Australia is a popular choice among international students for studying abroad. Degrees and qualifications from Australian higher education institutions are known around the world as high quality and world class. This standard of excellence is set by the elite Group of 8 universities – the Ivy League of Australia, ranked 31 to 106 globally.
There are exceptionally remarkable advantages one gets upon studying in Australia; the cost factor always remains the perturbing aspect. As an international student from India,it is sensible to be well aware of the cost breakdown. The same will enable you to undertake appropriate budget planning. This not only prevents you from overspending but also ensures you have a smooth university experience. We have detailed out a few cost considerations that will help do the cost analysis and thus is vital for your budgeting.
Expenses for Australian student visa & health cover
There is a fee to obtain a student visa (Subclass 500) which is $620 AUD. Also, all international students are required to obtain health insurance coverage known as Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC), while applying for a student visa. It must be valid during the whole duration of your stay. You can either apply for this through your university or arrange a medical insurance cover from our empanelled providers. The average cost of OSHC for a single student for a period of 12 months is $500 AUD.
Annual tuition fee (biggest among all expenses)
The tuition fee varies depending upon the choices one makes. It is primarily dependent upon factors like the level of study, area of specialization, the university you are choosing etc. For instance, programsin medicine, law, MBA, and engineering are usually more expensivewhereas other specializations like arts, humanities, education, hotel management etc. are relatively on the lower side. Also, a PG course’s annual fee is usually higher than that of UG course.
The average yearly tuition fee for different levels of education is listed below:
- Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree : $14,000 – $34,000
Group of 8 : $32,000 – $47,000 - Postgraduate Master’s Degree – $18,000 to $36,000
Group of 8: $32,000 – $49,000 - English language studies – $300-450 weekly (varies as per course duration)
- Diplomas :Vocational Education and Training (Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma) – $4,000 to $22,000
Accommodation & living expenses
After tuition, the next big expense isaccommodation and living costs. These cover food, travel and entertainment which can amount to ansizeable expense as well if you have a lavish lifestyle. Students can either choose on-campus accommodation or off-campus facilities in Australia. Off campus accommodation can be in a homestay or student hostels with meals provided. Otherwise, you’ll want to find an affordable place to rent and share with fellow classmates.
Get in touch with one of the eXperts at Kaaiser to get thorough cost analysis of the overseas studies.
Here is a breakdown of the common living expenses:
Groceries and eating out – $140 to $280 per week
Gas, electricity – $10 to $20 per week
Phone and Internet – $10 to $30 per week
Public transport – $30 to $60 per week
Car (after purchase) – $150 to $260 per week
Entertainment – $50 to $150 per week
Transportation
One of theother major expenses to take into account is travel costs. You must ensure you know exactly what your program fees cover ahead of time. Beyond the major flights to and from your host country, you have to take into consideration that you’ll likely be using public transportation on a daily basis and also doing some traveling within the country or making trips back to India during holidays. These costs (as with rent and other daily expenses) are much less expensive in certain parts of the world than in others, depending on the economic standing of your host country.
On an average, the public transport expense for a student can vary from $30 to $70 per month. Many Australian territories like ACT (Australian Capital Territory), QLD (Queensland), SA (South Australia), NT (Northern Territory), WA (Western Australia – free for students), etc. offer transport concessions for international students. A weekly or monthly pass can be obtained for your regular bus or train rides. You also have the option of renting bicycles on a daily or monthly basis. Some large universities will also have their internal transportation services for students free of charge.
Manage your expenses through Scholarships
There are number of scholarships, grants and bursaries are available which can help international students financially to study in this country. The Australian government, universities, and some private organizations provide financial assistance to international students. Scholarships in Australia are offered on the basis of merit-based, student-specific or course-specific grants. The amount of Australian scholarship differs depending on the profile of the student ranging from $2000 up to 100% for the tuition fee.
Contact your eXpert Australian Education counsellor for complete guidance and scholarships to make your study in Australia affordable and without any surprise!