
Best fields to study
The subject you choose shapes both your options and your budget. Across Australian courses, business, computing and health dominate by volume — and fees vary widely by field. Here are the ten largest fields by course count, with the median first-year fee in AUD.
| Field | Courses | Median first-year fee (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | 472 | 33,156 |
| Information Technology & Systems | 258 | 29,382 |
| Computer Science | 249 | 29,419 |
| Biomedical & Health Sciences | 230 | 42,732 |
| Media, Communication & Journalism | 183 | 29,936 |
| General Engineering | 175 | 28,780 |
| Software & Computer Engineering | 174 | 29,936 |
| Finance, Accounting & Tax | 162 | 33,629 |
| Art, Design & Creative Industries | 160 | 28,790 |
| Biology | 149 | 44,175 |
Median first-year fee in AUD. Fees are set per course — confirm the exact figure on the course page.
Computing and engineering fields cluster near AUD 29,000, while biomedical, health and biology sit at the top end (AUD 42,000–44,000). Same degree length, very different fee — so the field you pick is one of the biggest levers on cost.
Not sure which university fits your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Australian courses you’ll actually get an offer for — using the real fees and entry rules for each one.
What grades you need by curriculum
Entry is set per course, but there’s a common threshold most Australian bachelor’s programmes ask for — and every curriculum African students sit is recognised, whether national or international. Here is the typical minimum for a bachelor’s degree by curriculum.
| Curriculum | Typical minimum (Bachelor’s) | Eligibility rules in our data |
|---|---|---|
| KCSE (Kenya) | B− | 1,238 |
| IB (International Baccalaureate) | Assessed per course (points) | 1,286 |
| ACSEE (Tanzania) | CCC | 976 |
| ZIMSEC A-Level (Zimbabwe) | CCC | 974 |
| UACE (Uganda) | CCC | 972 |
| A-Level (Cambridge) | CCC | 958 |
| WAEC (West Africa) | B2 | 461 |
| American Curriculum | Assessed per course (GPA) | 456 |
| AS-Level | ABB (or via foundation) | 87 |
| IGCSE (O-Level) | Via foundation year (C) | 57 |
| UCE (Uganda O-Level) | Via foundation year (C) | 54 |
| CSEE (Tanzania O-Level) | Via foundation year (C) | 54 |
| ZIMSEC O-Level (Zimbabwe) | Via foundation year (C) | 54 |
Most common overall-grade threshold for bachelor’s courses. IB and the American Curriculum are assessed on points/GPA per course; O-Level qualifications enter via a foundation year. Requirements are set per course — confirm the exact rule on the programme you want.
If you fall just short, don’t rule Australia out. A KCSE student can enter via an International Year One (typically a D) or a Foundation Programme, then articulate into a bachelor’s — the same route exists for UACE, ACSEE and ZIMSEC students. Requirements are set per course, so use the exact rule on the programme you want. Kenyan students can also read our study in Australia from Kenya guide.
Fees to expect
Tuition is charged per course, not per university. Across published Australian courses, here’s the first-year fee by level of study, in AUD (net of discounts).
| Level | Courses | Min | Median | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 1,079 | 11,234 | 43,453 | 95,448 |
| Undergraduate diploma | 202 | 3,808 | 18,535 | 66,415 |
| International Year One | 121 | 9,164 | 37,547 | 45,256 |
| Foundation programme | 67 | 11,714 | 31,087 | 48,190 |
First-year fee net of discounts, in AUD. Fees are set per course — confirm the exact figure on the course page.
In your currency. To convert any AUD figure to KES or NGN, work from the USD equivalent: ≈ KES at USD ×129.4, ≈ NGN at USD ×1347 (indicative, Aug 2026). A AUD 30,000 university tuition ≈ USD 21,400 ≈ KES 2.77m ≈ NGN 28.9m. Rates move — check the day you pay. Explore funding in our scholarships for African students guide.
Work, post-study & PR
Beyond the degree, Australia is attractive for what comes after it. Across these universities, the work and stay-back rights are consistent — and graduates can work towards Australia’s points-tested permanent-residency pathway, which is run by the Department of Home Affairs rather than granted by any university.
Work while you study
Students can typically work up to 24 hours a week during term — useful for living costs alongside your studies.
Post-study work permit
A post-study work permit is available at all of them, typically for two years after you graduate.
Route to residency
Australia has a points-tested permanent-residency pathway graduates can work towards — run by the Department of Home Affairs, not granted by universities, but one reason Australia stays a first choice for African students.
Your visa conditions are set by the government, not the university. For the funds you must prove and how to apply, see our Subclass 500 student visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many Australian universities can I apply to through Craydel?
You can apply to more than 40 Australian universities and colleges, from the University of Western Australia (275 courses) to more focused campuses. Five of them carry a QS or THE world ranking.
Which of these universities are world-ranked?
Five: the University of Western Australia (QS 77 / THE 153), the University of Newcastle (QS 227 / THE 144), La Trobe University (QS 233), Western Sydney University (QS 400) and James Cook University (QS 440). All sit in the world’s top 500 on at least one system.
Which university has the most course choice?
The University of Western Australia leads with 275 published courses, followed by Swinburne University of Technology (260) and the University of Newcastle (176). Course choice is often a more useful signal than ranking.
What grades do I need to get into an Australian university?
For most bachelor’s courses, the typical minimum is KCSE B−, WAEC B2, or CCC for A-Level, UACE, ACSEE and ZIMSEC A-Level; IB and the American Curriculum are assessed per course, and O-Level qualifications (IGCSE, UCE, CSEE) enter via a foundation year. If you fall short, an International Year One or Foundation Programme can lead into a bachelor’s.
How much is tuition at an Australian university?
Across around 1,080 bachelor’s courses, first-year tuition ranges from about AUD 11,234 to AUD 95,448; the most affordable universities start near AUD 30,000 and colleges from about AUD 16,000. Fees are set per course and field — computing and engineering are near AUD 29,000, health and biology near AUD 42,000–44,000.
Can I work and stay in Australia after graduating?
Yes. Students can typically work up to 24 hours a week during term, a post-study work permit of about two years is available at all of them, and from there graduates can work towards Australia’s points-tested permanent-residency pathway (run by the Department of Home Affairs, not granted by any university).
Can I convert these fees to KES or NGN?
Yes — convert via USD (AUD ÷ 1.4 ≈ USD), then ×129.4 for KES and ×1347 for NGN (indicative, Aug 2026). A AUD 30,000 university tuition is about KES 2.77m or NGN 28.9m. Exchange rates move, so check on the day you transfer.
Sources
- Craydel course, campus and admissions data (2026) — course counts, first-year fees by level and field, entry requirements by curriculum, work and PR pathways.
- QS and Times Higher Education (THE) world university rankings.
- Exchange rates for USD→AUD/KES/NGN conversion (July 2026); rates move daily.
Want this built around your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Australia universities that fit what you can actually afford — free.
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