About the university
CQUniversity Australia (Central Queensland University) is a public university with its headquarters in Rockhampton, Queensland, and campuses across regional Queensland and in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It has about 13,500 students, and 30% are international, according to THE World University Rankings 2027 data.
CQU is known for flexible study: it has offered distance and online education for more than 40 years and runs three terms a year. It holds a five-star QS Stars rating (2024) and offers what it calls an Australia-first Graduate Guarantee for its graduates.
For Indian students, the main attractions are lower fees than most city universities and big-city campuses. In 2026 the Master of Information Technology cost AUD 39,840 for the first year and the Master of Project Management AUD 38,640. Popular courses such as IT, business and accounting can be studied in Sydney or Melbourne, with up to three intakes a year.
Students who choose a regional campus such as Rockhampton or Cairns live in smaller, cheaper cities in tropical Queensland. Studying in a regional area may also count towards extra post-study work time; see our Australia country guide for details.
- Type
- Public university, headquartered in Rockhampton, Queensland
- Total students
- About 13,500 (13,497 in THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- International students
- 30% (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 24.9 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Campuses for international students
- Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Rockhampton, Cairns and Bundaberg, depending on the course, plus online
- Intakes
- Three terms a year: Term 1 (March), Term 2 (July) and, for some courses in Sydney and Melbourne, Term 3 (November)
Rankings
THE World University Rankings 2027
451–500 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Master of Information Technology (CC54)
- Fee / year
- A$39,840
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- Terms 1 and 2 (March, July) at Brisbane, Melbourne, Rockhampton and Sydney; Term 3 (November) at Melbourne and Sydney
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.5 in each band)
- Postgraduate
Master of Project Management (CV84)
- Fee / year
- A$38,640
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- Terms 1 and 2 (March, July) at Melbourne and Sydney
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.5 in each band)
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Information Technology (CQ18)
- Fee / year
- A$36,720
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- Terms 1 and 2 (March, July) at Cairns, Melbourne, Rockhampton and Sydney; Term 3 (November) at Melbourne and Sydney
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.5 in each band)
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- A$35,250
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- Terms 1 and 2 (March, July) at Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney; Term 3 (November) at Melbourne and Sydney
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.5 in each band)
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- A$35,040
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- Terms 1, 2 and 3 (March, July, November) at Melbourne and Sydney
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.5 in each band)
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (CC31)
- Fee / year
- A$44,910
- Duration
- 4 years
- Intakes
- Term 1 (March) at Cairns and Rockhampton
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.5 in each band)
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Medical Science (Specialisation) (CG93)
- Fee / year
- A$43,440
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- Term 1 (March) at Bundaberg and Rockhampton
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in each band)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (AUD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Information Technology (CC54) | 2 years | A$39,840 | ≈ ₹25.9 lakh |
| Master of Project Management (CV84) | 2 years | A$38,640 | ≈ ₹25.1 lakh |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (CQ18) | 3 years | A$36,720 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Business (CL86) | 3 years | A$35,250 | ≈ ₹22.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Accounting (CQ01) | 3 years | A$35,040 | ≈ ₹22.8 lakh |
| Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (CC31) | 4 years | A$44,910 | ≈ ₹29.2 lakh |
| Bachelor of Medical Science (Specialisation) (CG93) | 3 years | A$43,440 | ≈ ₹28.2 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at CQUniversity Australia with similar universities in Australia.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- CQU lists Australian entry ranks for each bachelor's degree (for example ATAR 60 for Business and Accounting, 65 for IT and 69 for Engineering) and assesses international qualifications such as Class 12 as equivalents. Each applicant is assessed individually.
- Engineering needs mathematics and English at senior school level; IT needs English.
- Contact CQU's international team to confirm the Class 12 percentage it accepts for your course.
Postgraduate
- Master's courses on this page need a completed bachelor's degree (Australian or AQF-equivalent).
- Each applicant is assessed individually.
- The Master of Information Technology and Master of Project Management take 2 years full time.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Degree certificate and transcripts (for master's)
- English test score (no more than two years old at the start of study)
- Statement of purpose and financial documents for the Genuine Student requirement
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band for most courses on this page; 6.5 with 6.0 in each band for Medical Science. |
| PTE Academic | 54 overall with no sub-score below 46 (where IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 bands is required). |
| TOEFL iBT | 75 overall with no section below 17 (where IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 bands is required). |
| Occupational English Test | Grade A or B in each of the four components. |
| Test validity | Results must be no more than two years old when you start. |
Accommodation and living costs
CQU's international students page describes on-campus options at some regional campuses and long-term off-campus housing. Most international students in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane rent privately. We could not confirm current prices on CQU's site, so check costs with CQU before you budget.
| Item | In AUD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
CQU has a network of campuses. Its city campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane teach mainly business, accounting, IT and project management, while regional campuses such as Rockhampton, Cairns and Bundaberg host engineering, health and science.
- Sydney and Melbourne campuses offer three intakes a year for several popular courses.
- Engineering is taught at Cairns and Rockhampton.
- Medical Science is taught at Bundaberg and Rockhampton.
- CQU has more than 40 years of experience in distance and online education.
Careers and graduate outcomes
CQU offers a Graduate Guarantee, under which graduates who do not find work in their field can receive ongoing support for further learning (check CQU's terms). For Australian post-study work rules, see our Australia country guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| International students as a share of all students | 30% | THE World University Rankings 2027 data |
| QS Stars rating | Five stars overall and in five categories | QS Stars 2024, quoted by CQU |
Studying in Australia
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Australia. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Australia
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FAQs
How much does a master's at CQU cost?
The Master of Information Technology was AUD 39,840 and the Master of Project Management AUD 38,640 for the first year in 2026. CQU had not yet shown 2027 fees in its handbook in October 2026.
Which campus should I choose?
IT, business, accounting and project management are taught in Sydney and Melbourne, and some also in Brisbane. Engineering and medical science are at regional Queensland campuses such as Rockhampton and Cairns.
How many intakes does CQU have?
CQU runs three terms a year. Many courses start in Term 1 (March) and Term 2 (July), and some Sydney and Melbourne courses also start in Term 3 (November).
What IELTS score do I need?
Usually 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band, or PTE 54 with no score below 46. Some health courses need more.
Are there scholarships for Indian students?
CQU mentions international scholarships but did not list current ones on its scholarships page in October 2026. Email international-enquiries@cqu.edu.au to ask what is available for your intake.
Sources
- CQUniversity Handbook: Master of Information Technology (CC54) (opens in a new tab)
- CQUniversity Handbook: Master of Project Management (CV84) (opens in a new tab)
- CQUniversity Handbook: Bachelor of Information Technology (CQ18) (opens in a new tab)
- CQUniversity Handbook: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (CC31) (opens in a new tab)
- CQUniversity Handbook: Bachelor of Business (CL86) (opens in a new tab)
- CQUniversity: international students (opens in a new tab)
- CQUniversity: scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: CQUniversity (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.cqu.edu.au (opens in a new tab)
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