Prices updated November 2026. All prices are in Australian dollars (AUD) and can change, so we always confirm the current fee with the school before you enrol.
Studying in Australia doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In this guide we compare some of the cheapest courses in Australia for international students, from vocational certificates and diplomas to bachelor and master degrees, and show what your first year really costs once you add the visa fee, OSHC and living costs. When you enrol with Study Anywhere in any of these courses, you get free Student visa assistance from a registered migration agent.
Australia has tightened its Student visa rules, with the Genuine Student requirement, stricter English rules and the financial capacity needed for a Student visa. Good advice before you apply makes a real difference.
Student visa fee: from 1 July 2026 the Student visa (subclass 500) costs $2,500 for most applicants. A lower fee applies to some applicants, including eligible Pacific Island, Timor-Leste and ASEAN citizens. See the full Student visa fees.
Student visa changes from 2 October 2026
- Most temporary visa holders in Australia, including most Student visa holders, can no longer apply for a Student visa while in Australia. Exemptions include students who need up to 12 more months to finish their main course with the same provider, students who have completed their main course and are moving up to a higher AQF level, PhD students and students sponsored by DFAT or Defence.
- Most applicants can no longer include a partner or children in their Student visa application. Exemptions include PhD students, DFAT or Defence sponsored students, foreign government scholarship holders and eligible students from Pacific and ASEAN countries.
- Family members can’t be added after a Student visa is granted.
- Applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are assessed under the old rules.
Source: Department of Home Affairs. Not sure how this affects you? Ask us and our registered migration agent will check.
Cheapest courses at a glance
| Course | Level | Tuition | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCCS: Certificate IV in Project Management Practice and other business courses | Certificate III to Diploma | $6,000 for 52 weeks | Sydney |
| Greenwich College: business and management diplomas | Certificate IV and Diploma | $1,250 every two months ($7,500 a year) | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast |
| ACBI: sustainability and environmental management | Certificate IV and Diploma | From $1,900 every three months | Sydney |
| ACBI: Diploma of Artificial Intelligence | Diploma | $2,000 every three months | Sydney |
| AIBI: bachelor degrees | Bachelor | $15,166 a year | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth |
| SIHE: Master of Information Technology | Master | $19,600 a year, from $12,740 with a scholarship | Sydney |
1. Cheapest Student visa courses in Sydney
Price: $6,000 for 52 weeks
Where: Sydney
Intakes: New terms start several times a year. Ask us for the next start date.
New Cambridge College Sydney (NCCS) has some of the lowest tuition fees we list. Its Certificate III in Business, Certificate IV in Leadership and Management, Diploma of Leadership and Management, Certificate IV in Project Management Practice and Diploma of Project Management each cost $6,000 for a 52-week course, paid in instalments. The application fee is $200, or $250 if you apply from outside Australia, and the Certificate III in Business has a $200 material fee.
These prices come from the NCCS fees page. Fees can change, so we confirm them with the college before you enrol. Get your free quote.
2. The cheapest bachelor degree in Australia for international students
Bachelor and master degrees are a popular choice for a Student visa, and higher education doesn’t have to cost tens of thousands of dollars a year. Here is one of the most affordable options we list.
Price: $15,166 per year
Where: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth
Intakes: Several intakes a year. Ask us for the next start date.
The Australian Institute of Business Intelligence (AIBI) offers three bachelor degrees from $15,166 per year. Each is a three-year course, and you can secure your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with a first payment from $1,000. Prices can differ for students applying in Australia and from overseas, so ask us for the price that applies to you.
- Bachelor of Cyber Security (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth)
- Bachelor of Business (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth)
- Bachelor of Enterprise Management Systems (Sydney, Melbourne)
A bachelor degree may also lead to a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after you graduate, if you meet the conditions. Contact us to check your options.
3. The most affordable master degree in Australia for international students
Price: $19,600 per year, from $12,740 with a scholarship
Where: Sydney
Intakes: Several intakes a year. Ask us for the next start date.
If you’re looking for an affordable master degree, the Master of Information Technology at Sydney Institute of Higher Education (SIHE) is a two-year course with a standard tuition fee of $19,600 per year ($39,200 in total).
SIHE currently offers scholarships that bring the price down: 25% for students applying from outside Australia ($14,700 per year, $29,400 in total) and 35% for students applying in Australia ($12,740 per year, $25,480 in total). Scholarships are set for each intake, and since 2 October 2026 most students can’t apply for a Student visa from inside Australia, so ask us which scholarship applies to you. The application fee is $250. Source: Sydney Institute of Higher Education.
4. Affordable courses in sustainability and environmental management
Price: From $1,900 every three months
Where: Sydney
Intakes: Several intakes a year. Ask us for the next start date.
