Key takeaways
- Bachelor’s tuition in Australia generally runs AUD 20,000–45,000 a year and master’s AUD 22,000–50,000, varying by university and discipline.
- Home Affairs requires evidence of AUD 29,710 for one year of living costs, plus 12 months of course fees and travel.
- The student visa application charge rose to AUD 2,500 on 1 July 2026, and OSHC is a visa condition for the full stay.
- Housing is the biggest difference between cities; Adelaide is about 16% cheaper than Sydney according to StudyAdelaide.
- Saudi scholarship students in Australia have tuition covered by a Cultural Mission financial guarantee and receive a monthly stipend based on SAR 5,606.25 for Category A, with dependant allowances.
- One Australian dollar was about SAR 2.68 on 14 September 2026; budget at the rate on the day you transfer.
In this article
- How much does it cost to study in Australia per year? The big numbers first
- How much are Australian university fees by field of study?
- How much financial capacity does Home Affairs require?
- What is the cost of living in Australia for students? Sydney versus Adelaide
- How much does Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) cost?
- What does the Saudi government scholarship cover?
- How do scholarships and smart choices reduce the cost?
- How to build your budget step by step
- How KD International helps
Studying in Australia as a self-funded Saudi student typically costs between about AUD 20,000 and AUD 50,000 a year in tuition according to THE in February 2026, plus the AUD 29,710 minimum living cost the Department of Home Affairs requires for a student visa, as UNSW notes, health cover and a visa charge. Saudi scholarship students have tuition, insurance and a monthly stipend covered by the Ministry of Education. This guide puts every figure in one place, with its source.
How much does it cost to study in Australia per year? The big numbers first
These are the figures that shape the whole budget. Each carries its source and date, because fees change every year:
| Item | Amount (AUD) | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree tuition (general range) | 20,000 – 45,000 per year | Times Higher Education – 25 February 2026 |
| Master’s degree tuition (general range) | 22,000 – 50,000 per year | Times Higher Education – 25 February 2026 |
| Minimum living cost for the student visa | 29,710 per year for a single student | UNSW Sydney, citing the Department of Home Affairs – in force since 10 May 2024 |
| Student visa (subclass 500) application charge | 2,500 | Study Australia – from 1 July 2026 |
| Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) | about 79 per month for a single student on a basic policy | – as at September 2026 |
To estimate in Saudi riyals: one Australian dollar bought 0.7149 US dollars on 14 September 2026 according to the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the riyal is fixed at 3.75 to the US dollar according to the Saudi Central Bank, so AUD 1 is roughly SAR 2.68. The living-cost minimum (AUD 29,710) is therefore about SAR 79,600 a year, and AUD 45,000 in tuition is about SAR 120,600. Check the rate on the day you transfer money.
How much are Australian university fees by field of study?
Fees are set per program and vary by university, discipline and city. Laboratory, engineering and medical programs usually cost more than humanities and commerce, and Group of Eight (Go8) universities usually charge more than others.
A real example from 2026 fees
UNSW Sydney charges per unit of credit (UOC), with 48 UOC as a full-time year. According to the UNSW 2026 fee schedule:
| Faculty (undergraduate) | Fee per UOC per UNSW 2026 | Estimated full year (48 UOC) |
|---|---|---|
| Business School | AUD 1,180 | about AUD 56,640 (≈ SAR 151,800) |
| Engineering | AUD 1,270 | about AUD 60,960 (≈ SAR 163,400) |
| Science | AUD 1,305 | about AUD 62,640 (≈ SAR 167,900) |
These are figures from one of the higher-fee universities; universities in smaller cities sit towards the lower end of the general range above. The number that matters is your own program’s fee, found on the program page or in your offer letter.
Small fees that get forgotten
- The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is typically about AUD 373 a year according to Times Higher Education on 25 February 2026.
- Books and supplies run AUD 500–1,000 a year according to the same source.
- Fees are reviewed annually and may rise during your degree, which UNSW states explicitly in its schedule.
How much financial capacity does Home Affairs require?
