Information for:
Agents |
Staff |
Current Students
Living Costs
The cost of living varies from city to city. You will need between $AUD 13, 000 - $AUD 18, 000 per year to cover your living expenses such as accommodation, food and transport. This amount does not allow for luxuries, entertainment or the expenses involved in having a car.
In addition, an initial establishment cost is usually needed to cover rental bonds for accommodation, furniture and electricity and telephone expenses. Other expenses may include textbooks and study aids.
Clothing
In Australia, clothing can be costly except for occasional bargains. If you are coming from a warm climate to a cooler climate (such as to Canberra, Ballarat or Melbourne) you should either bring warm clothes with you or budget additional funds to purchase them after arrival in Australia.
Entertainment
Most students tend to organise their own entertainment, or they take part in on-campus activities. Other entertainment such as going to pubs and clubs can be costly.
Travel Concessions
State government travel concessions are unavailable to international students in some states.
Other
You should be aware that legal, medical and dental services in Australia are quite expensive. Overnight stays in hospital in Australia can cost in the vicinity of $A255 a night.
Initial Expenses
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Temporary accommodation (minimum two weeks) | $500 |
| Personal expenses (food and transport for one month) | $300 |
| Rent in advance (varies with area and type of accommodation | $400 |
| Bond (refundable upon vacating the accommodation) | $400 |
| Furniture pieces and kitchenware (second hand) | $880 |
| Connection charges (for utilities) | $170 |
| Total | $2650 |
All costs are in Australian dollars and can vary greatly. They are a guide only.
Weekly Expenses
| Item | Brisbane | Sydney | Melbourne | Ballarat | Canberra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (shared basis) | $110 | $130 | $120 | $80 | $100 |
| Food (based on home cooking) | $70 | $90 | $80 | $65 | $65 |
| Utility Bills (electricity, phone, gas, etc) | $30 | $30 | $30 | $30 | $30 |
| Public Transport | $35 | $40 | $40 | $30 | $30 |
| Miscellaneous | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| Weekly Total | $295 | $340 | $320 | $255 | $275 |
| Yearly Total | $15,340 | $17,680 | $16,640 | $13,260 | $14,300 |
All costs are in Australian dollars and can vary greatly. They are a guide only.
Other Expenses
You will also need to budget approximately $AUD 880 per year for text books.
Employment
International students who wish to seek employment in Australia must first apply for a work visa. Applications for work visas cannot be submitted until after you have arrived in Australia and have commenced your classes.
Although many international and local students are successful in obtaining casual and part-time employment to help subsidise their living costs while studying, you should not rely on obtaining such work when calculating your budget.
In Australia, international students who do succeed in obtaining employment may work for up to 20 hours per week during semester time and full-time during vacations (for example over the three month break from December to February).
