Course cost calculator: comparing two courses on sticker price alone is misleading — a cheaper course you study for fewer hours can cost more per hour of learning than a pricier one. This calculator puts two courses side by side in Australian dollars: enter each course’s fee, any extra costs (materials, exams, software), how long it runs, and how many hours a week you realistically expect to study. It works out each course’s total cost, cost per week, and — the figure that matters most — cost per study hour.

All figures are in AUD and are estimates based on the numbers you enter. Course fees change, so always confirm the current fee on the provider’s own site before enrolling — our course comparisons check AUD pricing across the providers we review.

How this course cost calculator works

Course A Course fee (AUD) Other / materials costs (AUD) Duration (weeks) Study hours per week

Total cost—

Cost per week—

Cost per study hour—

Course B Course fee (AUD) Other / materials costs (AUD) Duration (weeks) Study hours per week

Total cost—

Cost per week—

Cost per study hour—

Enter the fee, duration and weekly study hours for both courses and the verdict will appear here.

Cost per study hour = total cost ÷ (duration in weeks × study hours per week). It assumes you study the hours you enter every week for the full course — be honest with the estimate, as it drives the result.

Once this course cost calculator shows what each course costs per study hour, the next question is how long the pay rise would take to earn that cost back. Run your numbers in our Course ROI Calculator to see the payback period before you commit.

Ready to put real figures in? Compare the courses in our guides to the best online MBA programs in Australia, the best online IT courses in Australia and online accounting courses with a CPA pathway u2014 then run their fees through the calculator above.