Graduate Programs in Australia

Australia has 10+ universities in the Grad School Navigator top 200, including 3 in the top 50.

Australia is known for its Group of Eight research universities, including Melbourne, Sydney, the Australian National University and Queensland. The group spans the country, while universities outside it add applied and professional options. Sydney and Melbourne offer large-city settings, Brisbane and Perth combine metropolitan campuses with warmer climates, and Canberra has a smaller capital-city setting. Distances between these cities are large, so the campus location shapes the experience more than a national label suggests.

Australian master's degrees include coursework, research and extended professional programs. Prior study can affect the length of a coursework degree, so a course available over two years may have a shorter route for applicants with the relevant background. Research master's and PhD routes center on a project and supervisor, with scholarships a separate part of the application.

Median annual tuition among master's programs, according to our data, is about US$35,100 in Australia, compared with US$39,300 in the US, US$38,100 in the UK and US$25,500 in Canada. A shorter course with credit for prior study can reduce both living expenses and time away from work.

Australia offers a clear post-study work route through its Temporary Graduate visa. The usual stay is two years after a coursework master's and three years after a research master's or doctorate, subject to the Australian study requirements. Coursework applicants normally need to be 35 or younger; research graduates have a higher age limit. This makes Australia worth considering for an overseas career start, with different stay rules for some passport holders.