Is online education from Australia available to foreign students? Yes, international students can study online with Australian universities. However, whether this is permitted depends on where the student is located and whether they hold an Australian student visa.
Australian universities offer many degrees in online or distance mode. But Australian student visa rules apply only to students who are physically in Australia. These two systems are often confused.
The key distinction to understand
There are three different situations, each with different rules.
1. Studying online from outside Australia
If you are living overseas and not applying for an Australian student visa, you may study fully online with an Australian university, provided the course is offered in distance mode.
- Australian student visa rules do not apply
- There is no requirement to attend classes in person
- You are assessed under the same academic standards as on-campus students
At any given time, more than 10,000 international students are externally enrolled in Australian degree programs from overseas.
2. Studying while in Australia on a student visa
If you are living in Australia on a Student (Subclass 500) visa, online study is restricted.
Current visa conditions require that at least two-thirds of your course be delivered face-to-face. This means:
- You generally cannot complete a degree fully online while in Australia
- Online units may only form a minority of your enrolment
- Regular in-person attendance is monitored by universities
Students living in Australia on a student visa are required to attend classes in person on a regular basis.
3. Hybrid or multi-modal study
Some degrees combine online delivery with compulsory on-campus sessions. These arrangements may suit offshore students who can travel occasionally, but they usually do not satisfy student visa requirements on their own.
Important things to know before enrolling
- You need strong English skills to complete a degree with an Australian university
- Tuition fees for distance learners are similar to on-campus fees
- Not all courses can be completed from outside Australia
Facts and Figures
At last count, only 12% of overseas students studying with Australian universities were not classified as on-campus. Of these, 10% were “multi-modal” students and only 2% were fully external, meaning they rarely or never attend a campus in person.
Among international students who study entirely online, the most popular fields are
Management and Commerce (42%),
Society and Culture (20%),
Health (12%), and
Education (9%).
In contrast, 38% of Australian domestic students participate in some form of online study. Of these, 22% study exclusively online, while 16% are multi-modal.
Source: Government Higher Education Statistics Database
Can I Study Online with an Australian University?
Most Australian universities support international students studying by distance education. Course options may be limited if you want to complete your degree entirely online and from outside Australia.
- Some courses are not offered online at all, such as medicine
- Other courses require compulsory on-campus sessions, such as professional engineering
Related: Online Study Australia
Which Universities Support Distance Education?
The vast majority of Australia’s universities offer at least some courses by distance education.
- More than a dozen universities have over 4,000 online students
- Several universities specialise in distance learning and teach more students online than on campus
While many distance-mode courses are technically available to international students, uptake remains low. Even at major online universities, international online enrolments usually number only a few thousand.
How Much Does Online Study Cost in Australia?
Tuition fees for online study are similar to on-campus fees. As a general guide, a business degree typically costs $30,000+ per year (AUD). Fees may be slightly lower at universities that specialise in distance education.
Online study is more affordable in practical terms because students do not need to relocate. It also allows greater flexibility. Most online students combine part-time study with full-time or part-time work.
How Does Distance Education Work?
When you study a university course by distance education, you usually complete the same curriculum and meet the same academic standards as on-campus students.
The difference is that course materials and instruction are delivered digitally, allowing you to study from home. Communication with lecturers and other students takes place online.
Dedicated online programs, especially at postgraduate level, are often exam-free. Where exams are required, they can usually be sat at approved facilities near where you live, including outside Australia.
For subjects where in-person attendance is not essential, courses can be completed without visiting campus at all. For this reason, online study is particularly well suited to coursework-based, essay-based, and research degrees.
Ernestine
Would love to see some suggestions you might have for a Singapore bachelor’s degree holder. I’ve found some good universities but I am not sure if they accept international students. I might still have to inquire to find that out….
Douglas
When enrolling from overseas, is there any sort of requirements that I would need to have ready? I am in the US and would love to do online courses in Australia. I was comparing costs and both the UK and Australia have cheaper, better options for me online in comparison to the US.
Lerna
Enrolling from the US should normally be straightforward. You may need to demonstrate academic achievement for undergraduate courses in particular. Your English is assumed to be fine, whereas people from non-English speaking countries have to prove reasonable language fluency.