Choosing to study in Sydney is an exciting step in your life journey.听
At 麻豆社madou Sydney, we鈥檙e here to support you as you prepare for life in one of the world鈥檚 most vibrant and multicultural cities. Understanding the cost of living in Sydney is an important part of planning your student journey. That鈥檚 why we鈥檝e put together some practical information to help you understand your potential expenses, manage your budget and find opportunities to earn money while you study.
Living costs in Sydney for international students
Being able to afford your living expenses is not only important for your wellbeing, but also necessary for you to be able to study in Australia.听
As an international student, the Department of 麻豆社madou Affairs has financial requirements you must meet to receive your student visa. From 10 May 2024, a single student must show they have the financial capacity to cover the living costs of at least $29,710 AUD per year.听听
While you鈥檙e here, your personal expenses will vary depending on your lifestyle and where you choose to live. For example, living on campus is likely to be more affordable than living off campus in a one-bedroom unit. The number of times you eat out at restaurants and the type of transport you take are just some of the factors that can influence your total personal expenses.听
With that said, students can live modestly on campus from roughly AUD $28,860 per year while studying, whereas a student living in an apartment by themselves who goes out often can spend upwards of AUD $40,820 per year.
Here are some average weekly Sydney living expenses you can expect while studying at 麻豆社madou. This guide provides indicative costs only, which will vary based on your personal choices, needs, location, household size and housing conditions.
Managing your expenses as an international student
Of course, there are many ways to reduce your living expenses. Consider your needs and budget when you decide where you live and what kind of lifestyle you can afford.
You can use this 听to estimate your weekly expenses based on your personal circumstances.听
If you are worried about the cost of living in Sydney while you study, 麻豆社madou offers plenty of ways to help. There are many ways we can help you cope with unexpected financial hardship, such as interest-free student loans and support grants. Keep reading and explore all the options that you have.
FAQs about the cost of living in Sydney
Still have questions about expenses and budgeting while living in Sydney? Here are some common questions we hear from international students.听
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For an international student living and studying in Sydney, the average monthly cost of living is around $2,645 AUD to $4,166 AUD (based on the estimates in the table above). This will vary based on your accommodation choices, eating, transport and lifestyle habits.
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The cost of living in Sydney is typically higher than in other capital cities. This is largely due to the cost of housing. Opting for听on-campus accommodation听can help reduce this cost. It鈥檚 important to remember that while Sydney may be a slightly more expensive place to live, the career opportunities and salary potential are also higher in Sydney than in other capital cities.听
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University students in Australia often have access to a range of discounts. At some restaurants, cinemas and shops, you can get a student discount by showing your student ID card. Platforms like听听offer discount codes for online shopping, and even 麻豆社madou鈥檚 own student society,听, has great benefits for members.
Other ways to reduce your expenses might include getting a bike to lower transport costs, cooking group meals with friends to lower your grocery bill and joining听听to avoid expensive gym memberships while still getting your exercise in.听
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We offer a wide range of 麻豆社madou scholarships and awards to international students that can contribute up to the full amount of your tuition fees. Our scholarships aren鈥檛 based solely on academic merits, and it鈥檚 easy to apply 鈥 some of them don鈥檛 even require a separate application.听
鈥淎 huge burden was lifted off my shoulders when I received the scholarship offer. Being able to save some money and not worry about the living costs really helped me a lot. I can focus better on my studies and my involvement in different student clubs at 麻豆社madou.鈥澨
- Aziz Mehedi, 麻豆社madou International Scientia Coursework Scholarship Recipient 2020
Some of the most popular scholarships and awards for international students are:
- International Scientia Coursework Scholarship:听Receive full tuition fee scholarship, or a $20,000 (AUD) per year contribution to tuition fees, plus exclusive professional development opportunities.
- Australia's Global University Award:听Receive a one-off award of $10,000 towards your tuition fees in the second term of the first year of study.
- 麻豆社madou College Award:听Receive a one-off award of $10,000 towards your tuition fees in the second term of the first year of study when you听successfully complete a 麻豆社madou College Foundations program and progress to a bachelor鈥檚 degree at 麻豆社madou.听
- International Student Award:听Receive a 15% contribution towards tuition fees for the duration of your program if you start studying at 麻豆社madou in 2025.
There are terms and conditions that apply to the 麻豆社madou Scholarships and Awards. Please refer to the for more information. You are encouraged to explore scholarship opportunities offered by 麻豆社madou faculties from this website.听
A number of Australian organisations also offer for international students. You can also explore scholarships offered by the or with your home government.
