The Australian High Commission in New Delhi states that Australia is the second-most popular location to pursue higher education abroad, right after the United States. Considering the opportunities to study in Australia for Indian students, it’s certainly not surprising that almost 52,186 students had commenced their studies in Australia as of June 2022.
When you think of destinations students choose to study abroad, the top choices would include the USA, the UK, Canada, etc. While they're certainly excellent options to consider, several study abroad consultants have highlighted how the expensive tuition and living costs deter most students from choosing these destinations. Fortunately, unlike the USA or the UK, Australia offers the perfect balance in affordability and quality of studies.
How Much Can You Expect to Pay to Study in Australia?
When considering a budget to study abroad, it's best to divide your planning into two sections – the major and the minor expenses.
- Major Expenses to Consider
- Tuition Fees
Unless you manage a 100% scholarship, the tuition fees will constitute almost 60% of your total budget. Australia is home to 43 universities, of which seven appear in the Top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2023. Therefore, you might expect the tuition fees to be higher. Fortunately, with over 1,200 institutions to explore, you'll surely find an institute with tuition fees that fall within your budget.
The fees usually depend on the following factors:
- The institute chosen
- The course of study
- Level of degree
The average tuition fee for a Bachelor's degree course in reputed universities in Australia would be around 45,000 AUD per year (XXXapprox. INR 26 lakhs). However, several universities offer more affordable options. For example, the tuition fees at Flinders University begin from AUD 10,305 (approx. INR 60,000) every year.
For a Master’s degree, the average tuition fees range from AUD 22,000 – AUD 55,000 yearly (approx. INR 12.5 lakhs – INR 31.4 lakhs). Meanwhile, if you're pursuing a PhD, you can expect to pay a yearly fee of nearly AUD 18,000 – AUD 42,000 (approx. INR 10.2 lakhs – INR 24 lakhs).
The wide range of tuition fees proves that, thanks to the many opportunities to study in Australia for Indian students, high tuition fees won’t ever become a major hindrance preventing you from pursuing your dreams of studying abroad.
- Accommodation Living Costs
According to study abroad consultants, your accommodation choice and living standards can make or break your dreams of studying abroad. Due to exchange rates, it might not be possible to maintain the same means of living that you've been used to in India when you visit Australia to complete your higher education, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Thankfully, due to several accommodation options for you to pursue based on how much you’re willing to spend. Some of the popular ones are the following:
- On-campus housing – AUD 90 – AUD 300 per week (approx. INR 5,200 – INR 17,200)
- Shared rental flats – AUD 80 – AUD 250 per week (approx. INR 4,600 – INR 14,300)
- Hostels and guesthouses – AUD 90 – AUD 150 per week (approx. INR 5,200 – INR 8,600)
- Private rental facilities – AUD 150 – AUD 450 per week (approx. INR 8,600 – INR 26,000)
- Homestay facilities – AUD 250 – AUD 350 per week (approx. INR 14,300 – INR 20,000)
The living costs in Australia depend on the city you’re living in. For example, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are more expensive than Wollongong, Canberra and Hobart. However, the average living costs you can expect include the following:
- Transportation costs – AUD 40 – AUD 90 (approx. INR 2,300 – INR 5,200)
- Household expenses – AUD 15 – AUD 30 (approx. INR 900 – INR 1,800)
- Food groceries – AUD 210 – AUD 500 (approx. INR 12,000 – INR 30,000)
- Miscellaneous expenses – AUD 120 – AUD 250 (approx. INR 7,000 – INR 20,000)
The expenses to study in Australia for Indian students might not be as high as you’d pay in the USA, but it’s still not very cheap if your standard of living is high. Depending on your budget, you can prioritise the location when shortlisting the universities where you’d like to pursue higher studies.
- Minor Expenses to Consider
Usually, when you research the expenses to study in Australia for Indian students, you might focus too much on tuition fees and living costs, which might ruin your overall budget. So, when preparing to study in Australia, you must consider the following:
- Costs associated with online exams
Most universities in Australia require students to submit English language proficiency test scores when applying to Australian universities. The most popular test is the IELTS, which is accepted in almost all universities. So, when considering the expenses, you need to include the fees for the IELTS exam test. The online test costs approximately INR 15,500.
- Visa other miscellaneous costs
Most students prefer to hire Visa SOP writing services when applying to foreign universities. A statement of purpose (SOP) is a crucial document that highlights your reasons for applying to a particular university. Due to intense competition to secure seats in reputable universities, a well-written SOP can tip the scale in your favour. Therefore, it might be best to hire a professional expert from a study abroad consultancy to assist you with writing a brilliant SOP.
Once you receive a confirmation letter from an Australian university, you must apply for a student visa. The application fee for this visa is approximately INR 35,500.
To sum it up,
Australia is one of the more affordable options for students on a budget. Thanks to the many opportunities to study in Australia for Indian students, you’re bound to find some institutes where you won’t have to burn a hole in your pocket trying to pay the tuition fees. Moreover, you can cover most of the expenses with scholarships and part-time work opportunities.
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