Budgeting for general expenses and ongoing costs

As a guide, if you are living in shared accommodation off-campus you will pay:

  • AUD$17,940 a year for rent, food and utilities
  • AUD$3,130 for establishment costs
  • AUD$5,950 for ongoing costs such as public transport, entertainment, telephone costs, textbooks, photocopying and clothing

View the Expenses guide to determine which costs you should consider.

Personal access to a computer and the Internet is recommended for all students and, in most programs, is required. While computers are available on campus, students are advised to bring a computer with them or to purchase or hire a computer in Australia.

For students who wish to purchase a car, costs can vary from AUD$5000 to AUD$25,000 or more and running costs after purchase price are about AUD$100 per week. UQ strongly recommends that you use public transport.

View transport and parking information.

updated 13/04/2012

Expenses guide (2012/13 estimate)

Expenses quoted in the table below are a guide only. They will vary depending on location, lifestyle and personal choices. Please also refer to the important notes at the bottom of this page. All amounts are in Australian dollars (AUD$).

Expenses Example of a student living in accommodation on-campus Example of a student living in shared accommodation off-campus Example of a family living off–campus (two adults and one child)
Establishment      
Temporary accommodation (8 nights) – $525
($55 - $90 per night)		 $1050
($150 per night)
 
Furniture & household items (if renting unfurnished or partly furnished  home) – $1200 $3000
Electricity/gas/phone – connection – $85 $110
Rental bond (refundable) – $880 $1800
Two weeks’ rent in advance – $440 $900
Total (Establishment)   $3130 $6860
Accommodation, food & utilities
 per academic year (36 weeks)
 		 per year
 		 per year
Off-campus rent - ongoing* – $10,400 ($175-$220 per week) $23,400 ($450 per week)
Electricity/gas – ongoing – $1300 ($25 per week) $2340 ($45 per week)
Food, groceries, incidentals $1800 ($50 per week) $6240 ($120 per week) $15,600 ($300 per week)
Residential college fee, meals and
utilities** - see Accommodation Services website
 		 $17,000  ($472 per  week) ▲ – –
Residential college – Internet, student club fees, etc. $540 
($15 per week)		 – –
Orientation Week accommodation and activities* (first year students only)

$680
($85 per night)

    
Residential college – summer vacation and Orientation accommodation* (Dec-Feb approx. 10 weeks fully catered)*** $3900
($390 per week)		 – –
TOTAL (accommodation,
food and utilities)		 $19,340 (excluding O-Week and Summer Vacation) $17,940 $41,340
Ongoing additional costs  per academic year (36 weeks)
 		 per year
 		 per year
Phone (mobile) $360 ($10 per week) $520 ($10 per week) $1300 ($25 per week)
Internet – $520 (10 per week) $1300 ($25 per week)
Public transport $360 ($10 per week) $1040 ($20 per week) $2600 ($50 per week)
Health (dental/medicine not covered
by OSHC)		 $500 $500 $1250
Recreation/entertainment
 		 $720 ($20 per week) $1560 ($30 per week) $3900 ($75 per week)
Photocopying/printing/stationery $360 ($10 per week) $360 ($10 per week) $360 ($10 per week)
Textbooks/course materials*** $850 $850 $850
Clothing/personal $600 $600 $1500
TOTAL (Ongoing additional) $3750 $5950 $13,060
TOTAL (accommodation and living, and ongoing expenses) $23,090 $23,890 $54,400

Notes:

  • UQ tuition fees and OSHC are not included in this table.
  • Not all items stated in the expenses guide can be used by USA Financial Aid Students in their cost of attendance (COA) calculation.
  • In Australia, all consumers pay a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10 percent on most purchases. GST is included in expenses quoted above. There is no refund of GST on departure from Australia.
  • Students should allow for a four to five percent increase in living expenses each year.
  • Australian Government and UQ scholarships/stipends are paid in Australian dollars and are not affected by changes in exchange rates. However, home government and private sponsor scholarships/stipends will be affected.
  • College fees listed are drawn from average 2012 prices and may vary in 2013.
  • *Please see UQ Rentals for examples of rental costs near UQ campuses
  • **This cost may vary from college to college.
  • ***Students may opt to reside in the colleges during the summer vacation period – a fee per night will be charged. Ongoing additional costs during this period have not been included in this guide. Please note that Residential colleges close for approximately five weeks each year. During this time students may opt to stay in temporary off-campus accommodation or otherwise return home. Costs associated with temporary accommodation and other ongoing additional expenses during this period are not included in this guide.
  • ****Prices for textbooks and materials may vary and will be higher for professional courses. 
SASD approved 13/04/2012

 

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