The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a research university in Perth and the only Western Australian member of the Group of Eight, the alliance of Australia's leading research-intensive universities. It sits at joint 77th in the QS World University Rankings 2027. UWA does not list the Russian or Kazakh school certificate among the qualifications accepted for direct first-year entry, so school leavers from these countries usually start with the UWA Foundation Program at UWA College: 8 or 12 months for $25,640 (A$36,800) in tuition at 2026 prices. International bachelor's fees in 2026 range from $29,610 to $37,420 (A$42,500–53,700) a year; UWA's fee calculator had not yet published 2027 bachelor's rates as of 1 October 2026.
UWA is a different institution from Western Sydney University, and it is one of several universities in Perth alongside Curtin, Murdoch and Edith Cowan. We cover Curtin in a separate profile; the national picture is on our study in Australia page.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| City and campus | Perth; main campus at Crawley on the Swan River, plus a campus in Albany |
| Status | public university, Group of Eight member |
| Ranking | QS World University Rankings 2027: joint 77th |
| Route after Year 11 (Russia, Kazakhstan) | UWA Foundation Program at UWA College, 8 or 12 months |
| Foundation tuition | $25,640 (A$36,800), 2026 price |
| Bachelor's, 2026 | $29,610–37,420 (A$42,500–53,700) a year |
| Master's, 2026 | mostly $35,820–37,420 (A$51,400–53,700) a year; coursework MBA $44,730 (A$64,200) |
| 2027 discount | Global Excellence Scholarship of 10% or 20% for the whole course, assessed automatically |
| Application fee | $100 (A$150), non-refundable |
| Visa | Student visa subclass 500, charge from $1,740 (A$2,500) |
Who UWA suits, and its trade-offs
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Group of Eight status and a top-100 QS 2027 position | Russian and Kazakh certificates are not accepted for direct bachelor's entry |
| Perth is a Category 2 regional area: after studying here and living two years in regional areas on a 485 visa, a graduate can seek one more year | Perth is far from the east coast, where Sydney, Melbourne and most national employers are |
| An on-campus foundation program that feeds into first year | Campus residences were fully booked for 2026; 2027 places should be requested early |
| The Global Excellence Scholarship covers the 2027–2029 intakes, so a 2027 offer can be deferred to 2028 without losing it | Science and engineering degrees cost about A$52,000 a year, with no nationality-based discount for Russian or Kazakh citizens |
| An automatic merit discount of up to 20% | 2027 bachelor's fees were still unpublished on 1 October 2026 |
Students choose UWA for the combination of Group of Eight standing and a calmer city than Sydney. If a strongly applied degree and lower fees matter more, compare it with Curtin in the same city; if you want a larger city, look at the University of Melbourne or Monash. Our overview of universities in Australia explains how to shortlist across the country.
Entry after Year 11
UWA's list of international and overseas qualifications names A-levels, the IB, the German Abitur, the Chinese Gaokao and other certificates; the Russian attestat and the Kazakh certificate of completed secondary education are not on it. A school leaver from either country therefore has three realistic routes:
- UWA Foundation Program at UWA College, the main route into first year.
- A UWA College diploma (Commerce, Computer and Data Science, Engineering) for stronger applicants; it is equivalent to first year and leads into second year.
- A year at a home university before applying, with any credit assessed individually by UWA.
UWA also accepts graduates of other Group of Eight foundation programs, the NCUK International Foundation Year and the WA Universities Foundation Program delivered by Canning College.
UWA Foundation Program in detail
UWA College operates on the Crawley campus with the INTO education group; INTO Perth Pty Ltd delivers the course on the university's behalf as an approved third-party provider.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 |
| Russia | Certificate of Secondary Complete General Education with a GPA of 3.5 or 3.0 in academic subjects (depending on the program variant) and a pass in mathematics |
| Kazakhstan | Certificate of Completed Secondary Education with 3.5 or 3.0 in academic subjects; NIS Grade 12 Certificate with a total score of 4 or 3 |
| English | UWA College lists IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; an English course at UWA CELT can be packaged with the program |
| Length | 8 months (standard) or 12 months (extended) |
| Sample timetable | the October 2026 intake runs from 5 October 2026 to 28 May 2027 with a break in early February; the 12-month variant has a February start |
| Fees | $25,640 (A$36,800) tuition; with administration, OSHC and materials UWA College estimates $27,040–27,400 (A$38,804–39,328) |
UWA College moves to 2027 pricing on 1 November 2026: offers accepted by 31 October 2026 keep the 2026 fee, and later offers are reissued at the new rate. High-achieving students in the 12-month February intake can apply for UWA's Assured Pathways to Medicine or Dentistry, which require ISAT and an interview. The college also advertises a UWA College Success Scholarship of up to $8,360 (A$12,000) under its own terms.
