How to Study in Australia for Free?

Do you want to know how you can study in Australia for free? There are several low-cost universities in Australia that offer quality education at affordable tuition rates. Additionally, many scholarships are available in the country for international students who cannot afford tuition and living expenses.

For those of you seeking an affordable higher education opportunity in Australia, there are some options that you can take in order to get a quality education without spending much. The purpose of this article is to explain how you can study in Australia for free.

How to Study for Free in Australia?

If you are still wondering how it is possible to study for free in Australia, don’t worry! Under this section, you will get a better understanding of the ways in which you can study affordably in the country. Given below are some important tips that international students must follow in order to study in Australia for free:

• Apply for Scholarships
• Apply to Low-Cost Australian Universities
• Take up Part-Time Job Opportunities

Apply for Scholarships

The best way to get a free education in Australia is through scholarships. International students can take advantage of many scholarship opportunities provided by Australian universities and the government. Depending on the scholarship, your tuition and living expenses may be partially or completely covered.

Take the time to research the best scholarships offered by your target universities before you apply. Getting high-paying ones is usually more difficult, but you shouldn't let that stop you. Once you have selected the best scholarships, make sure you meet their eligibility requirements to be considered for them.

Apply to Low-Cost Australian Universities

Australian universities offer excellent education, but they are more expensive than the universities of many other countries. These institutions charge tuition fees of 10,000 to 40,000 USD on average, which is a very high amount. However, not all universities charge this much.

In addition to scholarships, another easy way to study in Australia for free is by applying to an affordable university. Many public and private universities offer quality education in Australia at an affordable cost. Make a list of the cheapest schools, and then apply to the one that matches your focus field. This will save you thousands of dollars on tuition costs.

Some of the affordable universities in Australia are listed below:

• University of Queensland
• University of Southern Queensland
• University of Sunshine Coast
• Southern Cross University
• Australian Catholic University
• University of Canberra
• Charles Darwin University
• University of New England
• James Cook University
• Victoria University

Take up Part-Time Job Opportunities

International students can also search for a part-time job while studying in Australia. With a student visa, candidates are allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week. However, students can only start working while pursuing their courses. 

Some popular part-time job options for students include private tutor, admin executive, bartender, customer care executive. In Australia, AUD 18.93 is the minimum hourly wage irrespective of one's skill level or experience.

Read More: Part-Time Jobs in Australia for International Students

Top Scholarships to Study in Australia for Free

To pursue free higher education in Australia, international students can take advantage of various scholarships provided by the Australian government and the Australian universities they have enrolled into. Additionally, several private and public organizations provide financial assistance to international students. To study in Australia for free, international students can consider applying for the following scholarships: 

• Australia Awards Scholarships 
• Adelaide Global Excellence Scholarships
• University of Sydney International Research Scholarships
• University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships
• Macquarie University International Scholarships
• Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarships 

Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards Scholarships aim to advance knowledge, education links, and lasting ties between Australia and its neighbouring countries through an array of scholarships. Students from developing countries, specifically those from the Indo-Pacific region, who are enrolled in full-time UG or PG courses at participating Australian universities and TAFE institutions can apply for these scholarships.

Scholarships in this category usually cover the complete tuition fee, contribution to living expenses (CLE), return airfare, establishment allowance, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and other expenses. 

Adelaide Global Excellence Scholarships

Adelaide Global Excellence Scholarships are for outstanding international students who are enrolled at the University of Adelaide in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework. These scholarships cover 50% of the tuition fees.

At the University of Adelaide, each faculty awards two scholarships worth 50% of the tuition fee to applicants with an ATAR above 98 or a GPA above 6.8. Applicants must be citizens of a country other than Australia and New Zealand and pursue an academic degree in any discipline.

University of Sydney International Research Scholarships

The University of Sydney offers an international research scholarship program for students pursuing a PG research degree or master's research degree at the university. The purpose of this scholarship is to attract highly qualified international postgraduate students to undertake research projects at the University of Sydney to enhance the university's research activities.

These scholarships cover tuition fees and living expenses of international students for a period of 3 years. However, it is possible for students pursuing doctoral degrees to extend their scholarship duration by one semester. 

University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships

Graduate Research Scholarships are offered by the University of Melbourne to high-performing domestic and international graduate research students and provide benefits such as tuition fee waivers, living allowances, relocation grants, and overseas student health coverage.

Scholarships may be worth up to $110,000 and offer 100% fee remission. Every year, approximately 600 scholarships are awarded for all study areas. These scholarships are awarded without requiring a separate application from students.

Macquarie University International Scholarships

These scholarships aim to help outstanding students pursue a UG or a PG degree at Macquarie University North Ryde campus. Scholarships range up to AUD $10,000 and cover a partial tuition fee for students. In order to be eligible for these scholarships, international students must demonstrate academic excellence. Students from abroad are encouraged to apply for these scholarships as early as possible in order to avoid disappointment at a later stage.

Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarships 

Indian students who will be pursuing a higher degree at Flinders University can apply for an international postgraduate research scholarship. Scholarships are available for a maximum of two years for master's degrees in research and for a maximum of three years for doctoral degrees in research.

Tuition costs, living expenses, establishment allowances, relocation expenses, and airfare are covered by these scholarships. Under FIPRS, international students are entitled to tuition fees charged by Flinders University plus a living allowance of $26,288. Scholarship amounts are indexed yearly and are tax-free. 

How to Apply for Scholarships in Australia?

Now that you know that applying for scholarships is one of the most effective ways for studying in Australia for free. The specific requirements to apply for these scholarships differ based on the selected university and program. Let us understand the general eligibility requirements to apply for scholarships in Australia: 

• To qualify for a scholarship, you need a strong academic base - which means providing detailed information about your past education and grades.
• Some scholarships require English language requirements as well. However, a few of these scholarships will exempt you from this requirement if you can prove that you have studied English in your previous education. Generally, English language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL are accepted depending on the scholarship requirements.
• A majority of Australian scholarships require you to prove your citizenship. Hence, you must have a valid passport and a birth certificate.
• It is your responsibility to apply for a student visa on your own and to specify whether any family members will travel to Australia along with you. This is because these scholarships do not cover the expenses of companions and are only provided for the benefit of the applicants.