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Costs and scholarships

How much money will I need?

While you are not required to pay tuition fees or other student administration or service fees, you will be responsible for most other costs while you on exchange. We estimate that you will require at least AUD$10,000 for one semester to cover your living expenses and cost of air tickets, travel and health insurance, etc. Prices will vary depending on the exchange rate and cost of living in each country. More expensive destinations are the east and west coast of the USA, the United Kingdom and Japan which may cost AUD$12,000 -15,000 per semester. More affordable destinations include Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Please note that your exchange funds can be made up of:

  • Personal savings
  • Centrelink Benefits
  • Parental Support
  • International Exchange Scholarships - awards based on academic merit
  • Other scholarships from various consulates, embassies, social organisations supporting the country of destination and University of Sydney faculties. Check the resources section for more information

As funding is limited, please do not rely on anticipated scholarship funding when planning your exchange.

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Cost of living

Most handbooks from our exchange partners list the average cost of living at their university. Reports from past students also include cost of living information. These reports are available in the Exchange Resource Library. It might be helpful for you to check this information and use a currency converter to get an idea of what to expect.

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Exchange Scholarships

International Office Scholarships

The University offers a range of exchange travelling scholarships. Some are awarded by the International Office, while others are offered by faculties. A list of available Exchange Scholarships and Loans can be downloaded in Adobe pdf format.


The International Office offers up to 200 International Exchange Scholarships each year valued at $1,000 each. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, ranking students by their AAM (Annual Average Mark).

Most nominated exchange applicants will automatically be considered for International Exchange Scholarships. Students who receive guaranteed funding support for their overseas exchange period eg: students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (Languages), and students enrolled in Masters or PhD research programs whilst on exchange are not eligible for these awards.

Selection for International Exchange Scholarships takes place after the follow dates:

  • 30th April for exchanges commencing in the second half of the year.
  • 30th September for exchanges commencing in the first half of the year.

Recipients of International Exchange Scholarships are expected to submit Progress Reports during their exchange semester/year and attend information sessions at the University of Sydney to promote the program.

Faculty and Department Scholarships

For more information about scholarships that may be offered by your faculty or other University departments, please contact the Faculty office or visit their websites below. Please note that separate eligibility criteria and application requirements apply for these scholarships.

Specific Exchange Partner Scholarships

Some exchange partners and foreign governments offer scholarships for visiting exchange students. Application forms for these scholarships are normally supplied once the University of Sydney has nominated you to the host university. Examples of some include:

  • København Universitet (Denmark) – Crown Princess Mary Scholarship
  • Albert-Ludwigs Universität, Freiburg (Germany) – Baden-Württemberg Exchange Scholarship
  • Otto-Friedrich Universität, Bamberg (Germany) – Baden-Württemberg Exchange Scholarship
  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) – Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund Student Fellowship
  • All Japanese Partners – JASSO Short-Term Student Exchange Promotion Program (Inbound) Scholarship
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