Guides Paying Overseas School Fees

Paying Overseas Tuition Fees: Costs and Student Visa Requirements

A practical guide to paying tuition overseas, comparing student funds and visa costs, and preparing to study in Australia, Canada, the US or the UK.

Paying Tuition and Living Costs While Studying Overseas

International education involves more than the tuition amount shown on an offer letter. Students and families may also need to budget for a visa, health insurance, flights, accommodation deposits, course materials and day-to-day living costs. Currency conversion can add another material cost when the payer and education provider use different currencies.

This guide explains how to make an overseas tuition payment and, for students heading to Australia, summarises the current Student visa (subclass 500), financial-capacity and living-cost requirements. Visa rules and charges can change. Check the Department of Home Affairs immediately before applying or paying a visa charge.

Before Paying an Overseas School or University

Confirm the following directly with the education provider:

The exact amount, payment currency and due date.
The approved bank account or payment portal.
The student number, invoice number or other reference that must accompany the payment.
Whether the provider must receive the full invoiced amount after all bank deductions.
Its refund policy if the visa is refused, the course is deferred or the student withdraws.

Treat any unexpected change to payment instructions as a possible invoice-redirection scam. Verify new bank details using a trusted phone number or the provider's authenticated portal, not the contact details in the message requesting the change.

Compare the Total Tuition-Payment Cost

A bank or money-transfer service can charge through a visible transfer fee, an exchange-rate margin or both. Intermediary and recipient banks may also deduct charges. Compare the amount of home currency required to deliver the full tuition amount, not just the advertised fee or exchange rate.

When comparing a bank with a specialist transfer service, check:

1. The amount the education provider is expected to receive.

2. The total amount you must pay, including card, wire and intermediary-bank charges.

3. The quote expiry time and whether the exchange rate is fixed after booking.

4. The funding method and expected delivery date.

5. Whether the service accepts payments to that institution and provides usable payment tracking or a receipt.

Allow time for identity checks, bank funding and the institution's own reconciliation process. A payment arriving at the institution's bank does not always mean it has already been matched to the student's account.

Study Abroad Money and Visa Requirements by Destination

The following comparison covers common higher-education routes for a single international student. It was checked on 20 July 2026. Published proof-of-funds figures are immigration minimums, not estimates of the full cost of studying, and most exclude at least some tuition, travel, dependant or health costs.

Destination	Money to demonstrate	Government application charges	Other main requirements
Australia	AUD29,710 for 12 months of student living costs, plus travel and up to 12 months of course fees. Separate partner, child and school-cost amounts can apply.	Student visa subclass 500: normally AUD2,500 for the primary applicant from 1 July 2026. Limited concessions apply.	Valid Confirmation of Enrolment, Genuine Student responses and supporting evidence, OSHC, and English, health, character or under-18 welfare evidence where required.
Canada	Outside Quebec, CAN$22,895 for one student's first-year living expenses for applications from 1 September 2025, plus first-year tuition and travel. Family amounts are higher; Quebec has separate CAQ rules.	Study permit: CAN$150. Biometrics: CAN$85 per person when required.	Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution and, unless exempt, a provincial or territorial attestation letter; Quebec applicants normally use a CAQ. Medical, language and insurance requirements depend on the applicant, province and institution.
United States	No single federal minimum. Before issuing Form I-20, the SEVP-certified school must verify that documented funding meets or exceeds its listed tuition and living expenses, normally for the first academic period.	F-1 visa application: US$185. I-901 SEVIS fee for F and M students: US$350. A nationality-based issuance fee can also apply.	Admission to an SEVP-certified school, Form I-20, DS-160 and usually a visa interview. Applicants may need academic records and evidence of funding and intent to leave after study. Admission, English and health-insurance rules are set largely by the institution.
United Kingdom	Outstanding first academic year's course fees plus £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 outside London, for up to nine months. Funds normally must be held for 28 consecutive days unless an exemption applies.	Student visa: £558 from 8 April 2026. The immigration health surcharge is normally £776 for each visa year for students and their dependants.	Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, passport and English evidence. Financial documents, ATAS clearance, a tuberculosis certificate or consent for under-18 applicants may also be required.

Always use the destination's official document checklist and the education provider's current invoice. Currency movements can change the home-currency amount needed to satisfy a fixed foreign-currency balance, and immigration authorities may reject funds that are not held for the required period or are not genuinely available to the applicant.

Australia Student Visa Subclass 500: Current Overview

The Student visa (subclass 500) allows an eligible applicant to study at a registered Australian education provider. The visa can also permit travel and limited work, subject to the conditions attached to the individual visa.

The usual preparation sequence is:

1. Receive and review a Letter of Offer from a provider.

2. Accept the offer and obtain a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

3. Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the required period, unless an exemption applies.

4. Use the Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool for the applicant's passport country and education provider.

5. Gather Genuine Student, financial, English, health, character and welfare evidence as applicable.

6. Apply online through ImmiAccount and attach every document the checklist says must be provided before submission.

Home Affairs can request additional information even when a document is not listed initially. Applicants under 18 also need approved welfare arrangements.

Student visa application charge from 1 July 2026

The standard primary Student visa application charge increased from AUD2,000 to AUD2,500 on 1 July 2026. Limited lower-charge arrangements apply to eligible applicants, including specified Pacific, Timor-Leste and ASEAN citizens and some ELICOS and Non-Award applicants.

Use the official Visa Pricing Estimator for the actual charge. Additional-applicant charges, payment surcharges and personal circumstances can affect the total, and application charges are generally not refunded when a visa is refused.

