La Trobe University is a public university in Victoria. Its main campus is in Bundoora in northern Melbourne, and it has regional campuses in Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton. It sits at joint 241st in the QS World University Rankings 2027. La Trobe has already published 2027 international fees: the Bachelor of Business costs $31,500 (A$45,200) a year, Computer Science $30,380 (A$43,600) and Nursing $32,890 (A$47,200). For school leavers the main route is a foundation program or diploma at La Trobe College Australia (foundation cost $20,750, A$29,780, in 2026), followed by progression to the university.
La Trobe University and La Trobe College Australia are separate organisations: the college prepares students for university study and operates in Melbourne and Sydney, while only La Trobe University awards the bachelor's degree. Our universities in Melbourne guide compares La Trobe with other city options, and study in Australia gives the national overview.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Campuses | Melbourne (Bundoora) and the city centre; regional campuses in Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton |
| Ranking | QS World University Rankings 2027: joint 241st |
| After Year 11 | foundation or diploma at La Trobe College Australia |
| Foundation, 2026 | $20,750 (A$29,780) for the program |
| Diplomas, 2026 | $23,840–27,200 (A$34,220–39,040) |
| Bachelor's, 2027 | e.g. business $31,500 (A$45,200), IT $30,380 (A$43,600) a year |
| Master's, 2027 | $28,430–32,610 (A$40,800–46,800) a year |
| Fee increases | typically no more than 7% a year |
| Discounts | High Achiever Scholarship of 20–25% (automatic, selected courses); Vice-Chancellor Scholarship of 50% or 100%; subject scholarships of 30–100%; A$2,000 grant for early acceptance |
| Visa | Student visa subclass 500, charge from $1,740 (A$2,500) |
Who La Trobe suits
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 2027 fees shown on every course page | No public table for the Russian school certificate; the entry level is set on application |
| Annual increases capped at roughly 7% | The main Bundoora campus is in the suburbs rather than the city centre |
| Regional campuses are in Category 3: living regionally after graduation can open a second 485 visa of two years | Not every program runs on the regional campuses |
| Subject scholarships in AI, analytics and health of up to 100% | Higher awards need a separate application and a WAM of 80 or above |
| Three business intakes a year: March, July and November | No instalment plans: each semester is paid in full |
La Trobe suits students heading for business, IT, cybersecurity, psychology or health who want a clear price with limited annual increases. For a more technology-focused environment, compare it with Swinburne; if ranking matters most, look at the University of Melbourne and Monash. Our universities in Australia overview covers the wider field.
Entry after Year 11
La Trobe shows requirements for overseas qualifications on each course page through a country and qualification selector, and as of 1 October 2026 there was no separate public table for the Russian certificate of the kind Swinburne and UOW publish. La Trobe College Australia lists requirements for 33 countries; Russia and Kazakhstan are not among them, so the certificate is assessed individually. As a reference point, neighbouring universities such as Swinburne, UOW, Curtin and UWA admit applicants with a Russian certificate alone only to pathway programs. La Trobe and the college state the level you are offered in the letter of offer. There is no official acceptance rate for La Trobe, so percentages quoted by third-party guides have no published basis.
La Trobe College Australia: programs and 2026 fees
The college is part of the Navitas group and teaches in Melbourne and Sydney. Its foundation program prepares students for first year; its diplomas are equivalent to first year and lead straight into second year, provided the student meets the minimum requirements of the chosen La Trobe degree.
| Program | International fee, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Foundation Studies Program | $20,750 (A$29,780) |
| Diploma of Media and Communication | $23,840 (A$34,220) |
| Diploma of Health Sciences | $25,800 (A$37,030) |
| Diploma of Business, Business Analytics | $26,460 (A$37,970) |
| Diploma of Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Psychology | $26,580 (A$38,140) |
| Diploma of Engineering, Bioscience | $27,200 (A$39,040) |
English courses at the college cost $360 (A$515) per week. The college also charges A$220 for arranging accommodation and A$155 for an airport pick-up, and offers Navitas awards such as the Academic Merit Scholarship and Family Bursary. 2027 college fees had not been published yet. For a comparison of foundation, diploma and a first year at home, see studying in Australia after Year 11.
