The Australian National University (ANU), in Canberra, is Australia’s national university, founded in 1946. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 29th in the world and fourth in Australia. It’s a research-intensive university known for politics and international relations, Asia-Pacific studies, economics, the sciences, computing and engineering, and its campus is a short walk from the centre of Australia’s capital.
Admission to most ANU bachelor’s degrees is based mainly on your academic results, and every eligible international applicant is considered for a scholarship. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on ANU’s own guidance and official Australian government information.
1. Choose your programmes and order them carefully
ANU offers single and flexible double degrees in areas such as Arts, Commerce, Science, Computing, Engineering (Honours), International Relations and Law. In ANU’s online application, you list your programmes in order of preference, and if you’re successful, you’ll get an offer for your highest eligible preference. ANU suggests you don’t simply list every programme, so choose the ones you really want.
2. Apply by 15 December 2026 for Semester 1
For Semester 1 2027, which starts in late February, applications through ANU’s online application close on 15 December 2026, and the application fee is A$150. Programmes with additional selection criteria may have different dates. For Semester 2 2027, applications close on 15 May 2027. If you’re studying for an Australian Year 12 or certain other qualifications, such as the IB Diploma in Australia, you apply through UAC International instead. ANU international applications.
3. Meet the indicative entry score
ANU publishes a minimum indicative score for each undergraduate programme, which it converts from your qualification, such as the IB, A levels or your national school leaving exam. Some programmes also have prerequisites or assumed knowledge, such as mathematics for Engineering, Computing and Commerce. Keep your grades strong right through your final year, because offers can be conditional on your final results.
4. Send complete documents
ANU may give you a conditional offer if it doesn’t yet have all your documents, but you need to meet every requirement to get a full offer. Upload your transcripts, certificates, passport and English test results as soon as you can, so there are no delays.
5. Meet the English requirement
For undergraduate programmes, ANU asks for IELTS Academic of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band. It accepts IELTS One Skill Retake, but not online results, and your test must usually be no more than two years old when you apply. You can also meet the requirement through some previous study in English. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. ANU English language requirements.
6. Aim for the Chancellor’s International Scholarship
All eligible international students who apply to start at ANU are automatically considered for the ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship, which reduces your tuition fees by 25% or 50%, depending on the award category that applies to you. There are 9 categories based on your citizenship, and selection is based on academic merit, so your grades really matter. ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship.
7. Understand the fees
For 2027, ANU’s annual indicative fee for international students is A$51,170 for the Bachelor of Arts and A$57,640 for degrees such as Commerce, Science, Computing and Engineering (Honours). The fees you pay depend on the courses you take, and they’re reviewed and usually rise each year. Canberra is generally cheaper to live in than Sydney or Melbourne. ANU international tuition fees.
8. Accept your offer and take the housing guarantee
For Semester 1 2027, the acceptance deadline is 15 January 2027 if you’re overseas, or 31 January if you’re in Australia. ANU guarantees an offer of on-campus accommodation to international undergraduates starting in the first semester of their first year, if they meet the conditions, so apply for housing as soon as you accept your offer.
9. Apply for your Student visa
If you’re not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident, you’ll usually need a Student visa (subclass 500). You apply once you’ve accepted your offer and received your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE). Since 1 July 2026, the visa application charge for most applicants has been A$2,500. You must meet the Genuine Student requirement, have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your stay, and show that you can pay your travel, tuition and living costs, including at least A$29,710 a year for living costs. Since 2 October 2026, most new Student visa applicants can no longer include family members, with exemptions for doctoral students, nationals of Pacific and ASEAN countries and some government-sponsored students. Rules change often, so check the Department of Home Affairs for the latest advice.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
While your course is in session, you can usually work up to 48 hours a fortnight, with no limit during scheduled course breaks, and research master’s and PhD students have no limit once their course has started. After you graduate, you may be eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) in the Post-Higher Education Work stream, which usually lets you stay and work for two to three years, depending on your qualification, if you’re 35 or under when you apply. Its application charge rose to A$5,750 on 1 July 2026. As the capital, Canberra offers opportunities in government, policy and research organisations, although some government jobs are only open to Australian citizens.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at ANU?
The Chancellor’s International Scholarship is also open to postgraduate coursework students, and some schools, such as the Crawford School of Public Policy, have earlier deadlines: 31 October 2026 for Semester 1 2027. For a research degree, such as a PhD, you’ll usually need to find a supervisor first and send a research proposal. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
ANU’s popular programmes are competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to UNSW Sydney, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney and Monash University. Our guide to studying in Australia explains how the Australian system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the Australian National University’s official admissions, English language, fees and scholarship pages, official Australian government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on ANU’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the Australian National University.