A realistic 2027 breakdown of tuition, OSHC, rent, groceries, transport and set-up costs by city.
Tuition
Group of Eight universities charge AUD 44,000 to AUD 60,000 per year for most postgraduate programmes in 2027. Regional and newer universities start closer to AUD 28,000.
Living costs by city
The Department of Home Affairs' 2026 single-student guideline is AUD 24,505 per year. Actuals vary meaningfully by city.
- •Sydney / Melbourne: AUD 28,000 – 34,000
- •Brisbane / Perth: AUD 22,000 – 26,000
- •Adelaide / Canberra: AUD 20,000 – 24,000
OSHC
Overseas Student Health Cover is mandatory for the full duration of your visa. Single cover sits around AUD 650–780 per year.
First-month set-up
Budget AUD 2,500 – 3,500 for bond, basic furniture, kitchen essentials, SIM activation and a travel pass.
Scholarships that help
Most Group of Eight universities offer 10–25% automatic merit scholarships for Indian students above 85%. Combined with regional campus choices, total out-of-pocket costs can drop by AUD 10,000 per year.
