For parents: what matters most when your child studies in Australia.
Parents often pay and help decide. This page covers costs, safety, guardianship for students under 18, and how you can take part.
What it costs
These are the main costs in a year. Exact amounts differ by school and city; go by the school and government websites.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Charged per course, different at every university and for every degree, and usually revised each year. Filter by budget in the course finder; fees come from each university's site. |
| Living costs | Housing, food, transport and day-to-day spending. The visa's living-cost figure is AUD 29,710 a year (from May 2024); real spending depends on the city and type of housing. |
| Health cover (OSHC) | The student visa requires OSHC for the whole stay. Prices depend on length and insurer; compare quotes on our health cover page. |
| Student visa fee | Paid to the Department of Home Affairs when lodging the subclass 500 visa. Go by the official visa pricing estimator. |
| Auland's service fee | No service fee for students for choosing schools and applying to universities; our income is commission from partner institutions. Extra paid services show their price on the page, agreed before anything starts. |
How students are protected in Australia
The law protects international students
Australia regulates schools that enrol international students under the ESOS Act. If a school can't keep teaching a course, the Tuition Protection Service helps the student move to another course or refunds unused tuition.
Medical care is covered
OSHC covers basic medical care such as GP visits, hospital and ambulance, for the whole stay. What's covered is set by the policy.
Universities have dedicated support
Australian universities run international student services, counselling and campus security, introduced at orientation. If your child needs help, the international student office is the first stop.
Under 18? Welfare arrangements are required
Students under 18 must show suitable accommodation and welfare arrangements to get a student visa. The usual options are:
A parent comes along
A parent or legal custodian applies for the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) and lives with the student in Australia. That visa generally has no work rights.
A relative is the guardian
A relative who lives in Australia, is 21 or over and of good character, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle or adult sibling, is nominated in the visa application.
The school arranges it
The school issues a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) and arranges a homestay and guardian until the student turns 18.
The choice affects the visa documents and the school's arrangements, so decide before accepting an offer. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for the exact requirements.
How parents can take part
Create the account yourself
Accounts are for people 18 or over. If your child is under 18, you can create the account and use the course finder, saved courses and plan together.
Look at the key steps together
Choosing a course, reading the offer terms and preparing the visa's evidence of funds are best done together. We can explain what each step needs.
Ask us directly
Use the chat at the bottom right, WeChat Work or email [email protected], no login needed. We usually reply within one day.
Want to know which schools suit your child?
Tell us your child's year level, grades and interests. We'll help lay out the options first, with no rush to decide.
