Students compare tuition fees and stop there. It is the wrong number to optimise. The figure that actually determines whether you can go is the total first-year outlay, including the funds you must demonstrate before lodging the visa — money you have to show whether or not you intend to spend it.
Annual tuition — indicative ranges
| Destination | Bachelor's | Master's |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AUD 28,000 – 45,000 | AUD 32,000 – 55,000 |
| New Zealand | NZD 24,000 – 38,000 | NZD 28,000 – 45,000 |
| Germany (public) | EUR 0 – 500 per semester | EUR 0 – 3,000 |
| Poland | EUR 2,500 – 5,000 | EUR 3,000 – 6,000 |
| Portugal | EUR 4,000 – 8,000 | EUR 5,000 – 10,000 |
| Ireland | EUR 12,000 – 25,000 | EUR 15,000 – 30,000 |
Living costs and proof of funds
Every destination sets a minimum you must evidence. This is the amount that decides whether your application is even lodgeable.
| Destination | Realistic annual living cost | Proof of funds required |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AUD 24,000 – 32,000 | Set annually by Home Affairs |
| New Zealand | NZD 20,000 – 26,000 | NZD 20,000 per year |
| Germany | EUR 11,000 – 14,000 | Blocked account ≈ EUR 11,900 |
| Poland | EUR 6,000 – 9,000 | Approx. EUR 800 per month |
| Portugal | EUR 8,000 – 11,000 | Linked to minimum wage |
| Ireland | EUR 12,000 – 16,000 | EUR 10,000 per year |
The costs nobody budgets for
- Health cover — OSHC in Australia, private insurance in Europe, typically EUR 100 – 200 per month
- Visa application charge — from EUR 75 in parts of Europe to over AUD 1,600 for Australia
- English test — USD 200 – 300 per attempt, and most candidates sit it twice
- Credential evaluation, apostille and sworn translation — EUR 200 – 800 depending on destination
- Flights and initial setup — deposit, bond, furniture, phone, transport pass: budget one month's living costs again
- Blocked account or bank transfer fees, which are rarely trivial on large international transfers
Work rights change the equation
| Destination | During term | Breaks |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 48 hrs / fortnight | Unlimited |
| New Zealand | 20 hrs / week | Full-time |
| Germany | 140 full or 280 half days / year | Same annual cap |
| Poland | Unrestricted for students | Unrestricted |
| Ireland | 20 hrs / week | 40 hrs / week |
Part-time earnings genuinely offset living costs — but never build a funding plan that depends on them. Visa officers assess your ability to fund the course without working, and a plan that relies on part-time income is a plan that will be refused.
Where the value actually sits
If minimising total cost is the objective, Germany and Poland are difficult to beat: near-zero public tuition in Germany, low living costs in Poland, and post-study stay rights in both. If maximising post-study earning potential and migration outcomes matters more, Australia and New Zealand justify their higher cost through stronger graduate work rights and clearer permanent residence pathways.
The honest answer is that it depends on what you want the degree to do. That is precisely the conversation to have before you shortlist a single university — not after you have paid a deposit.