Student finances
Budgeting
During your time as a student, there might be a range of expenses you have to budget for – and these can really add up.
See the monthly cost of living table below to estimate some of your expenses:
| Student living in on-campus college | Student living off-campus / student accommodation | Family (two adults, one child) living off-campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,422–$3,261 | $950–$2,686 | $2,426–$3,033 |
| Utilities (gas, electricity, water) | Included in rent | $100–$150 | $200–$300 |
| Food | Included in rent | $463–$940 | $832–$1,500 |
| Mobile phone / internet | $15–$150 | $15–$150 | $45–$150 |
| Public transport | $26–$52 | $39–$65 | $117–$195 |
| Total | $2,463–$3,463 | $1,567–$3,991 | $3,620–$5,178 |
More about the data in this table:
- On-campus and off-campus accommodation costs are usually lower in Gatton. The cost for a standard resident room in the Halls of Residence in Gatton is from $378 per week.
- Many student accommodation providers include electricity, gas and internet costs in rent. Check with your provider to be sure.
- Family costs assume that the dependant child is not of school age and does not factor in childcare costs. View fees for school-aged dependents.
- Catered meals are included at UQ Residential Colleges. UQ RES (Kev Carmody House and Walcott Street) does not include catered meals.
This table should be taken as a guide only. Study Australia provides a helpful online cost of living calculator to estimate your weekly, monthly, and yearly living costs in greater detail.
Saving money
While these numbers can seem intimidating, it’s possible to save money, even at the lower end of the estimated costs table.
Student Support and Wellbeing Services and UQ Union have budget workshops and advisors to help you with your finances.
You can book an appointment with an advisor for one-on-one help, or sign up for a workshop.
UQ Union can also help eligible students apply for Centrelink payments, or arrange for a one-off emergency loan.
Whether you’re trying to establish a budget, or you’re finding it difficult to manage your expenses, we encourage all students to make use of the support resources on campus.
Student discounts
More generally, student discounts or concessions are available for a range of goods and services, including:
- software and technology
- cinema tickets
- museums
- banks and financial services
- select food and drink venues
- select hairdressers and barbers.
Discounts are usually only available to full-time students, but you should check with each service provider for more information.
If you're an international student, we highly recommend you open an Australian bank account. Many Australian banks offer accounts with no withdrawal or account fees for international students.
You'll need a student ID to receive student discounts. We'll tell you where to collect your ID at the next step: 'Prepare for Semester'.
How can we help?
Learn how to live on a student income and get some support:
Student Support and Wellbeing Services workshops Meet with a Welfare OfficerFunding opportunities
Report any problems you experience with the Starting at UQ website.