💰Student visa costs 2026

How much does astudent visa actually cost?

Tuition, student health insurance, visa fees + others. The clearest breakdown of what you'll pay before lodging your Student visa in 2026.

No nasty surprises - we map out every cost before you commit.

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📍AUD · Cost overview

2026 · UPDATED

Quick facts

Visa fee$2,500*
Living / yr$29k
OSHC single$700+

📊Overview

The three main costs

The most common question we get"How much money do I need to start studying in Australia?" Answer below - three real numbers, no surprises.

01 / 03

Visa application fee

$2,000 for ELICOS. $2,500 for vocational and higher education. Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs when lodging.

gov fee

$2,000 - $2,500

02 / 03

OSHC

Overseas Student Health Cover for the entire duration of your visa.

single / yr

$700 - $1,500

03 / 03

Course fees

Average tuition fee per year, depends on the course of study. Additional fees may apply such as enrolment and material fees.

per year

$6k - $50k+

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🛂Government fees

Student visa application fee

The Australian Government charges a Student Visa application fee, paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs at the time your application is lodged. The fee depends on the type of course you're enrolling in.

ELICOS applicants

AUD $2,000

English language courses

Vocational & Higher Education

AUD $2,500

VET, Bachelor, Master, PhD

A payment surcharge may apply depending on the payment method used
Visa application charges can change at any time, although increases are commonly introduced on or around 1 July each year
Always check the current government fees before submitting an application

Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (STAC)

Additional government charge (if applicable)

AUD $700

Some applicants who are already in Australia may be required to pay an additional government charge known as the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (STAC). This applies when a person applies for a Student Visa while already holding or having previously held certain temporary visas in Australia.

Whether this charge applies depends on your individual visa history and current circumstances. If applicable, this fee is charged in addition to the standard Student Visa application fee.

🏥Health insurance

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

All Student Visa holders must maintain OSHC for the entire duration of their visa.

Common misconception

A common misconception is that OSHC only needs to cover the length of your course. In reality, the insurance must generally cover both your course duration AND the additional visa validity period granted after your studies finish.

As a general guide

Courses lasting less than 10 months usually require 1 additional month of OSHC after the course end date
Courses lasting 10 months or longer usually require 2 additional months of OSHC after the course end date
If your course finishes in November or December, your visa may be granted until 15 March of the following year - requiring additional OSHC coverage
PhD students are generally granted an additional 6 months after completing their studies - requiring longer OSHC coverage

Because of these rules, the exact OSHC cost depends not only on course length, but also on course start/end dates, visa duration, and whether the policy is for a single student, couple or family.

Typical OSHC costs

Cover type

Approximate cost

Single
AUD $700 - $1,500+ per year
Couple
AUD $4,000 - $8,000+ for longer visas
Family
AUD $6,000 - $12,000+ for longer visas

How we help

Once we receive your course offer and proposed study plan, we calculate the exact insurance period required for your visa and compare multiple OSHC providers on your behalf - letting you choose the option that best suits your budget and coverage preferences. Your OSHC certificate is required before your Student Visa application can be lodged.

Learn more about OSHC

🎯Tuition breakdown

Course fees by pathway

Tuition fees vary depending on the course, study level and education provider you choose. Below, you'll find a clear overview of the average tuition fees for the three main study levels in Australia, along with an explanation of how payments usually work.

In most cases, you do not need to pay for the full course or an entire year upfront. Tuition fees are generally paid in instalments, usually per term (approximately every three months) or per semester. When you first enrol, many schools only require a smaller initial deposit to issue your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which is needed for your student visa application. The remaining tuition fees are then paid progressively throughout your studies according to the school's payment schedule.

01 / 03Pathway

ELICOS

English language courses

Approx tuition

$180 - $450per week

Payment

In study blocks of 10 - 12 weeks

Prices quoted per week - the industry standard for English colleges
Longer courses = lower weekly rates
You choose your course length (12, 24, 36 or 48 weeks)

02 / 03Pathway

VET

Vocational Education & Training

Approx tuition

$6,000 - $22,000per year

Payment

Per term or study period

Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas
Includes CoE deposit before your course starts
Onshore students often access promotional rates

03 / 03Pathway

Higher Education

Bachelor, Master, PhD

Approx tuition

$20,000 - $45,000per year

Payment

Per semester or term

Public universities vs private providers vary significantly in price
Costs can depend on the number of subjects you take per term
Some providers offer flexible instalment plans

📈Tuition fees

Average course costs

Course fees in Australia vary depending on the type of study, education provider, location, course duration and field of study.

