Guide to study Masters (MS) in Australia

Masters in Australia is a 1-2 years degree course offered in a variety of specializations such as engineering, medicine, law, and more. Australia is home to over 70 universities and has a total international student population of about 700,000 students from all over the world. It is home to 95,000+ international students enrolled in various master’s programs.

The average cost of a master's in Australia ranges between $20,000 to $50,000 AUD. Around 75% of the students opt for master’s programs in the fields of engineering, management, IT, etc. Some of the best universities in Australia for masters along with the admission requirements, costs, scholarships, etc are discussed below.

Why Study Masters in Australia?

Masters in Australia are preferred by students seeking a high-order overview in a field of study of professional practice. There are around 41 Australian universities offering master’s courses that are recognized all over the world. Some reasons to study masters in Australia are listed below.

• Australia is home to around 8 universities ranking among the top 150 universities in the world for its academic excellence and world-class reputation
• Master degree in Australia is internationally recognized taking the British Education System as the model
• Master’s courses in Australia are offered both as a research and professional masters program
• International students are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during a semester that exposes them to great opportunities to gain experiences while studying
• Australia’s Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS Act) offers an extensive student support system and helps in the protection of the rights of international students studying in Australia
• The Australian government invests around 300 million AUD to offer scholarships to students from 55 countries

Top Universities in Australia for Masters Degree

To pursue masters in Australia, international students must select a university based on factors like high-quality education, teaching standards, affordable tuition fees, location, etc. Listed below are some of the top universities in Australia for masters program:

1. University of Melbourne
2. Australian National University
3. University of Sydney
4. University of Queensland
5. University of New South Wales
6. Monash University
7. University of Adelaide
8. University of Western Australia
9. RMIT University
10. Queensland University of Technology

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is the second oldest university in Australia divided into 10 faculties offering quality degree programs in 100+ subject areas. It is ranked #33 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #37 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 46%, the University of Melbourne has a moderately selective acceptance rate of around 70%- 80%. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at the University of Melbourne along with their respective fees:

• MS in Computer Science: $91,700
• MBA: $69,143
• Masters in Applied Analytics: $11,184
• Master of International Business: $31,508
• Masters in Banking and Finance Law: $30,145

Read More: University of Melbourne

Australian National University

Australian National University is the only institute set up by the Federal Government of Australia and is currently one of the prestigious higher education institutions in Australia comprising 7 academic colleges with research centers offering unique disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels. It is ranked #54 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #27 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 44%, Australian National University has an acceptance rate of around 35%. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at Australian National University along with their respective fees:

• Masters of Computing: $91,200
• MBA: $33,037
• Master of Applied Data Analytics: $29,628
• Master of Marketing Management: $33,037
• Master of Project Management: $27,916

Read More: Australian National University

University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is ranked amongst the top 50 universities in the world and is known to offer the broadest range of disciplines with around 178 undergraduate and 520 graduate degree programs in 400 subject areas. It is ranked #58 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #38 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 39%, the University of Sydney has a selective acceptance rate of around 30%. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at the University of Sydney along with their respective fees:

• MS in Mechanical Engineering: $69,000
• MBA in Leadership and Enterprise: $35,190
• Master of Data Science: $30,015
• Master of Philosophy in Medicine: $32,085
• Master of International Business: $32,085

Read More: University of Sydney

University of Queensland

The University of Queensland is one of the finest teaching and research institutions in Australia and is part of both Go8 (Group of Eight Australian Universities in Australia) and also a member of Universitas 21. It is ranked #54 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #47 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 34%, the University of Queensland has an acceptance rate of around 40%. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at the University of Queensland along with their respective fees:

• MS in Computer Science: $69,000
• MBA: $55,757
• Master of Data Science: $31,132
• Master of Business: $29,167
• Masters in Financial Mathematics: $26,838

Read More: University of Queensland

University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)

The University of New South Wales is a leading research extensive institute in Australia with its primary focus on scientific, professional, and technological discipline. It is ranked #70 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #43 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 41%, UNSW Sydney has a rigid acceptance that offers admission to highly dedicated and focused individuals with an impressive GPA. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at the University of New South Wales along with their respective fees:

• MS in Mechanical Engineering: $98,000
• MBA: $57,960
• Master of Medicine: $35,631
• Master of Science in Physiology and Pharmacology: $35,631
• Master of Information Technology: $31,629

Read More: University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)

Monash University

Monash University is a public research university in Melbourne and is ranked among the top 100 in the world. It is ranked #57 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #58 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 39%, Monash University has a moderately selective acceptance rate of about 40%. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at Monash University along with their respective fees:

• MS in Information Technology: $67,000
• MBA: $30,360
• Masters in Data Science: $28,970
• Masters in Artificial Intelligence: $32,660
• Master of Architecture: $28,290

Read More: Monash University

University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide is one of the leading universities in Australia with a well-established reputation for its courses, research work, and progressive-learning approach. It is ranked #108 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #111 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 29%, the University of Adelaide has a moderately selective acceptance rate of around 29%. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at the University of Adelaide along with their respective fees:

• MS in Civil & Structural Engineering: $59,000
• MBA: $37,345
• Master of Computer Science: $33,880
• Masters in Computing and Innovation: $33,880
• M.Sc in Data Science: $34,650

Read More: University of Adelaide

University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia is one of the top universities in Australia popularly known for its courses in Geosciences, Engineering, and Fine Arts. It is ranked #132 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #93 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 29%, the University of Western Australia has an acceptance rate of around 38%. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at the University of Western Australia along with their respective fees:

• Master of Professional Accounting: $28,564
• Master of Marketing: $26,082
• MBA: $50,715
• Master of Environmental Science: $26,427
• Master of Architecture: $29,543

Read More: University of Western Australia

RMIT University

RMIT University is a public research university and the largest tertiary education institution in Australia with a total student population of over 84,000 students of which 30% are international.

