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

Griffith University is a public research university in Queensland, Australia, with campuses at Gold Coast, Nathan, Logan, South Bank, and Mount Gravatt. Its foundation campus at Nathan, on the edge of Brisbane's Toohey Forest, has hosted students since 1975, and the Gold Coast campus is its largest, with about 21,000 students minutes from surf beaches. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it rose 38 places to #230, the largest jump of any Australian university in the top 250, and its national rank is 15th. Griffith College, in partnership with the university since 1997, offers pathway programs. This guide covers exactly what Griffith University international students need to know: ranking and campuses, admissions and English requirements, fees and scholarships, campus life, and Australia's post-study work options.

Quick facts snapshot

• Institution: Griffith University, a public research university in Queensland, Australia, with teaching since 1975
• QS World University Rankings 2027: #230, up 38 places, and 15th among Australian universities
• Campuses: Gold Coast (about 21,000 students), Nathan (more than 13,000), Logan, South Bank, and Mount Gravatt
• Tuition: undergraduate about AUD 37,000 to AUD 43,000 a year and postgraduate about AUD 30,500 to AUD 77,500 a year, using a fee-band structure (third-party figures)
• English requirement: IELTS 6.5 minimum, with 7.0 overall and no band below 6.5 for some postgraduate disciplines
• Scholarships: eligible international students can receive 20% off tuition for the whole program, and the Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship offers 50% up to 100%
• Pathway: Griffith College, in partnership with Griffith since 1997, has taught more than 14,000 students

Rankings and reputation

Griffith's jump to #230 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 puts it well inside the top 250, and it is now among Australia's fifteen highest-ranked universities. It is known for research in health, environmental science, criminology, business, tourism, engineering, and creative arts, and it belongs to a group of research universities that emphasise social impact. Rankings measure the whole university, and a large jump in one edition can reflect methodology as well as performance, so check subject rankings and professional accreditation for your course.

Academics and signature programs

Griffith teaches across business and government, health, science and engineering, arts, education and humanities, law, and creative arts, with well-known strengths in nursing and health sciences, tourism and hotel management, criminology, environmental science, and film and music at the Queensland Conservatorium. Many programs include placements or work-integrated learning. Professional programs such as nursing, education, engineering, and law have accreditation and registration conditions, so confirm them before you enrol.

Admissions and international eligibility

Griffith 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. Students who do not meet direct entry can start through Griffith College. After an offer and a Confirmation of Enrolment, international students apply for an Australian student visa.

English language requirements

• Undergraduate and postgraduate: a minimum IELTS of 6.5 for most programs
• Some postgraduate disciplines, and health and education programs, require 7.0 overall with no band below 6.5
• Other accepted tests are listed on Griffith's English requirements page
• Griffith College offers English and pathway options

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

Griffith uses a fee-band structure, in which each course belongs to a band priced per 80 credit points, and third-party sources put undergraduate tuition at about AUD 37,000 to AUD 43,000 a year and postgraduate tuition at about AUD 30,500 to AUD 77,500 a year. Those ranges are wide, so use the fee for your exact course from Griffith's fee tables, and ask about annual increases. Extras include Overseas Student Health Cover, textbooks, and course-specific costs.

Estimated living costs in Queensland

• Brisbane and the Gold Coast are cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne for housing, though rents have risen
• 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
• Trains, buses, and the Gold Coast light rail serve the main campuses
• Student visa holders can work a limited number of hours in term under current rules

Scholarships

Griffith's international scholarships include the International Academic Merit Scholarship, which reduces tuition by 20% for the duration of the program for eligible students, and the Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship, which offers 50% and in some cases up to 100%. Awards are competitive and depend on academic results. Ask which awards apply to you, what marks keep them, and whether they are applied automatically.

Campus life and student support

The Gold Coast campus is close to beaches and the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, Nathan is set in bushland with a large student community, and South Bank sits in Brisbane's cultural precinct beside the river. Griffith provides academic support, career services, wellbeing services, and help with visas and orientation.

Career outcomes and post-study work rights

Griffith has links with Queensland's health, tourism, technology, and government sectors, and many programs include placements. 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 when applying for the visa. Budget for the visa application charge, flights, and a housing deposit.

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 40,000 a year, tuition for a three-year undergraduate degree comes to roughly AUD 120,000, and a 20% merit scholarship would reduce that by about AUD 24,000 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

• Which fee band applies to my course, and how much can it rise each year?
• Which scholarships apply to me, and what marks keep them?
• Which campus teaches my course?
• Does my degree carry the professional accreditation I need?
• Should I start through Griffith College?
• How does my degree count toward the Temporary Graduate visa?

Who Griffith suits best

Griffith suits students who want a research-active Australian university with a choice of Brisbane and Gold Coast campuses, strengths in health, tourism, and creative arts, and a merit scholarship. It may suit less well students who want a Group of Eight brand or a very small campus.

Gold Coast, Nathan, or South Bank?

The Gold Coast offers a beach lifestyle and the largest campus, Nathan offers a bushland setting close to Brisbane, and South Bank offers a city-centre creative precinct. Check which campus teaches your course and how far it 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.

Understanding Griffith's fee bands

Griffith prices courses in bands, with each course assigned a band that sets its annual fee, so two degrees at the same campus can cost thousands of dollars apart. When you compare Griffith with other universities, compare the fee for your exact course, not the average. Ask how the band is applied if you take a reduced load, how much fees can rise from year to year, and whether a scholarship is calculated on the original or the reduced fee.

• Ask for the fee band and total cost of your degree in writing
• Ask whether the merit scholarship applies to all years of the degree or only the first
• Ask about Overseas Student Health Cover costs and the payment schedule
• Ask how many students in your course are international, and what support exists in the first semester

Griffith College and pathways

Griffith College has partnered with Griffith University since 1997 and has taught more than 14,000 students, so it is a well-established pathway. Ask what grades you need to progress, how much credit you receive, what the pathway costs, and how time in the pathway counts toward your total study period and visa.

Frequently asked questions