As an international student at Macquarie University, you are required to pay international student fees for your program of study. The amount to be paid is dependent upon your program of study and your enrolment load.
The tuition fee is calculated and charged on a semester basis. Initially you must pay your commencement fee prior to coming to Macquarie. Your commencement fee is printed on your offer letter, and is usually about $12,500.
Fees vary depending on program of study. You should obtain the per credit point fee by using your offer letter and dividing this by the number of total credit points in your program. This will give you an estimate of the cost of your program.
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If you think your fees have been miscalculated, please contact the Fees Office in the Lincoln Student Services Building . If the issue is not resolved, seek further assistance from Macquarie International.
Admission fees for international students are different from students who are permanent residents or citizens of Australia. Should you change your immigration status and gain Australian permanent residency status, you will need to notify Macquarie International before your enrolment date in order to transfer to local student status.
If you gain permanent residency during the semester you should notify Macquarie International as soon as possible, however you will not be entitled to local student fees until the following semester. International students obtaining Australian permanent residency may also need to re-apply for entry into certain programs.
Macquarie International applies the tuition fee refund policy to any refund requests. The policy complies with all of the requirements for tuition fee refunds stipulated in the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000, associated Commonwealth Regulations and the ESOS National Code of Practice.
To view the current Tuition Fee Refund Policy, please visit:
All new international students who received a student visa after 1 December 1998, will note a condition that states 'no work'. You cannot apply for a work visa until after your enrolment and to obtain permission to work, you will need to apply online at the DIMIA website.
If permission to work is granted, you are limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week throughout semester. During semester break and holidays, students can work full-time or unlimited hours. DIMIA randomly checks workplaces and your employer will be legally obliged to provide DIMIA with information, if requested. If you decide to work you will need to apply for a tax file number. You will receive more information on applying for a work visa at your Orientation session.
An individual tax file number (TFN) is issued to each taxpayer in Australia. You need a student work visa before you apply for your tax file number, if you intend to work in Australia.
Your bank, building society or credit union in Australia will ask for your tax file number when you apply to open an account. If you do not inform the financial institution of your TFN, they are required to deduct 50 percent of your interest and forward it to the Australian Taxation Office. You can register your TFN with the bank when you receive it.
For more information about a TFN and to apply, visit the Australian Tax Office website:
It is recommended that you open a bank account as soon as possible after arriving in Sydney . Always make sure you understand the conditions of any account. Remember to ask about any special "Student Accounts" the bank may be offering. Banks in Australia provide savings and cheque accounts, plus a range of other financial services including personal loans, bank drafts and transfer of funds.
To open an account, present your passport and one other form of identification, such as your student identification card or International Driver's Licence. Most students open an account that has access to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) via a handy card. Cash is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There are three Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) on-campus that allow you to withdraw cash from nearly any local bank using your card. In addition, the National Australia Bank has its own branch on-campus. The ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank, St George Bank and Westpac Bank can be found at the Macquarie Shopping Centre located across the road from Macquarie University. Most bank branches are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.
Money can be sent from your home country to Australia by bank drafts or cheques. Credit cards are also a convenient way of transferring funds. Check on the interest rates that will be charged. Bank drafts or cheques from overseas take a few days to arrive and can take up to 10 working days to clear through an Australian bank.
:: Single Student
An international single student living in Sydney requires approximately AU$12,000-$14,000 for living expenses each year (this figure does not include your tuition fee). Living in residential colleges increases the cost of living by around AU$3,000 per year. This would only cover the basics and would not allow for luxuries or much social activity.
:: Students with Family
If you are bringing your family with you, budget for at least an extra AU$8,000 per year for your spouse and AU$5,500 per year for each child. This figure does not include school fees for children.
If you intend to bring school-age dependents to Australia, it is compulsory for them to attend school. Please seek the advice of Macquarie International who can assist you with this process.
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:: Cost of Living
All international students require a minimum of AU$12,000 to AU$14,000 for living expenses for each academic year.
For average costs for accommodation, food, utilities and entertainment, visit the web site:
:: Tips for Saving Money
