About the university
Charles Darwin University (CDU) was founded in 2003 and is based in Australia's Northern Territory. It is a dual-sector university, teaching both degrees and TAFE courses, and is ranked =551 in the world by QS for 2027.
CDU's main campuses are in Darwin, a small tropical city. It also has a campus in central Sydney, opposite Central Station, which teaches master's degrees in data science, IT, project management, accounting and business administration, as well as nursing.
For Indian students the main draws are tuition fees well below most Australian universities (A$36,440 a year for the IT master's degrees in 2027), an automatic 30% Global Merit Scholarship on selected courses, and the choice of studying in Darwin or Sydney.
Darwin has a tropical climate with a dry season from May to September and a wet season from December to March. Shared rooms are cheaper than in Sydney or Melbourne.
- Founded
- 2003, through the merger of Northern Territory University and the Menzies School of Health Research
- Type
- Public, dual-sector university (higher education and TAFE)
- Total students
- 7,639 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- International students
- 42% (THE 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 23.4 to 1 (THE 2027 data)
- Campuses
- Darwin (Casuarina, Danala Education and Community Precinct, Waterfront, Palmerston), Alice Springs, Sydney (Haymarket) and other Northern Territory centres
- Intakes
- Semester 1 and Semester 2, plus a Summer Semester start for many IT, data and business master's degrees
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=551 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
451–500 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Master of Information Technology (Cyber Security)
- Fee / year
- A$36,440
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- Semester 1; Semester 2; Summer Semester (Sydney or Darwin)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50)
- Postgraduate
Master of Information Technology (Artificial Intelligence)
- Fee / year
- A$36,440
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- Semester 1; Semester 2; Summer Semester (Sydney or Darwin)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- A$36,440
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- Semester 1; Semester 2; Summer Semester (Sydney or Darwin)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50)
- Postgraduate
Master of Business Administration
- Fee / year
- A$38,192
- Duration
- 1.5 years
- Intakes
- Semester 1; Semester 2 (Sydney or Darwin)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50)
- Postgraduate
Master of Professional Accounting
- Fee / year
- A$38,192
- Duration
- 1.5 years
- Intakes
- Semester 1; Semester 2 (Sydney or Darwin)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- A$38,192
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- Semester 1; Semester 2; Summer Semester (Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- A$41,552
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- Semester 1; Semester 2; Summer Semester (Casuarina, Darwin)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- A$34,736
- Duration
- 1.5 years
- Intakes
- Semester 1; Semester 2 (Casuarina, Darwin)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); PTE 58 (no score below 50)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (AUD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Information Technology (Cyber Security) | 2 years | A$36,440 | ≈ ₹23.7 lakh |
| Master of Information Technology (Artificial Intelligence) | 2 years | A$36,440 | ≈ ₹23.7 lakh |
| Master of Data Science | 2 years | A$36,440 | ≈ ₹23.7 lakh |
| Master of Business Administration | 1.5 years | A$38,192 | ≈ ₹24.8 lakh |
| Master of Professional Accounting | 1.5 years | A$38,192 | ≈ ₹24.8 lakh |
| Master of Project Management | 2 years | A$38,192 | ≈ ₹24.8 lakh |
| Master of Engineering | 2 years | A$41,552 | ≈ ₹27 lakh |
| Master of Public Health | 1.5 years | A$34,736 | ≈ ₹22.6 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 Charles Darwin University with similar universities in Australia.
Scholarships
- Bachelor's, master's by coursework, TAFE and research
CDU Global Merit Scholarship
Value: 30% off tuition fees for selected courses
Eligibility: New international students starting in 2026 or 2027, studying full time on campus in Sydney, Darwin or Alice Springs and meeting entry requirements. Assessed automatically when you apply.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Bachelor's and master's by coursework
Vice-Chancellor's International High Achievers Scholarship
Value: 50% off tuition fees for the full course
Eligibility: An overall score of at least 95% in your highest completed qualification, starting in Semester 1 or 2, 2027. Separate application with a statement of up to 600 words; limited places.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Bachelor of Nursing
CDU Bachelor of Nursing Scholarship
Value: Up to 20% off tuition fees
Eligibility: New international students starting the Bachelor of Nursing in 2027, full time on campus in Sydney or Darwin. Assessed automatically.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- CBSE or CISCE: at least 60% average in the best four academic subjects, including English.
