Australian universities for American students: applying, fees, visas and FAFSA

Most American high school seniors apply directly to each Australian university, pay international fees, need a subclass 500 student visa, and can still use US federal Direct Loans at eligible schools, but not Pell Grants.

The short version

• Apply directly to the university with a US high school diploma. UAC, the admissions service for NSW and ACT universities, is mainly for students finishing an Australian Year 12, the IB Diploma or New Zealand's NCEA [1].
• International fees are set by each university for each course. Check the course page; we won't quote averages.
• You need a Student visa (subclass 500), with a Confirmation of Enrolment, Overseas Student Health Cover and proof you can pay your way [2][3].
• Work is capped at 48 hours every two weeks during teaching periods, unlimited during breaks [2].
• Federal Direct Loans work at eligible Australian schools, with new, lower limits for graduate and parent borrowers since July 1, 2026 [4][5].

USD conversions in this guide use the Federal Reserve H.10 rate of October 30, 2026 (AUD 1 = USD 0.7038), rounded.

How an Australian degree differs from college back home

Australian universities look more like British ones than American ones. You apply for a specific degree, such as a Bachelor of Commerce or a Bachelor of Science, and most of your classes are in that field from day one.

The calendar is the first thing to plan around. Semester 1 starts in late February or early March, so a student graduating high school in June has a gap of about eight months. Many universities also take a mid-year intake in July. Sydney's main universities include the University of Sydney, UNSW Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Macquarie University and Western Sydney University.

A three-year degree saves a year of tuition and living costs. That can close much of the price gap with an out-of-state public school stateside.

Applying: UAC or direct?

UAC handles undergraduate applications for universities in NSW and the ACT, but international applicants can only use it if they're completing, or have completed in 2025 or 2026, an Australian Year 12, the IB Diploma or NCEA Level 3. "Everyone else needs to apply directly to the uni," UAC says [1]. So:

• American high school senior with a US diploma: apply directly to each university's international admissions office.
• American kid finishing the HSC or IB at a Sydney school: apply through UAC as an international applicant [1].
• Your kid becomes a permanent resident after applying: contact UAC to switch to a domestic application, which changes the fees [2].

Step by step

1. Shortlist degrees, not schools. Read each degree's entry requirements for US applicants. Universities publish what they accept from American students, often a mix of GPA, SAT or ACT scores and AP results.
2. Check English requirements. English proficiency is required for all courses [2]; ask each university whether your US high school record counts as evidence.
3. Apply online to each university. There's no limit on how many you apply to, and no Common App equivalent.
4. Accept your offer and pay the deposit and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). You then get a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) [2].
5. Apply for the subclass 500 visa in ImmiAccount with your CoE.
6. Book housing early. Residential colleges and university housing fill up, so apply as soon as you accept.

What it costs

Tuition

Each university sets its own international fees, and they vary a lot by degree. Lab, engineering and medicine courses cost far more than arts. Fees are quoted per year in AUD and usually rise each year, so budget for that.

The student visa (subclass 500)

The Genuine Student requirement replaced the old "genuine temporary entrant" test for applications lodged from March 23, 2024. Hoping to stay on later, for example as a permanent resident, doesn't count against you [3].

For living costs, Home Affairs sets a yearly figure you must show. Study Australia reported it rose to AUD 24,505 (about USD 17,250) from October 1, 2023 [6], then to AUD 29,710 (about USD 20,910) a year for the student for visas lodged from May 10, 2024, with more for a partner or kids [7]. Confirm the current amount with Home Affairs before you gather bank statements.

US passport holders get one break: you're generally not asked for an English test for the visa itself, though your university will still have its own English requirement.

Working while you study

Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours every two weeks during teaching periods and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. UAC is blunt that you shouldn't rely on a part-time job to fund your studies [2]. You'll need an Australian tax file number before you start a job.

Using US federal student aid in Sydney

Yes, file the FAFSA even for a school in Sydney. The Department of Education lets eligible foreign schools take part in the Direct Loan program [4].

What you can and can't get

• Available: Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans and PLUS loans [4].
• Not available: any federal grant, including Pell Grants [4].
• Your program must be at least one year long, lead to a degree or other credential, and not be delivered by distance education, even in part [4].
• You must be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen, enrolled at least half time, making satisfactory academic progress, with a correct Social Security number and registered with Selective Service if that applies [4].

Search the FAFSA school list by "foreign country." A school marked "eligible" can award new loans; "deferment only" schools can't [4].

Loan limits after July 1, 2026

Source: Federal Student Aid [5]. Students who already had a Direct Loan for their program before July 1, 2026, keep the old limits for their expected time to finish [5]. Foreign schools in the Direct Loan program can't award the higher Unsubsidized amounts available to some health professions students [5].

For most families paying international fees, federal loans won't cover the full bill, so line up savings, scholarships and, if you use one, your 529 plan. Many 529 plans can pay foreign schools that are eligible for federal aid; check with your plan, and a US expat tax preparer can check whether the American opportunity credit applies to you.

If your kid is also Australian

This is the big one for dual citizens: a child with Australian citizenship is a domestic student, not an international one. Domestic students can get a Commonwealth supported place, paying a much smaller student contribution, and can usually defer it through a HECS-HELP loan. That can make an Australian degree far cheaper than any college back home. If your partner is Australian, our sister site ExpatCooee covers schooling Australian kids abroad and coming home, including the move into Australian schools and universities.

A few US reminders

• Taxes: a part-time job in Sydney can push a student over the US filing threshold. Uncle Sam still wants that return.
• FBAR: if your student's Australian bank accounts top USD 10,000 combined at any point in the year, they need to file one.
• Voting: register for an absentee ballot through FVAP before the next federal election.
• Graduation: the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets many graduates stay and work for a while afterward. Check the current streams with Home Affairs.

Parents compare notes on universities and student housing in our community group for Americans in Australia.

Sources

1. Who can apply to uni through UAC, UAC
2. Steps to uni for international Year 12 students, UAC
3. Genuine Student requirement, Department of Home Affairs
4. Foreign school frequently asked questions for students, Federal Student Aid
5. Frequently asked questions: loan limits, Federal Student Aid
6. Change to evidence of financial capacity for student visas, Study Australia
7. Student and Temporary Graduate visa changes: 2024, Study Australia

Keep reading

• Schools in Sydney: American and international schools
• Medicare in Australia: why Americans aren't covered
• Student loans while living abroad
• Jury duty, Selective Service and other obligations from abroad