Genuine Student Requirement Replaced GTE

The Genuine Student (GS) requirement applies to Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. It replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for those applications.

GS recognises that a genuine student may later decide to seek permanent residence. The assessment instead focuses on whether studying is the primary reason for the visa application and whether the applicant is a genuine student.

The online application asks short questions about matters such as:

Current family, community, employment and economic circumstances.
Why the applicant chose the course, provider and Australia.
How completing the course will benefit the applicant.
Previous study in Australia, if any.
Why an applicant already holding another visa is applying for a Student visa.
Any other relevant information.

Each GS response has a 150-word limit. Home Affairs gives more weight to statements supported by documents, so include relevant academic records, employment evidence and information explaining the course choice and its value.

Current English-Language Evidence

Whether English evidence must be attached can depend on the applicant, passport country, education provider and exemption status. Follow the current Home Affairs checklist rather than relying on an education agent's old test list.

For approved tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the standard minimum scores published for Student visa purposes are:

Approved test	Standard minimum score
C1 Advanced	161
CELPIP General	7
IELTS Academic or General Training	6.0
LANGUAGECERT Academic	61
Michigan English Test (MET)	53
Occupational English Test (OET)	1210
PTE Academic	47
TOEFL iBT	67

Lower thresholds can apply when the principal course is packaged with sufficient ELICOS study or an eligible foundation or pathway program. Exemptions also apply in specified circumstances. The education provider may impose a different or higher admission standard than the visa minimum.

Home Affairs does not accept fully online or at-home English tests for this purpose. From 21 January 2026, a TOEFL applicant must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when registering. Test dates, validity periods and transitional rules matter, so use the current Home Affairs table before booking a test or lodging the application.

Financial Capacity and the AUD29,710 Living-Cost Requirement

If Home Affairs requires financial-capacity evidence, it must be attached when the application is submitted. Missing mandatory evidence can lead to refusal without a further request for documents.

The current minimum 12-month living-cost amounts are:

Person	Minimum living-cost amount
Student	AUD29,710
Partner accompanying the student	AUD10,394
Each accompanying child	AUD4,449

These living-cost figures are only part of the calculation. Applicants may also need enough money for:

Travel to and from Australia.
Up to 12 months of course fees, less eligible amounts already paid.
Living costs for accompanying family members.
School fees for accompanying school-age children.

Acceptable evidence can include deposits with a financial institution, a government or financial-institution loan, or a scholarship or similar support. The applicant must have genuine access to the money.

Home Affairs also publishes an alternative annual-income route. As checked on 20 July 2026, the applicant's parent or partner must generally show at least AUD87,856 in personal annual income, or AUD102,500 when family members accompany the student. Use recent official government income documents and check the current rule before relying on this option.

Actual Living Costs Can Be Higher

AUD29,710 is a visa calculation, not a promise that a student can live comfortably for that amount. Rent and other expenses vary substantially by city, suburb, accommodation type and lifestyle. Study Australia recommends using its Cost of Living Calculator and researching the intended location.

Build a realistic budget for:

Rent, a rental bond and rent in advance.
Electricity, gas, water, phone and internet.
Food, public transport and personal expenses.
OSHC and medical costs not fully covered by insurance.
Textbooks, software, equipment and course-specific clothing.
Flights, visa costs and an emergency reserve.

Shared accommodation, university housing, homestay and smaller cities can have different cost profiles. Confirm what is included in advertised accommodation prices and understand the applicable tenancy or welfare arrangements.

Students should not rely on future employment to satisfy financial-capacity requirements. Most Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, but the visa grant letter and VEVO show the conditions that actually apply.

Practical Ways to Control Study-Abroad Costs

Prepare a month-by-month budget before accepting an offer.
Compare the provider's payment portal, your bank and reputable transfer services using the final recipient amount.
Pay early enough to resolve verification or reference problems before enrolment deadlines.
Keep the offer, CoE, invoices, payment confirmations and refund terms together.
Ask the institution about legitimate scholarships and support services; do not rely on expired third-party promotions.
Use library copies, digital resources and legitimate second-hand markets for course materials.
Ask about student concessions for transport, software, events and services.
Review recurring international payments each time because exchange rates and fees change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money does an Australian student visa applicant need for living costs?

The current minimum is AUD29,710 for 12 months for the student. This is separate from travel and course fees. Additional minimums apply for a partner and children, and actual living costs may be higher.

How much is the Australian Student visa application charge?

From 1 July 2026, the standard primary application charge is AUD2,500. Limited concessions apply, and other charges or payment surcharges may affect the total. Check the official estimator before applying.

Is the Genuine Temporary Entrant test still used?

Not for applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024. Those applications use the Genuine Student requirement. Applications lodged before that date were assessed under GTE.

Can an international student work in Australia?

The general limit is 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session. Different treatment applies in some research-degree circumstances. Check the visa grant letter and VEVO rather than assuming work rights.

Should tuition be paid through a bank or a transfer service?

Compare both using the total amount needed to deliver the institution's required currency amount. Consider the exchange-rate margin, transfer and correspondent-bank fees, speed, payment references and the institution's approved payment methods.

Official Sources and Review Date

This guide was reviewed on 20 July 2026 using current government information:

This is general information, not immigration, legal or financial advice. Requirements can change and individual document checklists differ.

Disclaimer: Please note any provider recommendations, currency forecasts or any opinions of our authors should not be taken as a reference to buy or sell any financial product.