Bachelor's and master's fees for 2027
La Trobe charges per 120 credit points, a full-time year, and says it raises fees each year, typically by no more than 7%, with increases applying from 1 January.
| Program | Length | Annual fee, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Computer Science | 3 years | $30,380 (A$43,600) |
| Bachelor of Cybersecurity | 3 years | $30,380 (A$43,600) |
| Bachelor of Business | 3 years | $31,500 (A$45,200) |
| Bachelor of Nursing | 3 years | $32,890 (A$47,200) |
| Master of Business Administration | 1.5 years | $28,430 (A$40,800) |
| Master of Information Technology | 2 years | $31,770 (A$45,600) |
| Master of Data Science | 2 years | $31,770 (A$45,600) |
| Master of Business Analytics | 2 years | $32,610 (A$46,800) |
The Bachelor of Business asks for IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 6.0, with intakes in March, July and November 2027. Fees are due in full by the payment date, usually 21 days before the census date (the last day to withdraw from a subject without financial penalty), and La Trobe does not offer instalments. Our cost of studying in Australia guide shows how to build the full annual budget.
For master's entry La Trobe requires an Australian bachelor's degree or an overseas equivalent with set grades; each course page states the threshold. The same page gives the English requirement, which differs for courses leading to professional registration, such as nursing, from business and IT. Our master's in Australia guide explains how to choose a program.
Scholarships
| Scholarship | Value | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Scholarship | 50% or 100% | WAM of 80+, achievements outside study, application required |
| La Trobe High Achiever Scholarship | 20% or 25% | 20% with a WAM of 60–74.9, 25% with 75+; selected courses, assessed automatically |
| La Trobe Artificial Intelligence Scholarship | 30%; 50% or 100% | 30% with WAM 75+; 50% and 100% with WAM 80+ and an application; AI-related courses |
| La Trobe Analytics and Insights Scholarship | 30%; 50% or 100% | same thresholds, data analytics courses |
| La Trobe Health Innovation Scholarship | 30%; 50% or 100% | same thresholds, health courses |
| Early Acceptance Grant | $1,390 (A$2,000) towards first-semester fees | for accepting an offer by the deadline; assessed automatically |
La Trobe decides how a Russian grade average converts to WAM and awards every scholarship. Further options are in scholarships in Australia.
Housing
University housing is available on the Melbourne, Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga campuses and must be booked before arriving in Australia. New international students can receive the International Student Accommodation Grant: two weeks of free accommodation with a 41- or 52-week contract, or one week with a 20-week contract. Room prices are listed in the La Trobe Accommodation brochure.
Student visa and enrolment caps
You apply for the subclass 500 visa online in ImmiAccount after receiving a CoE, and the Department of Home Affairs decides. As of 1 October 2026:
- the charge starts at $1,740 (A$2,500);
- you show $20,700 (A$29,710) for a year of living costs, plus the first 12 months of tuition and $1,390 (A$2,000) for travel, or alternatively a parental income of at least $61,220 (A$87,856) for the past year;
- Genuine Student answers go into the form in English, up to 150 words each, with supporting documents;
- the visa English level is IELTS 6.0, or 5.5 when packaged with a foundation program or at least 10 weeks of English;
- biometrics are collected on request in Moscow, St Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Vladivostok or Almaty.
Australia manages international intake through processing order. The National Planning Level for 2027 is 295,000 new international students, unchanged from 2026 (announced on 3 July 2026). Offshore applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025 are handled under Ministerial Direction 115: below 80% of a provider's allocation they receive Priority 1 (Home Affairs' guide, based on 2025 lodgements, is to commence processing within 1–4 weeks), from 80% Priority 2 (5–8 weeks), and above 115% Priority 3 (9–12 weeks). Priority changes speed, not the outcome. La Trobe's 2026 allocation is 4,700 new overseas students, and the Department of Education data as at 25 September 2026 show it with Priority 1 status. In a college-plus-university package, priority follows the main CoE, usually the La Trobe degree. Full details are in our Australian student visa guide.
