Study in Australia: the ultimate guide for a Master in 2026

Study in Australia

A country built by migrants and ready to welcome you with open arms, Australia is one of the most popular, unique, and multicultural study-abroad destinations, making it easy for international students to fit in.

The people of Australia are known for being friendly and welcoming, allowing you to feel the typical laid-back atmosphere from anywhere in the country.

Adding to Australia’s charm is the unique and diverse natural environment, providing you red deserts on one side and rainforests on the other.

Australia is home to several top-ranked universities which are hosted in some of the best student cities worldwide. If all this sounds tempting enough to you, get ready to embark on a life-changing study abroad experience in Australia!

Why Study in Australia?

1. Australian universities offer academic excellency

You cannot be one of the top 5 most popular study destinations in the world without an excellent higher education system — and Australia certainly delivers!

Its universities are often present in the annual international rankings, which is a testimony of their quality and commitment to support and welcome international students.

2. Take advantage of internships and work placements

Many study programmes at Australia universities include either work placements or internships. These unique opportunities help students to develop real-life experience and discover what they can expect from a certain job or career path.

It also paves the way to a better understanding of the important skills you need as a modern-day employee, including theoretical knowledge, practical abilities, soft skills, digital know-how, and so on.

3. Enjoy an amazing student environment

One aspect that Australia really gets right is the support for international students. Some cities even have dedicated student centres, which are ready to help you with any issue regarding legal rights, getting a job, networking, finding accommodation, and so on.

You should also know that Melbourne has repeatedly been voted as one of the most student-friendly cities in the world, which is quite a feat.

4. Set your inner adventurer free

While Steve Irwin, the famous "Crocodile Hunter", passed away in 2006, his spirit of adventure and his love for nature are still alive and inspiring others. If you have a hidden adventurer inside, one that you rarely have the chance to let loose, Australia is the place for you!

The continent-country has 20 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 500 national parks, and more than 2,700 conservation areas, including wildlife sanctuaries and Aboriginal reserves.

Find more reasons to study in Australia here.

Which universities to attend in Australia?

Australia is home to over 40 universities, most of which are public institutions. Many Australian branches of Australian universities also have satellite campuses located overseas. In Australia, you can pursue the following types of degrees:

Undergraduate (Bachelor’s degrees)
Research Master’s – requires a final thesis that consists of at least 2/3 research; entry requirement is a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) or Master’s preliminary year, a research-based graduate diploma or equivalent research experience.
Professional Master’s – entry requirement is based on a relevant qualification and professional experience, or extensive relevant professional experience.
TAFE certificates (vocational training and education) – set up for students who plan to prepare for highly skilled jobs in business, or as an alternative pathway into university degree studies.

Examples of universities in Australia we recommend:

What is it like to study in Australia?

Australian universities have a long history of welcoming international students and helping them adjust to a new university system. Universities help students arrange accommodation, organise special student orientation weeks, and provide several other student services throughout the year.

University education in Australia is mostly focused using problem-based learning, helping you become an independent learner.

Successful completing a course usually depends on whether you pass a mid or final exam. University classes are usually flexible and you can mostly choose how much effort to put in and how to approach learning.

What to study in Australia?

No matter what you decide to study, you will surely find your ideal degree in an Australian university. In Australia, you can specialise in subject areas from Natural Sciences and Engineering, to Social and Medical Sciences.

Here are some of the most popular study options in Australia

Where to study in Australia?

Australia has around 30 student cities and they all provide students incredible leisure time. Australia is the perfect spot for outdoor activities - surfing, snorkelling, hiking, or biking. If you’re interested in discovering Australia’s heritage and culture, you have plenty of museums and art centres you can visit.

Check out some of these cities and learn more about what it is like to study there:

How to apply

You can apply online, directly for the university study programme, by downloading the application form and submitting all required documents.

If your application is successful, you will receive a ‘Letter of Offer’. To confirm your application, you must reply to this letter by signing and sending an acceptance of the offer.

Read more details about how to apply to a university in Australia.

Make sure you qualify for an Australian university

Take Preparation Courses

These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programme. Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in Australia, you will sometimes need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

There are over 60,000 English-taught programmes in Australia.