It's also important to know that advertised tuition fees do not always reflect the best available price. Australian education providers regularly offer scholarships, promotions and special rates for international students, and these may not always be displayed on their websites.

Many colleges and universities share their latest offers directly with education agents through regular updates and newsletters. This means we can check the most up-to-date tuition fees, current promotions and available discounts for you before you enrol, helping you understand the actual cost of your chosen course rather than relying only on the advertised price.

📍Melbourne · VIC

9 FACTORS · 1 PRICE

What moves the price

9 levers behind every
tuition quote

What affects course pricing?

Several factors can influence the tuition fees you receive:

Whether you are applying offshore (overseas) or onshore (already in Australia)
The type of qualification and study level
The field of study
The location of the campus
Current promotions offered by the provider
The length of your enrolment
Course packaging arrangements
Scholarship or discount programs
Your nationality (most commonly for English language courses)

Widely-available vs specialised courses

One of the biggest factors is how widely available a course is in Australia. Programs offered by hundreds of institutions tend to be the most affordable:

Affordable

Widely-available

Offered by hundreds of institutions - high competition keeps prices down.

BusinessLeadership & ManagementProject ManagementMarketing

Premium

Specialised

Dedicated facilities, studios, equipment - fewer providers, higher fees.

Graphic DesignPhotographyInterior DesignAnimationFilm & MediaCertain Health and Technology qualifications

Location matters

The same qualification may have different tuition fees depending on whether it's delivered in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide or a regional location. Many providers also offer lower tuition to students already in Australia - particularly those extending their stay or continuing their studies.

Premium

Sydney

NSW+0%

Cultural

Melbourne

VIC+0%

Sunny

Brisbane

QLD-5%

Coastal

Perth

WA-10%

Affordable

Adelaide

SA-15%

Lowest

Regional

Various-25%

Schools also frequently run promotional campaigns through education agencies. The official tuition fees displayed on a provider's website may not always reflect the current promotional pricing available at the time of enrolment.

How we help

We match you with the right course

Choosing a course is about more than simply finding a school. It's about finding an option that works for your goals, your budget and your circumstances.

Tell us what you're looking for and what matters most to you, and we'll compare courses and providers to find the best match. We look at things like study schedules, class timetables, campus location, practical components, future study pathways and payment flexibility.

We can also speak directly with schools on your behalf to check available promotions, request a lower initial payment or more flexible payment plan, or find an alternative course that gives you what you need while staying within your budget.

You tell us what you want to achieve - we find the study options that make sense for you.

🧾Before lodging

Typical upfront costs

Most students should expect to pay these before lodging the visa application:

Initial tuition deposit

Usually one term, trimester, semester or school-required deposit.

OSHC

Health insurance covering the entire visa period.

Student visa application fee

Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.

Additional costs (if applicable)

English tests (IELTS, PTE, Cambridge), medical examinations, police certificates, document translations, family member visa charges.

🤝Personalised breakdown

Need help calculating your costs?

Every student's situation is different - there is no single answer to "How much will my Student Visa cost?"

Your total costs depend on:

Course type
Course duration
Education provider
Study location
Whether you're applying onshore or offshore
Family members included in the application
OSHC requirements
Visa application charges

We can provide estimated costs during the planning stage, but final figures are usually confirmed once your education provider issues a formal Letter of Offer.

This is particularly important for OSHC - the insurance must match the exact visa period. Even small changes to course dates can affect the required insurance duration and final cost.

Once we receive your offer letter, we can:

Confirm the exact tuition fees
Calculate the precise OSHC period required
Compare multiple OSHC providers
Confirm all government charges
Provide a complete breakdown of your upfront costs before you commit

This means you'll know exactly what you're paying for before accepting your offer and proceeding with enrolment.

Quick answer

Get a personalised, fully-itemised cost breakdown for your situation before committing to anything. We'll handle the calculations.

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