Overview

The University of Queensland was established in 1909 and is one of Australia's leading research and teaching universities, located in the St. Lucia suburb of Brisbane, along the Brisbane River.  Established in 1909, the University of Queensland is Australia's leading research and teaching institute. 

UQ has over 55,000 enrolled students, including 21,500 international students from 141 countries and 20,000 postgraduate students. Students can choose from more than 348 available programs, many providing work-integrated learning opportunities. 

The University of Queensland (UQ) is a member of the research-intensive Go8 universities and Universitas 21. Indian students are the 2nd largest international student body of this university (1st China and 3rd Hong Kong SAR). 

UQ counts two Nobel laureates (Peter C. Doherty and John Harsanyi), over a hundred Olympians winning numerous gold medals, and 117 Rhodes Scholars among its alumni and former staff. UQ's alumni also include the first female Governor-General of Australia Dame Quentin Bryce, Oscar and Emmy Award winner Geoffrey Rush, triple Grammy Award winner Tim Munro, and former CEO and chairman of Dow Chemical Andrew N. Liveris. 

UQ has earned more Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) than any other institution in the nation.  UQ has established eight research institutes across its three main campuses: St. Lucia, Herston (Health Sciences), and Gatton (Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences), covering fields from bioengineering and nanotechnology to sustainable minerals research.

Intakes

The University of Queensland offers two primary intake windows for international students each academic year.

Semester 1 (February) — Primary and largest intake; open to nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs.

• Application deadline: October 31 (of previous year; varies by program; some close earlier)

Semester 2 (July) — Mid-year intake; available for most programs.

• Application deadline: May 31 for programs including the LL.M, Master of Computer Science, Master of Mechanical Engineering, and Bachelor of Science  (varies by program)

Important for Indian Students:

• Indian UG applicants require Class 12 scores equivalent to Australian ATAR (program-specific; 70%+ for most programs, higher for Medicine and Law)
• Indian PG applicants require a minimum GPA of 65%+ in their bachelor's degree
• Application fee: AUD $100 non-refundable (AUD $150 for hard copy application) 
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory for the duration of the student visa
• Post-Study Work Visa: 2–4 years depending on level and location of study

Note: Polygon Campus primarily assists with graduate-level admissions. Students are encouraged to confirm specific intake dates with their chosen UQ faculty.

Top Courses

UQ has six main faculties: Business, Economics and Law (BEL); Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology (EAIT); Health and Behavioural Sciences (HABS); Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS); Medicine; and Science.  Key faculties and popular programs include:

UQ Business School

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) — AUD $69,112 total fee (2026)
• Master of Business Analytics
• Master of Commerce
• Master of Finance
• Master of International Business

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

• Master of Engineering (various — Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Software)
• Master of Information Technology
• Master of Data Science
• Master of Architecture

Faculty of Medicine (UQ Medical School)

• Doctor of Medicine (MD — Australia's largest medical school)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Nutrition and Dietetics

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences

• Master of Clinical Psychology
• Master of Physiotherapy Studies
• Master of Occupational Therapy Studies
• Master of Social Work

Faculty of Science

• Master of Science (various disciplines)
• Master of Biotechnology
• Master of Environment Management
• Master of Agricultural Science

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

• Master of Arts
• Master of International Studies
• Master of Journalism

UQ Law School

• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

Cost of Studying at The University of Queensland

The University of Queensland fees for international students range from AUD $33,888 to $89,455 (approximately ₹18.42L to ₹48.64L) per year for undergraduate courses. The annual tuition fees for postgraduate courses range from AUD $31,320 to $91,421 (approximately ₹17.03L to ₹49.71L). 

The 2026 MBA fee at UQ is AUD $69,112 (approximately ₹39.68L).  Brisbane is one of Australia's most affordable major cities, offering students excellent value compared to Sydney or Melbourne.

Note: Brisbane has a lower cost of living than Sydney or Melbourne, making UQ one of Australia's best-value Go8 options. Figures are indicative based on 2025–26 data. Australian Student Visa applicants must demonstrate financial capacity of at least AUD $29,710/year for living costs. Please refer to UQ's official website (uq.edu.au) for the most current fee structure.

Scholarships

The University of Queensland Australia offers 150 scholarships to eligible international students. The majority of the scholarships are applied as a tuition fee waiver. 

