Why Use This Calculator?
The Department of Home Affairs website provides rates but no calculator. Students must navigate complex pro-rata formulas, family member additions, school fee calculations, and deduction rules—often making costly errors. A single mistake can lead to visa refusal, losing $710+ in application fees and delaying your course start. Our free calculator solves this by automating the entire process, ensuring accuracy, and providing a downloadable report for your records.
Financial insufficiency is a leading cause of student visa refusals. Our calculator ensures you show the exact amount required, preventing costly rejections and application fee losses.
No need to manually calculate pro-rata fees, count family members, or figure out complex formulas. Get instant, accurate results in 2 minutes instead of spending hours on spreadsheets.
One arithmetic mistake can mean visa refusal. Our calculator handles all the complex math—pro-rata calculations, family additions, deductions—with 100% accuracy every time.
Show exactly what's required—not too much (tying up unnecessary funds) and not too little (risking refusal). Keep your money flexible for course deposits and living setup.
Instantly see how bringing your spouse or children affects financial requirements. Make informed decisions about when to include family members in your application.
Automatically uses current Department of Home Affairs rates (updated May 2024 with $29,710 student living costs). No risk of using outdated information from old websites or forums.
$710
Application Fee at Risk
3h+
Time Saved
100%
Accuracy Guaranteed
Free
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Calculate Your Student Visa Funds
Enter your course and family details to calculate exact financial requirements
Showing insufficient funds is the #1 reason for student visa refusals. Using outdated rates or incorrect calculations can cost you $710 in application fees plus course delays. This calculator uses official 2025 Department rates and handles all complex pro-rata calculations automatically.
Total fees for the entire course
Total length of your course in months
Amount already paid (if any)
Annual scholarship covering tuition or living costs
Children under 18 years old
Children aged 5-18 requiring school fees
This calculator provides estimates based on current Department of Home Affairs requirements. Individual circumstances vary. For complex cases or personalized advice, consult with a registered migration agent.
This calculator helps international students and their families calculate the exact financial capacity requirements for Australian Subclass 500 Student visa applications, updated with the latest 2025 Department of Home Affairs rates.
All calculations are based on current government requirements. Individual circumstances may vary, and complex cases should be discussed with a registered migration agent for personalized advice.
Primary Student Living Costs
Annual living expenses for the primary student applicant (updated May 2024)
AUD $29,710 per year
Partner/Spouse Living Costs
Annual living expenses for accompanying spouse or de facto partner
AUD $10,394 per year
Dependent Child Living Costs
Annual living expenses for each dependent child under 18
AUD $4,449 per year per child
School Fees (School-Aged Children)
Annual schooling costs for each school-aged child (5-18 years)
AUD $13,502 per year per child
Travel Expenses
Return airfare to Australia for each person
AUD $2,000 per person
Course Fees
First 12 months of course fees (or total if less than 12 months), minus any prepaid amounts
Varies by course
Option 1: Show 12 Months of Available Funds
Demonstrate you have access to sufficient funds through bank statements, education loans, scholarship letters, or combination of these. Funds must cover living costs, course fees, travel, and family expenses for the first 12 months.
Option 2: Show Annual Income
Instead of showing saved funds, demonstrate annual income of AUD $87,856 (student only) or AUD $102,500 (student with family). This can be your income, parents' income, or partner's income, evidenced through official tax assessments.
Single Student - Bachelor's Degree
- Course: 3-year Bachelor's degree, AUD $90,000 total (AUD $30,000 per year)
- Family: Student only, no dependents
- Calculation: $30,000 (course) + $29,710 (living) + $2,000 (travel) = AUD $61,710
- Less: If $10,000 already paid → Final requirement: AUD $51,710
- Alternative: Show annual income of AUD $87,856
Student with Spouse - Master's Degree
- Course: 2-year Master's, AUD $70,000 total (AUD $35,000 per year)
- Family: Student + spouse (no children)
- Calculation: $35,000 (course) + $29,710 (student) + $10,394 (spouse) + $4,000 (travel × 2) = AUD $79,104
- Less: If $15,000 prepaid + $10,000 scholarship → Final: AUD $54,104
- Alternative: Show annual income of AUD $102,500
Student with Family - PhD
- Course: 4-year PhD, AUD $140,000 total (AUD $35,000 per year)
- Family: Student + spouse + 2 children (ages 7 and 12, both school-aged)
- Living: $29,710 (student) + $10,394 (spouse) + $8,898 (2 children × $4,449)
- School fees: $27,004 (2 children × $13,502)
- Travel: $8,000 (4 people × $2,000)
- Total: $35,000 + $49,002 + $27,004 + $8,000 = AUD $119,006
- Less: If PhD scholarship covers tuition → AUD $84,006
- Alternative: Show annual income of AUD $102,500
Short Course - 6 Month Certificate
- Course: 6-month Certificate IV, AUD $8,000 total
- Family: Student only
- Note: For courses under 12 months, use actual duration for living costs
- Calculation: $8,000 (course) + $14,855 (6 months living) + $2,000 (travel) = AUD $24,855
- Pro-rata living costs: $29,710 ÷ 12 × 6 = $14,855
Why do I need a student visa funds calculator?
