Study in Australia — Sydney Opera House and university campus

🇦🇺 Study in Australia 2026

Top universities, honest fee ranges, living costs by city, application steps, scholarships, student visa facts and post-study work — everything you need before you apply.

🎓 Top Universities

The Group of Eight (Go8) plus top regional picks — city, popular programs and ranking band.

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Australian National University (ANU)Canberra · Politics, IR, physics, philosophy. Consistently Australia's #1 research university.
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University of MelbourneMelbourne · Medicine, law, business, arts. Famous "Melbourne Model" broad degrees.
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University of SydneySydney · Engineering, IT, medicine, law. Australia's oldest university, harbourside campus.
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UNSW SydneySydney · Engineering, computer science, business. Strong industry links and startups.
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Monash UniversityMelbourne · Pharmacy (#1 globally), IT, education, business. Australia's largest university.
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University of Queensland (UQ)Brisbane · Science, agriculture, medicine, tourism. Beautiful riverfront St Lucia campus.
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University of AdelaideAdelaide · Dentistry, wine science, mining engineering. Lower living costs, Nobel alumni.
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University of Western Australia (UWA)Perth · Marine science, mining, medicine. Perth offers extra post-study work time as a regional area.
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RMIT UniversityMelbourne · Design, architecture, aviation, IT. Career-focused, central city campus.
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Deakin UniversityMelbourne / Geelong · Sports science, nursing, education. Great student satisfaction scores.
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Griffith UniversityBrisbane / Gold Coast · Hospitality, music, environment. Beach lifestyle campuses.
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Curtin UniversityPerth · Mining, data science, nursing. Western Australia's largest university.

💰 Tuition Fees 2026

Annual ranges for international students. Fees are charged in AUD — USD is an approximate equivalent.

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Bachelor's Degree3–4 year undergraduate programs across all fields.AUD 20,000–45,000/yr · ≈ $13,000–$29,000 USD
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Master's Degree1.5–2 year postgraduate coursework programs.AUD 22,000–50,000/yr · ≈ $14,000–$32,500 USD
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PhD / Doctorate3–4 year research degrees; many come with stipend scholarships.AUD 18,000–42,000/yr · ≈ $11,700–$27,300 USD
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VET / TAFE DiplomasVocational courses — trades, hospitality, IT diplomas.AUD 4,000–22,000/yr · ≈ $2,600–$14,300 USD
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ELICOS (English Courses)English language courses, often as pathway programs.AUD 300–450/week · ≈ $195–$290 USD
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Medicine & DentistryThe most expensive degrees — top-tier clinical programs.AUD 60,000–85,000/yr · ≈ $39,000–$55,000 USD

🏙️ Living Costs by City

Typical monthly budget for a student: shared rent + food + transport.

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SydneyMost expensive city — big campus jobs market and harbour lifestyle.AUD 2,000–3,000/mo · ≈ $1,300–$1,950 USD
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MelbourneCulture capital — world-famous coffee, arts and student precincts.AUD 1,800–2,800/mo · ≈ $1,170–$1,820 USD
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BrisbaneWarm climate, growing unis, slightly cheaper than the south.AUD 1,600–2,500/mo · ≈ $1,040–$1,625 USD
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PerthBeaches and mining economy — regional bonus for post-study work.AUD 1,500–2,300/mo · ≈ $975–$1,495 USD
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AdelaideAustralia's most affordable mainland capital for students.AUD 1,400–2,100/mo · ≈ $910–$1,365 USD
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CanberraQuiet, safe, campus-city — home of ANU and national institutions.AUD 1,500–2,400/mo · ≈ $975–$1,560 USD

📝 Application Guide — Step by Step

Start 6–12 months before your target intake (February and July are the main ones).

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1. Pick your intake & courseFebruary (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2) are the main intakes; some unis offer November too. Check CRICOS registration — only registered courses qualify for a student visa.
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2. Prepare documentsAcademic transcripts, passport, English test result, CV/statement of purpose, work references (if any), and financial evidence for living funds.
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3. Meet the English requirementTypically IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for most degrees; medicine, law and teaching ask for more. PTE, TOEFL and Cambridge are usually accepted.
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4. Satisfy the Genuine Student (GS) requirementShow your course fits your study history, that you can fund your stay, and that you genuinely intend to study. The GS replaced the old GTE in 2024.
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5. Get your CoE & apply for the visaAccept your offer, pay the deposit, receive the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), then lodge Student visa (subclass 500) online via ImmiAccount. Fee: AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026 (non-refundable).
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6. Arrange OSHC & book travelOverseas Student Health Cover is mandatory — arrange it before visa grant and keep it your whole stay (roughly AUD 500–700/yr for singles). Book flights after your visa is granted.

🏆 Scholarships

Merit, destination and government-funded awards that cut your fees.

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Australia Awards ScholarshipsFull government scholarships for students from partner countries — tuition, travel, living allowance and more.
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Destination AustraliaFunding for studying at regional campuses — encourages students to look beyond Sydney and Melbourne.
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University Merit ScholarshipsMost Go8 and top unis offer 15–30% fee waivers for high-achieving internationals — check each university's international scholarships page.
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Research Training Program (RTP)For PhD and research master's — covers tuition plus a living stipend for eligible candidates.

💼 Post-Study Work

What happens after you graduate — staying and working legally.

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Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)Work in Australia after finishing your course — the main post-study pathway for international graduates.
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How long can you stay?Post-study work streams generally run 2–4 years depending on qualification level; studying in regional areas can add extra time.
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Work rights while studyingUp to 48 hours per fortnight during term, unlimited hours during scheduled breaks — part-time jobs help cover living costs.
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Pathways to permanent residencySkilled graduates may later qualify for skilled migration (points-tested visas). Requirements change often — verify on homeaffairs.gov.au.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to study in Australia in 2026?
International bachelor's tuition typically runs AUD 20,000–45,000 per year, master's AUD 22,000–50,000, and PhD AUD 18,000–42,000. You must also show about AUD 29,710 per year in living funds for the visa, plus the Student visa (subclass 500) application charge of AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026.
What is the Student visa (subclass 500) fee in 2026?
From 1 July 2026 the primary-applicant application charge is AUD 2,500 (AUD 2,050 for ELICOS and non-award sectors). It is non-refundable even if the visa is refused. Confirm the current amount on homeaffairs.gov.au before you lodge.
Can international students work while studying in Australia?
Yes — student visa holders may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
What English score do I need to study in Australia?
Most universities ask for IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework, with higher scores for medicine, law and teaching. PTE, TOEFL and Cambridge are usually accepted too.
When are the intakes for Australian universities?
The two main intakes are February (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2). Some universities also offer a smaller November intake. Apply 6–12 months early.
What is the Genuine Student (GS) requirement?
The GS requirement replaced the old GTE in 2024. You must convince the Department of Home Affairs that you genuinely intend to study — through your study history, course choice, finances and ties to home. It is assessed with your visa application.
Can I stay and work in Australia after graduation?
Yes — the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets eligible graduates live and work in Australia after finishing their course. Post-study work streams generally allow 2–4 years depending on your qualification level and region.
What is OSHC and is it mandatory?
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory health insurance for all student visa holders. You must arrange it before your visa is granted and keep it for your whole stay. Typical singles cover costs roughly AUD 500–700 per year.

Fees, visa charges and requirements change — always confirm the latest figures on studyinaustralia.gov.au and homeaffairs.gov.au before you apply. Figures above reflect 2026 policy as reported by multiple visa-advisory sources.