Australian university fees for international students, compared
What a year of tuition typically costs at each of the 39 universities, from the Australian Government's official course register. Typical means the middle value: half of that university's courses cost less and half cost more. Choose your study area to see fees for your field.
A bachelor's degree at an Australian university costs an international student between A$26,000 and A$72,000 a year in tuition. The typical university charges about A$42,000. That is a A$46,000-a-year gap between the cheapest and the most expensive. Your choice of university can change the cost of a three-year degree by more than A$130,000.
Free here: fees
Typical tuition at every university, by study area, and a side-by-side fee comparison.
With the UniPath Pass: value
Fees only tell you the price. The Pass shows what you get for it: graduate jobs, salaries, teaching quality and industry links, for every university you compare.
Compare universities: tick up to 4 in the table below to see them side by side.
Bachelor's = undergraduate degrees. Master's = postgraduate coursework (master's, graduate diplomas and certificates). Courses = registered courses open to international students. Scholarship = the main tuition scholarship for international students starting in 2027, checked on each university's website on 9 November 2026. "Automatic" means no separate application.
UniPath Pass: value comparison
Why free users see fees, and Pass holders see value
The fee comparison above is free for everyone. Choosing a university is a A$100,000+ decision, so the Pass adds what the price tag does not tell you, for up to 4 universities side by side.
How many international graduates land full-time work, for bachelor’s and master’s.
What graduates typically earn in their first full-time job in Australia.
How international students rate the teaching, the skills they build and their overall experience.
Work-experience opportunities, finding a job while you study, and how many courses include a placement.
The full cost of your degree measured against what graduates earn.
Which university is better value for your field and goal, and the one question that decides it.
Lowest-fee courses in your field, living costs, the full cost of each degree and every course at each university.
All in one place, side by side for the universities you pick, from official Australian Government data and the national course register, checked and kept up to date by UniPath.
Global rankings: we link to the official tables rather than copy them. QS World University Rankings (Australia) · Times Higher Education (Australia)
A$29 once for 90 days, not a subscription. 14-day money-back guarantee.
Get the UniPath PassSource: CRICOS register (Australian Government, data.gov.au), September 2026. Yearly tuition = registered tuition for the course ÷ course length. Typical = median. Fees are the universities' own estimates and change; confirm with the university.
How much does it cost to study in Australia?
Plan for two costs every year:
- Tuition: A$26,000–A$72,000 for a bachelor's degree, and A$26,000–A$65,000 for a master's.
- Living costs: the student visa asks you to show at least A$29,710 a year. Sydney and Melbourne usually cost more than this.
| Your choice | Tuition / year | + Living (visa minimum) | First-year budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest-fee university (Southern Cross) | A$26,000 | A$29,710 | ≈ A$55,700 |
| Typical university (median) | A$41,970 | A$29,710 | ≈ A$71,700 |
| Highest-fee public university (Sydney) | A$59,760 | A$29,710 | ≈ A$89,500 |
The three fee bands
- Under A$40,000 a year (18 universities). These are mostly regional and newer universities, such as Southern Cross, Sunshine Coast, New England, Charles Darwin and Southern Queensland. They are the lowest-cost route to an Australian degree. Many are also in regional areas, which can matter for post-study visa options.
- A$40,000–A$50,000 (14 universities). These are large city universities such as Deakin, La Trobe, QUT, RMIT, Macquarie and Curtin. They balance city life and job markets with mid-range fees.
- A$50,000 and above (7 universities). These are the research-intensive names: Sydney, Monash, ANU, UNSW, UWA and Adelaide, plus private Bond at A$72,338. You pay for ranking and research reputation.
Why fees differ so much
- Subject: medicine, engineering and IT sit at the top of each university's range, and arts and business at the bottom. A university's "typical" fee is the middle of its range.
- City: Sydney and Melbourne universities charge more, and living costs there are higher too.
- Ranking: the Group of Eight universities charge A$47,000–A$60,000.
- Scholarships: most universities take 15% to 30% off tuition for international students with good results, often automatically. That can move a university down a whole band, so check the scholarship column above before you rule one out.
Common questions
What is the cheapest university in Australia for international students?
Southern Cross University has the lowest typical fee: A$26,000 a year for both bachelor's and master's degrees. It is followed by the University of the Sunshine Coast (A$29,500), the University of New England (A$31,412) and Charles Darwin University (A$31,733).
How much does a bachelor's degree in Australia cost for international students?
Tuition is usually A$26,000–A$60,000 a year at public universities, and the typical figure is about A$42,000. A three-year degree at a typical university costs about A$126,000 in tuition, before living costs.
How much money do I need to show for an Australian student visa?
You must show at least A$29,710 for 12 months of living costs. You also need your first year of tuition and travel costs. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for current figures before you apply.
Is a master's degree cheaper than a bachelor's in Australia?
Per year, often not; the typical master's fee (A$41,000) is close to the typical bachelor's (A$41,970). But most master's degrees take 1.5–2 years rather than 3, so the total cost is usually lower.
Are Australian university fees going up?
Fees are set by each university and usually rise every year. Treat these September 2026 figures as a floor and confirm the fee for your exact course and intake.
Your budget, your course, your shortlist, in two minutes. Tell ARIA what you want to study and what you can spend. You'll get a ranked shortlist of universities with the real fee for your course, plus scholarships and living costs.
Get my free shortlist