Most student visa refusals happen due to insufficient financial evidence or incorrect calculations. The Department of Home Affairs requires precise amounts that vary based on your family situation, course duration, and other factors. Manual calculations often lead to errors—showing too little results in visa refusal (losing application fees of $710+), while showing excessive funds unnecessarily ties up money. Our calculator ensures you demonstrate exactly the right amount, increasing approval chances while optimizing your finances. It saves 3+ hours of research and calculation, prevents costly mistakes, and gives you confidence in your application.
How is this different from manually calculating from the Department website?
The Department website lists rates but doesn't provide a calculator. You'd need to manually: (1) determine if your course requires full or pro-rata calculation, (2) calculate living costs for each family member, (3) add school fees for school-aged children, (4) factor in prepaid amounts and scholarships, (5) ensure all amounts are for the correct 12-month period. One arithmetic error can lead to visa refusal. Our calculator does all this instantly, shows a detailed breakdown, and provides a downloadable report for your records—eliminating human error and saving hours of work.
What are the consequences of showing the wrong amount?
Too little: Visa refusal, loss of $710 application fee, course start delays, potential loss of accommodation deposits, and damaged visa history making future applications harder. Too much: Unnecessarily locking up funds that could be used for course deposits, accommodation bonds, or initial living setup. Our calculator helps you show the Goldilocks amount—not too much, not too little, just right—maximizing approval chances while keeping your finances flexible.
What counts as 'available funds' for a student visa?
Acceptable evidence includes: bank statements showing funds held for at least 3 months, approved education loans, scholarship or sponsorship letters, government sponsorship (e.g., DFAT), or a combination. Funds must be in your name, your partner's name, or your parents' names with a statutory declaration confirming access.
Can I combine different funding sources?
Yes! You can combine savings, loans, scholarships, and family support to meet the total requirement. For example, AUD $20,000 in savings + AUD $30,000 education loan + AUD $10,000 scholarship. Just ensure you have evidence for each source.
Do I need to show funds for the entire course duration?
No. You only need to show funds for the first 12 months (or the total duration if less than 12 months). The Department assumes you'll have ongoing access to funds throughout your studies based on your initial capacity.
What if my course fees are paid in instalments?
If you've already paid some fees (evidenced by receipts or Confirmation of Enrolment), you can deduct these from the total requirement. Only unpaid first-year fees need to be shown as available funds.
How do I calculate pro-rata course fees for 18-month courses?
Divide the total course cost by the number of months, then multiply by 12. For example: AUD $45,000 ÷ 18 months = $2,500 per month × 12 = AUD $30,000 annual requirement.
Can my parents' income satisfy the requirement?
Yes, if using Option 2 (annual income method). Your parents' combined annual income of AUD $87,856+ (student only) or AUD $102,500+ (with family) can be used, evidenced through official tax assessments from their home country government.
Are school fees required for all dependent children?
School fees (AUD $13,502 per year) only apply to school-aged children (typically 5-18 years). Children under 5 only require the dependent child living cost amount (AUD $4,449). Some states offer fee waivers or reduced fees.
What if I receive a full scholarship?
If your scholarship covers tuition fees, you can deduct that from course fee requirements. If it covers living expenses, deduct from living cost requirements. Provide official scholarship documentation showing what's covered and for how long.
Do I need to show funds in Australian dollars?
Funds can be held in any currency, but must meet the AUD equivalent at current exchange rates when you apply. It's recommended to have slightly more than required to account for exchange rate fluctuations between checking the calculator and lodging your application.
What's the difference between 'access to funds' and 'genuine access'?
The Department assesses not just that funds exist, but that you have genuine access to use them for your studies. This means funds shouldn't be temporarily borrowed, should be in accounts you control or from reliable sponsors, and should be consistent with your or your family's financial circumstances.
Reviewed by First Migration Service Centre. Last updated 9 January 2025 with current Department of Home Affairs rates.