How to apply for postgraduate coursework

You are a domestic student if you are any of the following:

• an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or
• New Zealand citizen, or
• Australian humanitarian visa holder, or
• Pacific Engagement visa holder.

1. Find your course and check entry requirements

Use the course search to find what you’d like to study. Read each tab of the course page to learn more about the subjects and entry requirements for your course. Usually, courses that prepare you for a career where you'll work closely with people or animals have inherent requirements as well.

Types of postgraduate coursework degrees

Some courses are offered at a graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master's degree level. When choosing a degree, you should consider which level is best for you.

• Graduate certificates usually covers some of the core units of a master's degree, and is typically completed within six months of full-time study. 
• Graduate diplomas offers more opportunity to upskill, covering more of the master's units and is typically completed within a year of full-time study. 
• Master's degrees provide you with specialised knowledge and skills, and usually take one to two years of full-time study.
• Extended Master's degrees are three to four years of full-time study and lead to accreditation so you can practice a particular profession. Examples include the Doctor of Medicine and Juris Doctor.

Depending on your course, you may be able to upgrade/downgrade between the course levels. For example, you can start a graduate diploma and then upgrade to the master's version of the course.

Useful links

2. Check key dates

Submit your application well before the University deadline to ensure the best chance of success, as offers are made on a rolling basis. Closing dates differ for some courses, such as Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Medicine. For confirmation, refer to your course page.

Also note the start dates for each semester.

3. Consider finances and scholarships

You’ll need to pay tuition fees plus additional fees, costs and incidentals. For most postgraduate coursework degrees, you pay full fees and may be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan.

However, some courses offer reduced fees through limited Commonwealth supported places (CSP).

A CSP means you pay only a portion of your fees, called the student contribution amount (SCA), and the rest would be covered by the Australian Government. Your contribution varies per study area and you pay either upfront or through a HECS-HELP loan.

4. Check study or work credit

If you've completed any related study or work experience, check if you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for your degree. This means you won’t have to repeat similar units, could graduate sooner, and pay less.

5. Start application

Graduate certificate or diploma, and Master's degree applicants

Apply directly with us from the course page, which will also list any supplementary application forms required.

Juris Doctor applicants

To apply for the Juris Doctor (JD), apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), which processes applications on behalf of universities in New South Wales.

6. Accept your offer

When the outcome of your application is available, you’ll receive an email from the University or UAC, depending on where you applied.

If successful, you get either an an unconditional or conditional offer. A conditional offer means you’ll need to provide further documentation to proceed.