Pursuing postgraduate level study from Australia enhances the resume of an individual. Discover the various postgraduate courses offered by Australian universities.

Postgraduate Courses in Australia

A postgraduate qualification offers several advantages. Whether it is enhancing your career, pursuing your favorite subject at a higher level, or boosting your earning potential, a postgraduate degree doesn’t let you down in any manner. With a country like Australia which follows a similar education system like the UK, traveling to this welcoming and pleasant destination is not a problem anymore for most students craving to pursue their higher education at an international study place. Not just cost of living and tuition fees are low in Australian universities, but the outstanding lifestyle and favorable climatic conditions mark other major contributors for the increasing number of international students traveling here. Depending upon the suitability and requirement of the students, a number of study options are available at postgraduate level, like full-time, part time, and distance learning. The flexibility of the courses offered by universities in Australia makes learning an enriching experience. Intensive study of previous knowledge, distinguished faculty members, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and persuasive study environment transform the entire experience of undertaking a postgraduate degree course in Australia a remarkable one. As you glance through the following lines, you’ll find the variety of study programs offered for a postgraduate degree and the requirements for applying to an Australian university.

Postgraduate Courses in Australia

Degree Recognition

The excellence and quality imparted by Australian universities through higher education and training programs is highly reputed across the world. The university courses pursued by international students would broaden their minds and enrich their lives with magnificent and flourishing opportunities in the industry. In short, completing postgraduate studies from Australia will always be advantageous and profitable in the long-run.

Degree Structure

Every qualification and level of education obtained from Australia enjoys national and international recognition. Most of the higher education courses in Australia follow a set rule for entry and thus, every applicant has to prove his excellence through outstanding academic records in the previous study courses. Different types of postgraduate courses are offered here ranging from six months to three years, and every program has different entrance requirements. The major programs presented at postgraduate level include graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master’s degree, and doctoral degree. Graduate certificates and diplomas last for six months and one year of study, respectively, designed for enhancing and broadening the skills and knowledge gained in an undergraduate program, and further developing skills and knowledge in a new professional area.

A master’s degree provides an improved overview of a relevant field of study or area of professional practice. This degree course usually involves two years of study after a bachelor’s degree, or one year of study after a bachelor’s degree (honors). Three types of master’s degree are offered by Australia, namely, coursework masters, research masters, and professional masters. Coursework masters comprises of classroom lectures, project work, and research after completion of bachelor’s degree, bachelor’s degree (honors), or graduate diploma. Research masters require the students to complete two-thirds research with a thesis. Entry for research masters is a bachelor’s degree (honors), a masters preliminary year, research-based graduate diploma, or equivalent research experience. Professional masters degree course constitutes pure work-based projects. As such, a candidate should possess relevant qualification and professional experience, or extensive relevant professional experience.

The highest degree offered by Australian universities is a doctoral degree, which can be earned after a maximum period of 3 years. It is offered in two formats - research doctorate and professional doctorate. A research doctorate, mainly comprising of supervised research and study, can be pursued after a research master’s degree, part-research master’s degree, or bachelor’s degree (honors). A professional doctorate, on the other hand, includes a combination of coursework and research, and can be pursued after a combined research and coursework master’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree (honors).

Academic Calendar

The academic calendar for Australian universities is different from the colleges in the United States. The academic year is divided into two semesters, though some institutions follow a trimester system. The two semesters run from late February to mid November, while a summer school operates from December through February.

Subjects for Master’s Degree

Agriculture and related subjects; Applied and Pure Sciences; Architecture, Building and Planning; Art; Aviation; Economics; Education and Teaching; Engineering; Fashion Designing; General Management and Business; Hotel Management and Hospitality; Humanities; IT and Computer Science; International Culture, Literature and Foreign Languages; Law; MBA; Mass Communication and Media; Medicine and Life Sciences; Music, Dance and Theatre; Physiotherapy; Sales, Marketing and Retailing; Social Sciences; Sports and Sports Management; Therapeutic Personal Care

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is mandatory to apply for a two-year master’s degree program, while a bachelor’s degree (honors) is required for entry into a one-year master’s degree.
Complete details of course subjects and grades are required while applying to a postgraduate course in Australia. Transcripts or official records of class X, class XII, and bachelor’s degree, along with mark sheets are an essential requirement.
In case the original transcripts are not in English, copies of the documents and their English translations should be submitted, along with the application. Make sure that the copies are duly attested.
Students have to prove their English language proficiency by taking the IELTS or TOEFL test. Most universities ask for a minimum overall band score of 6.0 to qualify for applying.
Some universities can waive IELTS/TOEFL scores if the student provides a letter from his last institution stating that he has been studying throughout in English and that the institution is convinced of his proficiency in English.
Master’s degree courses, like MBA, require the applicants to qualify GMAT with the minimum scores demand by the respective universities.
Programs like MBA and master’s courses in information studies ask for at least a couple years of work experience. Thus, a detailed resume including all professional work experience with details of positions held, achievements, and range of work, should be drafted and submitted with the application.
Letters of reference or recommendation are highly essential while applying to universities abroad. They should be signed by people from both personal and professional links, highlighting your positives, strengths, and qualities, thereby improving your chances of seeking admission.
A personal essay or statement of purpose should be drafted which will assist in evaluating your application for both admission and financial aid, as it gives an impression of you as an individual to the university. Include your reasons for choosing the particular course, your areas of interest, your personal and future goals, and your suitability for the course.
While applying to a postgraduate research program, applicants have to submit two additional documents - detailed research proposal and abstracts, research publications, etc. Some universities even ask for special recommendation letters from professors of the academic institution where the candidate studied last.

Application Procedure

Select the courses you are interested in pursuing your career. Research courses, institutions, and their locations. Check the entrance and English language requirements to ensure whether you are eligible or not. In case you do not qualify for your preferred course, pick up another course.
Apply directly to the selected Australian universities either by airmail or online. Most universities have their application forms posted online which can be duly filled and submitted.
Alternatively, you can download the application forms from the university’s website or request for application material via airmail.
Authorized representatives of Australian universities can be contacted to procure the application material.
Fill the application form and attach the requisite documents along with. Also, include the non-refundable application fee, as charged by most universities, amounting to about $50 to $100.
Send your application to the respective universities before the deadlines and track the delivery of the packets, time to time.

Tuition Fees in AUD$

When compared to other popular destinations, such as the US or the UK, Australia proves to be cheaper for international students. The fees for a six-month graduate certificate or one-year graduate diploma range from $9000 to $16,000 per year, while a two-year master’s degree and doctoral degree can cost you between $11,000 and $20,000 annually.

Postgraduate Courses in Australia

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