Ever dreamt of studying in Australia? In this article, you will find a list of the best cheap universities in Australia for international students.
That said, whether you’re a domestic or an international student, you’ll find this article to be of utmost usefulness.
Here on this post, you will find quite a lot of affordable universities in Australia, for both domestic and international students.
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Cheapest Universities in Australia in 2020
Quite a lot of students want to further their studies abroad, and that enthusiasm can simply be attributed to the quality of education they stand to gain when studying in Australia.
If you’re one of those who are planning to study in Australia, don’t focus solely on finding the cheapest universities in Australia; but also figure out how the annual living expenses are.
Before we proceed any further, let me give you a quick breakdown of the living costs of one of the cheap universities in Australia for international students.
Living Expenses in Australia
Living expenses include the following:-
- Accommodation
- Food and bills
- Clothing
Also, living expenses can differ from one individual to another, and it can hugely be influenced by an individual’s lifestyle.
Generally, the estimated yearly expenses for a single student living and studying in Australia can approach a total of approximately 18,610 Australian dollars.
However, you could probably spend more than the estimated amount, if you’re that type that lives an extravagant lifestyle.
But the general estimates per year for domestic and international students is AUD 18,610; though your lifestyle determines whether the costs could be more or less.
Living Costs for International Students in Australia
Even though there is a multitude of cheap universities in Australia for international students, the living costs can be quite unfriendly as well.
International students living and studying in Australia are most likely going to find one challenging moment: Footing the bill.
Studying in one of the best universities is a dream for every student, but the question is always: Are you financially buoyant?
If you can cough up some cash to get yourself started … keeping afloat shouldn’t be a big deal.
There are many ways you can deal with living expenses when studying in Australia.
But first, let me share a general guide as regards the average expenses for international students.
And yes, you can call it a general rule of thumb if you like.
International students in Australia spend approximately $390 per week; that’s about $1,550 per month.
The costs covers:
- International and domestic travel
- Entertainment
- Transport
- Accommodation
- Food and clothing
- Telephone, and other miscellaneous.
Besides, a student with a spouse will have to spend an additional $6,515 a year.
Also, if you have children, you will have to cough up more than AUD 3,720 per year for your first child, and roughly AUD 2,790 per year for every other child.
Studying and working in Australia
Sometimes I get asked by my followers if it’s ever possible to live and work in Australia while studying…
And the short answer is, Yes! It is very possible to work while studying in Australia.
International students are allowed to work for a maximum of 40 hours; 2 weeks per section.
However, because of the limited hours of work allowed for each student, the money might not be sufficient enough to cover all the bills.
Here’s a general rule of thumb: You need to have a reliable financial source before considering studying abroad especially, in Australia.
Want to study in Australia but don’t know if your financial capabilities are sufficient enough to walk you through?
Below is our carefully compiled list of some of the cheapest universities in Australia for international students.
List of Cheap Universities in Australia for International Students 2020
| Universities | Bachelor Tuition | Postgraduate Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Cross University | $18,500 | $22,500 |
| University of Canberra | $24,500 | $30,000 |
| Charles Sturt Universtiy | $25,500 | $22,000 |
| Charles Darwin University | $19,500 | $24,500 |
| University of Sunshine Coast | $19,000 | $25,500 |
| Australian Catholic University | $22,500 | $24,000 |
| Victoria University | $23,000 | $21,500 |
| University of New England | $22,000 | $29,500 |
| University of Divinity | $12,500 | $11,500 |
| University of Southern Queensland | $21,500 | $24,000 |
| Monash University | $19,000 | $21,000 |
| University of Queensland | $35,000 | $20,000 |
| University of New South Wales | $34,000 | $33,000 |
| Australian National University | $39,000 | $35,000 |
| Curtin University | $30,000 | $40,500 |
| University of Newcastle | $28,000 | $35,000 |
| University of Adelaide | $35,000 | $40,000 |
| James Cook University | $27,000 | $30,000 |
| Macquarie University | $35,000 | $34,000 |
| Central Queensland University | $25,000 | $21,000 |
Cheapest Universities in Australia
Just below, you will find a breakdown of all the cheap universities in Australia for international students and permanent residence of Australia.
1. Southern Cross University
Southern Cross University is one of many public universities in Australia.
The University offers a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs in six schools:
- School of Arts and Social Sciences
- School of Education
- Environment, Science and Engineering
- School of Health and Human Sciences
- Business and Tourism
- School of Law and Justice
- Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples
- SCU College
- National Marine Science Centre
- Centre for Peace and Social Justice
The average tuition for Bachelor is $18,500; and $22,500 for Postgraduate program.
Visit this page for more information about studying at the Southern Cross University
2. University of Canberra
Much like some of the universities in Australia. The University of Canberra is a public university.
The University offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in five faculties:
- Health
- Art and Design
- Business
- Government and Law
- Education
- Science and Technology
The University makes it possible for domestic and international students to gain admission into the institution.
The average tuition for Bachelor is $24,500 and $30,000 for a Postgraduate program.
3. Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University is a multi-campus university located in New South Wales and other areas, including the Australian Capital Territory.