Universities in Australia will want to see proof that you have good English-language skills, so that you can easily succeed in their courses. All Australian universities accept these official English exams:

PTE Academic
IELTS
TOEFL
C1 Advanced

Living in Australia

Before packing everything and buying a plane ticket to Australia, you should also think about your budget. While Australian universities offer top-quality education, they aren't exactly cheap. If you add in the monthly living costs, it's easy to see how the budget grows fast.

No need to worry though, as there are numerous scholarships available for international students. Now, let's take a look at the average tuition and living expenses in Australia.

Tuition fees in Australia

Tuition fees charged by Australian universities are some of the highest in the world. For a Bachelor’s degree, tuition ranges between 20,000 and 45,000 AUD/year, while for a Master’s and PhD fees are between 22,000 and 50,000 AUD/year.

Private universities are more expensive than public ones and might not provide access to the same financial aid programmes (e.g. grants, scholarships).

Accommodation costs

On-campus accommodation is the cheapest housing option for students, starting at around 440 AUD per month. If you’d like to rent a place, a one-bedroom apartment will cost anywhere from 1,300 AUD (outside the city centre) to 1,750 AUD (in the city centre).

Healthcare

As an international student in Australia, you will have to arrange health insurance before your departure. Apply for the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which provides medical and hospital insurance in Australia. Sometimes, your chosen university can arrange for your OSHC coverage on your behalf.

Food costs

Supermarkets in Australia don’t have expensive prices; your monthly groceries can typically cost around 300–600 AUD. If you want to dine out, you should expect to pay around 18 AUD for a meal at a mid-range restaurant.

Overall, living costs start at a minimum of 1,200 AUD per month in smaller cities and at around 1,500 AUD per month in bigger cities.

About Australia

Australia (officially, the Commonwealth of Australia) is a country that is composed of the continent as well as many of the islands that surround the country (Tasmania, etc). Australia is also the only continent that is governed as a single country, sometimes informally referred to as an 'island' continent, surrounded by oceans.

Due to its location in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in Australia are opposite to what you may be used to; the summer season starts in December, while the winter season starts in June. However, you can enjoy nice weather all year round, with hot summers and mild winters where only rainfalls occur.

Australia has a high quality of life and it is also the world’s 13th largest economy. The most thriving economic sectors are: agriculture, finance, tourism, education, services, and construction.

Iconic places to visit

The unique Australian island continent is an amazing place just waiting for you to explore, from coastlines, islands, stunning beaches, to incredible buildings with a modern architecture.

Here are some of Australia’s top landmarks:

Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Kakadu National Park
The Great Barrier Reef
Kangaroo Island

Fun facts

The name Australia is derived from the Latin words Terra Australis, which means "southern land"

Australia is still a constitutional monarchy, ruled by the Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II.

In Australia, you can hear over 260 languages; apart from English, the most common spoken languages are Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, and Greek.

After New Zealand, Australia was the second country in the world to allow women to vote.

The reason why Australia has kangaroos and emus on its coat of arms is because they cannot walk backward.

Australia has more sheep (150 million) than people.

Universities, colleges and schools in Australia

Interested in scholarships for Australia? Check out our scholarship search page.

How to Apply to a Master's in Australia

If you've decided to study a Master's degree at a university in Australia, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.

What documents do I need to provide to apply in Australia?

Usually, when it comes to application documents, they kind of stay the same wherever you wish to study. But Australia goes the extra mile and wants you to be as detailed in your application as possible. That's why you have to present:

Your personal information;
Your work experience (only if you have been employed before);
An application fee;
An English certificate (here, some countries are exempt, so be sure to double check when applying);
Proof that you changed your name, if you got married (Congrats, I'm sure you looked lovely in the photos!);
Your grades, or the grade you got at your final exam.

Of course, all these documents have to be translated in English, by a certified translator. So, we're sorry, you can't just ask a Facebook friend

Prove your English skills

As you could expect from an English-speaking country, they want your level of English to be on point, and for you to be able to manage in the country without any difficulties.

That's why Australia has no more or less than 5 options for your English certificate. These are:

TOEFL
IELTS
C1 Advanced
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)

Application deadlines for Australia

Applications deadlines aren't country-wide for Australia: it will, ultimately, depend on your university and programme.

But, because we're here to help you out as much we can, you should also know that some of the most important application periods are:

October – November: application period for the first semester;
April – May: application period for the second semester;
Whenever you want, with the help of Studyportals.

The Ultimate Guide to Studying in Australia in 2026

Browse all master programmes in Australia