Masters Study: Australia vs New Zealand

Between them, Australia and New Zealand host around 560,000 international students – even more than the United Kingdom! There are plenty of reasons why these countries are among the most popular destinations in the Southern Hemisphere: world-class universities, stunning natural scenery and an excellent quality of life.

If you’re pondering a postgraduate trip Down Under, you may be wondering what distinguishes the Australian and New Zealand university systems from each other. And, while it’s true that Masters programmes in Australia and New Zealand share plenty of similarities, they differ in several key areas. Let’s see how they stack up.

Higher education in Australia and New Zealand is influenced by the academic traditions of the United Kingdom and Ireland, following a three-tiered structure of Bachelors, Masters and PhD.

One of the main differences between the two countries is the size of their university sectors: Australia has 43 universities (the majority of which are publicly funded), while New Zealand has eight universities (all of which are publicly funded). So, if you’re looking to study a Masters in Australia you’ll potentially have a greater array of universities to choose from.

However, there are also 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) in New Zealand, which offer vocational postgraduate qualifications. By contrast, Australia’s Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions don’t tend to offer Masters-level programmes.

Masters programmes in Australia and New Zealand are classified in a similar way to those in the United Kingdom. You’ll come across familiar Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MSc) qualifications in both countries, as well as research Masters.

A typical taught Masters at an Australian university is usually between one year and 18 months long. The one-year option is for students who already have a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in the relevant subject, while the 18-month Masters is for people with a Bachelors degree.

A taught Masters in New Zealand is usually between one year and two years long. Like Australia, the length of the Masters depends on the student’s prior qualifications: if you’re a Bachelors graduate, you’ll usually study a two-year Masters, while if you hold a Postgraduate Diploma you’ll study the one-year option.

Wherever you’re studying, you’ll likely have to write a dissertation of at least 20,000 words or complete an extended research project as part of the Masters.

Australia and New Zealand are both home to a number of world-class universities, globally recognised for the quality of their research and teaching.

Australia is particularly well-represented in the various international university league tables, with seven institutions in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings. You can find out more in our guide to Australian postgraduate rankings.

New Zealand punches above its weight when it comes to university rankings, too. Six of its universities can be found in the top 300 of the QS World University Rankings, with one institution in the top 100. Not bad going for a country with a relatively small university sector! We’ve summarised New Zealand’s postgraduate rankings over on our study guide.

Both countries set different tuition fees for domestic and international students. Australian and New Zealand citizens are eligible for tuition fees at the domestic rate in either nation.

In Australia, these are the typical Masters fees for international students – AUD $22,000-50,000 per year (USD $16,530-32,985).

In New Zealand, these are the average Masters fees for international students – NZD $20,000-45,000 (USD $12,180-27,405).

As you can see, tuition fees are at broadly similar levels for international students in Australia and New Zealand, albeit more expensive in Australia. Fees aren’t capped by either government, so there is a fair amount of variation between universities and disciplines.

International students aren’t eligible for Australia or New Zealand’s student loan systems. However, there are several scholarship and funding programmes targeted at international postgraduates wanting to study in either country.

Australia

Students from certain developing countries are eligible for Australia Awards Scholarships, which are administered by the Australian government and include tuition fees, travel costs and a maintenance stipend, among other expenses.

Destination Australia Scholarships are also administered by the Australian government, providing an annual stipend of AUD $15,000 (USD $10,250) to international students at selected higher education institutions.

New Zealand

New Zealand Scholarships is a governmental funding programme for international students from eligible developing countries. These scholarships offer a full tuition fee waiver, a weekly allowance of NZD $491 (USD $315) and an establishment allowance of NZD $3,000 (USD $1,920), among other expenses.

In addition to these governmental scholarships in Australia and New Zealand, it’s worth talking to your prospective university to see if they have any scholarship packages for international students.

Entry requirements at Australian and New Zealand universities are fairly similar – you’ll usually need at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject.

Another factor is the length of the Masters. If you’re applying for a one-year Masters in Australia or New Zealand, you’ll often need to hold a Graduate Diploma (or a Postgraduate Diploma). If you only have a Bachelors degree, you should usually apply for the longer option – either 18 months or two years long, depending on the university and discipline.

If English isn’t your native language and you haven’t previously studied at university level in English, you’ll also need to prove your proficiency in the language. TOEFL and IELTS are the most popular English language tests for universities in Australia and New Zealand.

International students require a visa to study a Masters in Australia or New Zealand.

In Australia you’ll need to apply for a Student Visa (subclass 500) and pay an AUD $630 application fee (USD $450). Find out more about student visas in Australia.

In New Zealand you should apply for a Fee Paying Student Visa, which costs NZD $330 (USD $210). Find out more about student visas in New Zealand.

Both countries have established routes for international students hoping to stay on after finishing their studies.

Australia’s Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allows postgraduates to remain in the country for two years after a taught Masters (or three years for a research Masters).

New Zealand’s post-study work visas allow Masters graduates to work in New Zealand for up to three years afterwards.

Of course, there’s also the option of studying a PhD in Australia or New Zealand!

The countries of Australia and New Zealand have a long and close relationship, so it’s not particularly surprising that their university systems are so similar.

The sheer size of Australia’s higher education sector is impressive, as is the fact that it hosts some 380,000 international students. And despite the comparatively smaller scale of New Zealand’s university system, this nation is home to world-class institutions and one-of-a-kind research opportunities.

For more information, check out our guides to studying a Masters in Australia and New Zealand.

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