Australia: Postgraduate study

How does the higher education system work?

Australia’s education structure follows a similar model to the UK and students have the same range of choices if they decide to stay in education. The length of courses is also the same with the majority of Masters degrees taking one year.

Qualifications awarded from Australian universities are internationally recognised and highly regarded by global employers.

What courses are available?

Australian universities offer taught and research postgraduate programmes ranging from six months to four years in duration.

Graduate Careers Australia  has information on postgraduate study including profiles on the types of courses available in a range of degree disciplines. Search for courses or particular institutions, including entry requirements, using The Good Universities Guide .

Study in Australia  has a useful six steps to studying in Australia feature that outlines the stages of looking for a course and applying to study.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)  has a useful guide to graduate and postgraduate study and a course finder that enables you to search by country, university, level of study and subject area for the course you wish to pursue.

Where can I study?

Universities are located in all state capitals and other regional centres and cities. For a complete list of universities in Australia, see Australian Universities .

The Group of Eight , or Go8, is a coalition of Australia’s oldest research universities and comprises the Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales, Australian National University and Monash University.

Australian universities often feature in the 'Top 100 Universities' in global rankings, such as:

• The QS Top Universities  rankings
• Times Higher Education University Rankings  

Applying for postgraduate study

To be accepted on to most postgraduate courses in Australia you will need an undergraduate qualification, usually a three-year Bachelors degree, from a recognised international institution. To find out whether your qualifications are recognised in Australia, visit AEI - Assessment of Overseas Qualifications .

Specific entry requirements will differ from course to course so check with the individual institution for details or use Study in Australia - Study Wizard .

Most Australian universities operate on a semester basis, with the academic year starting in February. Closing dates for applications depend on the course and the institution, and some courses accept applications year round. Applications are made directly to universities, and this can usually be done online. For information on applying for Australian universities, see the Study in Australia  website.

Fees and scholarships

Tuition fees are individually set by each institution and vary depending on the course subject. A postgraduate diploma or certificate, Masters or PhD course will cost in the region of A$15,000 - A$36,000 each year (around £10,000 - £23,500).

The Australian government outlines that international students must have funds of A$18,000 (approximately £12,000) a year to cover living costs while studying in Australia, although this may vary depending on the location. For more information on fees and living costs, see Study in Australia - Study Costs .

As there are limited places available for the international student scholarship programme offered in Australia, most students will pay fully for their university fees. Contact the university directly for details of available scholarships. More information about scholarships is available on the following websites:

• Joint academic scholarship online network (JASON)  
• Study in Australia  - includes a searchable database of scholarships supplied by Australian institutions, organisations and government bodies.
• The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS)  scheme is open to anyone wishing to undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia.

Are there any exchange programmes?

Individual universities will have exchange agreements allowing you to study part of your degree at an Australian University. Contact your international office or careers service for more information.

Will my qualification be recognised in the UK?

Consult ENIC-NARIC  for recognition of Australian qualifications.