Country guide
Under the government’s National Strategy for International Education 2025, Australia is steadily emerging as a global leader in education, training and research, and its institutions provide a high level of support for international students. Like New Zealand, it is a country of tremendous natural beauty and can be a fabulous place to study for students who seek an outdoorsy and adventurous lifestyle.
10 Key Facts
- Australia is in the top three countries for the number of international students, alongside the United Kingdom and the United States.
- There are 43 universities in Australia; the majority are located in the coastal cities. Australian university programmes can be seen as a hybrid between the ultra-flexible US system and the specificity of the UK. The Go8 (Group of 8) is a coalition of some of the oldest and largest research-intensive universities in Australia, which are all recognised for their very high quality of education – similar to the US Ivy League or UK Russell Group.
- Australia has some of the best cities in the world for students, based on student mix, affordability, quality of life, and employer activity. Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide all frequently rank in the top ten of the most ‘liveable’ cities – with Perth and Brisbane never far behind.
- The Australian Government provides more than AU$200 million each year in international scholarships.
- Many universities have different campuses, often in different states and cities, to improve access and choice for students. This means if you would prefer to live outside of the main cities there are options available.
- Annual undergraduate bachelor’s degree charges range from AU$15,000 to AU$30,000. Living costs can range from AU$1,400 to AU$2,500 depending on your location and lifestyle preferences.
- Students planning to pursue an undergrad degree will be eligible for the Higher Education Visa (subclass 500). Visas are applied for after you have been accepted onto a registered course.
- Students can typically earn an undergraduate degree in three years. You may also have the option to complete a 4th ‘Honours’ year – admittance to this is based on academic merit and you will be required to submit a 10.000 to 15,000 word thesis.
- Most universities have two semesters: February to June/July, and July/August to early December, with breaks in between. This means that students have the flexibility to begin their studies in either semester.
- There is no national system for international students so applications should be made directly to each institution. Admission is typically offered on a rolling basis, and students are encouraged to submit their application as soon as they can. Universities do not require the ACT or SAT, though you may need to take an IELTS or TOEFL.
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