Key funding opportunities include:

• UQ International Excellence Scholarship — Based on academic excellence; automatic consideration for eligible international students upon application; amounts and coverage vary by program
• UQ International Onshore Merit Scholarship — AUD $5,000 to AUD $10,000 tuition fee reduction; applied to the first 2 semesters and candidates are automatically considered if they meet the eligibility criteria 
• UQ Graduate School Scholarships (UQGSS) / Research Training Program (RTP) — Covers living stipend and full tuition fees for Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Philosophy, or research-focused professional doctorates at UQ; based on academic excellence; limited to research degrees 
• Australia Awards Scholarships — Funded by the Australian Government; covers full tuition, travel, OSHC, and living allowance; for students from eligible developing countries including India; highly competitive
• UQ MBA Scholarship — Partial tuition scholarships for MBA students; merit-based; amounts vary; apply directly through UQ Business School
• UQ Faculty-Specific Scholarships — Faculty of Engineering, UQ Law School, and UQ Business School each offer merit-based and diversity scholarships
• Go Global Award — For UQ students undertaking study abroad or international exchange; supports experiential global learning
• UQ Development Fellows Program — For PhD students in collaboration with industry and government partners

Note: Most UQ scholarships are assessed automatically upon program application. After completing a master's degree from UQ, graduates earn roughly 35% more than bachelor's degree graduates — AUD $91,600 vs AUD $68,000 — based on median salaries reported in the QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey.

Admissions

Receiving admission can be challenging because the university receives a large number of applications each year, despite admissions being somewhat competitive with an estimated acceptance rate of 40%.

For Graduate (Master's / Doctoral) Programs:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with a strong academic record
• Minimum GPA of 65%+ or equivalent (varies by program; Medicine, Law, and Clinical programs require higher)
• English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) / TOEFL iBT 87+ / PTE 64+ (some programs require higher)
• GMAT/GRE required for MBA and select management programs
• Statement of Purpose / Personal Statement
• 2 Letters of Recommendation (for most programs)
• CV / Résumé
• Official transcripts (certified English translation if required)

For Undergraduate Programs:

• Higher secondary certificate (Class 12 / CBSE / ISC) with 70%+ aggregate (program-specific; Medicine and Law require higher; competitive programs use ATAR equivalent)
• English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)
• Application fee: AUD $100

Indian students can check UQ's specific admission requirements for their chosen program directly through Polygon Campus.

Placements

UQ's St. Lucia campus — minutes from Brisbane's CBD and close to Queensland's booming resources, health, agribusiness, and technology sectors — places graduates at the heart of one of Australia's fastest-growing economic regions. In the 2023 Employer Satisfaction Survey, graduates of UQ had an overall employer satisfaction rate of 86.4%. In the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey, graduates had a full-time employment rate of 81.3% for undergraduates and 86.8% for postgraduates. The initial full-time salary was AUD $70,900 for undergraduates and AUD $88,900 for postgraduates. 

After completing a master's degree from UQ, graduates earn roughly 35% more than bachelor's degree graduates — AUD $91,600 vs AUD $68,000. MBA holders earn AUD $105,000 — 40% more than those with a Bachelor of Business (AUD $75,000). 

Some of the top employers recruiting UQ graduates include Queensland Government (largest employer of UQ grads), Queensland Health, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Deloitte Australia, PwC Australia, KPMG, EY, Rio Tinto, BHP, Aurizon, Suncorp, Boeing Defence Australia, CSIRO, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, and Accenture. 

Jobs After Graduating from The University of Queensland

Note: Salary figures are indicative based on 2023–24 QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey. Actual salaries may vary by role, employer, location, and experience.

UQ's career support ecosystem includes:

• UQ Student Employability Centre — Personalised career coaching, résumé and interview support, internship opportunities, employer networking events, and a dedicated jobs portal to help students secure strong outcomes GyanDhan
• UQ Industry Partnerships — Strong connections with Queensland Government, BHP, Rio Tinto, Queensland Health, CSIRO, Boeing Defence, and Australia's leading agricultural and biotech companies
• UQ Eight Research Institutes — Including the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and Sustainable Minerals Institute; career and research pathways into advanced manufacturing, mining technology, and biotechnology
• UQ Medical School Career Network — Australia's largest medical school; strong clinical training partnerships with Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Mater Hospital Group, and Queensland Children's Hospital
• UQ Business School Career Services — Dedicated MBA and business career support; direct employer connections across finance, consulting, and resources sectors
• UQ Alumni Network — A global community of 332,000+ alumni spanning government, law, science, arts, public service, and business across 170+ countries
• Post-Study Work Visa (Australia) — International graduates qualify for 2–4 years of post-study work rights in Australia depending on qualification level and study location

For personalised guidance on University of Queensland admissions, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.