Work and the 485 visa
While classes are running, the student visa caps work at 48 hours per fortnight. After a bachelor's or coursework master's degree, graduates aged 35 or under can apply for a two-year 485 visa. Melbourne, including Bundoora, is not a regional area. On the Home Affairs regional postcode list, the Bendigo (3550), Wodonga (3690), Mildura (3500) and Shepparton (3630) campuses fall under Category 3, Regional centres and other regional areas. A graduate of one of these campuses may seek a Second Post-Higher Education Work visa of two more years after living only in Category 3 areas for two years on the first 485 visa; living in a Category 2 city such as Perth or Geelong limits the extension to one year. Home Affairs decides each application; more in work rights and the 485 visa.
Application plan
- 10–12 months before: choose the program and campus, take IELTS Academic and translate the certificate.
- 5–6 months before: apply to La Trobe or La Trobe College Australia; the offer states your entry level (foundation, diploma or first year).
- Straight after the offer: accept it by the deadline to receive the A$2,000 grant, pay the deposit and OSHC, and book housing.
- 2–3 months before: lodge the subclass 500 visa, checking La Trobe's MD115 status on the day.
- After the college stage: move into first or second year at La Trobe, depending on the program.
Legal payment routes from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia; applicants from Kazakhstan can read study abroad from Kazakhstan.
Common mistakes
- Treating La Trobe College Australia and La Trobe University as one institution. They are separate organisations with separate contracts, and only the university awards the bachelor's degree.
- Expecting an instalment plan. Each semester must be paid in full by the due date.
- Choosing a campus on rent alone. Not every program runs in Bendigo or Albury-Wodonga; check the campus on the course page.
- Missing the acceptance deadline. The A$2,000 grant is only for early acceptance.
- Comparing fees from different years. The college still shows 2026 fees while the university shows 2027 fees, so add a margin to the college price.
FAQ
Can I enter La Trobe after Year 11?
Yes, through a foundation program or diploma at La Trobe College Australia. La Trobe has no public table for the Russian certificate, so the entry level is set on application, and the college and La Trobe University make the admission decision.
How much does La Trobe cost in 2027?
The bachelor's programs above cost $30,380–32,890 (A$43,600–47,200) a year, and master's programs $28,430–32,610 (A$40,800–46,800). The college foundation program cost $20,750 (A$29,780) in 2026.
What scholarships does La Trobe offer international students?
The High Achiever Scholarship (20% or 25%, no separate application, selected courses), the Vice-Chancellor Scholarship (50% or 100%), subject scholarships in AI, analytics and health (30%, 50% or 100%), and an A$2,000 grant for early acceptance. Awards of 50% and 100% need an application and a WAM of 80+, and La Trobe decides.
Does studying at a regional La Trobe campus help with the 485 visa?
Yes, if you study on a regional campus: on the Home Affairs postcode list, Bendigo, Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton are Category 3. After two years of living in Category 3 areas on the first 485 visa, you can seek two more years. Home Affairs decides.
How is La Trobe College Australia different from La Trobe University?
The college, part of the Navitas group, teaches foundation programs and first-year-equivalent diplomas in Melbourne and Sydney. Only La Trobe University awards the bachelor's degree, and college graduates progress to it once they meet the requirements.
Do the international student caps affect a La Trobe visa?
As at 25 September 2026 La Trobe had Priority 1 status, and Home Affairs' guide for Priority 1 is to commence processing within 1–4 weeks of lodgement. The allocation affects the queue, and Home Affairs decides the visa.
Sources
- La Trobe: International fees, Entry and language requirements, International scholarships, International accommodation, La Trobe College Australia
- 2027 course pages (international view): Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Cybersecurity, Bachelor of Nursing, Master of Information Technology, Master of Business Analytics, MBA, Master of Data Science
- La Trobe College Australia: 2026 fees, Entry requirements
- QS 2027: La Trobe University
- Home Affairs: Student visa subclass 500, Genuine Student requirement, Processing priorities, Biometrics, 485 visa, Second 485, Regional areas, Regional postcodes
- 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 find out what entry level La Trobe is likely to consider for your certificate and which campus to choose, 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
- Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne: Admission, 2027 Fees and Student Visa
- Studying in Australia for international applicants
- Universities in Melbourne for International Students in 2026–2027: Rankings, Fees, Campuses and How to Choose
- The University of Melbourne
- Monash University
- Universities in Australia for International Students: How to Choose, 2027 Costs and Entry Routes
