Applying for a Masters Course in Australia

Australia is a popular study abroad destination with six universities in the world’s top 100 universities according to Times Higher Education. If you’ve decided Australia is the right study destination for you, and you’ve picked out a course, it is time to get those applications in!

We’ve covered everything you need to know about applying for a Masters in Australia including required documents and deadlines.

Australian universities are free to set their own application and admissions requirements. These are likely to vary slightly between the different types of Masters degrees

Academic courses

The core requirement for admission to an academic Masters course in Australia will be a relevant undergraduate degree (or its equivalent).

The required standard for undergraduate qualifications will vary between courses, but most universities will accept the equivalent of a UK 2.1 or higher. This is roughly equivalent to a GPA of 3.0 or better in the USA.

Your university should be able to advise if you are unsure about the eligibility of your existing qualifications. If you are based in the UK or Ireland, you can also seek advice from Study Options.

Professional degrees

Professional degrees may have more specific application requirements:

• Professional development Masters courses will usually require evidence of appropriate work experience and / or existing professional qualifications.
• Graduate entry professional qualifications may ask you to submit a score from a graduate applications test such as the GRE or the GMAT. This is most likely for competitive courses in subject areas such as Business Management.

There is no central application and admissions service for postgraduate degrees in Australia. You can apply directly to your prospective Australian university.

If you are a UK or Irish student, you can apply through Study Options, a support service for UK and Irish students in Australia and New Zealand. Their services are completely free and impartial.

However you apply, you’ll need to complete an application form and provide proof of your existing qualifications.

Application requirements for an Australian Masters degree can include:

• Academic transcripts – These provide additional details of your undergraduate education, such as the modules you have studied and your performance on them. Your undergraduate university will need to produce and certify these documents.
• References – These should include statements from your undergraduate tutors and / or professional employers, as appropriate. Universities usually ask for two academic references. If you’ve been working, you may also be able to provide a reference from your employer.
• A personal statement – Not all courses will require a personal statement. A Masters by Research may ask for one as part of your proposal. A graduate entry professional degree may also ask you to describe your interest in a course and its relationship to your career goals.
• English language test – Masters degrees in Australia are all taught in English so unless you are a native speaker, you’ll have to prove proficiency in the language. Universities usually ask for an English language test result during your application. Check with your university which language tests they accept.

Interviews

Most Australian Masters courses won’t require a formal interview as part of your application process. Exceptions may apply to professional or research-based degrees, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to make an extra trip to Australia. Many universities will arrange to interview international applicants via Skype or a similar platform.

Application dates and deadlines

Application deadlines for Australian Masters degrees will depend on the start-date for your course:

• If you are starting in the first semester (February-June) you will normally need to apply by the end of the previous October.
• If you are starting in the second semester (July-November) you will normally need to apply by the end of April.

Your university should be able to help you if you’re unsure about any aspect of your Masters application including deadlines, admissions requirements and supporting documents

You can read our guides about the Australian student visa to help find out about the next steps.