The Ultimate Guide To Study Masters Degree In Australia For International Students

Around 50% of international students do higher degree programs in Australia.

It includes students studying Bachelor’s, Masters and PhDs and many of these students study their Masters degree here in Australia.

Our founder, Sam Sharma, also studied Masters in accounting here in Australia as well.

In this article, we are going to give you the ultimate guide about studying for a masters degree in Australia.

We are covering information on topics like the requirements, work opportunities, universities, costs involved, popular courses, scholarships and post-study work visas.

Let’s go!

Why study Masters in Australia?

Let’s discuss why studying a Master’s degree in Australia is a good choice. Naturally, there are plenty of other countries you can choose from, so why Australia only?

Here are our Top 4 picks:

Quality Education – Australian universities do rank really well in most of the university ranking and the quality of education in Australia is pretty good.
Available choice of courses – There are plenty of courses to choose from, for international students planning to study Masters degree overseas.
Part-time work opportunities – International students studying Masters degree can work part-time while studying.
Post Study work visa options – There are options for post study work visas after completing the Master’s degree.

Requirements to study Masters Degree in Australia

Here are the basic requirements to study Masters Degree in Australia for international students:

Bachelor’s degree – You will need to have completed a Bachelor’s degree to study Master’s Degree in Australia.
English Language Test – Usually you have to meet the minimum scores requirements in the English language tests. The popular tests include IELTS and PTE. As an example if you are undertaking IELTS then you must have at least a minimum of 6.5 overall score.
GTE statement – Students are required to write a GTE statement (Genuine Temporary Entrant explaining about why they want to study in Australia.
GMAT, GRE – You also may have to undertake a GMAT or GRE test, especially if you’re planning to do certain Masters courses like MBA.
Student Visa (subclass 500) – Very importantly you will need a student visa (subclass 500) in order to come to Australia for studies.

There might be some other requirements depending upon the university or education provider you’re planning to study.

Want to check more about entry requirements for studying in Australia? Check this article.

Types of Masters Degree in Australia

There are 2 main types of Masters Degree programs in Australia. These are:

Masters Degree by Coursework
Masters Degree by Research

Masters by coursework is your typical sort of course where you as a student must study specific core subjects and electives in a structured way to complete the degree.

Students usually have to regularly attend classes, do assignments, exams, etc.

Masters by research is a course focused on research. Students must conduct research under a supervisor’s guidance and submit a thesis at the end of the course.

Read more about the difference between Masters by Coursework and Research here.

Duration of Masters Degree in Australia

If you’re doing Masters by Coursework, the duration of that course is around 1 to 2 years.

However, the duration of the Master’s research could vary depending upon your research.

Popular Masters Degree Courses in Australia

There are many Master Degree courses available for international students to study here in Australia. But there are few popular ones that lots of international students study here.

In the table below, you can see some of the most popular courses, field of study, duration and estimated fee per year.

Please note that there are many other courses that international students tend to study in Australia, but these are some of the most popular ones:

Field of Study	Popular Master’s Degree Courses	Duration	Estimated Tuition Fees (Annual)*
Business	– Master of Business Administration (MBA)	1.5-2 years	AUD 25,000 – AUD 80,000
	– Master of Commerce	1-2 years	AUD 22,000 – AUD 45,000
	– Master of Accounting	1-2 years	AUD 22,000 – AUD 40,000
Engineering	– Master of Engineering	2 years	AUD 25,000 – AUD 45,000
	– Master of Civil Engineering	2 years	AUD 25,000 – AUD 40,000
	– Master of Mechanical Engineering	2 years	AUD 25,000 – AUD 45,000
Health	– Master of Public Health	1-2 years	AUD 22,000 – AUD 40,000
	– Master of Nursing	1-2 years	AUD 22,000 – AUD 35,000
	– Master of Medicine (MD)	4 years	AUD 50,000 – AUD 80,000
Information Technology	– Master of Information Technology	1-2 years	AUD 22,000 – AUD 45,000
	– Master of Data Science	1-2 years	AUD 25,000 – AUD 50,000
	– Master of Cybersecurity	1.5-2 years	AUD 25,000 – AUD 50,000
Science	– Master of Environmental Science	1-2 years	AUD 22,000 – AUD 40,000
	– Master of Biotechnology	1-2 years	AUD 25,000 – AUD 45,000
	– Master of Science	1-2 years	AUD 25,000 – AUD 40,000

*Estimates Annual fee is just an average annual fee, but keep in mind that it can vary based on the university, location and the course.