The Diploma in Commerce costs $27,590 (A$39,600), runs for 8 or 12 months and also lists IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5. For a broader comparison of foundation, diploma and first-year-at-home routes, read studying in Australia after Year 11.
Bachelor's fees
UWA charges per credit point, with 48 points as a full-time year. The table shows the 2026 international rates from UWA's fee calculator; fees are reviewed every year, so budget for an increase in 2027.
| Program | Annual fee, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts, International Relations, Media and Communication | $29,610 (A$42,500) |
| Bachelor of Environmental Design (route to architecture) | $29,270 (A$42,000) |
| Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) | $31,570 (A$45,300) |
| Bachelor of Psychology | $34,280 (A$49,200) |
| Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business | $35,330 (A$50,700) |
| Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Science | $35,820–36,230 (A$51,400–52,000) |
| Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours) | $36,230 (A$52,000) |
| Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), four years | $37,420 (A$53,700) |
On top of tuition you pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole visa period; UWA's preferred OSHC provider is Medibank. Our guide to the cost of studying in Australia shows how to build a full first-year budget.
Master's programs
Master's entry requires a bachelor's or specialist degree; grade and English thresholds are set on each course page. International fees for 2026:
| Program | Length | Annual fee, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Business Analytics | 2 years | $36,020 (A$51,700) |
| Master of Data Science, Master of Information Technology | 2 years | $36,230 (A$52,000) |
| Master of Commerce | 2 years | $36,440 (A$52,300) |
| Master of Professional Engineering | 3 years | $36,650 (A$52,600) |
| Master of Professional Accounting | 2 years | $36,720 (A$52,700) |
| Master of Public Health | 1.5–2 years | $33,310 (A$47,800) |
| Master of Business Administration (coursework) | 1.5 years | $44,730 (A$64,200) |
| Doctor of Medicine | 4 years | $64,730 (A$92,900) |
Coursework versus research degrees and typical admission logic are covered in our master's in Australia guide.
Scholarships for 2027 entry
- Global Excellence Scholarship. A discount for the standard course duration: 10% with an ATAR-equivalent of 85 or 20% with 90 for undergraduates; 10% with a weighted average mark (WAM) of 65 or 20% with 75 for postgraduates. There is no separate application; UWA Admissions assesses final transcripts. Students from all countries are eligible, with exclusions such as the Doctor of Medicine and Juris Doctor.
- International Student Award. 10% for citizens of listed Latin American, South Asian and African countries; Russia and Kazakhstan are not on the 2027 list.
- UWA Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships (50% or 100%) are limited to citizens of China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam and to international WACE graduates.
- UWA College scholarship of up to A$12,000 for foundation and diploma students.
UWA itself decides how a foreign certificate converts to an ATAR equivalent. For external funding options see scholarships in Australia.
Housing near campus
Five residential colleges on College Row sit across the road from the Crawley campus; meals, utilities and internet are included. 2026 rates:
| College | Contract length | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|
| University Hall | 18–49 weeks | $340–410 (A$490–590) |
| Trinity Residential College | 19–40 weeks | $390–450 (A$555–640) |
| St Thomas More College | 40–52 weeks | $420–450 (A$603–648) |
| St Catherine's College | 20–44 weeks | $430–510 (A$613.64–737.49) |
| St George's College | 20–44 weeks | $490 (A$698.75) |
The colleges were fully booked for 2026 and taking waitlist applications only; 2027 applications are open for the full year or a single semester. UWA advises families to arrange housing before arrival and to book at least a month of temporary accommodation, because Perth's rental market is competitive.
Student visa and the international student caps
You apply for the Student visa (subclass 500) online in ImmiAccount after you receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). The Department of Home Affairs makes the decision. Key settings as of 1 October 2026:
- Visa charge: from $1,740 (A$2,500) for the main applicant.
- Financial capacity: $20,700 (A$29,710) for 12 months of living costs, plus the first 12 months of tuition and $1,390 (A$2,000) for travel when applying from outside Australia. Alternatively, show a parental income of at least $61,220 (A$87,856) over the previous 12 months through tax documents.
- Genuine Student requirement: answers in the online form, in English, up to 150 words each, covering your circumstances, why this course at UWA, and how it will benefit you, with supporting documents attached.
- English for the visa: IELTS 6.0, or 5.5 when the main course is packaged with a foundation program or at least 10 weeks of English.
- Biometrics: if requested; collection centres operate in Moscow, St Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don and Vladivostok, and in Almaty for Kazakhstan.
