Homepage News Australian University Programs Guide Studying in Australia Without Breaking the Bank: Affordable Universities and Tuition Fees Compared (2027 Intake)
Nov 12, 2026
Australian University Programs Guide

Studying in Australia Without Breaking the Bank: Affordable Universities and Tuition Fees Compared (2027 Intake)

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Short answer: an Australian degree does not have to cost a fortune. At the nine public universities compared here, official 2027 fees for a bachelor of business run from about A$27,000 to A$40,900 a year, against A$59,100 to A$63,600 at the University of Sydney (Group of Eight). Scholarships, regional study and credit can lower the total further.

The idea came from a visit by a Western Sydney University representative, who argued that study in Australia can be affordable. We tested it against each university's official 2027 fee schedule and the Home Affairs rules.

Contents

1. 2027 tuition comparison (bachelor and master)

All figures are 2027 full-time annual tuition in AUD from each university's own fee page or schedule (Victoria University publishes per-semester fees). Fees change yearly; your offer letter is final.

University (main locations) / official source Bachelor: business / IT Master: business / IT
Southern Cross University (Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast and others)
Access27 (2027)		 A$27,000 flat for most courses A$27,000 flat for most courses
CQUniversity (business taught in Melbourne and Sydney)
International courses and fees 2027		 Bachelor of Business A$28,000 / Bachelor of IT A$28,000 (first year) MBA (Global) A$31,000 / Master of IT A$32,000 (first year)
University of Southern Queensland (Toowoomba, Springfield)
Course pages, estimated 2027 annual fee		 Bachelor of Business A$30,520 / Bachelor of IT A$33,600 MBA A$35,600 / Master of Information Systems A$33,760
Charles Darwin University (Darwin; the Bachelor of IT and both masters are also offered at CDU Sydney)
Course pages, 2027 annual fee		 Bachelor of Business A$31,208 / Bachelor of IT A$34,856 MBA A$38,192 / Master of IT (Information Systems) A$36,440
Charles Sturt University (Port Macquarie, Sydney, Melbourne)
International student fees (2027)		 Bachelor of Business Studies A$34,400 / Bachelor of IT A$35,280 Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice) A$36,960 / Master of Professional IT A$37,600
Western Sydney University (Greater Western Sydney)
2027 undergraduate schedule, 2027 postgraduate schedule		 Bachelor of Business A$37,661 / Bachelor of Computer Science A$40,149 MBA A$41,304 / Master of ICT A$43,280
Victoria University (Melbourne)
2027 International Course Summary		 Bachelor of Business A$19,500 per semester; Bachelor of IT A$19,500 per semester MBA (Global) A$21,600 per semester; Master of Applied IT A$20,250 per semester
Federation University (Ballarat, Berwick, Gippsland, Melbourne City)
2027 international fee schedule		 Bachelor of Business A$39,600 / Bachelor of IT A$41,400 Master of Professional Accounting A$39,600 / Master of Data Science A$41,400
Flinders University (Adelaide)
2027 commencing fee schedule		 Bachelor of Business A$40,900 / Bachelor of IT A$45,700 MBA A$46,400 / no general coursework IT master listed
Reference: University of Sydney (Go8)
2027 entry fee guide		 Business A$59,100 to A$63,600 / Engineering and computer science A$63,600 Business A$56,800 to A$64,800 / Engineering and computer science A$60,800 to A$64,800

Key points: SCU's Access27 fee applies automatically to most courses (not the Master of Nursing, veterinary, English or research programs). CQUniversity and VU business programs are in Melbourne or Sydney, not regional areas. Western Sydney University is mid-table on price, but its 2027 undergraduate scholarship of A$10,000 or A$5,000 a year changes the maths.

2. Official scholarships for international students

Only university-published scholarships for 2027 entry are listed. "Automatic" means assessed with your admission application; academic conditions still apply.

University 2027 scholarship
Charles Darwin University Global Merit Scholarship: 30% off for the course; automatic if eligible; keep a cumulative GPA of 4.0; some courses excluded (e.g. Bachelor of Nursing)
Flinders University Kickstart Scholarship: 20% off for new full-fee coursework students; Global Scholarship 25% to 30% or Vice-Chancellor Scholarship 50% for higher results; assessed with your application
Federation University 2027 Global Achiever Scholarship: 15% off for the course; automatic assessment; not combinable with other tuition scholarships
UniSQ International Student Support Scholarship 2027: 10% off for the degree; automatic for applicants meeting academic and English requirements
Western Sydney University 2027 undergraduate scholarship: A$10,000 or A$5,000 a year by merit for the CRICOS duration; not for Sydney City campus or medicine; nursing A$5,000 only
Victoria University VU Block Model International Scholarship: save up to 30% on tuition, according to VU's 2027 course summary
Southern Cross University Access27 is itself an automatic flat fee

We found no equally specific 2027 tuition reduction for CQUniversity or Charles Sturt University, so none is listed.

3. Regional study and the second 485 visa

Home Affairs uses three categories. Category 1 is Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (non-regional). Category 2 covers Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart. Everywhere else is Category 3.

The first 485 (Post-Higher Education Work) is 2 years for a bachelor or coursework master. A second 485 requires a degree from a regional institution and 2 years living only in a regional area before you apply:

Study location and residence on first 485 Second 485
Either in Category 1 (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) Not eligible
Both regional, at least one in Category 2 1 extra year
Both in Category 3 2 extra years
Category 2 postcodes in Tasmania 2 extra years (exception)

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 13 November 2026.