It is ranked #351-#350 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #206 in the QS Rankings (2022). With an international student population of 30%, RMIT University has a moderately selective acceptance rate of around 22%. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at RMIT University along with their respective fees:

• MBA: $29,048
• Master of Architecture: $27,969
• Master of International Business: $25,821
• Master of Information Technology: $24,067
• Master of Computer Science: $24,067

Read More: RMIT University

Queensland University of Technology

The Queensland University of Technology is one of the prominent universities of Australia dedicated to the improvements in technology and modern education. It is ranked #193 in the Times Higher Education Rankings (2022) and #213 in the QS Rankings (2022). It has an international student population of around 18% with a total student enrollment of 52,511 students. Listed below are some of the popular master’s courses offered at Queensland University of Technology along with their respective fees:

• MS Information Technology: $69,400
• Master of Architecture: $23,943
• Master of Business in International Business: $22,736
• Master of Social Work: $21,459
• Master of Public Health: $21,942

Read More: Queensland University of Technology

Popular Masters Courses in Australia

Australia is one of the most popular, unique, and multicultural study-abroad destinations and is also the third most popular study destination across the globe. Masters in Australia are offered both as research masters and professional masters in various fields of study such as engineering, management, computer science, and more. Given below are a few popular masters courses in Australia for international students:

Course	Duration	Average Course Fees (AUD)
MBA	1-2 years	45,000-93,000
MS in Computer Science & IT	1.5-2 years	38,000-91,000
Masters in Engineering	1.5-2 years	18,000-50,000
MS in Environmental Sciences	1-2 years	30,000-70,000
MS in Finance	1-2 years	70,000-106,000
MS in Nursing	1.5-2 years	60,000-80,000

Admission Requirements for Masters in Australia for Indian Students

International students applying for master’s courses in Australia are required to fulfill English language requirements in addition to the general admission requirements. Certain master’s courses in Australia require the applicants to have relevant work experience in the respective field of study. International students should fulfill the following eligibility for masters in Australia:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Work experience, if applicable
• Professional qualifications
• Standardized test scores such as GRE and GMAT
• English language proficiency test scores
• Academic reference
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement/ statement of intent
• Statement of research for research-based MS

How to Apply for Masters in Australia?

The application deadlines vary for the different universities and master’s courses in Australia. International students can either apply directly through the university website or directly through the university agents in their home country. The steps to apply for masters in Australia are shown below:

• Firstly, applicants should fulfill all the admission requirements
• He/ she should attend interviews if required
• The students then receive the letter of offer to the respective Australian university
• The candidate should receive an e-COE post accepting the offer and enrolling
• Finally, the student should proceed to apply for a visa

Masters in Australia Cost for International Students

Australia masters cost includes the tuition fees and the living costs for international students. The tuition fees for completing a master’s in Australia are around 22,000 to 55,000 AUD. The living costs come up to $21,000 AUD/ year and vary based on the accommodation chosen by the student. Find below the other costs for pursuing a masters degree in Australia for international students.

Expenses	Weekly Costs (in AUD)
On-campus Accommodation	$110- $280
Dining Costs and Groceries	$140- $280
Public Transportation	$30- $60
Entertainment	$80- $150
Shared Rentals	$95- $215

Scholarships for a Masters in Australia

Australia masters fees come up to $40,000- $70,000 AUD/year for international applicants. This can be particularly expensive for certain students who can avail themselves of financial assistance. International students can apply for financial aid in the form of various scholarships funded by the Australian government. Some of the popular funding options for international students willing to pursue masters in Australia are given below:

• Destination Australia Scholarships
• Australian Awards Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships
• University-specific scholarships
• International Postgraduate Research Scholarship
• Australian Award Scholarships
• ACIAR Fellowships

Scope of Masters in Australia

Australia attracts a large number of international students to pursue master’s degrees and further their careers. International students can avail themselves of a post-study work visa on completion of their master’s courses in Australia. The scope of a master’s in Australia largely depends on the specialization or the program chosen by the student. A few benefits of a master’s degree in Australia are as follows.

• The average salary of a master’s graduate in Australia is around $91,600 AUD
• An annual salary hike of up to 29% can be expected by employees on completion of a master’s degree as compared to a bachelor’s program in Australia
• International students can decide to live and work in some of the highest paying cities in Australia like Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide
• Employees have a minimum hourly wage of around $44 AUD/ hour in Australia