Best Postgraduate (PG) Courses to Study in Australia

Australia is one of the most preferred countries to study abroad and pursue master's level courses. With course options of over 2000+ at the master's level, thousands of international students apply for admission to Australian universities. Check out the top postgraduate courses in Australia and the reasons why students pursue these courses.

Australia offers everything a good study-abroad destination has…top universities, excellent student life, post-study work options and transparent immigration policies. Adding to the many reasons why Australia is an excellent study-abroad destination are the many Scholarships available to International Students that make studying in Australia more economical than the USA and the UK. Be it undergraduate programs, Certificate Diplomas offered by TAFE or postgraduate courses, Australia has something to offer everybody. Here’s a look at some of the top postgraduate (PG) courses in Australia and what they entail, as their eligibility requirements as well as some of the top-ranking universities of Australia offering these courses.

Why Study Master's in Australia?

If thousands of international students are admitted across Australian universities for admission to master's courses, then it definitely means there is something extraordinary about it. Let us understand in detail as to why international students should pursue master's in Australia:

• Australian universities are globally recognised and are globally recognised and so are their courses. Check out in detail about Australian universities and subject rankings.
• Master's degrees offered at Australian universities are recognised worldwide and students with these degrees can work anywhere in the world. 
• Admission for postgraduate courses at Australian universities is based on a bachelor's degree from anywhere in the world. 
• A Master's in Australia requires a separate visa called the Temporary Graduate Visa (485) and 90% of applications of which are processed within 91 days. 
• After a master's from Australia, various post-study work options can be taken up easily by international students. 

Some reasons may vary from person to person or based on their goals in life. Thus, applicants should take up whatever suits them the best and then make a choice to study in Australia at the postgraduate level. 

Top 6 Popular Postgraduate Courses in Australia

The following is a list of popular specialisations which students pursue when opting for a postgraduate course in Australia. These courses vary from STEM, Arts & Humanities and Medical or Nursing-related fields of study. Read on for detailed information:

1. PG Engineering & Technology Courses in Australia

Engineering and technology continue to attract students from across the world to Australian Universities. Both, engineering courses across various disciplines like Civil, Electronics, Automation, etc. as well as courses like Masters in Information Technology, Masters in Computer Applications, etc. enjoy a steady inflow of students from across continents. What adds to the appeal of the courses is the steady work requirement in the domains. Excellent research facilities, steady post-study work possibilities and wide acknowledgement continue to make Australian degrees acceptable to a wide variety of international students…especially Indians. Many top Australian universities featured in the top 50 universities of the world for different engineering and computer courses are:

• The University of Melbourne
• The University of Sydney
• University of New South Wales

Check out: Top 10 Engineering Colleges in Australia

2. PG Accounting and Finance Courses in Australia

Another course that drives international student volumes to the continent country is Accounting and Finance. In fact, a large number of students planning to study in Australia opt for accounting degrees over management degrees. The reasons are many but primarily the most definitive reason for this trend is that you need not have a degree in accounting to apply for a master's in accounting and finance. More importantly, a postgraduate degree in accounting makes a student eligible for the Professional Year Program (PYP). Most of the universities offer master's degrees that are accredited by professional accounting bodies like the CPA Australia (Chartered Practising Accountants), Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand as well as the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). For example, The Skilled Migration Internship Program — Accounting (SMIPA) provides a minimum of 44 weeks of training that includes a 12-week internship with a hosting company. Successfully completing this increases the student’s chances of getting a permanent residency in Australia. And the quality of education remains un-parallel with the University of Melbourne and New South Wales featuring in the world's top 10 universities for Accounting and Finance (source: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021). Other top universities that feature in the top 50 of the Global Ranking include:

• The University of Sydney
• Monash University
• Australian National University
• University of Queensland
• The University of Adelaide.

3. PG Management Courses in Australia

MBA in Australia as a master’s degree has a worldwide acceptance with huge demand across countries. Though universities in the USA continue to rule the management courses, Australia's PG management courses are not far behind. Top-class universities offering widely recognized PG management degree adds to the course’s popularity in the country. These PG Management courses offered by Australian universities have featured among the top 100 B-Schools of the World (as per Financial Times MBA Rankings 2023). There are many reasons why an MBA from Australia continues to be among the top PG management courses and one of them is that while many top universities in Australia feature in the Global Rankings, there are many Universities in Australia that do not require a GMAT like the following universities:

• Melbourne Business School
• Australian Graduate School of Management 
• Macquarie Graduate School of Management 

A special mention goes to Dual Specialization options in Australia for management courses. This is one of the most popular choices among PG management aspirants which is usually a two-year-long dual specialization in Master of Professional Accounting-Master of Business Administration (MPA-MBA) and Masters in Engineering Management in Australia, offered by many top B-schools in the country. This dual degree course in Australia is ideal for those who wish to work as professional accountants and in senior management positions. Colleges offering MBA-MPA include the

• University of Canberra
• James Cook University
• University of Southern Queensland
• Australian Catholic University 

4. PG Education Courses in Australia

The high demand for a skilled workforce in the country continues to drive volumes to courses and another course that is widely popular in Australia in Education. With 9 Australian Universities featuring in the Top 50 globally for the subject, there is little reason to doubt the effectiveness of these courses. In fact, 4 universities namely:

• University of Melbourne
• Monash University
• University of Sydney
• University of Queensland 

have been featured in the top 10 of QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 – Education. Some of the wide range of courses available in Education include a Master of Education, Master of Educational Management or a Master of Education (International Baccalaureate), etc.

5. PG Computer Science & Information Technology Courses in Australia

The people who proposed that Information Technology was a bubble perhaps did not foresee the impact it has on the life of the common man. Needless to say, the wide advancements in technologies continue to drive students toward the courses. The comparatively relaxed eligibility norms, the thriving industry as well and the research support make Computer Sciences and Information Technology as well as Information Science one of the most sought-after master’s programs in Australia. Master of Information Technology and Master of Information Systems attract massive volumes which also offer a chance for dual degrees to students and an opportunity to gain an MBA along with the courses. Some colleges expect aspirants to have a bachelor’s degree in the related field while others welcome students who do not have any previous IT qualifications. The University of Melbourne and Australian National University rank among the top 20 universities in the world for this subject.

6. PG Nursing Courses in Australia

Masters in Nursing in Australia is one of the popular choices among international students. The eligibility criteria for students applying to Nursing courses in Australia after graduation will have to prove that they hold a bachelor's degree which is equivalent to Level 7 of AQF. English Language Proficiency test scores are also mandatory for submission. Applicants can choose to submit either TOEFL or IELTS or PTE. Some of the top-ranking universities in Australia offering a Master's in Nursing are as follows:

• University of Technology Sydney
• Griffith University
• Deakin University
• The University of Melbourne 

Apart from these courses, applicants can also look at pursuing Graduate Diploma courses in Australia. More details can be found here - Diploma Courses in Australia.