For the student visa (subclass 500), the Department of Home Affairs requires evidence you can cover travel, 12 months of course fees, and 12 months of living costs for yourself and any accompanying family. The living-cost benchmark for a single student has been AUD 29,710 a year since 10 May 2024, as UNSW notes. For partner, child and school-fee amounts, check the current figures on the Home Affairs visa page.
What this means for a self-funded student
A bachelor’s student with AUD 40,000 in fees needs to show roughly AUD 70,000 or more for the first year (fees + 29,710 living + travel). Saudi scholarship students instead present the financial guarantee issued by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (الملحقية الثقافية), as explained in the Cultural Mission in Australia’s financial FAQ.
The Genuine Student requirement
Since 23 March 2024, applications are assessed under the Genuine Student (GS) requirement according to the Department of Home Affairs. Its questions are answered inside the application form, with a limit of 150 words per response, and supported by financial and academic evidence. Your financial documents are part of showing the case officer that you understand the cost and can meet it.
What is the cost of living in Australia for students? Sydney versus Adelaide
The visa benchmark is not necessarily what you will actually spend; housing is the biggest difference between cities.
| City | What the official source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Modest on-campus living from about AUD 28,860 a year, rising above AUD 40,820 for someone living alone and going out often; monthly average AUD 2,645 – 4,166 | UNSW Sydney – as at September 2026 |
| Sydney (shared accommodation) | AUD 370 – 550 a week near campus | UTS – as at September 2026 |
| Adelaide | 16% cheaper than Sydney and 13% cheaper than Melbourne; most students spend AUD 350 – 700 a week | – as at September 2026 |
Weekly living items in Sydney
UTS estimates groceries at AUD 400–800 a month, transport at AUD 130–800 a month depending on distance (with daily and weekly caps on the Opal card), and electricity plus internet at AUD 150–400 a month if not included in rent.
How to compare cities yourself
The Australian Government’s Cost of Living Calculator compares accommodation and transport options by city. Study Australia notes the calculator’s figures are an approximate guide last updated in November 2023, so use it for comparison rather than a final budget.
Accommodation types and when each suits you
- University or managed student accommodation: bills and internet usually included; a good first-year choice.
- Shared rental: the cheapest option; expect a bond usually equal to four weeks’ rent according to Study Australia.
- Homestay: looks dearer because meals and utilities are included.
How much does Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) cost?
OSHC is a condition of the student visa for its full length. A basic single policy at starts from about AUD 79.10 a month as at September 2026, and Times Higher Education put three years of cover at AUD 630–840 in February 2026 depending on the insurer. Prices differ between insurers and are adjusted yearly; your university will usually offer its partner insurer with the offer letter.
What does the Saudi government scholarship cover?
A student on the King Salman Scholarship Program (برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث) does not pay tuition personally. The Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in Australia issues a financial guarantee to the university covering the scholarship decision period, treats English-language terms as academic terms, reimburses visa and medical examination fees against original receipts, reimburses English test fees up to three tests, and processes financial requests in 15 to 20 days.
The monthly stipend in numbers
The Cultural Mission in Australia publishes its financial allocations table (last updated September 2024), converting riyals to Australian dollars at 2.27 for payment purposes:
| Item (Category A – civilian) | SAR per month per the Cultural Mission – September 2024 |
|---|---|
| Base stipend | 5,606.25 |
| Clothing allowance | 416.7 |
| Book allowance | 177.1 |
| Total for a single student | 6,929.15 (≈ AUD 3,052) |
| Spouse or mahram allowance | 5,606.25 |
| Per child (up to two) | 812.5 each |
| Total for a student with spouse | 12,952.07 (≈ AUD 5,706) |
Dependant allowances are paid only for family physically living with the student in Australia, and stipends are deposited on the 27th of each calendar month according to the Cultural Mission. The program does not include an English-language year for English-speaking countries according to the scholarship program FAQ, so a final unconditional offer is required.
Want to know which track fits you before costing it? Read our guide to all Saudi scholarship programs or the details of the Arruaad (Pioneers) track, which opened for applications in September 2026.
How do scholarships and smart choices reduce the cost?
