When it comes to studying in Australia, most people immediately set their sights on the Group of Eight (Go8).But with Go8 tuition fees rising year on year, and high rents in Sydney and Melbourne, it’s all becoming too much for students to handle, University of Sydney fees have now surpassed $50,000 per year……
Australian website Uni Reviews has compiled tuition fee data from universities across Australia, covering three popular fields: Business, Engineering, and Arts/Education. Most Australian undergraduate degrees take 3 years; honours degrees generally take 4 years; and master’s degrees typically run for 1–2 years.
*The data below is from 2019 and may be a little out of date.
Bachelor Degree Annual Fees
Postgraduate Annual Fees
Note: Data sourced from the Australian Uni Review website, based on official figures. Amounts are approximate averages for Business, Engineering and similar fields — actual fees depend on the specific programme and course chosen. All figures are per year, last updated 2019.
Can it be/ more affordable?
Among the many students who have consulted me, most start by asking about the Go8 — and quite a few are put off by the fees alone.The Go8 certainly has its merits — the names carry real prestige, but if your top priority is cost, or you have a clear goal of migration plus employment, there are many more accessible university options across Australia.
Not only are tuition fees comparatively affordable, but graduates also stand a stronger chance of applying for state nomination, so today we’re rounding up a selection of budget-friendly universities, where after graduation your programme opens pathways to migration!
*The recommended programmes at each of the following universities are among the best migration-pathway fields available right now, and if you’d like to explore other programmes, feel free to get in touch~
Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University (WSU) was founded in 1989 in New South Wales, Australia, and is located at the heart of Western Sydney. It was Australia’s first amalgamated multi-campus city university and has the largest university network in the country. WSU is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.Western Sydney University ranked in the top 2% of universities globally in the 2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Master of Social Work
Duration: 2 years
Campus: Parramatta/Liverpool
Intake: March each year
English requirement: IELTS overall 7.0, no band below 6.5
Tuition fees: $28,080 per year
– Flexible entry requirements; a bridging course is available if your background falls short
– Programme includes 1,008 hours of professional placement
– AASW-accredited programme
– English language courses available (internal pathway option available)
Master of Teaching(Birth – 5 Years/Birth – 12 Years)
Duration: 2.5 years (Early Childhood Education stream can be completed in 2 years)
Campus: Bankstown
Intake: March and July each year
English requirement: IELTS overall 7.5 (Listening/Speaking 8.0, Reading/Writing 7.0)
Tuition fees: $28,320 per year
– No undergraduate background required
– IELTS waived for Australian undergraduate degree holders
– Programme includes 1,000 hours of professional placement
– AASW-accredited programme
– English language courses available (internal pathway option available)
Master of Nursing (Pre-registration)
Duration: 2 years
Campus: Parramatta/Hawkesbury
Intake: January each year
English requirement: IELTS 7.0 in all four bands
Tuition fees: $35,982 per year
– Flexible entry requirements; no undergraduate degree required
– Combined scores from two sittings within 6 months are accepted
– Programme includes 800 hours of professional placement
Western Sydney University also offers generous scholarship programmes — get in touch to find out more!
Southern Cross University
Southern Cross University (SCU) is an Australian public university recognised by governments and professional bodies worldwide, including China. Named after the Southern Cross — the brightest constellation in the southern hemisphere sky — SCU has earned a distinguished reputation for innovative teaching and advanced facilities, providing students with high-quality education and world-class resources. Its programmes and academic staff have received numerous prestigious awards and grants, and the university is internationally regarded for its research.
Southern Cross University has three main campuses: Lismore, Gold Coast, and Coffs Harbour.
Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood)
Duration: 1 year
Campus: Gold Coast
Intake: February and June each year
English requirement: IELTS 6.5 in all four bands
Tuition fees: $26,800 per year
– No relevant background or work experience required
– IELTS waived for Australian undergraduate or postgraduate degree holders
– Programme includes 60 days of professional placement (covering early childhood and infant/toddler education)
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education(Primary/EarlyChildhood)
Duration: 4 years
Campus: Gold Coast/Lismore
Intake: February and June each year
English requirement: IELTS overall 7.5, Reading/Writing 7.0, Listening/Speaking 8.0
Tuition fees: $28,000 per year
Bachelor of Social Work
Duration: 4 years
Campus: Gold Coast
Intake: February each year
English requirement: IELTS 7.0 in all four bands
Tuition fees: $28,000 per year
Bachelor of Nursing
Duration: 3 years
Campus: Coffs Harbour/Gold Coast/Lismore
Intake: February each year
English requirement: IELTS 7.0 in all four bands
Tuition fees: $28,800 per year
Master of Social Work
Duration: 2 years
Campus: Gold Coast
Intake: February and October each year
English requirement: IELTS 7.0 in all four bands
Tuition fees: $26,800 per year
– Flexible entry requirements; a bridging course is available if your background falls short
– IELTS waived for Australian undergraduate degree holders
– Programme includes 1,000 hours of professional placement
– AASW-accredited programme
– English language courses available (internal pathway option available)
Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is the only university in the Northern Territory, with affordable tuition fees. Its main Casuarina campus offers programmes in IT, Education, Engineering, Nursing, Social Work and more. The campus is expansive, and the surrounding area has entertainment venues, shops and everyday amenities all within easy reach. Casuarina campus is just a 19-minute drive from Darwin CBD and 12 minutes from the airport — very convenient for daily living and transport.
Master of Information Technology(Information Systems and Data Science)
Duration: 2 years
Campus: Casuarina
Intake: March and July
English requirement: PTE / IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
Tuition fees: $29,616 per year
Master of Information Technology (Cyber Security)
Duration: 2 years
Campus: Casuarina
Intake: March and July
English requirement: PTE / IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
Tuition fees: $29,616 per year
Master of Teaching (EarlyChildhood and Primary / Secondary)
Duration: 2 years
Campus: Casuarina
Intake: March and July
English requirement: PTE / IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
Tuition fees: $28,104 per year
Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
Duration: 2 years
Campus: Casuarina
Intake: March
English requirement: PTE / IELTS 7.0 (all bands 7.0)
Tuition fees: $31,000 per year
Master of Nursing
Duration: 3 years
Intake: March and July
English requirement: PTE / IELTS 7.0 (all bands 7.0)
Tuition fees: $32,320 per year
Torrens University Australia
Torrens University Australia (TUA) is headquartered in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and is the first private university to be established in Australia in over 20 years.For students on a tight budget who are looking to study migration-pathway programmes, Torrens University is an ideal choice, ranking 12th among all Australian universities for student satisfaction. Balancing cost, migration-pathway courses and the overall student experience, Torrens University is very much worth considering!
Bachelor of Applied Social Science
(Community Services)
Duration: 3 years
Campus: Adelaide
Intake: February, May and September each year
English requirement: IELTS overall 6.0, no band below 5.5
Tuition fees: $23,760 per year
– Low English entry requirement
– Graduates may apply for South Australia state nomination (Subclass 190/491)
– Programme includes 400 hours of professional placement
Master of Business Information Systems
Duration: 2 years
Campus: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide
Intake: February, May and September each year
English requirement: IELTS overall 6.5, no band below 6.0
Tuition fees: $28,480 per year
Torrens University currently offers scholarships of 15%–30% off tuition fees — scan the code to enquire!
We’ve highlighted an excellent range of outstanding-value migration-pathway programmes, with some costing less than $20,000 in tuition per year.While tuition at these universities is relatively affordable, the quality of education is excellent — you won’t be disappointed whichever you choose. Due to space constraints, we haven’t been able to list every institution and programme, but students who’d like to know more are welcome to add us on WeChat.
Whether you’re currently in China looking for a fresh start, or you hold an undergraduate degree outside a migration-pathway field and want to pursue a master’s to change direction — we have a recommendation for you. Personalised one-on-one guidance: get in touch directly!
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