While pursuing a master’s degree in Australia, every student wants to experience the enriching, inspiring, and unmatched experience there. Students often want to know about the eligibility criteria to study in Australia. They would like to know the best Australian universities offering master’s degrees and job openings following the post-graduation program. Some of the oldest Australian universities form a part of Go8 or a group of eight universities that are consistently ranked among the top universities on the global rankings.
A Master’s is a post-graduation degree that is pursued after completing graduation to enhance one’s skills in a specific scientific genre. This degree provides comprehensive research and study on a particular subject of choice, and these include molecular science, agriculture and environment, biological science, human science, psychological science, and others.
This article will give you an overview of everything related to study a master’s degree in Australia.
Top Reasons to Study in Australia
Australia is home to some well-reputed universities that are recognized worldwide for the quality of education and their advanced infrastructure. Some of the universities rank among the 100 best universities globally as per QS World University rankings. Education and top-notch infrastructure being some of the obvious reasons, this section will try to cover some other bases that promote the study in Australia.
The Group of Eight (Go8) encompasses Australia’s leading research-intensive universities and includes the following universities:
The University of Melbourne
Australian National University
The University of Sydney
The University of Queensland
The University of Western Australia
The University of Adelaide
Monash University
The University of New South Wales, Sydney
The Go8 is a pioneer in influencing the development of long-term sustainable higher education and research policy and in developing elite international alliances and research partnerships.
Go8 universities are persistently ranked among the top universities in Australia. Seven of the eight Go8 members are among the world’s top 100 universities.
All the members associated with Go8 are ranked in the world’s top 150 universities as per the ranking organizations like Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Times Higher Education Rankings (THE), and the QS World University Rankings (QS) to name a few.
They also received 73 percent of Australian Competitive Grant (Category 1) funding and had the largest proportion of research fields rated at 4 or 5 (‘above’ or ‘well above world standard) in the latest Excellence for Research Australia (ERA) exercise.
Most of the courses offered at the Australian universities fall under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registered, which means that the offered course and the college meet the high standards of the educational framework.
The ESOS or Education Services for Overseas Students framework is a body that protects the rights of the students coming from different countries to Australia to study.
Eligibility criteria for pursuing a master’s in Australia
We suggest you check your entry requirements before applying to any university. The most common requirements include
1) Undergraduate degree
2) English proficiency tests
3) GMAT/GRE
Top Universities in Australia and their subject-wise rankings:
There are so many universities for Indian students to pursue quality education in Australia. Some of them are listed below in the table:
Subject
University & QS Subject Ranking
Life science & Medicine
The University of Melbourne-17
The University of Sydney-19
The University of Queensland-31
Monash University-33
The University of New South Wales-52
Engineering & Technology
The University of New South Wales-23
The University of Melbourne-30
Monash University-39
The University of Sydney-45
The Australian National University-64
Natural Sciences
The Australian National University-27
The University of Melbourne-38
The University of Sydney-49
The University of New South Wales-53
Monash University-55
Social Science & Management
The University of Melbourne-15
The University of New South Wales-22
The Australian National University-24
The University of Sydney-26
Monash University-29
Arts & Humanities
The University of Melbourne-16
The University of Sydney-22
The Australian National University-25
Monash University-42
The University of New South Wales-46
Source: QS WUR by Subject 2022
Popular courses among Indian students in Australia
Australian universities offer a lot of programs to study after graduation. Some of the popular courses offered by the universities in Australia are as follows:
The average program fee to study for a full-time Master’s degree in Australia is AUD $50,000 to AUD $65,760. Some of the programs in top universities in Australia do not offer part-time study or credit transfers.
The admission cycle in Australia commences in the month of February and July. The requirements to study master’s in Australia include English languages proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL, a Statement of purpose along with a bank statement reflecting financial capacity, and an Overseas Health Cover.
Exams needed to Study master’s in Australia
Following are the exams you need to clear in order to study master’s in Australia:
Exam
Score
English Proficiency Exam
TOEFL- 90 or above
PTE- 72 or above
IELTS- 6.0 to 6.5
CAE- C1 certificate (65 and above) or C2 certificate
Sponsored by the DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs) and ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) along with the Department of Education, it offers UG/PG scholarships. Students applying for Australian partner universities and TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutions are eligible. Coverage is provided for the entire tuition costs, living costs, airfare, health insurance, along with miscellaneous costs. The total coverage period is two years. Scholars should return to India after finishing their education.
Name of the Scholarship
Award
Eligibility
The University of New South Wales Business School
$10,000 annually
Academic performance, leadership attributes, co-curricular activities, and more.
University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship
$110,000
(100% coverage for fees)
Students are considered automatically, without having to provide dedicated applications
International Scientia Coursework Scholarship at the University of New South Wales
The scholarship comes in two parts, one which offers coverage for the total tuition costs and another component which is $20,000 per year for tuition charges
A scholarship program for international students taking up postgraduate or graduate courses at the institution
Monash MBA International Excellence in Leadership
Two awards of amount $16,000 each
Exceptional leadership skills and stellar academic record and an interview that needs to be cleared by the aspirant.
