So, you have chosen Australia as your study overseas destination, one of the most urbanised countries, a great choice!
Before even getting over there, international students may need to send or receive money internationally in order to pay for tuition and living expenses but unfortunately it is more expensive to send funds internationally than it is domestically.
As there are many available options out there, don’t feel daunted by it, take some time to read and research before deciding on one.
Open an Australian bank account
Setting up an Aussie bank account in your name is a must (you wouldn’t want to deal with the foreign exchange fees and poor currency exchange rates attached to your credit card while being a student!).
There are many banks in Australia and depending which cities you are in. Australia and New Zealand Bank (ANZ) and Commonwealth bank are the most commonly found ones, which will definitely be accessible for you. There are also banks like Westpac, NAB and Citibank. However, for saving plans, there are different bank rates for you to look into as well.
For easy application, all you need to do is to submit an online form to the bank you have decided. You will need to provide your personal documents such as your passport details, estimated arrival date, residential address in Australia and enrollment details. Your bank will take around three working days to open the account. You can also select the branch that is nearer to your accommodation so as to collect your debit card personally when you are in Australia. Yes, it is just that convenient!
Money Transfer Provider
Choosing the right one will ensure that you do not end up paying the hefty sum on transfer fee. Here’s what we have collated.
| Service | Features | Transfer charges | Transfer Speed |
| CurrencyFair | Bank-beating exchange rates Same-day transfer available Option to wait & choose your own rate World-class 24/7 customer support |
1st 3 months, free transfer / 0.1% up to 0.6%, according to the currency pair + a fixed S$4 transfer fee | 0-2 days |
| WorldRemit | Low fees and exchange rates Door to door cash delivery option Instant transfers to mobile money accounts |
First transfer has 0 fees. Subsequently, transfer fees depend on the method you’re using to send money abroad | Within 2 working days |
| InstaRem | 1st Transfer Bonus Zero-Margin FX Rates |
0.25% to 0.5% of the transferred amount | 1-2 working days |
| TransferWise | The app is very useful Good customer service |
TransferWise charges a certain percent of the transfer amount, plus a flat fee for certain transfer routes (country combinations). The final fees and percentage are variable and largely depend on the currencies you are sending from and to and the total amount sent. | 1 - 3 working days |
| DBS | 24 hours service through iBanking | Free transfer Service fee of S$5 is applicable for each transfer |
0-1 working day |
| Pay2Home | Send money via Money Transfer Machines (MTMs) Flexibility to credit any bank account in Australia Pay Australian bills direct via BPay™ |
Flat fee at $20 | 0-1 working day |
- Best exchange rate: every cent from SGD to AUD counts!
- Low (or no) fees: No one likes paying fees, especially uni students! Don’t forget to compare the extra costs providers are asking for, and choose a service with few or zero fees.
- Quick transfers: Who knows when you will be in a rush to make a payment in Australia, whether it is for tuition fees or rental fees. Sometimes a day makes a lot of difference.