Spotlight on: Postgraduate Study in Australia

With over 500,000 international students, Australia is the second most popular study abroad destination in the world. Famed for its spectacular beaches, vast stretches of untamed outback, rich biodiversity and sunny climate, it’s easy to understand what makes Australia such an attractive choice!

But heading Down Under for your Masters will provide you with more than just an opportunity to see a kangaroo in the wild – you’ll also benefit from a choice of globally ranked institutions (six Australian universities are amongst the top 100 worldwide), and the chance to earn an internationally recognised qualification. Find out more about what it’s like to study a Masters in Australia.

Choosing where to study in Australia

You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to picking where in Australia to complete your Masters...

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia, and home to its oldest university, the University of Sydney, founded in 1850. Beyond iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the city boasts innumerable cultural attractions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Queen Victoria Building at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, to name just a few. For days spent soaking up the Australian sun, Sydney is home to over 100 coastal and harbour beaches.

Voted Australia’s best student city for 2022, Melbourne attracts over 200,000 international students each year. A world-renowned cultural epicentre, Melbourne is home to such attractions as the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum. It also hosts several high-profile international sporting events, including the Grand Prix.

Clocking up eight hours of sun per day year-round, Perth is officially the world’s sunniest city. You can enjoy blue skies on the coast of the Swan River, which flows through the metropolitan areas of the city and provides an ideal location for swimming, picnicking or, if you’re lucky, spotting the wild dolphins that inhabit it.

Canberra is Australia’s capital and largest inland city, surrounded the luscious and greenery and mountains that have earned it the nickname ‘Bush Capital’. Despite being smaller than Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra is a popular study destination, with students making up 25% of its population, as well as being amongst the more affordable cities in Australia!

You can view a full list of Masters programmes in Australia on our website.

Apply for a Masters in Australia

There’s no centralised applications service for postgraduate degrees in Australia, so you will usually need to apply directly to your chosen university (UK-based students also have the option of applying through a dedicated portal called Study Options). You’ll usually need to supply the following:

• Bachelor's certificate
• Academic transcripts
• References
• Personal statement
• Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)

Masters fees and funding in Australia

Postgraduate fees in Australia are set by individual universities as opposed to by the government, so you can expect to find quite a bit of variation in cost when researching Masters programmes. International fees are generally between AUD $22,000 and 50,000 per year (USD $16,530-37,575).

Fortunately, plenty of funding opportunities are available – the Australian government has invested over AUD $300 million in international scholarships. You can learn more about financing your studies in our dedicated funding guide.

Arriving in Australia

You’ll usually need to apply for a student visa to study in Australia. These are only available to full-time students but are valid for the full duration of your course. You can find out more about the visa application process in our guide to Masters study in Australia.

As we’ve covered, Australia is loosening its coronavirus restrictions to allow exemption-free travel for student visa holders. However, you may still be subject to quarantine regulations on arrival- these differ from state to state, so make sure check specific requirements before departure.

Studying in Australia

Most Australian universities have begun implementing a partial return to in-person teaching, with online and blended learning options continuing to be available for students who are not able to attend campus. You can check the website of your chosen university for specific information on COVID-19 guidelines.

For more information on studying a Masters in Australia, have a read of our detailed guide. Ready to start applying? We have a list of Australian Masters courses on our website.

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