Why Consider Doing a Postgraduate Course?
Postgraduate studies can be rewarding in its own right. It can also be an investment in your future. Chosen carefully, a postgraduate qualification can enhance your career prospects. You have to consider if the costs and hard work required will give you added value, hence prove to be a good investment.
If you are hoping to achieve the following, then enrolling in a postgraduate course will be the right direction for you:
- Increase your knowledge
- Increase earning potential
- Improve your career by deepening your knowledge
- Change your career by gaining skills in a new area
- Gain a qualification
- Develop beneficial connections
Why Pursue Your Postgraduate Qualification in Australia?
Australia has proven time and again to be the destination of choice for many international students. It imparts excellent educational and life-changing experiences to students.
Here are a few benefits of pursuing your postgraduate qualification in Australia:
- Students gain both theoretical and practical knowledge, aiding them in their journey to becoming an expert in their field of study.
- Australian universities place a strong focus on enhancing the leadership skills, personality, and soft skills of their students.
- Students have opportunities to do an internship with Australian or multinational companies, allowing them to acquire comprehensive industrial experience.
- Students have opportunities to permanently work with Australian or multinational companies, upon the completion of their postgraduate studies.
- Australia being a multicultural country, allows students to gain better insight into different working environments and cultural norms from other international students.
Types of Postgraduate Courses in Australia
There exists an array of postgraduate course types in Australia which can aid you in achieving your career goals. These can be divided into three main categories as follows.
Graduate Certificate/Diplomas: These courses are vocational qualifications that commonly supplement a Bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma — in order to expand on and enhance the skills and knowledge gained previously. Students whose main goal is to gain more practical skills for employment in a short period of time will opt for this category of postgraduate courses. These courses typically consist of a subset of units offered in the corresponding Master’s degree.
Graduate certificate (Professional certificate) |
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Graduate diploma |
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*Not all graduate certificates/diplomas have corresponding Master’s degrees. Want to keep your options open about upgrading to a Master’s degree upon course completion? Reach out to Excel Education today for a free consultation session.
Master’s Degree: These qualifications bestow students with a mastery or more advanced overview of their field of study. Students whose main goal is to develop their knowledge will opt for this category of postgraduate courses. Master’s courses typically commence in February or July.
Master’s degree (by research) |
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Master’s degree (by coursework) |
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Master’s degree (extended) |
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Doctoral Degree: The highest qualification universities may award to students. These qualifications signify one’s considerable original contribution to their field of study.
Research doctorate / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) |
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Professional doctorate |
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Coursework-based courses are structured courses where content is delivered through lectures and seminars. Students are assessed through assignments and examinations. Alternatively, research-based courses consist of self-directed study on a particular area of interest. These include minimal coursework (e.g. compulsory unit on research methods). Students are instead assessed through the thesis they have produced
General Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Programs in Australia
Entry requirements vary depending on several factors, e.g. the university and course of your choice. Additionally, the list of documents required varies according to the academic level of the course you are looking to undertake. An application for a Doctoral degree programme may require more documents than an application for a Master’s degree programme.
Nonetheless, the following documents should be prepared beforehand:
- Relevant bachelor’s degree that is recognised in Australia
- Academic transcripts
- Letter of motivation / Statement of purpose / Personal statement
- Relevant references
- Work experiences (if available)
- Portfolio (if available)
- Proof of language proficiency
Some postgraduate courses have additional entry requirements — such as the successful completion of an audition, test, and/or interview; and the submission of a research proposal (applicable for research-based courses).
*If you intend to pursue a Master’s degree but don’t meet the entry requirements, you may opt to study a graduate certificate or diploma first, then progress into the relevant Master’s degree programme. Graduate certificates and diplomas are often considered for admission into the equivalent Master’s degree, upon successful completion. Do note that not all graduate certificates or diplomas have corresponding Master’s degrees.
Language Requirements:
IELTS | Total score of ≥6.5
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TOEFL PB | Total score of ≥550
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TOEFL IBT | Total score of ≥79
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Pearson Test of English | Overall score of ≥58
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Cambridge C1 Advanced | Overall score of ≥176
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Cambridge C2 Proficiency | Overall score of ≥176
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*Requirements and accepted English proficiency tests vary across universities, faculties, and courses.
**Applicants from an English-speaking background or education may not be required to undertake an English proficiency test.
Each education provider and course will have different entrance requirements. For inquiries on the specific requirements, contact Excel Education.
Top Postgraduate Programs in Australia
Business and Management Studies
Business management consists of organising, planning, and analysing business activities, in order to manage and run a business efficiently. Pursuing a postgraduate course in Business and Management Studies is suitable for you if you are looking to learn more about what it takes for a business to succeed in today’s saturated global market; and acquire the skills and knowledge required to thrive in any business — be it a start-up or multinational company.
Some popular postgraduate courses offered within this subject area are:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Health Economics, Management and Policy
- Master of Finance and Banking
The following universities are highly ranked both globally and in Australia for courses in this subject area:
University | World Ranking by Subject |
University of Melbourne | 26 |
University of New South Wales (UNSW) | 40 |
University of Sydney | 43 |
Monash University | 45 |
University of Queensland | 61 |
Wondering which course and university might be a good fit for you? Contact us for more information on course structure, entry requirements, duration, fees, and scholarship availability!
