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  • a citizen of Australia or New Zealand,
  • an Australian permanent resident, or
  • a holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa.

You're an international student if you are:

  • intending to study on a student visa,
  • not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand,
  • not an Australian permanent resident, or
  • a temporary resident (visa status) of Australia.
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Review fees and financial support

Postgraduate coursework

Postgraduate study is a valuable investment in your future. Knowing the costs and what support is available will help you manage your money.

Fees

Before you apply for university, there are some costs to consider. These include:

Course fees

For some postgraduate coursework programs you'll pay full tuition fees.

For postgraduate domestic students, tuition fees are program-based. This means you'll pay the same tuition fee for each course you study in your program during one academic year.

Tuition fees increase annually. The increase is usually fixed 12 months in advance, so you can plan your finances ahead of time.

You can pay these fees upfront or, if you're eligible, defer them through a FEE-HELP loan.

Actual fees may be lower or higher depending on the time you take to complete a program. Fees are reviewed annually and may be higher in later years.

Some programs also have extra costs for things like equipment or field trips. These costs are listed on the program page.

Commonwealth supported places (CSPs)

Most postgraduate programs at UQ have Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) available for eligible students. A CSP is a place that’s partially funded by the Australian Government.

The Government subsidises a CSP by paying part of the fee directly to the university. The subsidy amount isn't a loan – you don’t have to pay this amount back.

But you’re required to pay the remainder of the fee, known as the 'student contribution amount', for each course you’re enrolled in. You can pay this fee upfront or, if you're eligible, defer it through a HECS-HELP loan.

Students do not need to apply separately for a CSP. Eligible students that submit a completed application by the closing date and meet the program’s entry requirements for the chosen program will automatically be considered for a CSP. 

Learn more about eligibility for CSPs

 

Student contributions are reviewed annually and may be higher in later years. Postgraduate programs with CSPs vary from year to year.

You can view the fee type for each program under the 'Fees and Scholarships' tab of each program page.

Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

Most Australian universities charge a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

The SSAF is used to fund non-academic services for students, including sports and recreation, employment and career advice, child care and food services.

The maximum annual fee is $326 for 2023 and $351 for 2024. This fee increases annually. The amount you have to pay will depend on whether you're an internal or external student, and whether you study full-time or part-time.

You can pay this fee upfront or, if you're eligible, defer it through an SA-HELP loan.

Learn more about the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

Administrative fees

Under certain circumstances, you may have to pay additional administrative fees for things like:

  • paying your fees late
  • adding or substituting courses.
  • cancelling your enrolment
  • paying your fees late
  • adding or substituting courses.

For a full list of administrative fees, see our fee schedules.

Other expenses

There's a range of other costs you may need to pay for, including accommodation, textbooks and transport. Our living costs guide can help you budget for common expenses.

There's a range of other costs you may need to pay for, including student visa fees, accommodation, textbooks and transport. Our living costs guide can help you budget for common expenses.

Learn more about the cost of living in Brisbane

Financial support

To help you cover your costs, there's a range of financial support available, including:

Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)

The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) offers several schemes to support eligible students with the cost of their education. There are 3 main schemes that support postgraduate students:

FEE-HELP

If you're a full-fee paying student, you may be able to use a FEE-HELP loan to cover your tuition fees.

You can apply for FEE-HELP if you are: 

  • an Australian citizen, or
  • a permanent humanitarian visa holder, or
  • a New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets relevant residency requirements.

We'll guide you through how to apply for FEE-HELP once you've accepted an offer to study at UQ.

There is a limit to the combined amount you can borrow through HELP loans to cover course fees. This includes HECS-HELP loans incurred from 2020 onwards, and all existing and new FEE-HELP loans.

If you're accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place, you can't use FEE-HELP – you'll need to use HECS-HELP instead.

Learn more about FEE-HELP

HECS-HELP

If you're enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), you may be able to use a HECS-HELP loan to cover your student contribution amount.

To be eligible for HECS-HELP you must be enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place, and be:

  • an Australian citizen, or
  • a permanent humanitarian visa holder, or
  • a New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets relevant residency requirements.

We'll guide you through how to apply for HECS-HELP once you've accepted an offer to study at UQ.

There is a limit to the combined amount you can borrow through HELP loans to cover course fees. This includes HECS-HELP loans incurred from 2020 onwards, and all existing and new FEE-HELP loans.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

SA-HELP

SA-HELP is a loan scheme that helps students pay their Student Services and Amenities Fee.

If you're eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP, you'll usually also be eligible for SA-HELP. You can use SA-HELP even if you don't take out any other HELP loan.

We'll guide you through how to apply for SA-HELP once you've accepted an offer to study at UQ.

Learn more about SA-HELP

Scholarships

Scholarships can help make your university experience more affordable. We offer more scholarships than any other university in Queensland, so it's worth taking some time to research and apply.

Application opening and closing dates vary, so search for scholarships as early as possible to ensure you don't miss application deadlines.

Find a scholarship

Centrelink support

The Australian Government has approved some masters programs for Centrelink income support to eligible students. Check the program page under ‘Fees and scholarships’ to find out whether the program you're interested in is approved.

Fees

Before you apply for university, there are some costs to consider. These include:

Tuition fees

Tuition fees for international students are program-based. This means you'll pay the same tuition fee for each course you study in your program during one academic year.

Tuition fees increase annually. The increase is usually fixed 12 months in advance, so you can plan your finances ahead of time.

To help you estimate your costs, check our indicative fees. The list shows the average annual cost and estimated total cost of tuition fees for full-time study in each of our programs.

Non-tuition fees

Non-tuition fees are other fees you may need to pay to UQ. This includes costs like:

  • Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
  • administrative fees.

This can also include costs for any equipment, accommodation or health insurance organised through UQ.

To help you estimate your non-tuition fees, check our indicative fees.

Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

Most Australian universities charge a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

The SSAF is used to fund non-academic services for students, including sports and recreation, employment and career advice, child care and food services.

The maximum annual fee is $326 for 2023 and $351 for 2024. This fee increases annually. The amount you have to pay will depend on whether you're an internal or external student, and whether you study full-time or part-time.

You can pay this fee upfront or, if you're eligible, defer it through an SA-HELP loan.

Learn more about the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

Administrative fees

Under certain circumstances, you may have to pay additional administrative fees for things like:

  • paying your fees late
  • adding or substituting courses.
  • cancelling your enrolment
  • paying your fees late
  • adding or substituting courses.

For a full list of administrative fees, see our fee schedules.

Other expenses

There's a range of other costs you may need to pay for, including accommodation, textbooks and transport. Our living costs guide can help you budget for common expenses.

There's a range of other costs you may need to pay for, including student visa fees, accommodation, textbooks and transport. Our living costs guide can help you budget for common expenses.

Learn more about the cost of living in Brisbane

Financial support

To help you cover your costs, there's a range of financial support available, including:

Scholarships

Scholarships can help make your university experience more affordable. We offer more scholarships than any other university in Queensland, so it's worth taking some time to research and apply.

Application opening and closing dates vary, so search for scholarships as early as possible to ensure you don't miss application deadlines.

Find a scholarship

Financial aid

You may be eligible to apply for student loan programs offered by your home country to cover some of your educational expenses.

Learn more about financial aid programs