Other estimated study costs
While tuition fees cover your core program delivery, many degrees include additional study‑related estimated costs. These typically relate to technology needs, textbooks, protective clothing, placement requirements, professional checks, or specialist equipment.
Below is a summary of the most common items across UON programs, with handy links to support pages that help you plan ahead.
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
| Program Code | Program Title | Required Item | Item Cost Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40058 | Bachelor of Surveying (Honours) | Laptop or BYOD device Work boots & safety vest White Card (WHS training) Scientific calculator | Cost varies $200–$300 $100–$150 $20–$100 |
| 40077 | Bachelor of Surveying (Honours)/Bachelor of Business | ||
| 40085 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Surveying (Honours) | ||
| 40358 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Surveying (Honours) | ||
| 40372 | Bachelor of Surveying (Honours) | ||
| 40373 | Bachelor of Surveying (Honours)/Bachelor of Business | ||
| 40054 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) | Boots Hardhat Hi‑vis vest | Approx. $250 |
| 40082 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Business | ||
| 40083 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) | ||
| 40084 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Mathematics | ||
| 40231 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) | ||
| 40353 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) | ||
| 40354 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) | ||
| 40356 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Business | ||
| 40357 | Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Mathematics | ||
| 40275 | Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability | Textbooks | Varies |
| 40196 | Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security | Laptop / BYOD device Textbooks / course readers | Cost varies $700 |
| 40180 | Master of Cyber Security | ||
| 11368 | Bachelor of Development Studies | Laptop / BYOD device Working With Children Check Field trips International placement (optional) | $1,000–$2,000 $0–$107 $60–$80 per trip (1–5/year) $3,000–$10,000 |
| 11547 | Bachelor of Development Studies (Honours) | ||
| 40095 | Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Social Science | ||
| 40101 | Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Business | ||
| 40130 | Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) | ||
| 40179 | Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Global Indigenous Studies | ||
| 40246 | Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Communication | ||
| 50006 | Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Media and Communication | ||
| 11587 | Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management | Standard lab equipment Specialised lab equipment Fieldwork | $50 $0–$600 $6–$600 |
| 11706 | Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management (Honours) | ||
| 40172 | Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management/Bachelor of Business | ||
| 50051 | Graduate Certificate in Clean Energy | Laptop or BYOD device | Cost varies |
| 50052 | Graduate Diploma in Clean Energy | ||
| 50053 | Master of Clean Energy |
College of Health Medicine and Wellbeing
| Program Code | Program Title | Required Item | Item Cost Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40158 | Master of Nurse Practitioner | Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) registration Placement travel (variable) | $180/year Up to ~ $5,000 (varies) |
| 40336 | Master of Nurse Practitioner | ||
| 40002 | Medical Radiation Science (Honours) — Diagnostic Radiography | Uniforms / protective clothing Vaccinations | $500 Varies |
| 40010 | Medical Radiation Science (Honours) — Radiation Therapy | ||
| 40011 | Medical Radiation Science (Honours) —Nuclear Medicine | ||
| 50068 | Medical Radiation Science (Honours) — Radiation Therapy | ||
| 12328 | Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) | Texts Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF) Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) PPE Memberships Placement costs | $200 – $230 texts $35 PPE Varies: placement |
| 12330 | Bachelor of Midwifery (Honours) | Uniforms & PPE Professional memberships Placement travel / relocation | $160–$540 PPE $540 membership Varies |
| 40297 | Bachelor of Midwifery | ||
| 50041 | Master of Laboratory Medicine | Vaccinations Police Check Software licence (BIOS6910) Protective footwear Placement (16 weeks full‑time) | ~$100 software Footwear varies Placement: unpaid |
| 50044 | Graduate Certificate in Laboratory Medicine | ||
| 50045 | Graduate Certificate in Laboratory Medicine | ||
| 40243 | Master of Exercise Physiology | Uniform (discipline polo/jacket) WWCC Vaccinations | $100–$200 uniform Other costs vary |
| 50055 | Master of Exercise Physiology | ||
| 12337 | Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) | Textbooks Clinical uniforms Placement verification Placement costs | $600 texts $70 uniform set + shoes $450 verification Varies: travel/accommodation |
| 12318 | Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) | Vaccinations Police Check WWCC Placement‑related travel | Varies |
| 12390 | Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy | Texts Specialised lab equipment PPE & uniforms Placement expenses | $500–$1,000 texts $2,300–$2,500 equipment $200–$500 PPE $500–$1,000 placement |
| 11705 | Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science | Uniform (EXSS polo) ESSA membership Placement travel | $70 uniform Membership free Travel varies |
| 12230 | Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (Honours) | ||
| 40257 | Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science | ||
| 50103 | Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science / Bachelor of Business | ||
| 50104 | Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science / Bachelor of Psychological Science | ||
| 10988 | Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) | Software licence (BIOS6910) Standard PPE | $85 software $80 footwear |
| 40097 | Bachelor of Biomedical Science |
College of Human and Social Futures
| Program Code | Program Title | Required Item | Item Cost Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11718 | Diploma in Languages | Laptop or BYOD Textbooks | Cost varies $200–$600 |
| 50109 | Undergraduate Certificate in Languages | ||
| 11253 | Bachelor of Visual Communication Design | Adobe Creative Cloud licence | $0–$800/year |
| 11254 | Bachelor of Visual Communication Design (Honours) | ||
| 40208 | Bachelor of Visual Communication Design | ||
| 40106 | Bachelor of Education (Primary) | WWCC + Police Check LANTITE exams Placement‑related costs | $107 $196 Travel varies |
| 40110 | Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours) | ||
| 50092 | Bachelor of Education (Primary) | ||
| 50093 | Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) | Textbooks Placement costs | $300/year Travel varies |
| 11714 | Master of Teaching (Primary) | Laptop/BYOD Textbooks WWCC & Police Check NESA accreditation Placement (unpaid) | Approx. $600 $500 textbooks $200 NESA Lost income (60 days) |
| 40204 | Master of Teaching (Secondary) | ||
| 40205 | Master of Teaching (Primary) | ||
| 40227 | Master of Teaching (Primary Studies) | ||
| 50012 | Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) | ||
| 40270 | Bachelor of Criminology | Textbooks Placement Checks (WWCC / Police Check) | $280 total textbooks Travel varies |
| 40271 | Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Psychological Science | ||
| 40272 | Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) | ||
| 40327 | Bachelor of Criminology (Honours) | ||
| 10801 | Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) | Textbooks Software licences Placement travel | $50/month software $100–$200 per textbook Travel varies |
| 40017 | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship | ||
| 40029 | Bachelor of Commerce | ||
| 40035 | Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Commerce | ||
| 40037 | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) | ||
| 40265 | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Business Analytics | ||
| 50037 | Bachelor of Commerce | ||
| 50038 | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) | ||
| 50039 | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Business Analytics | ||
| 50066 | Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Commerce |
Estimated Cost Types
Technology (BYOD / Software)
Most programs expect students to have access to a laptop or personal device, especially for Canvas access, note‑taking, online assessment, or discipline‑specific tools. Costs vary based on device choice.
