Living In Australia

Welcome to Australia

Horizon International College is located in Adelaide (5 minutes from Central Train Station).

Adelaide is the most liveable city in Australia and an ideal destination for  study purposes. It is affordable, friendly, multicultural and easy to get around.

With over 500 occupations available for international graduates, Adelaide is the best place in Australia to gain valuable post-study work experience.

If you’re thinking of studying in Australia, you will need to know what it will cost to support yourself. Obvious things that come to mind are accommodation, food, clothes, child-care and entertainment. Below is the guide on financial requirements for international students studying in Australia for each academic year (does not include course tuition fees, Overseas Student Health Cover, travel/incidentals), however, this can vary widely depending on your lifestyle:

  • You – $21,041
  • Partner or spouse – $7,362
  • Child – $3,152

International students wishing to bring their spouse and school-aged dependents should ensure they plan for living expenses for each additional family member. In addition, students will be required to pay the full schooling tuition fees of his/her school-aged dependent children.

Initial establishment costs for a shared apartment, such as rental bond for accommodation, electricity, gas and telephone, could add up to more than $1,760. In addition, there are costs associated with staying in touch with home. There are internet cafes located throughout the CBD which cost around AU$5.00 per hour as well as free WIFI in popular areas such as McDonald’s and Starbucks. The cheapest way to phone overseas is using phone apps such as Skype, Facebook or Viber or via a phone card. Phone cards can be purchased at newsagents and convenience stores. Different phone cards will have different rates so make sure different cards are compared to see which is the cheapest for your country. Students requiring a mobile phone, can get packages starting from around AU$15.00 a month plus call costs for a two-year contract. You can also buy a pre-paid mobile phone for about AU$100.00. Note that calls made from mobile phones to overseas can add up to be very expensive.

To post a letter overseas the cost is between AU$1.75 to AU$2.60 through Australia Post. Parcels and freight are a lot more expensive and the cost will depend on how much you are sending and where it is going.

Education costs

Australian education tuition fees for international students are very competitive with other countries. All tuition fees for international students who study in Australia are exempt from GST and are charged up-front, with some institutions making additional charges to cover other associated costs like mandatory student workbooks, sports facilities, laboratory costs, student organization membership, and library fees.

English language courses

Australian education tuition fees for international students are very competitive with other countries. All tuition fees for international students who study in Australia are exempt from GST and are charged up-front, with some institutions making additional charges to cover other associated costs like mandatory student workbooks, sports facilities, laboratory costs, student organization membership, and library fees.

Vocational education and training (VET) course costs

Prices for vocational education courses in Australia can vary between A$3,000.00 and A$70,000.00 depending on the course, duration and whether the qualification is a certificate, diploma or advanced diploma. For example, learning to fly is far more expensive than any course that is largely classroom based. The length of courses can also vary greatly depending on the type, of course, you plan on studying so make sure you do your homework before you enroll in any course.

Accommodation costs

  • Hostels and Guesthouses – $90 to $150 per week
  • Shared Rental – $85 to $215 per week
  • On campus – $90 to $280 per week
  • Homestay – $235 to $325 per week
  • Rental – $165 to $440 per week
  • Boarding schools – $11,000 to $22,000 a year

Other living costs

There are of course other costs associated with living in Australia. Please take these into account. For example, the extra cost of the use of electricity, the telephone and gas on top of your rent. Approximate costs of other living expenses include:

  • Groceries and eating out – $80 to $280 per week
  • Gas, electricity – $35 to $140 per week
  • Phone and Internet – $20 to $55 per week
  • Public transport – $15 to $55 per week
  • Car (after purchase) – $150 to $260 per week
  • Entertainment – $80 to $150 per week