The University offers a wide variety of Distance Education programs at the Bachelor and Post-Graduate level as well as the Single Subject Study program.
Charles Sturt University has Three Main Faculties, each offering courses in various disciplines:
- Arts and Education
- Business, Justice and Behavioral Sciences
- Faculty of Science
The average tuition for Bachelor is $25,500 and $22,000 for a Postgraduate program.
4. Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University is a public university in Australia. It is one of the cheapest universities in Australia for international students.
Charles Darwin University offers various courses on higher education degrees, vocational education, and training, with study options including part-time, external, and online.
There are three study areas offered by the university:
- Faculty of Engineering, Health, Science and the Environment
- Faculty of Law, Education, Business and Arts
- Vocational Education and Training
The average tuition for Bachelor is $19,500 and $24,500 for a Postgraduate program.
5. University of Sunshine Coast
The University of Sunshine Coast is one of many public universities in Australia, located in Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
The University offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in these faculties:
- Arts
- Business
- Law
- Science
- Health
- Education
- Engineering
Study areas are divided into seven disciplines:
- Business, IT and Tourism;
- Creative Industries, Design and Communication;
- Science and Engineering;
- Education;
- Health, Nursing, and Sport Science;
- Humanities, Psychology and Social Sciences;
- Law and Criminology.
The average tuition for Bachelor is $19,000 and $25,500 for a Postgraduate program.
6. Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University is a public research university. It has 7 campuses on Australian soil, while also managing one campus in Italy.
The University has four faculties, which offer degrees in Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral.
The average tuition for Bachelor is $22,500 and $24,000 for a Postgraduate program.
7. Victoria University
Victoria University also known as VicUni is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The University offers courses in Technical, Higher Education, and Further Education.
The average tuition for Bachelor is $23,000 and $21,500 for a Postgraduate program.
8. University of New England
The University of New England is a public university located in New South Wales, with roughly 22,500 domestic and international higher education students.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $22,000 and $29,500 for a Postgraduate program.
9. University of Divinity
The University of Divinity is a collegiate university in Australia with a concentration in divinity.
The University offers various awards in Philosophy, Ministry, and Theology.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $12,500 and $11,500 for the Postgraduate program.
10. University of Southern Queensland
The University of Southern Queensland is a relatively medium-sized, regional university located in Queensland.
The University has three campuses in Australia and offers courses in law, health, engineering, the sciences, business, education, and the arts.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $21,500 and $24,000 for the Postgraduate program.
11. Monash University
Monash University is a public research university located in Melbourne.
The University has four campuses in the State of Victoria, and one in Asia. It also maintains a teaching and research center in Italy; graduate research in India, and a graduate school in China.
The University also delivers teaching and research in South Africa.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $21,500 and $24,000 for the Postgraduate program.
12. University of Queensland
The University of Queensland is also a public research university located in Brisbane, Australia.
The University has a very high reputation domestically and is ranked one of the best in the world.
This University isn’t very cheap. But it’s worth every penny.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $35, 000, and $20,000 for a Postgraduate program.
13. University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales is a public university located in Sydney, Australia.
The university has nine faculties and offers degrees in Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $34,000 and $33,000 for the Postgraduate program.
14. Australian National University
The Australian National University is a national research university based in the capital of Australia.
The University is one of the leading research universities in the world and ranked 1st in Australia.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $39,000 and $35,000 for a Postgraduate program.
15. Curtin University
Curtin University is a public research university located in Bentley, Australia.
The university has three campuses outside Australia: in Mauritius, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $30,000 and $40,500 for a Postgraduate program.
16. University of Newcastle
The University of Newcastle is a public university based in Callaghan, Australia.
The university has three premises within Newcastle, and also offers online and offline classes.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $28,000 and $35,000 for a Postgraduate program.
17. University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university open both for domestic and foreign students.
The university has six campuses within the State of Adelaide.
The University of Adelaide comprises six faculties:
- Engineering
- Computer, and Mathematical Sciences
- Health and Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Arts
- Sciences
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $35,000 and $40,000 for a Postgraduate program.
18. James Cook University
James Cook University is a public teaching and research university located in North Queensland, Australia.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $27,000 and $30,000 for a Postgraduate program.
19. Macquarie University
Macquarie University is a public research university based in Sydney.
The university has five faculties:
- Faculty of Arts
- Business and Economics
- Human Sciences
- Medicine and Health Sciences
- Science and Engineering
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $35,000 and $34,000 for the Postgraduate program.
20. Central Queensland University
Central Queensland University is a dual-sector university located in Central Queensland.
The University is the only university in Australia with a campus presence in every mainland state.
One thing you would like about the CQUniversity is its ever low tuition fee. The university is one of the cheapest universities in Australia for international students.
The average tuition per year for Bachelor is $25,000 and $21,000 for a Postgraduate program.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a permanent Australian residence looking for some of the cheapest universities in Australia; or a foreign student searching for cheap universities in Australia for international students.
Here in this post, we have listed all the most affordable universities in Australia for international students and Australians.
Besides, the majority of these universities offer a lot of scholarships to international and domestic students. So, you have ample opportunities to fund your studies.
You should also check out the cheapest universities in Canada for international students.
