As an international student, the Department of Home Affairs has financial requirements you must meet to receive your student visa. From 10 May 2024, a single student must show they have the financial capacity to cover the living costs of at least $29,710 AUD per year.
However, the actual cost depends on your individual lifestyle, and you should budget accordingly. We have useful information and links below to help you plan. Remember, your living expenses are separate from your tuition fees.
LIVING EXPENSES PER YEAR
Applicant – $29,710
Partner– $10,394
Child – $4,449
Annual School Costs – $11,000
As it can often take some time for money to be transferred from your home country to Australia, you will need to bring enough money with you to cover your expenses for the first few weeks. Foreign currency can be exchanged for Australian currency at Sydney Airport. If you arrive on a weekend (Saturday/Sunday) and do not change some currency at the airport you may not be able to change it until the next working day.
How does Newcastle compare with Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane
The good news is that Newcastle is more affordable when compared with most Australian capital cities across categorised including groceries, leisure activities and accommodation.
For accommodation, Newcastle is
- 20% cheaper than Sydney
- 22% cheaper than Melbourne
- 6% cheaper than Brisbane
Additional costs to consider
- Airfares
- Tuition – see annual fee per full degree (varies per program)
- Course materials and books – varies per program
- Personal items – bedding, laptops, motor vehicles, additional phone and internet data
- Furniture – if renting off campus
- Overseas Health Insurance (per year)
- Student Visa
- Students Services and Amenities fee (per year)