If you are planning to study in Australia, you will hear two types of costs: tuition fees and non-tuition fees. Tuition fees are the charges for your course — you pay them directly to your CRICOS-registered education provider. Non-tuition fees include everything else: accommodation, food, transport, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), visa application fees, and personal expenses. Understanding the difference is crucial because the Australian Department of Home Affairs requires you to show you can afford both when you apply for a Student Visa (Subclass 500). This glossary entry explains each type, why it matters, and how to budget accurately for your study adventure in Australia.
Tuition fee is the money you pay your school or university for teaching, course materials, and academic services. For example, a Bachelor of Business at a university might cost AUD $30,000 per year in tuition. Non-tuition fee is every other cost you will have while living in Australia as a student. This includes rent, groceries, electricity, mobile phone, public transport, health insurance (OSHC), and even the cost of your visa application. Think of tuition as the price of your classes, and non-tuition as the price of your daily life in Australia. Both are essential to plan for.
When you apply for a Student Visa (Subclass 500), the Department of Home Affairs requires you to demonstrate genuine access to funds (GAF) covering not just your tuition but also living costs and travel. For 2026, the annual living cost benchmark is AUD $21,041 per year (plus AUD $2500 for each accompanying family member). Ignoring non-tuition fees can lead to visa refusal if you cannot prove sufficient funds. Additionally, providers list only tuition fees in their marketing; you must independently research living costs in your chosen city. HeadStart Academy works with official CRICOS data to help you see the full picture — tuition from the provider and living costs from city guides.
**Issuing/Governing Bodies:** Tuition fees are set by individual CRICOS-registered providers (universities, colleges, TAFEs). Non-tuition fee benchmarks are set by the Australian Government (Department of Home Affairs) as part of visa financial requirements. OSHC is regulated by the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman. **How They Appear in Documents:** Tuition appears in your Offer Letter, Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), and electronic visa application. Non-tuition fees are listed in visa application forms (e.g., Statement of Financial Capacity) and your personal budget. **Rules/Deadlines:** You must pay your tuition fee deposit to receive a CoE (usually 50% of first semester or full year, depending on provider). OSHC must be purchased before visa grant. Evidence of funds for living costs must be submitted at visa application — these funds must be held for at least 3 months prior to application (check current rules).
Maria wants to study a Diploma of Nursing (CRICOS-registered) at a college in Sydney. The tuition fee is AUD $15,000 per year. Using data from the CRICOS register and our city guides, she estimates non-tuition fees as: rent (shared) $250/week = $13,000/year, groceries $80/week = $4,160/year, transport $40/week = $2,080/year, OSHC $600/year, plus miscellaneous $1,000/year. Total non-tuition: $20,840/year. For her visa application, Maria must show at least $15,000 (tuition) + $20,840 (living costs) + $3,000 (return flight estimate) = $38,840. She compares with a similar course in Adelaide where rent is $170/week, reducing non-tuition costs by $4,160/year. This lower cost of living makes Adelaide more affordable, even if tuition is similar. HeadStart Academy helps students run this comparison across over 26,000 courses.
**Misconception 1: 'Non-tuition fees are optional extras you can skip.'** In reality, you cannot get a visa without proving you can cover them, and you cannot survive without them. Health cover (OSHC) is a legal requirement for student visa holders. **Misconception 2: 'The tuition fee quote includes everything.'** Tuition strictly covers academic costs. Books, equipment, and student services may be extra. Always read the fine print in your Offer Letter. **Misconception 3: 'You can work to cover non-tuition fees.'** While student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight (during study periods), you must still show you have enough funds upfront. The Department of Home Affairs does not rely on future earnings.
Ready to compare courses and costs? Use HeadStart Academy's free search to find CRICOS-registered providers and estimate your total budget.