Australia manages international enrolments through processing priority rather than a hard visa cap. The National Planning Level for 2027 is 295,000 new international students, unchanged from 2026, as announced by the Department of Education on 3 July 2026. Offshore applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025 are handled under Ministerial Direction 115: Priority 1 if the provider is below 80% of its indicative allocation (Home Affairs' guide, based on 2025 lodgements, is to commence processing within 1–4 weeks), Priority 2 at 80% or more (5–8 weeks), and Priority 3 once the provider exceeds its allocation by 15% (9–12 weeks). Priority changes speed, not the outcome. In the Department of Education report using data as at 25 September 2026, UWA's 2026 indicative allocation is 3,550 new overseas students and its status is Priority 1. The status is updated weekly, and the one that counts is the status on the day you lodge. Step-by-step detail is in our Australian student visa guide.
Work during and after study
During teaching periods the student visa allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight. After a bachelor's or coursework master's degree you can apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) for two years if you are 35 or younger. Because Perth is a Category 2 regional area, a graduate who then lives only in designated regional areas for two years on the first 485 visa may qualify for a Second Post-Higher Education Work visa of one more year. Home Affairs decides every 485 application. More in our article on work rights and the 485 visa.
Timeline for 2027–2028 entry
- October–December 2026: take IELTS Academic (6.0 with no band below 5.5 for the foundation program) and get the certificate or latest transcript translated into English.
- Three to four months before the start: apply to UWA College for a February 2027 or later foundation intake and choose the target bachelor's degree.
- After the offer: pay the deposit and OSHC, receive the CoE, apply for a College Row residence.
- Two to three months before the start: lodge the subclass 500 application with financial evidence and Genuine Student answers, checking UWA's MD115 status on the day you lodge.
- After 8–12 months: complete the foundation program with the required result and move into first year at UWA.
Legal ways to pay tuition from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia; applicants from Kazakhstan can start with study abroad from Kazakhstan.
Common mistakes
- Applying to first year with the school certificate alone. UWA does not accept it for direct entry.
- Comparing foundation tuition with a bachelor's year without the extra charges. Administration fees, OSHC and materials sit on top of A$36,800.
- Waiting for 2027 prices. If you hold a UWA College offer in autumn 2026, the 31 October 2026 acceptance date affects what you pay.
- Counting on a nationality-based scholarship. For Russian and Kazakh citizens the realistic option is the merit-based Global Excellence Scholarship.
- Leaving housing until the last minute. College Row was full for 2026; apply for 2027 straight after accepting your offer.
FAQ
Can I enter UWA with a Russian school certificate?
Not directly into a bachelor's degree, because the attestat is not on UWA's list of accepted qualifications. You need the UWA Foundation Program (GPA 3.0–3.5, IELTS 6.0) or a UWA College diploma, and UWA makes the admission decision.
How much does UWA cost for international students?
At 2026 prices, bachelor's degrees cost $29,610–37,420 (A$42,500–53,700) a year depending on the program, most master's degrees $35,820–37,420, and the coursework MBA $44,730. The foundation program costs $25,640 (A$36,800) in tuition.
Is UWA a Group of Eight university?
Yes. UWA is the only Western Australian member of the Group of Eight, alongside Melbourne, Sydney, Monash, ANU, UNSW, Queensland and Adelaide University.
Which scholarship can a Russian or Kazakh applicant realistically get?
The Global Excellence Scholarship, worth 10% or 20% off tuition for the whole course, assessed automatically on final grades. UWA Admissions awards it; nationality-based awards do not cover Russia or Kazakhstan.
Do the international student caps affect a UWA visa application?
The allocation affects processing order, not approval. As at 25 September 2026 UWA held Priority 1 status, and Home Affairs' guide for Priority 1 is to commence processing within 1–4 weeks of lodgement; Home Affairs decides the visa.
Is UWA the same as Western Sydney University?
No. UWA is in Perth and belongs to the Group of Eight; Western Sydney University is a separate university in Greater Sydney and is not a Group of Eight member.
Sources
- UWA: International and overseas qualifications, Entry pathways for international students
- UWA Fee Calculator: International Undergraduate 2026, International Postgraduate 2026, International student fees
- UWA College: UWA Foundation Program, Diploma in Commerce
- UWA: Global Excellence Scholarship, International Student Award, International scholarships
- UWA: Live at UWA (2026 College Row rates), Accommodation
- Group of Eight members, QS 2027: UWA
- Home Affairs: Student visa subclass 500, Genuine Student requirement, Student visa processing priorities, Biometrics, 485 Post-Higher Education Work, Designated regional areas
- Department of Education: National Planning Level 2027, Visa Prioritisation Status
US dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026 (A$1 = $0.6968), rounded to $10. Information checked on 1 October 2026.
If you want to work through your route into UWA, whether via the foundation program, a diploma or a year at home, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Curtin University, Perth: Admission, 2027 Fees and Student Visa for International Applicants
- Studying in Australia for international applicants
- The University of Melbourne
- Monash University
- Universities in Australia for International Students: How to Choose, 2027 Costs and Entry Routes
- Australian University Entry After 11 Years of School: Foundation, Diploma or a Year at a Home University
