Postgraduate study in Australia and New Zealand

Increasing numbers of students from Ireland, north and south, are choosing to pursue postgraduate study opportunities in Australia and New Zealand – attracted by the quality of education, cultures and lifestyles offered by these countries. 

In the World University Rankings published by The Times Higher Education Supplement in October 2006, six Australian universities appeared in the top 50; two of the eight universities in New Zealand were also in the top 100. Australia and New Zealand are leading countries in which to study subjects such as marine biology, conservation, engineering, development studies and Asia-Pacific business and politics. 

Postgraduate qualifications in Australia and New Zealand take a similar amount of time to complete, are taught in much the same way and go by most of the same names as they do in Ireland. As a result, postgraduate students in Australia and New Zealand will usually have similar backgrounds to their Irish counterparts; they will range in age from early 20s – for those who have come straight from an undergraduate degree – to 30s and 40s for those who have amassed work experience before returning to study.

Applying for your course

Applications for taught postgraduate courses can be made directly via Study Options, who can provide application forms as well as a checklist of the supporting documents required. Students wishing to pursue Masters courses by research, however, must first contact the relevant faculties to discuss their intended research work with an academic. If the faculty provisionally approves it, they will then advise the student to submit a formal application via Study Options. You can find out more information at www.newzealandeducated.com and www.studyinaustralia.gov.au. 

All applicants for postgraduate study in Australia and New Zealand must have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognised institution. Entry requirements are individually set by the universities and do vary – some will be looking for a final minimum grade of 2.1 (60 per cent and above),while others are more concerned with the relevancy of the undergraduate degree. There are no language requirements for applicants for whom English is a first language.

Funding your course

Postgraduate students from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will be expected to pay full international tuition fees in Australia. These are individually set by the universities and therefore vary, but in most cases will range from AU$17,000–28,000 per year (c. €11,000–18,000, £7,250–12,000). Funding options are limited and students need to be prepared to fund the bulk of their study privately. In New Zealand, expect to pay between NZ$16,000 and NZ$20,000 (c. €8,000–11,000, £6,000–£6,765). There are some scholarships available for doctoral study in New Zealand.

Securing visas

Anyone who wishes to study a course longer than three months must get a student visa. In order to apply for a student visa, you must first have been given a formal offer of a place by a university in Australia or New Zealand (as appropriate), have accepted it and paid a deposit made up of the first semester’s tuition fees plus compulsory insurance cover.

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