Deakin University: Admissions, Tuition & Scholarships Guide for International Students

Deakin University is a public university in Victoria, Australia, with campuses at Burwood in Melbourne, at Waurn Ponds and the Waterfront in Geelong, and at Warrnambool on the Great Ocean Road, together with a large online cloud campus. It is ranked #227 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and it is known for strong online and distance learning, health, business, information technology, engineering, and education programs. It runs Deakin College and the Deakin University English Language Institute for students who need preparation. This guide covers exactly what Deakin University international students need to know: ranking, campuses and programs, fees, scholarships, English requirements, campus life, and Australia's post-study work options.

Quick facts snapshot

• Institution: Deakin University, a public university in Victoria, Australia
• QS World University Rankings 2027: #227 globally, below its five-year peak of #197 in the 2025 edition and up from #266 in 2023
• Campuses: Burwood (Melbourne), Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, and an online cloud campus
• Tuition: undergraduate about AUD 40,800 to AUD 46,400 a year and postgraduate coursework about AUD 34,400 to AUD 47,400 a year (third-party figures)
• English requirement: IELTS 6.0 for undergraduate courses and 6.5 for postgraduate coursework, with 7.0 in each component for nursing
• Scholarships: the Deakin International Scholarship covers 25% of tuition for students with an average of at least 65%, and the Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship covers up to 100% or 50%
• Pathway: Deakin College and the Deakin University English Language Institute

Rankings and reputation

Deakin's #227 position in the QS World University Rankings 2027 is a solid mid-table result, but it is lower than its 2025 peak, so applicants should look at the trend as well as the number. Its reputation rests on teaching quality, student support, digital learning, and fields such as health, sport science, and business. Ranking tables cover the whole university, so check subject rankings and professional accreditation for your program.

Academics and signature programs

Deakin offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research degrees across business and law, arts and education, health, science, engineering and built environment, and information technology. Its online learning platform is among the most established in Australia, but international students on a student visa generally need to study mostly on campus, so check the delivery mode of your course. Professional programs such as nursing, engineering, and education have accreditation and registration conditions that determine recognition, so confirm them before you enrol.

Admissions and international eligibility

Deakin does not publish a single acceptance rate. Undergraduate applicants need secondary qualifications assessed against Australian standards, and postgraduate applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree. After an offer and a Confirmation of Enrolment, international students apply for an Australian student visa.

English language requirements

• Undergraduate courses: IELTS 6.0 overall (CEFR B2)
• Postgraduate coursework courses: IELTS 6.5 overall (CEFR C1)
• Nursing and some other professional courses: 7.0 in each component
• Deakin's English language institute offers courses for students who need to improve

Application checklist

A typical application includes certified transcripts, proof of English proficiency, and passport details. After the offer, students pay a deposit, arrange Overseas Student Health Cover, and prepare evidence for the student visa, including a statement of genuine intent to study.

Tuition, living costs, and scholarships

Third-party sources put undergraduate tuition at about AUD 40,800 to AUD 46,400 a year and postgraduate coursework at about AUD 34,400 to AUD 47,400, depending on the course. Deakin calculates fees from your degree, your start year, and the number of units you take in each study period, so ask for a written fee estimate for your course. Additional costs include Overseas Student Health Cover, textbooks, and any course-specific charges.

Estimated living costs in Victoria

• Melbourne is one of Australia's more expensive cities for housing, while Geelong and Warrnambool are cheaper
• Australian student visa applicants must show they can afford tuition, travel, and living costs
• Overseas Student Health Cover is compulsory for the length of the visa
• Warrnambool is about three hours from Melbourne by train and has a population of roughly 33,000
• Student visa holders can work a limited number of hours in term under current rules

Scholarships

The Deakin International Scholarship is a partially funded award covering 25% of tuition fees for incoming international students with an average of at least 65% in previous study, and unsuccessful applicants for the Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship are automatically considered for it. The Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship for academic excellence covers 100% or 50% of tuition for a bachelor's or postgraduate degree. Applications are made through an International Scholarship Program form emailed to Deakin International Admissions at least a month before the course starts, so check the current process and deadlines.

