Here’s a clean, no-drama guide to Polytechnic Institute Australia fees for 2026. You’ll find total course costs for domestic and international students, unit-level prices (so you can estimate per semester), standard durations, and where each course runs. PIA publishes one fee schedule for all locations, and most programs are delivered “Blended, All Campuses”, so Polytechnic Institute Australia tuition fees don’t change by campus—your commute and living costs do.
How PIA sets fees (so you know what’s real)
PIA’s official Fee Schedule lists totals by course and unit prices by subject. Most courses are flagged “Blended, All Campuses” and charge the same tuition for domestic and international students. Semester dates and payment timing are included in the booklet.
Domestic students can pay upfront or use FEE-HELP where available; international students pay a first-semester deposit to receive an eCoE, then follow the invoice each study period.
For refunds/tuition protection, see the Fees & Refunds guide and the Tuition Protection Service note.
Want local study details (labs, quiet areas, transport)? Open the Sydney or Melbourne campus guides after you shortlist a course.
Course fees by award level (totals, duration, campuses)
The table below rolls up headline numbers from the 2026 fee booklet. “All campuses” = typically Sydney, Parramatta, Geelong, Melbourne.
Totals are “indicative total course fees” published by PIA, based on standard full-time study with no credit/RPL or repeats. Always check the specific program guide before you lock anything in.
Table 1 — PIA 2026 tuition fee at a glance
Course | Duration (FT) | Domestic total | International total | Campuses |
Diploma of Business (CRICOS 093284B) | 1 year (2 sem) | $19,000 | $19,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Diploma of Networking Technology (CRICOS 0101639) | 1 year (2 sem) | $19,200 | $19,200 | Blended, All campuses |
Bachelor of Business (Accounting) (CRICOS 093283C) | 3 years (6 sem) | $57,000 | $57,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (CRICOS 093283C) | 3 years (6 sem) | $57,000 | $57,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Bachelor of Networking & Communications (CRICOS 0101638) | 3 years (6 sem) | $57,600 | $57,600 | Blended, All campuses |
Graduate Certificate in Business (CRICOS 106808A) | 1 trimester (0.5 EFTSL) | $10,000 | $10,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Graduate Diploma in Business | 1 year (2 sem) | $20,000 | $20,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Master of Business (CRICOS 106806C) | 2 years (4 sem) | $40,000 | $40,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Graduate Certificate in ICT (CRICOS 116441M) | 1 trimester (0.5 EFTSL) | $10,000 | $10,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Graduate Diploma of ICT | 1 year (2 sem) | $20,000 | $20,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Master of ICT (CRICOS 116353M) | 2 years (4 sem) | $40,000 | $40,000 | Blended, All campuses |
Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Studies (CRICOS 117457F) | 1 trimester | $17,500 | $17,500 | Blended, All campuses |
Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood (CRICOS 117458E) | 1 year (2 sem) | $32,500 | $32,500 | Blended, All campuses |
Next step: From here, jump to the PickMyUni Courses guide for units and intakes, then open your Campus guide for building hours and travel tips.
PIA Unit prices (this is how you forecast a semester)
PIA lists unit fees inside each course guide of the fee booklet. That’s handy for budgeting by semester.
Study area | Typical unit fee (2025) | Where it’s shown |
Business (Diploma/Bachelor) | $2,375 per unit | e.g., ACC100, MGT100 on Dip/BBus guides |
Networking/ICT (Diploma/Bachelor) | $2,400 per unit | e.g., ICT101, NTW100 on DNT/BNet guides |
Postgraduate Business & ICT (Grad Cert/Dip/Masters) | $2,500 per unit | e.g., ACC500, ICT501 on MBus/MICT guides |
Early Childhood (PG) | $3,750 per unit | ECE501–ECE507 on GC/GD ECE guides |
Quick maths (illustrative only):
4 business units in a semester ≈ 4 × $2,375 = $9,500.
4 postgrad ICT units ≈ 4 × $2,500 = $10,000.
4 early childhood units ≈ 4 × $3,750 = $15,000.
Always check your actual load and any credit/RPL before you budget.
If you want a per-term breakdown with your advanced standing, ping us via the Contact guide—happy to crunch it.
Payment, deposits, FEE-HELP, and due dates
Domestic: upfront or per-semester on the invoice; FEE-HELP may apply for approved programs and eligible students.
International: first-semester tuition is paid to receive your eCoE, then you pay each study period by the due date listed on your invoice.
Where to pay: PIA accepts card and bank transfer; details are provided in the student help portal.
Refunds/tuition protection: see the Fees & Refunds guide and policy documents; PIA notes TPS coverage for international students.
Non-tuition items to keep in mind
Application, CoE processing, late payment and change-of-course fees are classed as non-tuition and noted in policy.
Supplementary assessment (if applicable): PIA’s help centre lists $300 per unit.
These don’t appear in the tuition totals above but can bite if you leave tasks to the last minute. Keep a bit of buffer in your budget.
Campus notes: same tuition, different week-to-week costs
Fees are uniform across campuses for courses marked “Blended, All Campuses.” What actually changes your wallet is transport and time: Opal/Myki top-ups, rent, and how tightly you can cluster classes. Sydney tends to push rail/bus costs; Melbourne’s tram grid can save cash if you live near the CBD. The academic fee doesn’t shift, but your commute can.
Picking the right course for your budget
If you want the lowest upfront total, the Diplomas are cheapest at $19k–$19.2k and can ladder into bachelor study.
If you’re set on a bachelor, the Business majors sit at $57k; Networking & Comms is $57.6k—small gap, different toolsets.
Postgrad totals cluster at $40k for MBus and MICT, $20k for the Grad Dips, $10k for Grad Certs; Early Childhood sits higher per unit.
If the fees vs. outcomes don’t feel right after you compare, use PickMyUni’s Transfer Service to estimate credit and a new finish date before you switch.