or
Continue with FacebookLooking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here.
The Cost of Studying a PhD in Australia
Written by Isabel Aberdeen
If you’re thinking of studying in Australia, you might be wondering how expensive it is to study down under. This page will take you through the key costs students face when studying in one of the most popular study abroad destinations.
University tuition fees
The cost of your PhD in Australia can depend on whether you receive any funding support or whether you pay the tuition in full. The cost of tuition for an international student can be between AUD $20,000 and $50,000 per year (USD $12,500-31,261). It is possible you may not have to pay the full tuition fees as many projects come with funding attached or there are opportunities to obtain additional funding through awards and scholarships.
You may also need to consider the cost of admissions tests such as the GRE and GMAT, English language tests and any other study materials you may require.
Costs associated with the Australian Student Visa
As part of the Student Visa application, you will need to show that you have access to funds to support your studies in Australia. There are several ways to provide evidence of your finances, including money stored in a financial institution, official government evidence of your parents or partner’s annual income, loans and scholarships.
- Travel – The cost of your travel to and from Australia is considered in the visa application. If you are travelling from outside of Australia, anticipate needing a minimum of AUD $2,000 in addition to the living costs.
- Course tuition fees – You will have to demonstrate that you have paid or have the funds to pay for your tuition fees. If your course is 12 months or less, this is for the full course fees. For courses over 12 months, you can use one year of course fees minus any contributions you have already made.
- Cost of living funds – You will have to demonstrate that you have access to the living costs required for a 12 month stay in Australia. The current living costs requirement is now AUD $29,710. If your course is less than 12 months, you can calculate a pro rata value. Additional living costs are required if you are bringing a partner (AUD $8,574) or child (AUD $3,670 plus schooling costs) with you. The Australian government website notes that these costs are the minimum amount needed for your visa application, but the cost of living can vary across Australia so the actual amounts needed may differ.
- Health insurance – In most cases, you will need to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from the time you arrive in Australia until you leave. There are some exceptions to this depending on your nationality. The length of stay awarded on your visa may include an additional one to three months after your course finishes, depending on the duration of your studies and if your OSHC also covers this additional time. You must commit to this additional time when purchasing the OSHC, as the visa end date is fixed once granted. This can cost upward of AUD $440 for a single individual for one year.
- Application fee – Once you have your documents sorted and funds arranged, the application charge for an Australian Student Visa is AUD$2,000. In some cases, you may be exempt from paying this fee. Reasons for an exemption can include students who receive their funding from the Commonwealth Government of Australia, students who experience an education provider default and are reapplying for a visa or family members of students enrolled on a postgraduate course. It is important to check whether you are eligible for an exemption before submitting your visa application.
How expensive is the cost of living in Australia?
The Australian government estimates that international students will need to budget AUD $2,042 (USD $1,338) per month – though this will vary according to your location, choice of accommodation and lifestyle.
We’ve put together some typical costs for international students in Australia and compared this to the average costs of living in the USA.
| Australia | USA | |
| Monthly rent (1 bedroom apartment, city centre) | USD$2,217 | USD$1,756 |
| Monthly rent (1 bedroom apartment, outside city centre) | USD$1,756 | USD$1,449 |
| Restaurant Meal | USD$25 | USD$20 |
| Cinema ticket | USD$22 | USD$14 |
| Monthly travel pass | USD$168 | USD$65 |
| Monthly utilities | USD$299 | USD$207 |
| Based on crowdsourced data published by Numbeo. | ||
Accommodation: university owned or private
The price of accommodation can vary depending on whether you are in university owned or private accommodation. University accommodation in Australia is typically between AUD$346 (uncatered) to $484 (catered) per week (USD $237-332), and this often includes utilities.
In private accommodation, a room in a flat (shared house) could be upward of AUD $140 to $293 per week (USD $96-201), as a rough estimate. An apartment can cost much more than this and include utilities, as shown in the table above.
Additional living costs for international students in Australia
Once you have sorted your accommodation, you’ll want to make sure you budget for other essential costs. The average cost of a grocery shop for one person is approximately AUD $100 (USD $67.08). To stay connected with family and friends, new and old, you will probably want to sort a mobile phone and internet connection. For 10GB of data, a monthly mobile plan could cost about AUD $44 (USD $29) or about AUD $86 (USD $56) a month for the internet. Outside of your studies, you may want to enjoy the Australian weather and stay active. The average cost of a fitness club per month is AUD $83 (USD $55) or a tennis court for one hour on the weekend is approximately AUD $28 (USD $18.50).
Getting around Australian cities is easy on public transport. In some cities there are even free routes, and others have a weekly maximum fare no matter how often you travel. Having a car can be a more convenient option for your daily commute and open up options for travelling further afield. It’s possible for international students to drive in Australia using their home driving licence and convert it to a local licence within the first few months of your stay. But the costs of having a car can add up to more than AUD $100 per week accounting for the cost of fuel, insurance, parking, and maintenance.
What financial support is available?
There are many ways to get financial support during your PhD in Australia. As a PhD student, it is possible to work during your studies for 48 hours a fortnight during term. There are also scholarships for international students available. Check out our full guide on PhD funding in Australia to learn more about funding options and scholarships. The Austudy scheme is also an option for students over the age of 25 on a full-time PhD to be paid to study in Australia.
But if you do experience financial hardship during your studies, then reach out to your institution’s international student support services to see what help may be available.
Find a PhD in Australia
Use our course search engine to find the latest PhD opportunities in Australia
Isabel Aberdeen
Izzy joined FindAPhD as an Assistant Content Writer on a six-month internship, to share her insights and experiences of PhD life (that her past self wishes she’d known!). She is currently a final year PhD student at the University of Warwick on a Doctoral Training Partnership. Izzy’s journey is a little different as she didn’t do a Masters before her PhD, instead she studied Biomedical Science with Industrial Experience at The University of Manchester.
You may also like...
Comparing Post-Study Work Visas in Popular Study Destinations
A quick guide to post-study work visas in top countries so you know where you can stay and work after graduation.
Read more
The Fastest Growing Research Destinations for Chemistry
Want to study Chemistry but unsure of the best location? Check out the top countries leading the way in this research!
Read more
The Fastest Growing Research Destinations for Arts & Humanities
Not sure where to pursue Arts & Humanities? Discover the top countries where research in this field is growing!
Read more
The Fastest Growing Research Destinations for Architecture, Construction and Materials Science
Thinking about studying Architecture, Construction and Materials Science but unsure where? We've identified the fastest-growing countries for this research to guide your decision!
Read more
Working in Australia: How to Find Work During and After Your Studies
A guide to everything you need to know about working in Australia both during and after your postgraduate degree.
Read more
Apply for Austudy: Get Paid to Study in Australia
You can earn up to AUS$806 per fortnight while studying a postgraduate course in Australia. Find out about the Austudy payments including eligibility criteria, applications and amounts.
Read moreLast Updated: 19 December 2024
