Australia Tuition Fees for International Students: What Each Course Type Costs

TL;DR: How much are tuition fees in Australia for international students? Published annual fees for the courses we checked run from about AUD 38,000 to AUD 64,000 a year. Master's courses at the regional and newer universities we checked start at about AUD 38,000 a year in 2027, while Group of Eight universities such as Melbourne and UNSW charge about AUD 61,000 to AUD 64,000 a year for some master's courses. Most universities review fees every year, so the total for a 2-year master's is usually higher than double the first-year fee.

Tuition is usually the largest cost of studying in Australia, and it varies more by university than by subject. The same type of master's can cost more than AUD 20,000 a year more at one university than another.

This guide compares published fees by course type, explains how fees change during your course and shows what to budget on top. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local points are near the end.

Want to know which universities fit your budget? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What do Australian universities charge?

These are annual international tuition fees from university course pages and fee schedules. The year of each fee is shown, because some universities had not yet published 2027 fees.

The University of Sydney publishes 2027 ranges by subject area instead: AUD 59,100 to 63,600 for undergraduate business and AUD 63,600 for undergraduate engineering and computer science.

What drives the difference?

• The university, more than the subject. In our table, Group of Eight master's fees are about AUD 10,000 to AUD 25,000 a year higher than those at regional and newer universities.
• Course length. A 1.5-year master's costs less in total than a 2-year one at a similar annual fee. Credit for a related degree can shorten some courses.
• The subject, within one university. At Monash and Sydney, engineering and computing courses cost slightly more than business courses.

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Do fees stay the same for your whole course?

Usually not. Most universities state that fees are reviewed each year.

• The University of Sydney says all fees are subject to annual reviews and indexation.
• UNSW says tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year.
• Charles Darwin University and Federation University say fees may increase each calendar year.
• Australian Catholic University is an exception: it sets international fees for the minimum duration of your course.

When you budget for a 2-year master's, plan for the second year to cost more than the first, unless the university fixes your fee.

What to budget on top of tuition

Tuition is only part of the cost. For a student visa you must also show living funds. Study Australia states a minimum of AUD 29,710 a year for living costs. You also pay the visa application charge and Overseas Student Health Cover.

Our guides on the Australia student visa cost, OSHC and how much money you need to study in Australia work through the full budget.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Fees are charged in Australian dollars, so the rupee cost moves with the exchange rate. Build a margin into your family's budget.
• Check whether the university asks for a first-semester or first-year deposit before it issues your Confirmation of Enrolment. Our CoE guide explains the step.
• Keep the fee page you relied on, with its date, in your application file.

Frequently asked questions

Are Australian tuition fees per year or per semester?
The fees in this guide are annual fees for full-time study. Check the fee basis on each course page, because some universities also quote a total course fee or a fee per credit point.

Are Group of Eight universities always more expensive?
In the courses we checked, yes, by about AUD 10,000 to AUD 25,000 a year for master's study. Compare the exact course, not the university average.

Have all universities published 2027 fees?
Not yet. Where only a 2026 fee was available when we checked, the table says so. Expect the 2027 fee for those courses to be higher, because most universities review fees every year.

PS: Multiply the annual fee by your course length, then add a margin for yearly increases. That figure, not the headline fee, is the one to plan around. If you want help comparing options, Check your eligibility with Prosper.

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Team Prosper

References

1. 2027 commencing international student tuition fee schedule, Federation University. https://www.federation.edu.au/siteassets/files/students/fees/2027_higher_ed_commencing_international_student_tuition_fee_schedule.pdf (accessed 23 October 2026)
2. Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice), Charles Darwin University. https://www.cdu.edu.au/study/course/master-professional-accounting-professional-practice-spapp1 (accessed 23 October 2026)
3. Master of Business Administration, Deakin University. https://www.deakin.edu.au/course/master-business-administration-international (accessed 23 October 2026)
4. Master of Nursing, Deakin University. https://www.deakin.edu.au/course/master-nursing-international (accessed 23 October 2026)
5. Bachelor of Information Technology, RMIT University. https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/levels-of-study/undergraduate-study/bachelor-degrees/bachelor-of-information-technology-bp162 (accessed 23 October 2026)
6. Master of Information Technology fees, University of Melbourne. https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/master-of-information-technology/fees/ (accessed 23 October 2026)
7. Master of Engineering, UNSW Sydney. https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/postgraduate/master-of-engineering (accessed 23 October 2026)
8. Undergraduate international course guide, Monash University. https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/3941744/undergraduate-international-course-guide.pdf (accessed 23 October 2026)
9. International student tuition fees, University of Sydney. https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/fees-and-loans/international-student-tuition-fees.html (accessed 23 October 2026)
10. International fees, UNSW Sydney. https://www.unsw.edu.au/student/managing-your-studies/fees/international (accessed 23 October 2026)
11. International student fees, Australian Catholic University. https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/fees-and-scholarships/international-student-fees (accessed 23 October 2026)
12. Visa application process, Study Australia. https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/visa-application-process (accessed 23 October 2026)