In this list, Darwin (CDU), Toowoomba (UniSQ), Port Macquarie (CSU), Lismore and Coffs Harbour (SCU) and Ballarat and Gippsland (Federation) are Category 3; Adelaide (Flinders), the Gold Coast (SCU) and Springfield (UniSQ, postcode 4300) are Category 2; VU, the Melbourne and Sydney campuses of CQUniversity and CSU, CDU Sydney, Federation's Berwick and Melbourne City, and the Bankstown City and Parramatta campuses where the WSU courses above are taught are Category 1. Always check the campus postcode.

4. Living costs by city

Official and university estimates only. The visa benchmark of A$29,710 for 12 months is a threshold, not a budget. CDU's approximate guide puts weekly accommodation at A$310 to A$750 in Darwin versus A$250 to A$1,050 in Sydney, and transport at A$7 for 10 trips in Darwin versus A$30 to A$55 a week in Sydney. WSU estimates A$350 to A$450 a week for a two-bedroom apartment in Parramatta.

5. Student visa funds, OSHC and work hours

  • Funds: 12 months of living costs (A$29,710; partner A$10,394; child A$4,449), first-year tuition and travel (A$2,000 for most offshore applicants; A$2,500 from East or Southern Africa; A$3,000 from West Africa), or parents' or partner's annual income of at least A$87,856 (A$102,500 with family).
  • Documents depend on your Evidence Level (country plus provider), which Home Affairs does not publish; use the Document Checklist Tool.
  • OSHC is compulsory for your whole stay; compare insurers on privatehealth.gov.au.
  • Visa application charge: Home Affairs lists a base charge of A$2,500 for the main applicant (A$1,530 for each family member 18 or over, A$500 under 18). Eligible Pacific Island, Timor-Leste and ASEAN citizens pay a lower charge; use the Visa Pricing Estimator.
  • Work: up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session.
  • Working holiday holders (subclass 417 or 462) cannot apply for a student visa inside Australia.

You can apply for a student visa yourself in ImmiAccount. Under Australia's Migration Act, immigration assistance (assessing your eligibility, preparing or lodging an application, or dealing with Home Affairs for you) can only be given by a registered migration agent (with a MARN) or an Australian legal practitioner. You can check the register at mara.gov.au. Level Up Studies can help with course planning and university applications. This article is general information, not migration advice.

6. Credit and pathway options

Credit cuts the units you pay for: SCU charges pro rata below 8 units a year (A$3,375 per unit in 2027), and CQUniversity notes fees vary with recognised prior learning. Diplomas offer an entry route, such as VU's Diploma of Business (Enterprise) and Diploma of Information Technology at A$16,600 per semester for one year (2027). Credit is subject to university assessment.

7. How to shortlist

  1. Set your field and budget, then pick three or four universities.
  2. Confirm the campus and whether it is regional.
  3. Check the 2027 fee, entry requirements and scholarship terms on the course page.
  4. Prepare funds evidence and run the Document Checklist Tool.

FAQ

Q1: Which Australian universities have the lowest tuition for 2027?

Among the official 2027 fees checked here, Southern Cross University sets most courses at A$27,000 a year under Access27, and CQUniversity lists A$28,000 for the first year of its Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of IT. Your offer letter is final.

Q2: Why is Western Sydney University called affordable if its fee is not the lowest?

Its 2027 Bachelor of Business fee is A$37,661, but its 2027 undergraduate scholarship is A$10,000 or A$5,000 a year by merit, so a student with A$10,000 pays about A$27,661 a year. Sydney City campus programs and medicine are excluded.

Q3: Will studying at a regional university always get me a second 485 visa?

No. You need a degree from a regional institution and 2 years living only in a regional area before applying. Category 2 generally gives 1 extra year and Category 3 gives 2 (Tasmanian Category 2 postcodes also give 2). Studying or living in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane makes you ineligible.

Q4: How much money do I need to show for an Australian student visa?

Home Affairs sets 12 months of living costs at A$29,710 for the student, plus first-year tuition and travel (A$2,000 for most applicants outside Australia). Alternatively, show parents' or partner's personal annual income of at least A$87,856. What you must provide depends on your Evidence Level; use the Document Checklist Tool.

Q5: Can I switch from a working holiday visa to a student visa in Australia?

No. Under current Home Affairs rules, holders of a subclass 417 or 462 visa cannot apply for a student visa in Australia and must apply from outside Australia.

Q6: Does Level Up Studies charge for university applications?

No. Level Up Studies helps with university applications free of charge. You can lodge a student visa yourself in ImmiAccount; immigration assistance can only be given by a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

Want help comparing affordable universities? Level Up Studies offers free consultations, and university applications are free:

  • Melbourne Head Office: +61 3 8590 3229 | contactus@levelupstudies.com
  • 1/105 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Level Up Studies Melbourne LINE QR code

Further reading

Sources

Disclaimer: This article is based on each university's official 2027 international fee schedules, course pages and scholarship terms, and on the Department of Home Affairs pages for the Student visa (subclass 500), the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and designated regional areas (checked 13 November 2026). It is general information, not migration or legal advice. Fees, scholarships and visa rules change; your offer letter and Home Affairs are the final word. Charles Sturt University's website blocks automated requests, so its page was confirmed with a web reader. Last updated: 13 November 2026. Official sources checked: 13 November 2026.

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