If you’d like to work in a growing field, the Australian College of Business Intelligence (ACBI) in Sydney offers two affordable sustainability courses:
- Certificate IV in Environmental Management and Sustainability: $1,900 every three months, 52 weeks
- Diploma of Sustainable Operations: $2,000 every three months
ACBI’s Diploma of Project Management is also $2,000 every three months. The enrolment fee is $250 and the material fee is $100. Contact us to learn more about enrolling.
5. Affordable diploma courses with campuses across Australia
Price: $1,250 every two months ($7,500 per year)
Where: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast
Intakes: Several intakes a year. Ask us for the next start date.
Greenwich College has six campuses, so you can choose your city. These business and management courses cost $1,250 every two months ($7,500 per year):
- Diploma of Business (52 weeks)
- Diploma of Leadership and Management (52 weeks)
- Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (44 weeks)
The enrolment fee is $260 and the material fee is $120. Greenwich’s Diploma of Hospitality Management costs $1,250 every two months. Contact us to learn more about enrolling in these courses.
6. Diploma of Artificial Intelligence (honourable mention)
Price: $2,000 every three months
Where: Sydney
Intakes: Several intakes a year. Ask us for the next start date.
This isn’t the cheapest diploma on our list, but many of you ask about studying artificial intelligence in Australia. The one-year Diploma of Artificial Intelligence at ACBI gives you a solid foundation in AI and teaches you how to use AI tools effectively and ethically. It costs $2,000 every three months (about $8,000 for the year), plus a $250 enrolment fee and a $100 material fee.
What your first year really costs
Tuition is only part of the budget. Here is an example for one student applying from outside Australia for the NCCS Certificate IV in Project Management Practice:
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (52 weeks) | $6,000 | Paid in instalments |
| Application fee | $250 | $200 if you apply in Australia |
| Student visa fee | $2,500 | Lower for some nationalities |
| OSHC, 12 months of single cover | From $660.28 | AHM OSHC with a limited-time discount, T&Cs apply |
| Total you pay | $9,410.28 | Before rent, food and flights |
You may also need to show the Department of Home Affairs that you can support yourself. If you have to provide evidence of funds, you need to show money for 12 months of living costs ($29,710 for a student), plus your course fees for the first 12 months and travel costs (generally $2,000 if you apply from outside Australia). For this example that is about $37,710. This is money you need access to, not a fee you pay. Read more about financial capacity for a Student visa or see the Home Affairs Student visa page.
Save more with the cheapest OSHC
Every Student visa holder needs Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole visa, and prices differ a lot between insurers, especially for couples and families. You can save hundreds of dollars by comparing all available OSHC providers. Our cheapest OSHC guide compares every provider, and the OSHC calculator prices your exact number of months.
Cheapest single OSHC from $660.28
Add OSHC to your study budget
Compare Allianz Care, AHM, Bupa and Medibank for your exact visa dates. 12 months of single cover starts at $660.28 with AHM OSHC (limited-time discount, T&Cs apply), couple cover at $5,351 and family cover at $9,515 with Allianz Care.
Compare OSHC prices →Partner link to OSHC Australia. Prices updated 12 November 2026.
Disclosure: Study Anywhere may earn a commission if you buy OSHC through our partner links, at no extra cost to you. Prices through our link are the same as on OSHC Australia’s own website.
Cheapest courses in Australia: frequently asked questions
Among the courses we list, New Cambridge College Sydney (NCCS) has some of the lowest fees: $6,000 for a 52-week Certificate III in Business, Certificate IV in Leadership and Management, Diploma of Leadership and Management, Certificate IV in Project Management Practice or Diploma of Project Management, plus a $200 application fee ($250 from outside Australia). Prices updated November 2026.
The Australian Institute of Business Intelligence (AIBI) offers a Bachelor of Cyber Security, Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Enterprise Management Systems from $15,166 per year. Prices can differ for onshore and offshore applicants.
From 1 July 2026 the Student visa (subclass 500) application fee is $2,500 for most applicants. A lower fee applies to some applicants, including eligible Pacific Island, Timor-Leste and ASEAN citizens.
If you need to provide evidence of funds, Home Affairs asks for 12 months of living costs ($29,710 for a student, $10,394 for a partner and $4,449 for a child), plus your course fees for the first 12 months and travel costs, generally $2,000 if you apply from outside Australia.
Since 2 October 2026 most temporary visa holders, including most Student visa holders, can no longer apply for a Student visa while in Australia. Exemptions include needing up to 12 more months to finish your main course with the same provider and moving up to a higher AQF level after completing your main course.
Since 2 October 2026 most applicants can no longer include a partner or children in their Student visa application. Exemptions include PhD students, DFAT or Defence sponsored students, foreign government scholarship holders and eligible students from Pacific and ASEAN countries.
All prices in this article are in Australian dollars (AUD) and can change. Course prices updated November 2026 from our school partners and the schools’ own websites.
Get your free quote for the whole package here or reach out to us via Messenger to speak with one of our colleagues. Join students from 60+ countries and study in Australia with Study Anywhere.
