How Much Does It Cost to Study in Australia From Pakistan? (2026)

What is the total cost to study in Australia from Pakistan in 2026?

The honest answer is that it depends on your course and your city, but most Pakistani students spend somewhere between AUD 35,000 and AUD 75,000 in their first year. That figure brings together four separate buckets: tuition, living costs, the visa, and compulsory health cover. When you convert to rupees at a rate near PKR 185 to the Australian dollar, first year budgets usually land between about PKR 6.5 million and PKR 14 million.

It helps to see the pieces side by side before you dive into each one.

Notice that living costs and tuition are the two large numbers. The visa and insurance are real, but they are small next to a year of fees and rent. If you want to bring your total down, those are the two buckets worth focusing on, and we cover exactly how below. For a country by country view you can also browse our study destinations hub.

How much is tuition in Australia for Pakistani students?

Tuition for international students in Australia typically ranges from about AUD 20,000 to AUD 55,000 per year in 2026, with medicine and dentistry reaching AUD 65,000 to AUD 85,000. The exact figure depends on the subject and the university. Fees are set per program, so two students at the same university can pay very different amounts.

Tuition by field of study

Regional universities, meaning campuses outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, often sit at the lower end of these ranges and sometimes below them. A business degree at a regional public university can start closer to AUD 22,000 a year, while the same subject at a top city university can cross AUD 45,000. This gap is one of the biggest levers you control. If you are weighing Australia against other English speaking options, our comparison of Canada versus Australia lays out fees and outcomes together.

How much does it cost to live in Australia as a student?

The Australian government requires student visa applicants to show access to AUD 29,710 for one year of living costs in 2026, and real spending usually falls close to that figure. This amount is meant to cover accommodation, food, transport, utilities, and everyday personal spending for twelve months.

Your actual costs move up or down with your city and your housing choice. Sydney and Melbourne are the most expensive. Adelaide, Perth, and regional towns are noticeably kinder to a student budget.

A typical monthly living breakdown

• Accommodation (shared): AUD 900 to AUD 1,600 a month
• Groceries and eating: AUD 400 to AUD 700 a month
• Public transport: AUD 100 to AUD 200 a month
• Phone and internet: AUD 50 to AUD 90 a month
• Personal and social: AUD 150 to AUD 300 a month

Sharing a flat with other students is the single biggest saving. A room in a shared house can cost half of what a studio does. Cooking at home rather than eating out is the next biggest. Many Pakistani students keep monthly spending near AUD 2,000 by sharing housing and cooking, which lines up well with the AUD 29,710 yearly benchmark.

How much does the Australian student visa cost from Pakistan?

The Australian student visa (subclass 500) application charge is AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 2,000 the year before. This is one of the highest student visa fees in the world, so it belongs in your budget from the start. A partner who joins you pays a separate AUD 2,500, and each child under 18 pays AUD 625.

Beyond the visa charge itself, you also pay for the medical examination with a panel physician, biometrics, and document translation and attestation. Those extras usually add PKR 40,000 to PKR 90,000. You will also need Overseas Student Health Cover before the visa is granted, which runs about AUD 600 to AUD 800 for a single student for one year. To understand the savings side of the visa, read how much bank statement you need for an Australia student visa, and what the Confirmation of Enrolment is and how to get one.

How much money do I need before I leave Pakistan?

Before you fly, you generally need to have paid or arranged the first tuition deposit, the visa charge, health cover, and your airfare, plus you must show the required living funds in the bank. You do not hand over the full living amount to anyone. You prove you can access it.

The funds you show in your bank statement must have a clear history, usually three to six months, and any large recent deposit needs an explanation with documents. This is where many applications slow down, so prepare your financial paperwork early. Pakistani students often ask whether a loan can cover this, and it can: see our guide on how Pakistani students can get an education loan to study abroad.

How can Pakistani students study in Australia more cheaply?

There is real room to cut the total without cutting the quality of your degree. The most reliable savings come from choices you make before you apply.

• Pick a regional university. Fees are lower, living costs are lower, and regional study can also give you extra post study work time.
• Choose a lower fee field where it fits your goals. Arts, education, and some science courses cost far less than engineering, business, or medicine.
• Share accommodation from day one. A shared house room saves thousands a year compared with a studio or on campus single room.
• Apply for scholarships early. Even a 20 percent tuition scholarship can save AUD 8,000 or more a year.
• Cook at home and use student transport concessions. Small weekly savings add up across a full degree.

Choosing a two year master’s in a regional city over a top tier city university can lower a full degree cost by AUD 20,000 or more once fees and rent are combined. If saving money is your main driver, our list of countries with the best post study work visas is also worth a read, since staying and working afterward changes the real return on your spending.

What scholarships lower the cost of studying in Australia?

Australia offers a mix of government and university scholarships that Pakistani students can target. Most reduce tuition by a percentage rather than covering everything, though a few are full rides.

Common scholarship types

• University merit scholarships: often 10 to 50 percent off tuition, awarded on grades. Almost every Australian university runs these.
• Australia Awards: government funded and highly competitive, aimed at development focused fields.
• Destination Australia: supports students studying at regional campuses.
• Research scholarships: for master’s by research and PhD, often covering fees and a stipend.

Apply for scholarships at the same time as your admission, not after. Many close months before the intake. Our detailed guide to the best scholarships to study in Australia walks through deadlines and eligibility for each one.

Can I cover costs by working part time in Australia?

Yes, student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. A fortnight is any 14 day period starting on a Monday. Part time work helps a lot with living costs, but it should not be your plan for paying tuition.

At common student wages, 48 hours a fortnight can bring in roughly AUD 1,600 to AUD 2,200 a month before tax, which can cover most of a modest living budget. During holidays, with unlimited hours, students often save toward the next semester. Remember that hours from all jobs combine, so two part time jobs can quietly push you over the limit. Breaching the cap has cost students their visas, so track your hours carefully. Full details are in our guide on whether Pakistani students can work part time while studying in Australia.

What money mistakes do Pakistani students make?

A few avoidable errors show up again and again. Knowing them in advance protects your budget and your visa.

• Underestimating the first year. Students budget for tuition but forget the visa, health cover, bond deposits, and setup costs.
• Depositing large sums right before applying. Sudden unexplained money in a bank statement raises questions. Build your balance over months.
• Ignoring regional options. Fixating on Sydney and Melbourne can add tens of thousands to a degree.
• Paying agents for guaranteed outcomes. No honest consultant guarantees a visa or a scholarship. Be cautious of anyone who does.
• Skipping scholarship deadlines. The money is there, but only for students who apply on time.

Working with a verified consultancy reduces these risks. Border and Bridges is registered with the SECP and FBR and verified by ICEF and the British Council, and has guided Pakistani students since 2016 from our office in Johar Town, Lahore.

A realistic budget example

Consider Ayesha, a student from Lahore starting a two year master’s in IT at a regional Australian university in 2026. Her tuition is AUD 34,000 a year. She shares a house, cooks at home, and works part time within the legal limit.

Ayesha’s net first year outlay lands near AUD 53,000, or roughly PKR 9.8 million, and a partial scholarship or a cheaper course could trim it further. Her example shows how the headline number and the real out of pocket number can differ once work and scholarships are counted.

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