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Research-intensive national university. This guide covers Australian National University's courses, fees, English & academic requirements, scholarships, the step-by-step admission process, student-visa and post-study-work rules, and tips to get in — everything in one place.
▶ Predict my admission chances (free)📚 Courses & programs at Australian National University
Australian National University is best known for Research, Computing, Policy. Popular programs for international students include:
- Master of Computing
- Master of Machine Learning & CV
- Master of Eng
- Master of Finance
Class profile: Avg GPA 3.0+. Notable alumni: 6 Nobel laureates.
✅ Entry requirements
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 |
| PTE Academic | 64 |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 |
| GRE | Optional |
| GMAT (MBA) | 600 |
| Min GPA / grade | 3.0/4.0 |
| Work experience | Not required |
💰 Fees & cost of studying
| Tuition (international) | AUD 47k/yr |
| Application fee | Free |
| Living costs (est.) | AUD 21,000/yr (visa requirement) |
| Scholarships | ANU Chancellor's, country awards |
Plan your budget for tuition + living + health insurance + the visa fee. Compare funding with the free scholarship finder.
📝 Step-by-step admission process
- Choose Feb or Jul intake
- Meet IELTS 6.5; prepare SOP, CV, transcripts
- Apply via portal or agent (rolling)
- Receive offer → accept & pay deposit
- Get CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment)
- Apply for Subclass 500 student visa
📄 Documents checklist
- Transcripts
- Statement of Purpose
- CV
- IELTS / TOEFL / PTE
- Passport
- Financial proof
- GTE statement
- CoE
🛂 Student visa & post-study work · Australia
- Student visa: Student visa (Subclass 500)
- Work while studying: 48 hrs/fortnight during term
- Post-study work: Temporary Graduate visa (485): 2–4 years
🎯 Tips & tricks to get admission
- Beat the bar. With about 35% acceptance, aim above the minimums — target IELTS 7+ and a strong GPA, and lead with research, projects or publications.
- Write a tailored SOP. Name the exact program and 1–2 professors/labs at Australian National University and connect your background to them — generic essays are the #1 reason strong profiles get rejected.
- Hit the English score first. Australian National University needs IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 80 / PTE 64. Take a free full-length mock to find your weakest section before you book the real test.
- Prepare finances early. Budget for tuition (AUD 47k/yr) plus living costs (AUD 21,000/yr (visa requirement)); visa officers want clear, stable proof of funds.
- Apply in the right intake. Australian National University's main intakes are Feb & Jul — applying 4–6 months ahead keeps scholarships and on-campus housing open.
📅 Intakes & deadlines
| Intakes | Feb, Jul |
| Typical deadline | Rolling |
| Acceptance rate | 35% (competitive) |
All figures are indicative and change year to year — always confirm on the official site (anu.edu.au) before applying.
How Australian National University compares in Australia
The figures on this page mean little on their own. Set against the 26 other Australia universities in our dataset, they say something more useful about where an application to Australian National University is likely to be won or lost.
- Selectivity. An indicative acceptance rate of about 35% against a median of 63% across the 26 other Australia universities in our dataset. 2 of them are harder to get into than Australian National University. It sits on the more selective side of its national peer group, so meeting the published minimums is the floor rather than the goal.
- Rank in context. QS #30, against a peer median of #197; 3 Australia universities rank above it here. Rank is worth exactly this much and no more — it is driven by institution-wide research output and reputation surveys, not by the department you would actually join, so treat it as a coarse filter and judge the programme on its own page.
- English bar. IELTS 6.5 against a peer median of 6.5. That is exactly the national norm, so a score built for this application should travel across your whole shortlist. Equivalents: TOEFL 80, PTE 64.
Programme areas: Master of Computing · Master of Machine Learning & CV · Master of Eng · Master of Finance. Entry requirements are set per programme, not per university, so the figures above are the institutional baseline — a competitive department inside an accessible university can run far tighter than the headline rate suggests.
Practical order of work for Australian National University: clear the English requirement first, because it gates everything and is the only part of the application you fully control; then confirm which of the Feb and Jul intakes you are targeting, since the typical deadline is Rolling and funding decisions usually close before admission decisions; then build the application around one specific programme rather than the institution. Budget the application fee of Free per programme, and living costs of AUD 21,000/yr (visa requirement) on top of tuition of AUD 47k/yr.
Figures here are indicative and compiled for comparison. Acceptance rates in particular are institution-level estimates and move year to year — confirm anything you are deciding on against the university's official pages.
Frequently asked questions
- What IELTS score do I need for Australian National University?
- Australian National University typically requires IELTS 6.5 (TOEFL 80, PTE 64). GRE: Optional.
- How much does Australian National University cost?
- International tuition is approximately AUD 47k/yr, plus living costs of AUD 21,000/yr (visa requirement). Application fee: Free.
- What is the acceptance rate at Australian National University?
- Australian National University has an indicative acceptance rate of about 35% (Avg GPA 3.0+).
- What are the intakes and deadlines at Australian National University?
- Intakes: Feb, Jul. Typical deadline: Rolling.
- Is Australian National University hard to get into?
- Australian National University is competitive, with an indicative acceptance rate of about 35%. Aim above the minimum scores and build a standout profile.
- Does Australian National University require GRE or GMAT?
- GRE: Optional. GMAT (for MBA): 600. Always confirm the exact policy for your specific program on the official site.
- Can I work after studying at Australian National University?
- Temporary Graduate visa (485): 2–4 years (Australia). You can typically also work part-time while studying: 48 hrs/fortnight during term.
- What documents do I need to apply to Australian National University?
- Typically: Transcripts, Statement of Purpose, CV, IELTS / TOEFL / PTE, Passport, Financial proof, GTE statement, CoE. Check program-specific requirements before applying.
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