Monash University, founded in 1958, is Australia’s largest university. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it rose five places to 31st in the world and was fifth in Australia. Its biggest campus is in Clayton, in Melbourne’s south-east, and it also has campuses in Caulfield, Parkville and Peninsula, as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia. It’s known for pharmacy, medicine, engineering, information technology, business and education.
Monash takes applications from international students all year round, admission to most bachelor’s degrees is based mainly on your academic results, and every international student with an undergraduate offer is considered for its scholarships. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Monash’s own guidance and official Australian government information.
1. Choose your course and campus
Monash offers a wide range of single and double degrees, such as Engineering (Honours), Information Technology, Computer Science, Commerce, Pharmacy, Science and Arts. Some courses are only taught at one campus, so check where your course is taught and what your entry requirements are as an international student.
2. Apply directly, and apply early
International students with an overseas qualification apply directly to Monash through its online application, by themselves or through an agent, and the application fee is A$125. Monash accepts applications at any time of year, for Semester 1, which starts in early March, and mid-year entry. If you’re studying for an Australian Year 12, or the IB or NCEA in Australia or New Zealand, you apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) instead. Apply early, so you have time for scholarships, housing and your visa. Monash application steps for international students.
3. Meet the entry score and prerequisites
Each course publishes the results it expects from your qualification, such as the IB, A levels or your national school leaving exam. Many courses also have prerequisite subjects, such as mathematics for Engineering, Computer Science and Commerce, or chemistry for Pharmacy. Keep your grades strong right through your final year, because offers can be conditional on your final results.
4. Consider a pathway if you need one
If your results aren’t high enough for direct entry, or your school qualification isn’t accepted for first-year entry, Monash College offers foundation year and diploma programmes that can lead into many Monash degrees. Check the results you’ll need in the pathway to move into your chosen course.
5. Meet the English requirement
Many Monash courses, including Science and Engineering, ask for IELTS Academic of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band, but some courses ask for more. Check the English requirements on your course page, and remember that you can usually also meet them with tests such as TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic, or through some previous study in English. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. Monash English language requirements.
6. Get considered for scholarships automatically
International students who receive an undergraduate offer from Monash are automatically considered for the Monash International Merit Scholarship, which is worth A$15,000 a year for awards made from 2026, and for the Monash International Leadership Scholarship, which pays 100% of your course fees. Only four Leadership Scholarships are awarded each year, and both are based mainly on academic achievement, so high grades really matter. Monash International Merit Scholarship.
7. Understand the fees
International tuition at Monash depends on your course and the units you take, and it usually rises each year. For students starting in 2026, Monash’s international guide listed annual fees of about A$50,000–60,000 for many bachelor’s degrees at Clayton, and Monash says fees for 2027 will be different, so check your course page for the latest figure. Living costs in Melbourne’s suburbs are usually lower than in central Sydney. Monash course fees and study costs.
8. Accept your offer
To accept, you return your signed International Student Course Agreement and pay your deposit, which includes Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), before your offer lapses. Monash then sends you your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE). Monash advises you not to start your visa application until you have your eCoE, and says a student visa can take six months or more for some applicants, so don’t leave it late.
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). Since 1 July 2026, the visa application charge for most applicants has been A$2,500. You must meet the Genuine Student requirement, have 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. Many Monash courses offer internships or industry placements, which can help you gain work experience.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Monash?
Monash’s postgraduate coursework degrees have their own entry requirements, and some, such as those in business, ask for relevant work experience. For a research degree, such as a PhD, you’ll usually need to find a supervisor first, and Monash offers research scholarships, such as the Monash Graduate Scholarship. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Monash’s popular courses are competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to UNSW Sydney, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney and the Australian National 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 Monash 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 Monash’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Monash University.