Studying in Australia
AIE Institute welcomes international students to study here in Australia at our Canberra and Sydney campuses. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and welcome international students to our harmonious and supportive environment.
With a population of 400,000+ Canberra has topped world rankings for the highest quality of living. In Canberra, you can enjoy city living without the stresses that can come with living in a bigger city. The capital of Australia, Canberra integrates contemporary urban spaces and unspoilt natural reserves, and is centrally located for day trips or long weekends to Australia's pristine beaches, vast rural landscapes, highest mountains and ski fields and bigger cities. International students will feel welcome in Canberra, with more 25% of Canberra's residents born overseas.
International students are welcome to study at our Canberra campus in Watson. Canberra is home to some of the world’s most acclaimed and innovative developers of games, simulation and visualisation software along with cutting-edge production studios. We have close links with Uppercut Games Studios and are co-sited with Dreamgate Studios.
With a population of 4.8 million+, Sydney is one of Australia's premier cities and is often the first stop for international visitors to Australia. In Sydney you can enjoy diverse city life, pristine beaches, bays and parks, as well as day trips to small beach towns up and down the coast and country towns inland within Australia's vast rural landscapes, and to the acclaimed Royal National Park in the south and Blue Mountains National Park in the west. International students will feel welcome in Sydney, with more than 39% of Sydney's residents born overseas.
International students are welcome to study at our Sydney campus in Ultimo. Our campus is situated within the heart of Sydney’s games industry, in a dynamic innovation and technology precinct. Students studying at the Ultimo campus are fortunate to be surrounded by a thriving community of established developers, independent studios, start-ups and universities.
We support you throughout your journey as an international student at AIE Institute, including:
Orientation for International Students
Once you have been admitted and enrolled into your first semester of study, you will be sent orientation information, including:
- Orientation week schedule and orientation week pack – please note that attendance of orientation week is compulsory for all students, including international students
- Information on applying for and receiving your Unique Student Identifier (USI)
- Information on accessing your learning resources, including: your student email, your Learning Management System (LMS), the Student Management System (SMS), and online and on-campus library services.
Orientation Week includes various sessions and workshops to assist you with transitioning into study at AIE Institute, such as meeting your cohort, learning how to access your learning resources, key administrative and academic processes and expectations, and other important sessions. Orientation week takes place one week before teaching weeks commence and is compulsory for all commencing students, including all commencing international students.
If you have any questions regarding orientation into your study at AIE Institute, including orientation week, please contact your campus administration team:
Canberra campus: canberra@aieinstitute.edu.au
Sydney campus: sydney@aieinstitute.edu.au
Student Support Services provide a range of academic support services so that you have the best opportunity for success in your studies. Students should refer to their Orientation Pack and the Student Handbook – International Students for information on Academic Support Services.
You may also find helpful financial information, advice, tools, and calculators on the Australian Government’s MoneySmart website: https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/
If you are planning to bring children with you, you may find helpful information on childcare and schools on the Australian Government Study in Australia website: https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/English/Australian-Education/bringing-your-children
and
Care for Kids website: https://www.careforkids.com.au/child-care-articles/article/77/how-much-does-child-care-cost
The Australian Government requires international students to maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of time they are in Australia. International students undertaking formal studies in Australia, and their dependents (for example, spouses and children under 18 years old), must obtain OSHC. Detailed information is provided in the Student Handbook – International Students.
Living Costs
Living costs in Australia vary according to your lifestyle preferences, dependent costs, and medical expenses. Living cost approximations including food, accommodation, insurance, and other related costs are provided below for both Canberra and Sydney, to assist you in planning your budget for the duration of your studies. Please note that actual costs may vary from the approximations below due to lifestyle preferences. You may also find the following helpful to calculate an approximate budget for your preferred lifestyle.
The Australian Government - Study in Australia website also provides information that you may find helpful for planning: https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/english/live-in-australia
Guides Cost of Living Calculator: https://insiderguides.com.au/cost-of-living-calculator/
Living Cost Approximation - Canberra
| Weekly Cost $ | Annual Cost $ | |
| Health insurance | $9.00 – $12.00 | $468.00 – $624.00 |
| Accommodation | $150.00 – $250.00 | $7,800.00 – $13,000.00 |
| Groceries | $80.00 – $180.00 | $4,160.00 – $9,360.00 |
| Transport (public transport, no car) |
$15.00 – $55.00 | $780.00 – $2,860.00 |
| Phone and internet | $20.00 – $50.00 | $1,040.00 – $2,600.00 |
| Utilities | $35.00 – $40.00 | $1,820.00 – $2,080.00 |
| Entertainment and dining out | $50.00 – $120.00 | $2,600.00 – $6,240.00 |
| Course-related (e.g. textbooks, stationery, photocopying) |
$15.00 – $20.00 | $780.00 – $1,040.00 |
| Other expenses (e.g. toiletries, clothes, haircuts, postal charges, gifts) |
$15.00 – $70.00 | $780.00 – $3,640.00 |
| TOTAL | $389.00 – $797.00 | $20,228.00 – $41,444.00 |
Living Cost Approximation - Sydney
| Weekly Cost $ | Annual Cost $ | |
| Health insurance | $9.00 – $12.00 | $468.00 – $624.00 |
| Accommodation | $200.00 – $400.00 | $10,400.00 – $20,800.00 |
| Groceries | $80.00 – $180.00 | $4,160.00 – $9,360.00 |
| Transport (public transport, no car) |
$10.00 – $50.00 | $520.00 – $2,600.00 |
| Phone and internet | $20.00 – $50.00 | $1,040.00 – $2,600.00 |
| Utilities | $15.00 – $25.00 | $780.00 – $1,300.00 |
| Entertainment and dining out | $40.00 – $120.00 | $2,080.00 – $6,240.00 |
| Course-related (e.g. textbooks, stationery, photocopying) |
$15.00 – $20.00 | $780.00 – $1,040.00 |
| Other expenses (e.g. toiletries, clothes, haircuts, postal charges, gifts) |
$15.00 – $70.00 | $780.00 – $3,640.00 |
| TOTAL | $404.00 – $927.00 | $21,008.00 – $48,204.00 |
Students should refer to their Orientation Pack and Student Handbook – International Students for information on medical expenses and transport. Further information on costs, terms an conditions of overseas student health cover is available from the Australian Health Management website https://ahm.com.au.
Students should refer to their Orientation Pack and Student Handbook – International Students for information on medical expenses and transport. Further information on costs, terms an conditions of overseas student health cover is available from the Australian Health Management website https://ahm.com.au.
Settling into Australia as an international student
Information on settling into Australia can be found in your international student handbook. This includes information on compulsory Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and living costs in Australia for both our Canberra and Sydney campuses.
Important and helpful information is also available through student support services directly.
Student support services for international students
Student support services provide a range of support services for students that can be individualised to your personal requirements as an international student so that you have the best opportunity for success in your studies. This may include referral to external support services, as well as support provided internally through AIE Institute's student support services.
If you have a question or would like to request a consultation for the support options that may assist you as an international student successfully progress through your studies, please contact our student support services team: studentsupportservices@aieinstitute.edu.au