University of Sydney’s Dr Abdul Kalam International Postgraduate Scholarship
50% of tuition costs for a year
Those with distinctions in their undergraduate courses can apply
University of Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship
100% or 50% waivers on tuition fees for three-year UG courses. It may also be a remission of $10,000 on tuition costs for the first year.
Stellar academic record
Swinburne University
$38,000
Stellar academic record and remarkable leadership skills
Sydney Scholars India Equity Scholarship
$50,000 per year (throughout four years) and ten UG/PG students will receive $20,000 for the first year.15 UG/PG students will also be getting $10,000 as their scholarship amounts under this scholarship
Only Indian students with a good academic record are eligible.
Vice-Chancellor International Scholarships Scheme
–
Open to international students interested in UG/PG courses with CRICOS registration
Griffith University
50% of overall tuition costs for the entire length of the course
Stellar academic record and remarkable leadership skills
Scope after Studying in Australia
The employment prospects are huge in Australia, and you can easily find out the job options related to your field. If you intend to work after your graduation, then in some cases, the employer may sponsor a new visa, or if you need to stay for a longer period with the intent of developing your career, then you need to submit an expression of interest through SkillSelect.
Benefits of studying in Australia for Indian students
Australia is one of those countries that offer the best career opportunities for students. It is home to some of the best universities in the world. Quality education, varied career opportunities, and options to work and study simultaneously are some of the factors that make Australia a go-to destination for students. But there are certain questions students want to know ahead of pursuing a master’s degree in Australia. For example, if Australia is student-friendly, or is the master’s degree in Australia globally acknowledged for its quality of research, feasibility, and training?
Australian universities are known for offering quality education based on in-depth research and practical training programs. However, there are some points that a student should know before pursuing a master’s degree in Australian universities:
Quality education based on in-depth research and hands-on training programs
Hub to six top-notch universities known worldwide for their academic competitiveness
Opens the door to various research opportunities and a lucrative salary
A robust higher education system with around 22,000 courses in 1,100 institutions
Out of the box cultural and learning experience that fosters a growth mindset
Many students drop the idea of studying in Australian universities because they can not afford high tuition fees along with other expenses. The consistent rise in the value of the Australian currency is making fees and other expenses unaffordable for students.
Things to consider before making a choice for the university to study in Australia
While deciding about the right university, you should check for
The application window for Masters opens in the month of March in Australia but it can vary with the course and the institution. There are two semesters offered in Australia for masters but some educational institutions also offer programs in three semesters giving the student an opportunity to select from any of the intakes.
The intakes in Australia are broken down into three and are as follows:
Trimester 1: Starts late February/early March to late May/early June
Trimester 2: Starts late July/early August
Trimester 3: Starts September to late November
Intake
Deadlines
Semester 1 (Late February/Early March intake)
October-November
Semester 2 (Late July intake/Early August)
April-May
Trimester 3
September – November
Source: Official website of Australia
The July intake is preferred more by the students but the February and September intakes are equally good. To reach an informed decision around which intakes to opt for, the candidate should take into account the availability of the program of interest, academic records, acceptance rates, entrance test scores, academic readiness, and job opportunities.
Study in Australia with upGrad Abroad
upGrad Abroad has started uniquely designed programs that enable students to save money on tuition fees, and other expenses. Students enrolling in these programs will be studying a part of their program online and completing the course on-campus.
In Australia, most master’s degrees take one to two years to complete.
Why one should study in Australia?
– Due to diverse cultures, friendly natives, and high-quality educational experiences, many international students pick Australia as their master’s destination. – There are eight Australian institutions in the top 150 universities in the world, demonstrating the country’s academic excellence and world-class reputation. – Australian universities provide excellent options for students to obtain experience while studying by allowing them to work up to 20 hours per week during a semester. – The Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS Act) of Australia provides an extensive student support system that aids in the protection of overseas students studying in Australia.
How to apply for a master’s in Australia?
– First, do some research on the best university in Australia that offers master’s degrees. – Get started on the application process. – Have your application processed. – Accept the offer. – Prepare yourself for the departure.
What are the English language requirements to study in Australia?
You will be required to submit the results of English language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE. The score required in these tests varies depending on the course you will be taking.
When should I begin making my application?
It will take 4-6 weeks for your university application to be processed, you should start the procedure at least 7-8 months before the start of the semester.
Neha Uppal is a passionate content creator and editor. She carries 7.5+ years of experience working with leading edutech companies where she worked as a Faculty, Community Manager, and Content Marketeer. At upGrad, she is helping out people keep informed about the scopes and opportunities of studying abroad via informational articles/blogs.