Australia Student Visa Costs AUD 2,500 From 1 July 2026

Indian students planning to study in Australia face a Student visa (Subclass 500) charge of AUD 2,500 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026, and must prove they can cover at least AUD 29,710 in living costs for 12 months on top of tuition and travel. The visa allows study at Australian universities, colleges and other approved institutions, and students can work part-time during their course.

Key facts

• Visa type: Student visa (Subclass 500)
• Visa fee: AUD 2,500 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026
• Minimum living costs: AUD 29,710 for a single student over 12 months, in addition to tuition fees and travel costs
• Work rights: up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course runs, full-time during scheduled course breaks, subject to visa conditions
• Main intakes: February/March and July, with a smaller October/November intake
• Documents: Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and evidence of sufficient funds

What does the Subclass 500 visa allow?

The Student visa lets Indian students enrol at Australian universities, colleges and other approved institutions. Holders may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is running and full-time during scheduled course breaks, subject to visa conditions. Eligible graduates may also apply for post-study work options after completing their studies.

More than 680,000 international students were studying in Australia in the year to May 2026, and India is one of the largest sources of international students in the country. Australia has set a 2026 National Planning Level of 295,000 new overseas student commencements; the government describes this as a planning level for visa processing, not a fixed limit on student numbers.

How much does it cost?

Tuition fees for international students are estimated at AUD 20,000–45,000 a year for undergraduate study, AUD 22,000–50,000 for postgraduate study and AUD 20,000–45,000 for doctoral programmes. Fees can be higher for courses such as medicine, dentistry and some specialised programmes.

Monthly living costs are estimated at AUD 800–2,000+ for accommodation, AUD 300–600 for food and groceries, AUD 100–250 for transport and AUD 150–300 for personal expenses, with cities such as Sydney and Melbourne more expensive than some regional cities.

Beyond tuition and living costs, students should budget for OSHC (cost depends on provider and length of stay), books and study materials, travel, an accommodation bond for private rentals and an English language test. For the visa financial requirement, the minimum living-cost amount for a single student is AUD 29,710 for 12 months; actual expenses may be higher.

What documents and tests are needed?

Students need a Confirmation of Enrolment, OSHC and evidence of enough money for travel, tuition and living expenses. For university admission, typical documents include academic certificates and transcripts, a valid passport, English-language test results, a statement of purpose and letters of recommendation where required, a CV for some courses, a portfolio for courses such as design, architecture and arts, and work experience documents where required.

Accepted English tests commonly include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic and Cambridge English, with the Duolingo English Test accepted by some universities and courses. Required scores vary by university, course and level of study. University admission requirements are separate from Australian Student visa requirements.

What funding is available?

• Australia Awards Scholarships (Master's): covers tuition, living expenses, air travel and health cover — full funding
• Destination Australia Scholarships (undergraduate and postgraduate): up to AUD 15,000 per year at eligible regional institutions
• Research Training Program (Master's by research and PhD): full or partial funding, with a living stipend for eligible research students
• Monash International Leadership Scholarship: up to 100% of tuition fees
• University of Sydney International Scholarships (postgraduate research): full tuition plus stipend
• University-specific scholarships: AUD 2,000–30,000+ based on academic performance and eligibility

What this means for travellers

Students should confirm their course and university first, since admission requirements differ from visa requirements, and allow time to gather a CoE, OSHC and proof of funds before applying for the Subclass 500 visa. The recommendation in the source material is to start preparing 6–12 months before the preferred intake to leave room for course selection, document preparation, English testing, scholarship applications, receiving an offer and completing the visa application.

The February/March intake usually offers the widest choice of courses and universities, while the July intake is the second major option and the October/November intake is smaller with limited course availability. Scholarship amounts, eligibility rules and application dates can change each year, so the latest requirements should be checked before applying.