Campus life and student support

Burwood suits students who want to live in Melbourne, Geelong offers a coastal regional city with lower costs, and Warrnambool offers a small-town setting near the Great Ocean Road. Deakin provides academic support, career services, wellbeing services, and help with visas and orientation, and Deakin College offers preparation for students who need it.

Career outcomes and post-study work rights

Deakin's graduates work across health, business, IT, education, and engineering, and many programs include work-integrated learning. Ask for graduate outcome data for your course and how the careers service supports international students.

Australia's Temporary Graduate visa

Eligible international graduates can apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), which allows them to live and work in Australia after their studies, generally for two years after a bachelor's or coursework master's degree and longer after research degrees, with an age limit and study-requirement conditions. Rules change often, so confirm eligibility and current conditions with the Department of Home Affairs before relying on the visa.

Health insurance and pre-arrival preparation

Arrange Overseas Student Health Cover, prepare evidence of funds, and be ready to show you are a genuine student. Budget for the visa application charge, flights, and a housing deposit, and note that student-visa rules and limits on international enrolments change often.

What to expect in your first months

The first weeks involve orientation, enrolment, and learning how Australian assessment works, with tutorials, assignments, and exams. Students who use academic support and English workshops early adjust faster.

A realistic three-year budget

At about AUD 43,000 a year, tuition for a three-year undergraduate degree comes to roughly AUD 129,000, and the 25% scholarship would reduce that by about AUD 32,000 if you qualify. Add health cover, living costs, and visa charges, and confirm exact figures in writing.

Questions to ask before you accept an offer

• What is the full tuition for my course, and how is it charged per study period?
• Which scholarships apply to me, and what keeps them?
• Which campus will I study at, and is my course on campus?
• Does my degree carry the professional accreditation I need?
• Should I start through Deakin College?
• How does my degree count toward the Temporary Graduate visa?

Who Deakin suits best

Deakin suits students who want a well-supported, digitally advanced Australian university with a choice of city, regional, and coastal campuses and a sizeable scholarship. It may suit less well students who want a Group of Eight brand or a very small campus.

Choosing between Deakin's campuses

Burwood offers Melbourne's job market and lifestyle at a higher cost, Waurn Ponds and the Waterfront offer Geelong's coastal setting, and Warrnambool offers a small regional community. Confirm which campuses teach your course and how far each is from affordable housing.

Step-by-step application roadmap

1. Choose your course and check accreditation and fees.
2. Confirm the English requirement and book a test if needed.
3. Apply with transcripts and passport details.
4. Accept your offer, pay the deposit, and receive your Confirmation of Enrolment.
5. Apply for your student visa and arrange Overseas Student Health Cover.
6. Book housing and attend orientation.

Preparing your documents early

Gather certified transcripts, English results, passport, and financial evidence several months before your intake. Keep written confirmation of fees, scholarships, and any pathway credit.

Online learning and your student visa

Deakin is known for its online delivery, but Australian student visas are for on-campus study, and international students are generally expected to study mostly face to face. Ask which units in your course can be taken online, how many you need on campus each study period, and how the mix affects your visa conditions. Also ask how Deakin's trimester system works, since three study periods a year can accelerate a degree but increase workload.

• Ask how many students at your campus are international, and what support exists in your first semester
• Ask whether the Deakin International Scholarship continues if you take a reduced load
• Ask about work-integrated learning and internship options in your course
• Ask about the cost and location of housing near your chosen campus

Deakin College and English pathways

Deakin College and the Deakin University English Language Institute prepare students who do not yet meet direct-entry requirements. A pathway can reduce risk if you are unsure of your English or your first-year performance, but it adds time and cost, so ask about progression grades, credit recognition, and how pathway time counts toward your total study period and visa.

Frequently asked questions