What Does It Really Cost to Study in Australia? (2026 Breakdown)
The costs that are actually fixed by government when you study in Australia as an international student — the living-cost benchmark, the visa charge, OSHC and work rights — and the one big cost, tuition, that isn't. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
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Chapters
- 0:00 What does studying in Australia really cost?
- 0:13 $29,710 a year
- 0:24 Bringing family adds to it
- 0:36 Tuition isn't fixed by government —
- 0:48 The visa charge, over time
- 1:07 Studying English only?
- 1:19 OSHC: five approved providers,
- 1:29 Work rights while you study
- 1:52 Where to read more
Transcript
What does studying in Australia actually cost as an international student? Four of the costs are fixed by government. One of the biggest isn't.
The government sets one number for every applicant: a living-cost benchmark of $29,710 a year, used to check you can support yourself while you study.
Bringing family adds to that figure. A partner adds $10,394 a year. Each dependent child adds $4,449 a year.
Tuition is different. It's set by your own institution, not by government, so any single figure you see quoted online for a degree is somebody's estimate, not an official number.
The one-time student visa charge has climbed fast. It was $710, then $1,600 from 1 July 2024, $2,000 from 1 July 2025, and $2,500 from 1 July 2026 for a higher-education course.
That $2,500 is for a higher-education course specifically. If you're only studying English, an ELICOS or non-award course carries a lower charge of $2,050.
Health cover is compulsory the whole time you hold the visa. Five providers are approved, and none of them publishes one fixed price.
Once you're studying, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight during teaching periods, and unlimited hours during breaks.
So the real total is yours to build: the $29,710 benchmark plus any family, your own OSHC quote, the visa charge, and the actual tuition figure on your offer letter — not a number from a comparison site.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description.
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