The short answer
A first year in Australia depends on the course and institution: bachelor's tuition starts from about AUD 16,000 at colleges and about AUD 30,000 at universities, plus AUD 12,000–19,000 in living costs by city. Separately, the Subclass 500 visa requires you to prove AUD 29,710 in living funds.
Most students budget for tuition and stop there. The reality has three parts — tuition, living costs, and the funds you must prove for a Subclass 500 visa — and they are not the same number.
The tuition and living-cost figures below are drawn from published Australian course and campus data and converted to Australian dollars. The visa and health figures come from official Australian sources and are shown separately.
How much does a first year in Australia cost?
What you spend depends on the course, institution and city you choose. 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, plus roughly AUD 12,000–19,000 a year in living costs depending on the city. Your field and city move this a lot — an IT degree in Perth costs far less than health sciences in Brisbane; the tables below break tuition down by level and field.
Tuition by level of study
Tuition is set per course, not per university. These are first-year fees (net of discounts) across published Australian courses, in AUD.
| Level | Courses | Min | Median | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 1,079 | 11,236 | 43,459 | 95,461 |
| Undergraduate diploma | 202 | 3,809 | 18,538 | 66,424 |
| Foundation programme | 67 | 11,715 | 31,092 | 48,196 |
First-year fee net of discounts, in AUD. Fees are set per course — confirm the exact figure on the course page.
Tuition by field of study
Your subject is the biggest single driver of tuition. Median first-year fee by course category (AUD):
| Field | Courses | Median first-year fee (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Information Technology & Systems | 258 | 29,386 |
| Computer Science | 249 | 29,423 |
| General Engineering | 175 | 28,784 |
| Business Administration | 472 | 33,160 |
| Finance, Accounting & Tax | 162 | 33,634 |
| Artificial Intelligence & Data Science | 122 | 36,148 |
| Psychology & Behavioural Science | 140 | 38,890 |
| Biomedical & Health Sciences | 230 | 42,738 |
| Biology | 149 | 44,181 |
| Environmental Studies & Ecology | 134 | 50,359 |
Median first-year fee by field, in AUD. Fees vary within each field — check the specific course.
In your currency. To convert any AUD figure, go via USD (AUD ÷ 1.4 ≈ USD), then ≈ KES at USD ×129.4 or ≈ 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.
Living costs by city
Rent drives everything. These are estimated annual off-campus living costs by city (AUD). They reflect the specific campuses in each city, so the order differs from generic city-cost lists.
Off-campus mean estimated annual living cost, in AUD. Actual costs vary by lifestyle and accommodation choice.
Zoe Craydel, Senior counsellor, Craydel Australia
Official visa & health costs (set by the government)
These are set by the Australian government and are separate from what your course and city actually cost. You must plan for them too.
- Living funds you must prove for the visaA fixed figure for the Subclass 500, regardless of your real spend. Add AUD 10,394 for a partner, AUD 4,449 per child.AUD 29,710/yr
- Student visa application chargeBase charge from 1 July 2026. Confirm on the Home Affairs pricing page before lodging.AUD 2,500
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)Mandatory for the whole visa; price depends on provider and duration.AUD 478–1,000/yr
- Extra funds to prove if you apply from AfricaA travel component added to the funds you evidence — East/Southern Africa AUD 2,500, West Africa AUD 3,000.AUD 2,500–3,000
Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs (visa funds + charge); OSHC providers. Verify on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you lodge.
How to bring the number down
You cannot change the visa funds requirement, but you can change almost everything else — your field, your city, and how much you earn while enrolled.
Study in a cheaper city
Perth living costs are near AUD 8,100/yr vs Brisbane ~AUD 19,000 — a real difference over three years.
Pick a lower-fee field
IT and engineering median near AUD 29,000 vs environmental science ~AUD 50,000. Same degree length, very different fee.
Enter via a diploma or foundation
An undergraduate diploma median is ~AUD 18,500 — a cheaper first year that can articulate into a bachelor’s.
Work 48 hours per fortnight
Permitted during term on a Subclass 500, and unlimited in scheduled breaks — helps with living costs, not the funds you must prove.
Want a first-year budget built around your grades and field?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist courses that fit what you can actually afford — with the real fees for each one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study in Australia for one year?
It depends on the course and institution. Bachelor’s tuition starts from about AUD 16,000 at the most affordable colleges and about AUD 30,000 at universities; add AUD 12,000–19,000 living costs depending on the city, plus health cover. Your field, city and institution move the total a lot.
How much is tuition for a bachelor’s degree?
Across around 1,080 Australian bachelor’s courses, first-year tuition ranges from about AUD 11,236 to AUD 95,461. The most affordable pathway colleges start near AUD 16,000 and the most affordable universities near AUD 30,000; your field and institution set the exact fee.
Which field is cheapest to study?
IT and engineering have the lowest median fees (~AUD 29,000), while biology, health sciences and environmental science are the highest (AUD 42,000–50,000).
Which Australian city is cheapest to live in?
Perth is the lowest of the major cities (~AUD 8,100/yr), with Sydney around AUD 11,800 and Brisbane the highest at ~AUD 19,000. These reflect the specific campuses in each city.
How much money do I need to prove for the student visa?
Separately from your real spend, the Subclass 500 visa requires you to evidence AUD 29,710 in living funds for 12 months (plus AUD 10,394 for a partner, AUD 4,449 per child). Applicants from Africa add a travel component of AUD 2,500–3,000. This is a government figure.
Can I convert these costs 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) — first-year fees by level and field; off-campus living costs by city.
- Exchange rates for USD→AUD/KES/NGN conversion (Aug 2026); rates move daily.
- Australian Department of Home Affairs — Subclass 500 financial capacity + visa charge. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- OSHC providers — Overseas Student Health Cover indicative cost.
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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