Study in Australia from Kenya: what it costs and what the visa asks for
A year as an undergraduate in Australia costs a Kenyan family about KSh 4,194,933 to KSh 6,018,817, tuition and living together. The visa asks for roughly KSh 4,989,235 for the first year. This page sets out the costs, English requirements, intakes and what happens after you graduate.
Last checked 26 October 2026. Rates read 27 Oct 2026. Planning figures, not offers.
A year's cost, in shillings
These bands add tuition to living costs and convert at A$1 = KSh 91.19, the rate read today. A university sets its own fees, so treat the figures as planning ranges.
| Level | Per year | Made up of |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | KSh 4,194,933 to KSh 6,018,817 | Tuition A$25,000 to A$45,000 plus living A$21,000 |
| Master's | KSh 4,194,933 to KSh 6,018,817 | Tuition A$25,000 to A$45,000 plus living A$21,000 |
| Funds the visa asks for | about KSh 4,989,235 | A$29,710 for living plus the first year's undergraduate tuition |
Show the data behind Figure 1
| Level | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | KSh 4,194,933 | KSh 6,018,817 |
| Master's | KSh 4,194,933 | KSh 6,018,817 |
Source: SchoolRegistry Pathways catalogue, rates read 27 Oct 2026.
How the shilling has moved against the AUD
Kenyan families pay foreign fees in shillings, so the exchange rate sits inside every quote. One AUD was KSh 87.52 in 2012 and KSh 82.36 in 2021. It is KSh 91.19 now, 1.11 times the 2021 level and 1.04 times the 2012 level. Take a first-year bill of 10,000 AUD: KSh 823,600 in 2021, KSh 911,942 today. The high point in this series was 2023, at KSh 92.91.
Show the data behind Figure 2
| Year | KES per AUD |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 87.52 |
| 2013 | 83.14 |
| 2014 | 79.25 |
| 2015 | 73.76 |
| 2016 | 75.46 |
| 2017 | 79.26 |
| 2018 | 75.69 |
| 2019 | 70.90 |
| 2020 | 73.26 |
| 2021 | 82.36 |
| 2022 | 81.76 |
| 2023 | 92.91 |
| 2024 | 88.97 |
| 2025 | 83.31 |
| Today | 91.19 |
Source: World Bank, official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average), Kenya and United Kingdom; today's rate from the Pathways catalogue.
- English
- IELTS 6.0 to 6.5
- Intakes
- February, July
- After graduation
- Temporary graduate visa, two to four years by level.
- Bringing family
- Possible with substantial extra funds.
No one can promise you admission or a visa.
Our job is to match your profile to universities it suits, prepare a complete and truthful file, and tell you what the visa will ask before you spend money. Governments decide visas. Pathways costs a family nothing, because our partner schools pay SchoolRegistry when a student we place enrols.
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Questions Kenyan families ask about Australia
- How much does it cost a Kenyan to study in Australia?
- Tuition of A$25,000 to A$45,000 a year plus about A$21,000 for living, which comes to KSh 4,194,933 to KSh 6,018,817 at the rate read today.
- What funds does a Kenyan applicant need to show for Australia?
- About KSh 4,989,235 for the first year, made up of living costs and first-year undergraduate tuition. The authority that issues the visa sets the official figure and updates it, so check with a counsellor before you commit any money.
- Does Australia require an English test from Kenyans?
- IELTS 6.0 to 6.5.
- Can I bring a spouse or children when I study in Australia?
- Possible with substantial extra funds.
- What happens after a degree in Australia?
- Temporary graduate visa, two to four years by level.
- What do I pay SchoolRegistry Pathways?
- Nothing. Our partner schools pay SchoolRegistry when a student we place enrols, and that does not affect which programme we suggest.
Source: World Bank, 2026.