Medical Science
Medical Science is the branch of science concerned with the study of life; death; and the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. It provides a deep dive into the body’s functions — including reactions to disease, drugs and the role of genetics. Further studies at postgraduate level is very common and can be necessary, particularly for jobs in research. Among the top professions pursued following a course in this subject area are biochemist, biomedical scientist, and laboratory technician. This is a suitable subject area to pursue if you are looking to further develop your specialist knowledge, research, and communication skills.
Good news for international students! Medical Science is on the Australian government’s Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List. Simply put, you are eligible for more potential permanent resident (PR) visas as an architect.
Some popular postgraduate courses offered within this subject area are:
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Master of Pharmaceutical Science
- Master of Clinical Research
The following universities are highly ranked both globally and in Australia for courses in this subject area:
University | World Ranking by Subject |
University of Melbourne | 18 |
University of Sydney | 19 |
Monash University | 36 |
University of New South Wales (UNSW) | 45 |
University of Queensland | 51 |
Wondering which course and university might be a good fit for you? Contact us for more information on course structure, entry requirements, duration, fees, and scholarship availability!
Engineering
Engineering is the application of science to effectively convert the resources of nature to fulfil the needs of humankind. Engineers address a variety of existing and emerging challenges: climate change, infrastructure instability, healthcare needs, food insecurity, etc. Hence, this discipline has an especially wide range of specialisations — chemical; civil; mechanical; and electrical & electronic being a prominent few. Pursuing a postgraduate qualification will enhance your chances of entering a profession in your desired field of engineering at a higher level — thus strongly impacts your salary and earning potential. You will get the opportunity to fine-tune your skill set to specific areas of engineering in graduate school, making yourself indispensable to employers.
Good news for international students! Engineering is on the Australian government’s Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List. Simply put, you are eligible for more potential permanent resident (PR) visas as an architect.
Some popular postgraduate courses offered within this subject area are:
- Master of Engineering (MEng) in Chemical Engineering
- Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering
- Master of Engineering (MEng) in Robotics and Automation
The following universities are highly ranked both globally and in Australia for courses in this subject area:
University | World Ranking by Subject |
University of New South Wales (UNSW) | 36 |
University of Melbourne | 50 |
Monash University | 58 |
University of Sydney | 65 |
Australian National University (ANU) | 79 |
Wondering which course and university might be a good fit for you? Contact us for more information on course structure, entry requirements, duration, fees, and scholarship availability!
Architecture
Blending art, science, mathematics, and technology, Architecture is an interdisciplinary field which is responsible for the designing and engineering of all large structures and buildings. Architects are knowledgeable about all manner of regulations and legislation, physics relating to structural stability and efficacy, project management and more. Your quality of work and prestige will increase with a postgraduate qualification, hence enhancing your job opportunities and salary prospects.
Good news for international students! Architecture is on the Australian government’s Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List. Simply put, you are eligible for more potential permanent resident (PR) visas as an architect.
Some popular postgraduate courses offered within this subject area are:
- Master of Architecture
- Master of Sustainable Design
- Master of Urban and Environmental Planning
The following universities are highly ranked both globally and in Australia for courses in this subject area:
University | World Ranking by Subject |
University of Sydney | 21 |
University of Melbourne | 23 |
RMIT University | 28 |
University of New South Wales (UNSW) | 33 |
Curtin University | 51–100 |
Wondering which course and university might be a good fit for you? Contact us for more information on course structure, entry requirements, duration, fees, and scholarship availability!
Computer Science and Information Technology
Computer Science consists of the development and testing of software and software systems — which includes working with mathematical models, data analysis and security, algorithms, and computational theories. On the other hand, Information Technology consists of the development, implementation, support, and management of computers and information systems — which includes working with both hardware and software. By pursuing a postgraduate qualification, you will gain specialised skills in one or more desired areas — e.g. artificial intelligence, network security. In turn, you will have better career advancement opportunities.
Some popular postgraduate courses offered within this subject area are:
- Master of Information Technology
- Master of Cybersecurity
- Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering (Cloud Computing)
The following universities are highly ranked both globally and in Australia for courses in this subject area:
University | World Ranking by Subject |
University of Melbourne | 39 |
University of Sydney | 50 |
Australian National University (ANU) | 51 |
University of New South Wales (UNSW) | 59 |
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) | 75 |
Wondering which course and university might be a good fit for you? Contact us for more information on course structure, entry requirements, duration, fees, and scholarship availability!
Work Permit After Completion of Postgraduate Course
International students are eligible to remain in Australia following the completion of their studies with the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — post-study work stream, which provides ample time for students to secure a job and gain points to qualify for permanent residency (PR). The length of your stay in Australia will depend on the level of your Australian study qualification. As a masters degree (by research, by coursework, or extended) holder, you will be granted 3 years stay. As a doctoral degree holder, you will be granted 4 years stay.
Alternatively, you may qualify for the following permanent visas (pending certain conditions) if your occupation is on the Australian government’s Skilled Occupation List:
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) — points tested stream
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
You may qualify for the following temporary visas* (pending certain conditions) if your occupation is on the Australian government’s Skilled Occupation List:
- Training visa (subclass 407)
- Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — graduate work stream
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494)
*A stay duration of 2 years minimum is granted. The duration granted varies across the visa types.
Interested in finding out more about your postgraduate options? Contact Excel Education today for a free consultation session.
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About The Author
Amanda Goon
In pursuit of lifelong learning. When I’m not talking science, you can find me in the studio dancing, the kitchen baking, or nose deep in a good book.
