Applying for the EU Settlement Scheme: what you need to know to get British citizenship

Dreaming of studying in Australia? It’s never too early to start planning financially. Tuition fees for international undergraduate students typically range from AUD 35,000 to AUD 55,000 per year, depending on the university, course of study, and location. For example, STEM and medical programs are generally more expensive than humanities or social sciences​. However, there are lots of scholarships available to help pay for your studies. 

In this article, we’ll look at what funding is available for international students in Australia. By the end, you’ll have a list of resources to explore to find the scholarship that’s right for you.  

Are you eligible for a scholarship? 

Australia offers grants, bursaries, and scholarships to people from around the world – including undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, and vocational students. They’re funded by the government, universities, and private entities.  

The Australian Government has an excellent scholarship search tool on its website. With it, you can search for funding opportunities based on a whole range of factors – like what country you come from, what university you’re attending, and your area and level of study. You’ll see how much each scholarship is worth, who it’s made for, and of course, whether you might be eligible.  

Australian scholarship opportunities  

Now, let’s cover a few scholarship opportunities for international students in Australia. 

Australia Awards Scholarships 

Australia Awards scholarships are offered to global student leaders from developing countries. They’re awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and support students with full tuition, airfare, living costs, and more. In 2021, 818 Australia Awards were given to students from 20 countries worldwide.  

Destination Australia Awards  

The Australian government introduced the Destination Australia program to provide both local and international students with the opportunity to study in more regional and remote areas of Australia – towns such as Ballarat (Victoria), Gatton (Queensland), and Lismore (New South Wales). The scholarships are given out through Australian universities and provide students with up to $15,000 AUD each year.  

University-specific scholarships 

In addition to government-provided scholarships, universities also offer their own scholarships to qualifying international students. There’s the James Rice Postgraduate Award at The Australian National University (ANU); International Stand Out Scholarship at Bond University, and the Adelaide Refugee & Humanitarian Postgraduate Coursework Scholarship at University of Adelaide.

The point is, universities offer lots of scholarships for international students based on a long list of eligibility factors – like home country, area of study, and academic merit. 

To search for funding opportunities at your own institution, use the search tool on the Australian Government website.

A case study: Monash University scholarships 

To get an idea of all the different scholarships that can be offered by Australian universities, we’ll take a closer look at one popular institution for international students: Monash University.  

Monash University is recognized for its research and teaching, and offer more than 80 scholarships to international students, including:   

• Monash International Tuition Scholarships

• Monash International Merit Scholarships

• The Dal Sasso Family Scholarships

• The Monash Jazz Music Scholarship

Universities throughout Australia offer similar scholarships.  

To apply for any scholarship or funding opportunity, you’ll need to contact the scholarship provider.  

Other ways to fund your studies 

As an international student, there are other options to pay for your studies in Australia.   

One of the biggest perks of studying in Australia is that international students can work up to 48 hours every two weeks while studying and unlimited hours during study breaks on an Australian student visa. The minimum wage is $24.10 per hour or $915.90 per week,  meaning you’ll be able to put some money aside to help fund your education.

 Depending on where you are from, you might also be able to get a student loan or scholarship from your own country to study overseas.  

Last updated 20 December 2024.

PTE Academic can support you on your journey abroad. Our computer-based, bias-free English language proficiency test is accepted by all universities in Australia – as well as by the Department of Home Affairs for all visa categories. 

Learn more about PTE Academic in Australia.

Studying abroad in the UK can be expensive. International students need to budget for flights, tuition, textbooks, accommodation, and don’t forget the visa application.

Of course, living costs in the UK for international students can vary depending on your lifestyle and where you live. So, in this blog, we’ll look at how much students in the UK spend on average each month – and explore how much it cost to live in a large city, compared to a smaller city.  

Average student living expenses in the UK

Asian students have long been drawn to Western universities. In fact, in 2018 and 2019, China sent more students to study in the UK than any other country. But now as Asian countries seek to attract more international students themselves, many learners are choosing to study closer to home instead.  

After all, studying within the region offers plenty of benefits. Not only do Asian universities provide a world-class education at a more affordable price. But they are also “among the world’s best at enhancing their alumni’s job market prospects,” states the QS Graduate Employability Rankings. This is a big draw, considering a recent report found that 81% of respondents from eight Asian countries wanted to study at a foreign university to improve employment. 

So, what are some of the top study abroad locations for Asian students? And what do learners need to keep in mind when choosing a destination? In this guide, we’ll focus on Singapore: 

Singapore at a glance 

Singapore is modern, sustainable, and multicultural. This makes it an attractive place to study for students from around the region. Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English are all recognized as official languages, although English is most commonly spoken. In fact, almost 40% of the population in Singapore speaks English at home.  

Singapore invests heavily in human capital. For example, it spends more than 20% of its budget on education each year. It comes as no surprise, then, that Singapore’s education system is listed as one of the best in the world by OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). 

Universities in Singapore 

There are dozens of universities and colleges in Singapore. The two most popular universities are the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Both universities are ranked among the top 20 in the world. According to QS World University Rankings 2021, NUS holds the spot for 11. NTU is ranked number 13. About a quarter of learners at both universities are international students.  

Even more, according to QS, NUS ranks number 24 for graduate employability.  

To study at a Singaporean institution, you must apply directly through the admissions office. This is usually done at the beginning of the year. 

If you’re a second language speaker or haven’t studied full-time at an English institution, you will also need to prove your English proficiency. PTE Academic is a computer-based language test that provides unbiased and secure results and can help you qualify for studying and migrating abroad.  

Students wanting to attend a college in Singapore – including the Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), the East Asia Institute of Management, and LASALLE College of the Arts – will need a PTE Academic score of 42. In general, universities look for a minimum PTE Academic score between 55 and 62. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what some popular universities require: 

• National University of Singapore–62 

• Nanyang Technological University– 55 

• Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) – 62 

However, students are strongly advised to always check with their own university or college to see exactly what PTE Academic score is needed.  

Getting your visa 

If you want to study in Singapore, you will need to have a Student Pass. To apply, you must already be accepted as a full-time student at an academic institution. With a Student Pass, you’ll be able to work up to 16 hours a week during the school term. However, you can only do this if you go to an approved institution.  

Find out exactly how to apply for a Student Pass here.  

Cost of living 

Singapore is considered one of the best student cities in the world; it has great weather, a vibrant mix of cultures, and an excellent food scene. However, compared to other Asian countries, it is on the expensive side. International student tuition fees sit at about $18,700 USD a year. To get an idea about how much it costs to live in Singapore, check out the government’s cost of living calculator.  

Financial aid 

It’s important to keep in mind that Singapore does offer financial aid for citizens, permanent residents, and international students. The Ministry of Education provides these grants under The Tuition Grant Scheme.  

The amount of money offered depends on the area of study and the status of each student in Singapore. This table is a good resource, showing what was available to students studying at NTU in 2020. You can see that for international students, the grants start at about $7,700 USD.   

To accept a Tuition Grant, students who aren’t citizens must sign a Tuition Grant Agreement. This states that they will work in Singapore for a minimum of three years after graduation.  

For more grant information, visit the Ministry of Education website.  

Want to study in Singapore?

With PTE Academic you can achieve your dreams.  

Our unbiased English tests are trusted as proof of English proficiency by universities in Singapore –  and results are typically ready within 2 days. 

Find out where you can take PTE Academic now.