You should carefully consider all the costs involved when applying to study at university.
Tuition fees are not your only expense – you may need to find accommodation, travel to and from university, buy books, pens, paper, and think about food and entertainment, such as joining clubs.
Knowing how much everything is going to cost must be fully researched – you'll find more information from the Student Financial Aid Service.
The annual cost of living depends on your lifestyle and the type of accommodation you choose, but A$400-$500 per week (A$20,800-$26,000 per year) is generally sufficient for most students to live comfortably. This does not include tuition fees, medical cover, textbooks or airfares.
The following comparative table is a guide only. It gives an indication of the type of expenses and average costs students will need to meet. Students with a family (spouse and one child) should budget a minimum of $650 per week (A$34,000 per year) for living expenses.
| Establishment costs | On-campus [1] | Off-campus, residential, shared [2] | Off-campus, full board [3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Year | Week | Year | Week | Year | |
| Total | 0 | $650 | 0 | $1,872 | 0 | $485 |
| Bond, fees etc | n/a | $650 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $195 |
| Bond (one month's rent) | n/a | n/a | $200x4 | $800 | n/a | n/a |
| Two weeks' rent in advance | n/a | n/a | n/a | $400 | n/a | n/a |
| Telephone and utilities connection | n/a | n/a | n/a | $72 | n/a | n/a |
| Furnishings, linen, crockery | n/a | n/a | n/a | $600 | n/a | n/a |
| Application/placement fee | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $290 |
| Annual costs | On-campus [1] | Off-campus, residential, shared [2] | Off-campus, full board [3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Year | Week | Year | Week | Year | |
| Total | 0 | $1,415 | 0 | $985 | 0 | $985 |
| Books, stationery, equipment | n/a | $750 | n/a | $750 | n/a | $750 |
| Student Services & Amenities Fee |
n/a | $235 | n/a | $235 | n/a | $235 |
| Student club fee (average) | n/a | $200 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Internet service fee | n/a | $230 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Weekly costs | On-campus [1] | Off-campus, residential, shared [2] | Off-campus, full board [3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Year | Week | Year | Week | Year | |
| Total | $455 | $15,470 | $520 | $27,040 | $420 | $21,060 |
| Rent/Board (average) for academic year | $375 | $12,750 | $200 | $10,400 | $235 | $11,750 |
| Food | n/a | n/a | $175 | $9,100 | $75 | $3,750 |
| Public transport | n/a | n/a | $30 | $1,560 | $30 | $1,560 |
| Utilities (gas, electricity, telephone, water) | n/a | n/a | $35 | $1,820 | n/a | n/a |
| Spending money (medical, clothing, entertainment etc) | $80 | $2,720 | $80 | $4,160 | $80 | $4,000 |
| Miscellaneous costs | On-campus [1] | Off-campus, residential, shared [2] | Off-campus, full board [3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Year | Week | Year | Week | Year | |
| Grand Total (all table costs combined) | $20,775-$24,735 | $29,897 | $22,530 | |||
| Board and spending money for holiday period (18 weeks) | $180-$400 | $3,240-$7,200 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Notes
- All costs are in Australian dollars
- [1] Calculated on 34 weeks, which is the University's academic year
- [2] Cost per person sharing an unfurnished house / flat with two others for 52 weeks
- [3] Calculated on 50 weeks
Further information
Student Services and Amenities Fee
The Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory charge to gain access to facilities and services provided by the UWA Student Guild and the UWA Sports and Recreation Association.
It covers a range of recreational, sporting and educational facilities together with social, education and representation activities and services.
Books and stationery
Don't forget to budget for:
- text books and required reading – they can cost hundreds of dollars
- stationery and other unit expenses.
Reduce costs by buying second-hand books or by using texts in reserve at the University Library.
Transport and parking
Parking on campus is limited and this, combined with environmental concerns, is why we recommend using public transport.