- University scholarships: the University of Sydney, for example, reports awarding more than AUD 135 million in scholarships each year; most international scholarships are a percentage fee reduction granted automatically with the offer or by separate application. Check conditions on the university’s scholarship page before applying.
- Research Training Program (RTP): an Australian Government scholarship for research master’s and PhD candidates, applied for through the university according to Study Australia.
- City: the housing gap between Adelaide and Sydney alone changes the annual budget by thousands of dollars, as the table above shows.
- University accommodation in first year, then shared housing once you know the city.
- Part-time work: Australia’s national minimum wage is AUD 24.95 an hour from 1 July 2025 according to UNSW; check the work-hour limits on your visa on the Home Affairs website.
- Instalments: KD has announced partnerships with Jeel Pay for fee instalments and with Scape for student housing; ask our team what applies to your program.
How to build your budget step by step
- Choose the program and university, and take the fee from the official program page, not a general table.
- Add AUD 29,710 for living costs as the visa minimum per UNSW, then compare with your city’s actual figures on the Study Australia calculator.
- Add health cover for the full visa period, the visa charge (AUD 2,500 per Study Australia) and airfares.
- Subtract what a scholarship covers, and convert the remainder to riyals at today’s rate.
- Prepare evidence of financial capacity in the format Home Affairs requires, or the Cultural Mission’s financial guarantee if you are a scholarship student.
How KD International helps
KD International is a Saudi-Australian education consultancy and university admissions company operating since 2015, with offices in Riyadh and Sydney. Our admissions service is free for students applying to scholarship-program fields at universities recognised by the Saudi Ministry of Education, and we help with admissions, housing, visa guidance and NAATI-certified translation. We summarised the answer to "Is studying in Australia expensive?" in a thread on X on 30 November 2023; this article is the updated version with 2026 figures.
The practical next step: register your details on the application form and we will come back with a cost estimate for your program and city, or review our process steps to see what follows an offer.
Frequently asked questions
Bachelor’s tuition is generally AUD 20,000–45,000 a year and master’s AUD 22,000–50,000, plus living costs, health cover and the visa charge. The exact figure is your program’s fee on the university website.
Home Affairs requires evidence you can cover AUD 29,710 in living costs for a year, 12 months of course fees, and travel. Saudi scholarship students present the Cultural Mission’s financial guarantee instead.
UNSW estimates modest on-campus living from about AUD 28,860 a year, rising above AUD 40,820 for someone living alone, with a monthly average of AUD 2,645–4,166.
Yes. StudyAdelaide reports Adelaide is 16% cheaper than Sydney and 13% cheaper than Melbourne, with most students spending AUD 350–700 a week. Rent is the main difference.
AUD 2,500 for a student visa (subclass 500) application from 1 July 2026 according to Study Australia, up from AUD 2,000. The charge is not refunded if the application is refused.
Tuition through a Cultural Mission financial guarantee, health insurance, a monthly stipend based on SAR 5,606.25 for Category A with clothing and book allowances, allowances for a spouse and children living with the student, and reimbursement of visa, medical and up to three English-test fees.
A basic single policy at Medibank starts from about AUD 79 a month as at September 2026; prices vary by insurer and are adjusted yearly. Your university usually offers its partner insurer with the offer.
Official sources
- Student Visa Application Charge increase — Study Australia (Australian Government)
- Cost of living in Sydney as an international student — UNSW Sydney
- International tuition fees 2026 — UNSW Sydney
- Student visa (subclass 500) — Department of Home Affairs
- Genuine Student requirement — Department of Home Affairs
- How much does it cost to study in Australia? — Times Higher Education
- Cost of living in Sydney — University of Technology Sydney
- المخصصات المالية — الملحقية الثقافية السعودية في أستراليا – وزارة التعليم
- الأسئلة المتكررة – الشؤون المالية — الملحقية الثقافية السعودية في أستراليا – وزارة التعليم
- Exchange rates — Reserve Bank of Australia
Ready to start?
KD International helps you choose a university, prepare your admission and visa file, and answers your questions about Saudi scholarships and studying in Australia. Apply now or message us on WhatsApp.
Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.
