If you are a full-time student or Australian Apprentice aged 25 or over, Austudy is the main income support payment Services Australia offers to help cover your living costs while you study. Unlike Youth Allowance, Austudy has no parental income test — your entitlement depends only on your own (and your partner's, if you have one) income and assets. Here is exactly how much you can get in 2026-27, and how the payment is worked out.
Austudy Payment Rates 2026-27
The maximum fortnightly rate for a single Austudy recipient with no children is $762.70, current from the 20 March 2026 indexation. Rates are reviewed twice a year, in March and September, in line with the Consumer Price Index.
| Circumstance | Maximum fortnightly rate |
|---|---|
| Single, no children | $762.70 |
| Single, with a dependent child | Higher rate applies — check your exact rate in your Centrelink online account |
| Partnered | Rate is assessed against combined partner income |
These are maximum rates — most students on Austudy do not receive the full amount once the income test is applied. Run your own numbers through our Austudy and Youth Allowance calculator to see your actual fortnightly payment.
Who Can Get Austudy
You generally qualify for Austudy if you are 25 or older, studying full-time in an approved course, or undertaking a full-time Australian Apprenticeship. You also need to meet residence rules and satisfy the income and assets tests. If you are under 25, you would normally apply for Youth Allowance instead, which has its own separate rate structure and a parental income test if you are assessed as dependent.
How the Income Test Works
Austudy uses the same income test structure as JobSeeker. Your payment starts reducing once your fortnightly income passes the free area, and reduces further once it passes a second threshold. If your income is high enough, your payment can taper to zero entirely — so it is always worth checking your specific situation with the calculator before assuming you are eligible.
Austudy and Your Assets
There is also an assets test. If the value of your assets — savings, investments, and property other than your home — exceeds the relevant threshold for your circumstances, your Austudy payment can be reduced or cancelled. Full-time students with minimal savings are rarely affected, but it is worth being aware of if you have inherited money or hold an investment property.
Combining Austudy With Other Support
Many Austudy recipients are also eligible for Rent Assistance if they pay private rent above a minimum threshold, and for the Pensioner Education Supplement in some circumstances. If you are paying rent, use our salary calculator to work out your total budget once Austudy, any part-time work income, and rent assistance are combined.
The Bottom Line
Austudy's maximum rate of $762.70 a fortnight is a genuine lifeline for mature-age students, but very few people receive the full amount once the income test bites — especially if you work part-time alongside study. The most reliable way to know what you will actually receive is to run your own income through our Austudy calculator rather than assuming the maximum rate applies to you.