Universities to Study Masters Degrees in Australia

We will divide this into two sections:

In the first part, we’ll talk about the top five universities in Australia.
Then we’ll look at some of the most affordable universities.

Top 5 Universities to study Masters degree in Australia:

The University of Melbourne
The University of Sydney
Monash University
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
The Australian National University

Here are some affordable Universities to study Masters degree in Australia::

University of the Sunshine Coast
Federation University Australia
University of Southern Queensland
Charles Darwin University
Central Queensland University

There are many other affordable universities here in Australia as well.

Costs to study Masters Degree in Australia

Now let’s discuss the costs to study Masters degree in Australia

Here is a quick breakdown of the costs involved:

Tuition Fee – The tuition fee for the course will vary depending upon the university, location, scholarships and the type of course you’re doing. The average tuition fee for studying masters is: AUD 22,000 to AUD 50,000 per year (excluding high cost courses like medicine, law, etc.). For the complete Master’s degree, it is usually around $44,000 to $100,000.
Cost of living: Your cost of living could vary depending on your lifestyle, the city you are living in and the type of accommodation you find out and so on. However, the average costs could be AUD 20,000 to AUD 25,000 per year. So, if your Master degree is 2 years, then you can expect to pay $40,000 to $50,000 for your living costs.

Now, let’s do the match to understand the total costs involved:

If you factor in your tuition fee and cost of living for the whole course (usually 2 years), then you are looking at spending around $84,000 to $150,000 for the entire duration of the course.

Keep in mind that the costs could vary depending upon different factors and these numbers are just averages. So you may be paying less or more depending upon your situation.

Scholarships for Masters in Australia

The good thing about studying in Australia is that there are many scholarships available for international students planning to do their Masters degree in Australia.

Usually you have to apply for them during your application process. So it is important to discuss that with your education consultant.

We will divide these scholarships into 3 main categories:

Australian Government Scholarships:
Provider Scholarships
Other organisations

Australian government-sponsored scholarships

There are a few Australian government-sponsored scholarships for international students, including:

Australia Awards
Destination Australia
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)

You can read our complete guide to Australia Awards Scholarship here.

Apart from that, you can also look for provider scholarships.

Most universities, colleges, and Tafes have some scholarships available for international students to apply for.

You need to go to the university website in order to find those scholarships.

Scholarship amounts could vary, but this is something you need to research on the website of your university you’re planning to study.

Last but not the least you can also look into some other organisations like Rotary Club or some other clubs or associations who sponsor some of these scholarships as well.

Sometimes your own home government could also be providing some scholarships for studying overseas to the citizens. So we suggest you check your own government websites as well.

Work Opportunties for Students Studying Masters in Australia

As an international student while you are studying you are usually allowed to work.

However, there are limitations on how many hours your can work in Australia during your study.

So if your study is in session (means your term or semester is going on) then you can work 48 hours per fortnight.

However, if you have official school holidays you can work unlimited hours during those holidays.

These restrictions specifically apply to students who are doing their masters by coursework.

If you are a student who is doing your Masters by research, you can work unlimited hours even when your study is in session or even when you’re doing your research.

There are no work restrictions for international students who are doing their masters by research in Australia.

Another good thing if you’re doing Masters in Australia and if you’re bringing your partner or your dependent with you then your dependent can work unlimited work hours as well.

Your dependent can still work full-time work hours, even if you’re doing Masters by coursework.

Once you finish your course, you can apply for some post-study work visas where you can work unlimited hours as well.

Post Study Work Visa for Master Degree Students

Disclaimer: Information provided in this section is general in nature and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Please seek help from a registered migration agent or research on the Department of Home Affoars website for more information.

Now, let’s discuss post-study work visa options after completing your Masters in Australia.

We have also collated this information in this section from the Department of Home Affairs website.

After completing your master’s degree, students can usually apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 (post-study work stream).

This visa allows international students to work in their chosen field, gain work experience, and potentially become eligible for permanent residency.

In the recent news update, international students studying eligible qualifications from some specific universities could be eligible for additional post-study work visas.

Check the table below to see the post study work visa rights for international students doing Masters’s degree in Australia.

Region	Masters Degree Courses (Coursework and Research)	Eligible Masters Degree Courses for Extended Post Study Work Rights
Major Cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane	3 years	5 years
Cities and Major Regional Centres – Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart	4 years	6 years
Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas – Rest of Australia	5 years	7 years