Master's degrees in Australia come in two main forms: coursework programs of 1–2 years and research programs of up to 2 years. International students pay $40,420–48,540 (A$57,540–69,112) a year for coursework programs at leading universities on 2027 rates, while research students can receive a government-funded Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship covering tuition and a living stipend. Admission requires a bachelor's or specialist degree with a sufficient grade average (ANU asks for 5.0 on a 7-point scale for its Master of Computing) and usually IELTS 6.5.
The main trap is program length. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is granted for 2 years after a coursework master's and 3 years after a research master's, but only if you have studied in Australia for at least 92 weeks and 16 months. A shorter program, or credit granted for your overseas bachelor's, saves money but can cost you that visa. This guide explains how programs are structured, how universities assess a foreign degree, what study costs and what to check before applying. US dollar figures use the ECB reference rate of 28 September 2026 (1 USD ≈ 1.4237 AUD). For a country overview, see studying in Australia; for the list of institutions, universities in Australia.
Types of master's degrees in Australia
A master's degree sits at level 9 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), which defines three forms.
| Form | How you study | Length | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters by Coursework | Courses, projects, exams, sometimes an internship or capstone | 1–2 years, depending on your bachelor's | Those deepening a profession or changing field |
| Masters by Research | Independent research with a supervisor, ending in a thesis | Up to 2 years full-time | Future PhD candidates and academic careers |
| Masters (Extended) | A coursework program designed for professional practice | Set by the program | Those entering a regulated profession |
Two shorter awards sit beside the master's: the Graduate Certificate and the Graduate Diploma. They are AQF level 8, and universities often use them as an entry route for applicants whose bachelor's does not match the field. At UQ, for example, a Graduate Certificate in Commerce with a GPA of 4 out of 7 opens the Master of Commerce.
Why program length depends on your degree
The same program can take one, one and a half or two years depending on how closely your bachelor's matches it. Examples from official 2027 program pages:
| Program | Length and conditions |
|---|---|
| UQ, Master of Computer Science | 1.5 years with a bachelor's in computer science or software engineering and a GPA of 5.0 out of 7; 1 year with an honours degree in those fields. With another bachelor's, you must show completed coursework: data structures and algorithms, two programming courses, discrete mathematics or algebra, and three more subjects from a list |
| UQ, Master of Commerce | 2 years with a bachelor's in any field and a GPA of 4.5 out of 7; 1.5 years with a bachelor's in a related field and the same GPA |
| UNSW, Master of Information Technology | 2 years for every entry point: a cognate bachelor's with a weighted average mark of at least 65%, or a non-cognate entry with core foundation courses at the start |
| ANU, Master of Computing | 2 years with a bachelor's GPA of 5.0 out of 7, or 4.0 out of 7 plus three years of relevant professional experience |
| UQ, Master of Business Administration | 1.5 years with a bachelor's GPA of 4.5 out of 7, four years of relevant experience (typically including two in a supervisory role) and a GMAT score of at least 550 for international applicants |
The shorter option looks attractive: six months less tuition and rent. For post-study work, though, it can become a problem, as the next section explains.
Master's degrees and the 485 visa: the 92-week rule
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485, Post-Higher Education Work stream) is granted for 2 years after a coursework master's and 3 years after a research master's. You must be 35 or under when you apply; research master's and PhD graduates can apply until they turn 50. English: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall and 5.5 in each band, taken within the 12 months before applying.
The key condition is the amount of study completed in Australia:
- at least 92 weeks of study, measured by the course's standard duration on the CRICOS register;
- at least 16 calendar months of actual study in Australia;
- credit granted for study completed overseas does not count: Home Affairs states that credited units based on overseas study cannot be used to meet the 485 study requirement.
In practice, if a university shortens a two-year master's to eighteen months because of your overseas bachelor's, that program alone will not meet the 485 requirement. Home Affairs lists the options: ask the university to cancel the credit and complete those subjects, add elective units the university accepts towards the award, or complete an additional CRICOS-registered qualification to reach 92 weeks in total. If working in Australia after graduation is part of your plan, choose the two-year version from the start. More in working while studying and the 485 visa.
How universities assess a foreign degree
No separate recognition procedure is needed for admission: the Australian Department of Education states that each institution assesses overseas qualifications. The university looks at three things.
- Level. Whether your qualification is comparable to an Australian bachelor's degree (AQF level 7). For Russian applicants this applies to both the bakalavr and the five-year specialist degree.
