UK vs Canada vs Australia: what a student visa costs before tuition
7 min read · Updated 7 October 2026
Quick take: before tuition and travel, a single student needs to show and pay about £12,261 for a one-year UK master's outside London (£15,483 in London), CAD 23,683 for Canada, and AUD 31,710 plus health cover for Australia. The UK counts nine months of living costs; Canada and Australia count twelve. Figures are from the official pages, checked 7 October 2026, in each country's own currency.
Most comparison pages convert everything into one currency and mix the money you must show with what you might spend. This page keeps the two apart. It lists only the amounts the visa rules set, so you can plug in your own tuition and exchange rate.
The money you must show
| UK | Canada | Australia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living costs for one student | £1,171 a month outside London, £1,529 in London, for up to 9 months | CAD 23,448 for the first year | AUD 29,710 for 12 months |
| Total for a course of a year or more | £10,539 outside London, £13,761 in London | CAD 23,448 | AUD 29,710 |
| Plus tuition | First year's fees not yet paid | First year's tuition not yet paid | First year's course fees |
| Plus travel | Not counted | Travel to and from Canada | Travel to and from Australia |
| Bringing a partner | Not allowed for most taught master's students | CAD 29,192 in total for two people | AUD 10,394 more |
UK rates rise to £1,203 and £1,570 a month for applications made on or after 30 November 2026. In Australia each child adds AUD 4,449. Quebec sets its own amounts for Canada.
How long the money must be there also differs. The UK checks that it has been in your account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply. Canada asks for proof such as recent bank statements showing a steady balance. Australia asks for evidence that the money is genuinely available to you.
Fees you pay to apply
| UK | Canada | Australia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa fee | £558 | CAD 150 study permit + CAD 85 biometrics | AUD 2,000 |
| Health cover | Healthcare surcharge: £776 a year, usually £1,164 for a one-year master's | Depends on the province: some cover students, others need a school or private plan | Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), required for the whole stay, price varies by provider |
Side by side, before tuition and travel
For one student on a one-year course:
| Living costs | Visa and fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK, outside London | £10,539 | £1,722 | £12,261 |
| UK, London | £13,761 | £1,722 | £15,483 |
| Canada (outside Quebec) | CAD 23,448 | CAD 235 | CAD 23,683 |
| Australia | AUD 29,710 | AUD 2,000 | AUD 31,710 + OSHC |
These are the floors the visa rules set, not what living there costs. Rent in Toronto, London or Sydney can use most of the amount on its own.
For your own figure with tuition, family members and travel, use the UK student visa funds calculator or the Canada study permit funds calculator.
What else differs
- Work while studying. UK degree students can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time. Canada allows 24 hours a week off campus. Australia allows 48 hours a fortnight.
- After you graduate. The UK Graduate visa gives 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026 and 18 months from 1 January 2027. Canada's work permit depends on your programme and needs an English test, covered in the PGWP guide. Australia has the Temporary Graduate visa.
- The written part. Canada usually wants a letter of explanation, Australia asks the Genuine Student questions, and UK universities read your personal statement or statement of purpose.
Where IELTS fits
All three countries accept IELTS, but the score you need is set by the university and, for some visas, by the government. The score requirements guide compares typical entry levels, and the test comparison shows which tests each country accepts. A retake costs a fee and up to a few weeks, so it is worth getting Writing right the first time: the essay checker gives an estimated band on each criterion for free.
Taking IELTS for this application?
Write a Task 2 essay and get an estimated band for each criterion, with the sentences to fix marked. Try it free.