The cheapest universities in Australia for international students (2026)

We ranked every Australian university by the lowest Bachelor-degree tuition fee it lists in the official CRICOS register. The most affordable is University of Technology Sydney (UTS), from $25,233.

Data last updated: 1 July 2026

Universities ranked

Cheapest Bachelor degree

$25,233

Median (cheapest degree)

$78,560

Highest

$150,240

Full ranking — cheapest to most expensive

#	University	State	Cheapest degree
1	University of Technology Sydney (UTS)NSW	New South Wales	$25,233
2	Charles Darwin University (CDU)NT	Northern Territory	$29,806
3	Murdoch University (Murdoch)WA	Western Australia	$33,120
4	Flinders UniversitySA	South Australia	$33,500
5	Curtin UniversityWA	Western Australia	$34,700
6	University of Wollongong (UoW)NSW	New South Wales	$35,808
7	Western Sydney UniversityNSW	New South Wales	$36,570
8	Swinburne University of TechnologyVIC	Victoria	$38,000
9	University of CanberraACT	Australian Capital Territory	$38,000
10	The University of QueenslandQLD	Queensland	$43,504
11	Edith Cowan UniversityWA	Western Australia	$49,440
12	University of DivinityVIC	Victoria	$52,416
13	University of Tasmania (UTas)TAS	Tasmania	$55,281
14	Victoria UniversityVIC	Victoria	$55,800
15	The University of SydneyNSW	New South Wales	$56,300
16	University of the Sunshine CoastQLD	Queensland	$67,031
17	Central Queensland UniversityQLD	Queensland	$70,080
18	Charles Sturt University (CSU)NSW	New South Wales	$73,680
19	Victoria UniversityVIC	Victoria	$73,920
20	Federation University AustraliaVIC	Victoria	$77,100
21	Queensland University of Technology (QUT)QLD	Queensland	$77,700
22	Southern Cross University (SCU)NSW	New South Wales	$78,000
23	Australian Catholic University LimitedNSW	New South Wales	$78,560
24	Australian University of Theology LimitedNSW	New South Wales	$81,288
25	Macquarie University (Macquarie)NSW	New South Wales	$82,400
26	University of Southern QueenslandQLD	Queensland	$84,720
27	University of Southern QueenslandQLD	Queensland	$84,720
28	La Trobe University (La Trobe)VIC	Victoria	$86,000
29	Torrens University Australia LimitedNSW	New South Wales	$87,990
30	University of New EnglandNSW	New South Wales	$91,440
31	Griffith UniversityQLD	Queensland	$94,500
32	The University of Notre Dame AustraliaWA	Western Australia	$96,597
33	University of South Australia (UniSA)SA	South Australia	$98,400
34	Adelaide UniversitySA	South Australia	$103,200
35	Avondale UniversityNSW	New South Wales	$107,592
36	Australian National UniversityACT	Australian Capital Territory	$107,650
37	James Cook UniversityQLD	Queensland	$108,160
38	The University of Newcastle (UoN)NSW	New South Wales	$108,415
39	The University of Melbourne (UniMelb)VIC	Victoria	$110,016
40	Deakin University (Deakin)VIC	Victoria	$114,704
41	Monash University (Monash)VIC	Victoria	$116,184
42	The University of Adelaide (Adelaide)SA	South Australia	$123,900
43	The University of Western Australia (UWA)WA	Western Australia	$126,000
44	The University of New South Wales (UNSW)NSW	New South Wales	$131,000
45	Bond UniversityQLD	Queensland	$150,240

Tuition fees are indicative, sourced from CRICOS, and may be quoted per year or per course depending on the provider — confirm directly with the university. See our methodology.

How to study at a cheaper university

Consider universities outside Sydney and Melbourne — regional and smaller-city campuses often charge less and may offer extra post-study work benefits.
A diploma or pathway course can be a cheaper entry point than a direct Bachelor-degree enrolment — compare all cheapest courses.
Combine an affordable course with a scholarship to cut costs further.
Living costs vary more than tuition — see the cheapest student cities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest university in Australia for international students?▾

Based on the lowest Bachelor-degree tuition fee listed in CRICOS, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is currently the most affordable, from $25,233. Fees vary by course, so check the specific program.

Are public universities cheaper than private colleges?▾

Not always. Some universities offer competitively priced degrees, while many private colleges and TAFEs offer diplomas and certificates at far lower fees than a university degree. Compare across all provider types to find your cheapest option.

How is this ranking calculated?▾

We rank each Australian university by the lowest tuition fee among its Bachelor-degree courses, as published in the official CRICOS register. Fees are indicative and may be quoted per year or per course depending on the provider — always confirm with the university.

Browse all cheapest courses Compare by state