- Grade average. Australian universities use a 7-point GPA or, like UNSW, a percentage. The university converts a foreign five-point scale itself. UQ's interactive table for postgraduate entry lists specific countries, and Russia is not among them, so such degrees are assessed individually. ANU calculates the GPA both with and without the final semester and uses the higher result.
- Field match. Cognate entry requires specific subjects on your transcript. The more detailed the translated transcript (course titles, hours, grades), the easier it is to prove the match.
If you are changing field, choose programs with a non-cognate entry (such as UNSW's Master of IT or UQ's two-year Master of Commerce) or start with a Graduate Certificate.
What a master's costs in 2027
| University | Program | Length | Annual tuition | Fee year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANU | Master of Computing | 2 years | $40,490 (A$57,640) | 2027 |
| University of Queensland | Master of Computer Science | 1–1.5 years | $42,810 (A$60,952) | 2027 |
| University of Queensland | Master of Commerce | 1.5–2 years | $42,810 (A$60,952) | 2027 |
| University of Queensland | Master of Civil Engineering (Professional) | 2 years | $42,810 (A$60,952) | 2027 |
| University of Queensland | Master of Business Administration | 1.5 years | $48,540 (A$69,112) | 2027 |
| UNSW Sydney | Master of Information Technology | 2 years | $44,250 (A$63,000) for the first year; whole program $91,660 (A$130,500) | 2026 |
| Monash University | Master of Information Technology (C6001) | 1.5 or 2 years, by entry level | $40,420 (A$57,540) | 2027 |
| University of Sydney | Business; engineering and computer science master's (ranges for the field) | Varies by program | $39,900–45,520 (A$56,800–64,800); $42,710–45,520 (A$60,800–64,800) | 2027 |
These are indicative fees for a full-time load and are reviewed each year. On top come the Student Services and Amenities Fee, OSHC for the whole visa period and living costs: the visa requires A$29,710 (≈ $20,870) a year for the student, plus A$10,394 (≈ $7,300) for a partner and A$4,449 (≈ $3,130) for a child, and at least A$13,502 (≈ $9,480) a year in schooling costs for each school-age child.
A full budget for the UNSW Master of Information Technology at 2026 rates:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, 2 years | A$130,500 (≈ $91,660) |
| Living costs at the visa rate, 2 years | A$59,420 (≈ $41,740) |
| Visa charge | A$2,500 (≈ $1,760) |
| Total | A$192,420 (≈ $135,150) |
Not included: OSHC, flights, a rental bond and the second-year fee increase. City budgets are in the cost of studying in Australia; legal payment routes from Russia in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Research master's degrees and the RTP scholarship
The Research Training Program (RTP) is the government program through which universities fund research master's and PhD candidates, international students included. An RTP scholarship can cover a tuition fee offset, a living stipend and allowances. For a research master's it lasts up to 2 years full-time; for a PhD, 3 to 4 years.
You apply to the university, not the government, and each university sets its own process. At ANU, the base RTP stipend for 2027 is A$40,475 (≈ $28,430) a year. There is no separate application: candidates are ranked on their program application, and international applicants must apply by 31 August to be considered in the first round for a start the following year. ANU also reimburses OSHC for international recipients. Confirmation of a qualified supervisor is often decisive, so contact potential supervisors before you apply.
The research track has one more advantage: research master's and PhD students have no 48-hours-per-fortnight work limit once their course has started. Other funding, including university discounts, is covered in scholarships in Australia.
Requirements and documents
- bachelor's or specialist degree and its transcript, translated into English;
- IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0 (UQ's requirement), or TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic per the university's table; for the visa, a test format accepted by Home Affairs rather than an at-home online version;
- CV and evidence of work experience where the program counts it (MBA, ANU's experience-based entry);
- GMAT for MBA programs that require it: at least 550 at UQ;
- a personal statement and references if the program asks for them; for a research master's, a research proposal and contact with a supervisor.
When to apply: a 2027 calendar
Coursework master's programs admit students in two semesters: at UQ in 2027 they start on 22 February and 26 July, and UNSW admits into three terms. Research programs start by agreement with the supervisor, and scholarship rounds follow each university's schedule.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 10–12 months before | Shortlist 3–5 programs, check degree requirements and program length, take IELTS or PTE |
| 8–10 months before | Prepare translations of the degree and transcript, CV and personal statement; for research, agree on a supervisor |
| 6–8 months before | Apply; for ANU RTP consideration, by 31 August of the year before you start |
| After the offer | Accept, pay the deposit, receive the CoE, buy OSHC |
| 3–4 months before | Lodge the visa through ImmiAccount, give biometrics, prepare Genuine Student answers |
Since 14 November 2025, visa processing priority depends on how far the university has used its share of the national planning level (295,000 new international students for 2027). Applying late to a popular university raises the risk of landing in the second or third priority group.