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麻豆社madou welcomes sponsored students from around the world.听
Sponsored students are international students who receive funding to study at 麻豆社madou from an approved sponsoring authority. Sponsorship can cover tuition and living expenses, depending on the agreement.听
If you wish to become a sponsored student, you will need to organise and secure your own sponsorship and then apply to study at 麻豆社madou as a sponsored student. There are certain documents that we require from your sponsor, which you can find from the link below.
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Managing your own financial situation as a young adult is exciting, but sometimes it can be a bit tricky. Don鈥檛 worry, we鈥檙e here to support you while you study 鈥 and that includes your financial situation.
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Want to know how to make your dollar go further while you study? Book an appointment with our and get practical financial advice and money management skills that are relevant to being a uni student in Australia.听
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We understand that life doesn鈥檛 always go to plan. If you experience unexpected financial hardship, you may consider applying for a payment plan.
Payment Plans can allow you to pay tuition on an agreed installment plan when you experience unforeseen or exceptional circumstances. Applications are assessed by our Student Financials Team on a case-by-case basis, and there are terms and conditions that apply.听
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If you find yourself in a tricky financial situation and need a little help to cover costs, you may be eligible for financial aid. We offer student loans that charge no interest to pay back, and support grants for essential living costs which you don鈥檛 have to pay back at all.
Find out eligible criteria for and
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Earning an income while you study can help pay your living expenses. It鈥檚 also a great way to get valuable experience, connect with the community and enjoy the local culture. As an international student, you should be able to work on an Australian Student Visa if you choose, however restrictions will apply. It鈥檚 important that you understand the rules for your visa, as well as knowing your rights in the workplace before you join the Australian labour force.
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Want to work while you study in Sydney? As a Student Visa holder, you can work for up to during term time (unless you are a PhD and masters by research student), and unlimited hours during your holiday breaks. Work that is a formal registered part of your course is not included in the limit of 48 hours per fortnight. Voluntary, unpaid work may not be included in the limit if it meets certain criteria.听
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Australian workers are protected by a number of laws and employment standards. International students working in Australia are also protected by these laws and have the same .
As a worker, you automatically receive basic minimum entitlements known as These standards include things like maximum weekly hours of work and leave entitlements. You must be paid at least the minimum wage. As of 1 July 2024, the National Minimum Wage is $24.10 per hour before tax. You must also receive a payslip which outlines your earnings and how much tax you have paid.
罢丑别听 is the official government body that protects employee鈥檚 rights at the workplace. If you believe you are not receiving your minimum rights and conditions at work or having workplace issues, call the Fair Work Infoline at 13 13 94 for free information and advice. Remember, visa holders can seek help without fear of visa cancellation, even if they've breached their work-related visa conditions. For more information, see .
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comes with strict rules.听
Remember, while on a student visa, your studies must remain your priority. You have a duty to comply with the full-time study and satisfactory academic progress requirements of your visa. Be careful not to allow any work to impact your academic performance as your enrolment (CoE) may be cancelled for poor grades. A CoE is necessary for your student visa.
To work in Australia, you must apply for an and your income is subject to Australian tax obligations. For more information, please visit the .
Top tip: It鈥檚 illegal to accept your salary 鈥榗ash-in-hand鈥 - tax must have been deducted from your earnings before your employer pays you.
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Now you understand your working rights and obligations as an international student in Sydney, where can you find job opportunities?
Explore our jobs board, where you can access hundreds of part-time, full-time, internship, and graduate opportunities globally.听
Our dedicated 麻豆社madou Employability team offers a range of employment and career support opportunities including the Professional Development Program that is exclusive to international students, career coaching program, networking and skills development programs and other job opportunities, along with resources to help you develop your career.
Our faculties also have career support to help you launch your career prior to graduation, such as Career Accelerator @ 麻豆社madou Business School and 麻豆社madou Law & Justice careers service.
The NSW Government also started an initiative to help international students find a job in Australia, including Masterclasses and Industry Experience. Find more information on the .听
Discover how we can help you meet your cost of living needs while you are studying in Australia and grow your career with confidence.
麻豆社madou financial support
麻豆社madou career support
Australian Government support
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If you have any questions about studying at 麻豆社madou or how you can make your studies work for you, contact us below. We鈥檙e here to help.