About the university
Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a public university with campuses in Sydney (North Sydney, Strathfield and Blacktown), Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Ballarat. It is a Catholic university that welcomes students of all faiths, and it is ranked 401–450 by Times Higher Education and 851–900 by QS for 2027.
ACU is best known for nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, education, law and other health and people-focused professions. It also teaches IT, business and accounting, mainly at North Sydney.
Indian students look at ACU for nursing and allied health on several campuses, and for IT and accounting master's degrees in North Sydney at about A$39,240 a year in 2027. ACU sets fees for the minimum length of a course, with rises of up to 3% a year for continuing students.
ACU also offers international scholarships of 15% to 25% for selected courses and campuses, and a 20% rent discount in ACU student accommodation for the first year.
- Type
- Public Catholic university, open to students of all faiths
- Total students
- About 24,600 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- International students
- 26% (THE 2027 data); students from 97 countries
- Student–staff ratio
- 34 to 1 (THE 2027 data)
- Campuses
- North Sydney, Strathfield, Blacktown, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Ballarat
- Intakes
- February and, for many courses, July
Rankings
THE World University Rankings 2027
401–450 in the world
QS World University Rankings 2027
851–900 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Master of Information Technology
- Fee / year
- A$39,240
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- February or July (North Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
- Postgraduate
Master of Professional Accounting
- Fee / year
- A$39,240
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- February or July (Melbourne or North Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- A$39,672
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- February (Ballarat, Blacktown, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or North Sydney); Blacktown also has a July start
- English
- Nursing English requirements apply; check the course page
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- A$52,544
- Duration
- 4 years
- Intakes
- February (Ballarat, Brisbane or North Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 7.0 (no band below 7.0)
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
- Fee / year
- A$43,784
- Duration
- 4 years
- Intakes
- February (Ballarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or North Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 7.0 (no band below 7.0)
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Information Technology
- Fee / year
- A$34,968
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- February or July (North Sydney)
- English
- ACU's English requirements apply; check the course page
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Business Administration
- Fee / year
- A$30,408
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- February or July (Brisbane, Melbourne, North Sydney or Strathfield)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (6.0 in speaking and writing, 5.5 in listening and reading)
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- A$37,904
- Duration
- 4 years
- Intakes
- February (Blacktown, Brisbane, Melbourne or North Sydney)
- English
- ACU's English requirements apply; check the course page
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (AUD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Information Technology | 2 years | A$39,240 | ≈ ₹25.5 lakh |
| Master of Professional Accounting | 2 years | A$39,240 | ≈ ₹25.5 lakh |
| Bachelor of Nursing | 3 years | A$39,672 | ≈ ₹25.8 lakh |
| Bachelor of Physiotherapy | 4 years | A$52,544 | ≈ ₹34.2 lakh |
| Bachelor of Occupational Therapy | 4 years | A$43,784 | ≈ ₹28.5 lakh |
| Bachelor of Information Technology | 3 years | A$34,968 | ≈ ₹22.7 lakh |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | 3 years | A$30,408 | ≈ ₹19.8 lakh |
| Bachelor of Laws | 4 years | A$37,904 | ≈ ₹24.6 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 Australian Catholic University with similar universities in Australia.
Scholarships
- Bachelor's and master's
ACU Executive Dean's International Scholarship
Value: Up to 20% off annual tuition
Eligibility: Academically excellent international students; conditions apply.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Selected new programs
ACU International Launch Scholarship
Value: 25% tuition fee reduction
Eligibility: Students starting selected new programs, such as computer and data science and the new Bachelor of Business and its double degrees.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Bachelor of Nursing
ACU Ballarat International Nursing Scholarship
Value: 15% tuition fee support
Eligibility: New international students studying nursing at the Ballarat campus.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Health and sport courses
ACU Health Sciences Towards Brisbane 2032 Scholarship
Value: 15% off annual tuition
Eligibility: Selected health and sport courses at the Brisbane campus.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - All levels
ACU International Student Accommodation Scholarship
Value: 20% off rent for 12 months
Eligibility: International students living in ACU Student Accommodation.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Bachelor's degrees need the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 certificate, such as Indian Class 12; ACU lists recognised international school qualifications on its website.
- Health courses such as nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy have higher English scores and limited places.
- Student visa holders must finish within the minimum course length, take at least one subject on campus each semester and study no more than 33% online.
Postgraduate
- Master's degrees in IT and accounting need the equivalent of an Australian bachelor's degree in any discipline.
- A related bachelor's degree can give up to four units of credit in the Master of Professional Accounting.
- Most master's degrees take students in February and July.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets (bachelor's)
- Degree transcripts and certificate (master's)
- English test result
- Financial documents for the student visa
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 (master's) | 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 for the Master of IT and Master of Professional Accounting. |
| IELTS Academic (bachelor's) | 6.0 overall for business (6.0 in speaking and writing, 5.5 in listening and reading); 7.0 in every band for physiotherapy and occupational therapy. |
| Other tests | ACU accepts equivalent scores in other English tests under its admission policy; check the course page. |
Accommodation and living costs
ACU runs student accommodation with a residential life program, and new international students can get 20% off rent for their first 12 months. ACU's accommodation page does not list weekly rents, so check the property for your campus. Homestay is also available.
| Item | In AUD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
ACU has seven campuses across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT. Your campus depends on your course, so check the course page.
- North Sydney: IT, accounting, business, nursing, physiotherapy and law.
- Strathfield (Sydney): business; Blacktown (Sydney): nursing and law.
- Melbourne and Brisbane: nursing, allied health, business and law, with accounting in Melbourne.
- Canberra and Ballarat: nursing and occupational therapy, with a 15% nursing scholarship at Ballarat.
Careers and graduate outcomes
ACU's nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy degrees include clinical placements that lead to professional registration in Australia. For post-study work rules, see our Australia guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| International students at the university | 26% | THE World University Rankings 2027 data |
Studying in Australia
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Australia. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much is the Master of Information Technology at ACU?
A$39,240 in the first year for 2027 entry, about A$78,480 for the 2-year course. It is taught at North Sydney.
Do I have to be Catholic to study at ACU?
No. ACU is a Catholic university that welcomes students of all faiths.
What IELTS score do I need?
6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 for the IT and accounting master's degrees, and 7.0 in every band for physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
When can I start?
Most courses start in February. Many master's degrees, IT and business courses also start in July.
What scholarships are there?
Options include the Executive Dean's International Scholarship (up to 20%), the International Launch Scholarship (25% for selected new programs) and a 20% rent discount in ACU accommodation.
Sources
- ACU: Master of Information Technology (international) (opens in a new tab)
- ACU: Master of Professional Accounting (international) (opens in a new tab)
- ACU: Bachelor of Nursing (international) (opens in a new tab)
- ACU: Bachelor of Physiotherapy (international) (opens in a new tab)
- ACU: Bachelor of Laws (international) (opens in a new tab)
- ACU: international student fees (opens in a new tab)
- ACU: international student scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- ACU: student accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: Australian Catholic University (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Australian Catholic University (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.acu.edu.au (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details