The student visa for master's applicants
You lodge the Student visa (subclass 500) online after receiving a CoE. From 1 July 2026 the charge starts at A$2,500 (≈ $1,760). Since 23 March 2024 the Genuine Student requirement has replaced the former Genuine Temporary Entrant test: you answer questions in English about your choice of course, up to 150 words each. Home Affairs considers why you are not studying a similar course at home, how the course fits your education and career, and your immigration history.
For a master's applicant, the program should be a logical next step in your career. If you are changing field or already hold a master's degree, explain why in your answers. Russian citizens give biometrics at collection centres in Moscow, St Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don or Vladivostok (Home Affairs data as of March 2026). Step-by-step guidance is in the Australian student visa guide.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a one-year or eighteen-month program and later discovering it falls short of 92 weeks for the 485 visa.
- Accepting credit for an overseas degree without checking the consequences for post-study work.
- Ignoring age: after 35, a coursework master's no longer leads to a 485 visa.
- Submitting a brief transcript translation without course titles and hours, which makes cognate entry harder to prove.
- Counting on a full scholarship for a coursework master's: the RTP is for research programs.
- Taking an at-home online English test that is not accepted for visas.
FAQ
A coursework master's takes 1 to 2 years depending on how well your bachelor's matches the field; a research master's takes up to 2 years. If you want the graduate visa, plan for the two-year version.
At 2027 rates, ANU and UQ charge A$57,640 to A$69,112 a year ($40,490–48,540). The two-year UNSW Master of Information Technology costs A$130,500 in total at 2026 rates. Living costs and insurance are extra.
The university decides: it assesses the foreign qualification and converts the grade average itself. No recognition procedure is required for admission, but you need translations of the degree and transcript.
Yes. Some programs are designed for non-cognate graduates and last two years, such as UNSW's Master of IT or UQ's Master of Commerce. Another route is to start with a Graduate Certificate.
Yes: 2 years after a coursework master's and 3 years after a research master's, provided you are 35 or under (under 50 for research degrees), have studied in Australia for at least 92 weeks and 16 months, and have an English score of 6.5.
For research master's and PhD programs, universities award RTP scholarships covering tuition and a living stipend; at ANU the 2027 base stipend is A$40,475 a year. Selection is based on your program application. Coursework master's programs have no equivalent government scheme; funding there comes from university discounts and scholarships.
The coursework programs we checked (ANU Master of Computing, UQ Master of Computer Science and Master of Commerce, UNSW Master of IT) do not mention the GMAT or GRE. The exception is the MBA: UQ requires international applicants to have a GMAT score of at least 550 and four years of work experience.
Sources
- AQF: qualification levels and master's forms — checked September 28, 2026
- Study Australia: education system and Student visa subclass 500 — checked September 28, 2026
- University of Queensland: Master of Computer Science, Master of Commerce, Master of Business Administration, Master of Civil Engineering (Professional) — checked September 28, 2026
- ANU: Master of Computing 2027 and RTP stipend scholarship — checked September 28, 2026
- UNSW: Master of Information Technology — checked September 28, 2026
- Monash: Master of Information Technology and University of Sydney: international tuition fees — checked September 28, 2026
- Department of Education: Research Training Program — checked September 28, 2026
- Department of Education: recognition of overseas qualifications — checked September 28, 2026
- Home Affairs: 485 visa, Post-Higher Education Work stream and study requirement and credit rules — checked September 28, 2026
- Home Affairs: Student visa subclass 500, Genuine Student, biometrics, processing priorities — checked September 28, 2026
- Department of Education: National Planning Level 2027 — checked September 28, 2026
- USD conversions use the ECB reference rates of September 28, 2026: EUR/USD 1.1378 and EUR/AUD 1.6199, i.e. 1 USD ≈ 1.4237 AUD; amounts are rounded to the nearest ten dollars.
Master's program shortlisting for your degree, checks of program length and its effect on the 485 visa, and preparation of application and visa documents are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission and scholarship decisions are made by the university; visa decisions by the Department of Home Affairs.
Next steps
- Universities in Australia for International Students: How to Choose, 2027 Costs and Entry Routes
- Working While Studying in Australia and the 485 Graduate Visa in 2026: Hours, Pay, Tax and Post-Study Stay
- Cost of Studying in Australia in 2026–2027: University Fees, Living Costs, Visa and a First-Year Budget
- Scholarships in Australia for International Students in 2026–2027: What Is Actually Available
- Studying in Australia for international applicants
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
