Graham-Nguyen & Associates

Cost of Living:

In addition to paying the full cost of their courses, students must also meet all of their own travel and living expenses, as well as any student association fees or administrative charges made by the institution. The Australian Government considers that the average student will need approximately AUD12, 000 per year to meet their living costs but this amount will vary between  AUD10, 000 - AUD18, 000 each year depending on the city the student is living in and the type of accommodation they choose.  These costs are in addition to the tuition fees. For a married person with a dependent, he/she will need another A$4,000 each year. If the student brings their child to Australia, the additional living expenses will be approximately AUD3, 000 for each child but this will depend on circumstances such as whether the child is of school age in which case the child must attend school and tuition will need to be paid.

Accommodation:

There is a wide range of student accommodation available in Australia.  Students under the age of 18 will be studying at Secondary Schools with boarding facilities or in other accommodation arrangements approved by their parents and the relevant Australian authorities, such as home stay.

Most universities and colleges have halls of residence attached to them, which are clean, secure and friendly.  These are convenient as they are usually located on the campus and help to save on travel costs. Students will usually have a bedroom/study of their own.  Bathrooms, laundries and recreational facilities are generally shared. Many of these residential halls provide meals, while others offer shared kitchen facilities where students can cook and store food.  Costs for a hall of residence are approximately AUD 100 – AUD 320 per week depending on location, facilities and provision of meals.

Other types of accommodation for students include private board, hostels and guest houses. Again, cost will vary depending on the location and the facilities available. Costs are approximately AUD 80 to AUD 170 per week.  Many of the education institutions have an accommodation advisory service to help you locate suitable accommodation. When you contact the institution which you wish to attend, ask about the accommodation options available.