Typical Costs
Laptop / BYOD device: $800–$2,000 (varies by program and personal choice)
Software licences: $0–$800/year depending on discipline
Engineering, Communication, Art & Design, and IT programs may require specialised digital tools.
Useful Links
BYOD at UON — device expectations & recommendations
Office 365 (free for students)
Software discounts (Microsoft, Adobe etc.)
UON Software & Tools — discipline software, student licences
Textbooks / Readers
Depending on your program, you may need access to printed or digital textbooks, course readers or online learning materials.
Textbooks Estimated Costs
$100–$200 per textbook
$200–$600 per year for Languages
$600–$900 per year for Business / Law
$500–$1,000 per year for Health programs
Borrowing from the Library, using e‑books or buying second‑hand can significantly reduce expenses
Uniforms / Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Many programs require discipline‑specific uniforms or protective equipment for lab work or placements.
PPE Examples
- Lab coat & safety glasses: $35–$50
- Clinical uniforms (e.g. for Nursing, Midwifery): $180–$540
- Engineering PPE (boots, hi‑vis vest, hardhat): ~$250
- Placement shirts in Pharmacy/Exercise programs: $30–$70
Useful Links
UON Student Uniforms — The Shop
Campus shops for stationery, PPE, lab equipment
Professional Checks & Registrations
Many Health, Education, and Human Services programs require mandatory clearances before placement.
Typical Checks:
- Working with Children Check (WWCC) costs $107 for paid workers, while it is free for volunteers, students on placement
- National Police Check: $42–$60 (varies)
- Professional memberships:
- Australian College of Midwives (ACM) (membership : $540
- Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) student membership: Free
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) student registration: No fee (automatically recorded for some Health programs)
- Accounting / Law associations: Varies (often optional)
Useful Links
Apply for a Working with Children Check
Health placement immunisation requirements
Midwifery immunisation requirements
Placement / Fieldwork Estimated Costs
Many programs include mandatory placements, field trips, or work‑integrated learning.
Typical costs include
Placement travel: varies by distance
Accommodation: required when placed away from home (cost varies widely)
Placement duration:
- Physiotherapy: 27 weeks
- Midwifery: 1109 hours
- Laboratory Medicine: 16 weeks full‑time
- Education (Master): 60 days
Subsidies:
- Some Health programs offer rural placement grants
- Many Education programs now receive government placement subsidies (eligibility varies)
Useful Links
Career-ready placement essentials
Career-ready placements - study area requirements
Career-ready placements – financial support
Travel discounts (Opal, concession)
Location Related Costs
Some campuses have specific technology or transport expectations (especially BYOD campuses like Gosford).
These can include:
- BYOD expectations
- Transport (bus/train/ferry costs, Opal)
- Parking fees
- Availability of on‑campus accommodation
- Proximity to PPE suppliers or bookshops
Campus‑specific spaces and facilities:
Callaghan Campus
Honeysuckle Precinct
Gosford Central Campus
Ourimbah Campus
Sydney Campus
Other Useful Links
- Nursing & Clinical Supplies - The School Locker (Callaghan) stocks UON‑approved Nursing and Health supplies. https://theschoollocker.com.au/
- Medical Supplies / Pharmacy - Callaghan Campus Pharmacy is useful for placement related medical needs (vaccinations, masks, medical supplies) https://ccpharmacy.com.au/
- Software for Personal Use (full list) These resources help students access discounted software https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/it/software-and-tools
- Hardware Discounts Some retailers provide reduced pricing for students.
Dell offers up to 12% off for UON students; Apple offers Education Pricing.
Verification usually requires a student card or enrolment letter. - Financial Tips and Resources - tips on budgeting and saving, as well as plenty of other financial resources https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/personal/financial-wellbeing/where-else-can-i-get-help2
- University of Newcastle Students' Association UNSA Shop https://shop.unsa.org.au/collections provide students with access to Laptops for Less, First Aid Training and grocery schemes https://unsa.org.au/
- Help at the University https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/personal/financial-wellbeing/where-else-can-i-get-help2
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.