In this article
- The Group of Eight (Go8)
- Tuition Fees
- Cost of Living
- Student Visa (Subclass 500)
- Post-Study Work Visa (Subclass 485)
- Scholarships
Australia combines world-class universities, an exceptional quality of life, and one of the most generous post-study visa programmes in the world. For international students in 2026, it remains one of the top five global study destinations : and here’s everything you need to plan your move.
The Group of Eight (Go8)
The Group of Eight (Go8) brings together eight research-intensive Australian universities:
- University of Melbourne, Member of the research-intensive Group of Eight
- Australian National University (ANU), Top for research, located in Canberra
- University of Sydney, Oldest in Australia, broad excellence
- University of Queensland (UQ), Strong sciences and engineering
- Monash University, Highly international, excellent medicine and law
- University of Western Australia (UWA), Strong mining, engineering, sciences
- University of New South Wales (UNSW), Top engineering, tech and business
- Adelaide University, Member of the Go8, opened in January 2026 following the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia
Tuition Fees
International students pay AUD 30,000-50,000/year (≈ €18,000-30,000) depending on discipline. Engineering and medicine are at the higher end. Generous scholarships exist to offset costs.
Cost of Living
Budget AUD 1,800-2,500/month (≈ €1,100-1,500). Sydney and Melbourne are most expensive; Adelaide, Perth and Canberra are more affordable. Student visa holders can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session; research master’s and doctoral students have different conditions. Check your visa conditions and the official student visa guidance.
Student Visa (Subclass 500)
Apply through ImmiAccount. Check the current requirements for Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), financial capacity and English proficiency on the official Subclass 500 page. The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced GTE for applications lodged from 23 March 2024. University admission requirements may differ from visa requirements.
Post-Study Work Visa (Subclass 485)
The Post-Higher Education Work stream generally allows 2 years after a bachelor’s or coursework master’s degree, and 3 after a research master’s or doctorate. Eligibility requirements and nationality-specific exceptions apply. A second regional visa may provide 1-2 additional years subject to its own conditions.
On the same topic, see our article: Bachelor Admission in Australia.
Scholarships
Check each university’s scholarship portal for current awards, eligibility, deadlines and funding amounts. Scholarships are not guaranteed. Destination Australia has had no further funding rounds since 1 July 2024; support continues for eligible existing recipients.
To go further, read our guide: Everything you need to know about studying in Australia.
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Author
With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam co-founded Your Dream School in 2018. Since then the company has coached more than 1,000 students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.
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