- Punjab and Haryana boards: at least 75% in the best four academic subjects. Other state boards: at least 65%.
- Local languages and non-academic subjects are not counted. CDU International College offers diploma pathways if you do not meet direct entry.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree that CDU assesses as equivalent to an Australian bachelor's degree.
- If you do not meet entry requirements, the CDU International Masters Qualifying Program can lead into a master's degree.
- Many IT, data and project management master's degrees also start in the Summer Semester.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets (bachelor's)
- Degree certificate and transcripts (master's)
- English test result
- Supporting statement if applying for the Vice-Chancellor's scholarship
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 | Undergraduate: 6.0 with no band below 6.0. Postgraduate: 6.5 with no band below 6.0. Nursing needs 7.0 (6.5 in writing). IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted. |
| PTE Academic | Undergraduate: 50 with no score below 50. Postgraduate: 58 with no score below 50. Nursing: 63 overall. |
| Other tests | TOEFL, Cambridge English Advanced and the Duolingo English Test are also accepted at equivalent scores; some courses ask for higher levels. |
| English waiver | India is not on CDU's list of countries whose schooling meets the English requirement, so most Indian applicants need a test score. |
Accommodation and living costs
In Darwin, CDU Village on the Casuarina campus is run by Campus Living Villages in partnership with the university, and there are private studio and shared apartments nearby. In Sydney, students rent privately or use student housing such as Iglu and UniLodge near the Haymarket campus. CDU does not publish room rates on its own pages, so check with the provider.
| Item | In AUD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Shared accommodation in DarwinUniversity's estimate; depends on the suburb | A$168–250per week | ≈ ₹10,920 – ₹16,250 |
| TextbooksUniversity's estimate | A$200–500per semester | ≈ ₹13,000 – ₹32,500 |
Campus and location
CDU has campuses across the Northern Territory and one in central Sydney. International students mainly study in Darwin or Sydney.
- Casuarina, Darwin: the main campus, about 15 minutes from the city near Casuarina Beach, with CDU Village on site.
- Danala Education and Community Precinct, Darwin: IT, business and other courses in the city centre.
- Sydney (815 George Street, Haymarket): opposite Central Station; data science, IT, project management, accounting, MBA and nursing.
- Alice Springs and Palmerston campuses for selected courses.
Careers and graduate outcomes
CDU highlights graduate employment outcomes and practical placements. For post-study work rights, including any extra time for regional study in Darwin, see our Australia country guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate starting salary | Ranked 23rd in Australia | Good Universities Guide 2025, quoted by CDU |
| International students as a share of all students | 42% | THE World University Rankings 2027 |
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
Photo: Bob Tan, CC BY 4.0 PublicThe University of Melbourne (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne, AustraliaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Law, Business & Management
Photo: Rob Deutscher from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0 PublicMonash University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne, AustraliaOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Engineering, Data Science & AI
Photo: J Bar, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicUNSW Sydney (official website, opens in a new tab)
Sydney, AustraliaOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Finance & Accounting
Photo: Donaldytong, Public domain PublicDeakin University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne and Geelong, AustraliaOften chosen for Nursing & Allied Health, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. KittySaturn~commonswiki assumed (based o…, Public domain PublicThe University of Sydney (official website, opens in a new tab)
Sydney, AustraliaOften chosen for Business & Management, Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences
Photo: BobTanGo, CC BY 4.0 PublicThe University of Queensland (official website, opens in a new tab)
Brisbane, AustraliaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Engineering, Business & Management
FAQs
How much is a master's in IT at CDU?
The Master of Information Technology (Cyber Security) and (Artificial Intelligence) cost A$36,440 a year in 2027, for two years. A 30% Global Merit Scholarship may apply.
Can I study at CDU in Sydney?
Yes. The Sydney campus near Central Station teaches master's degrees in data science, IT, project management, accounting and business administration, and the Bachelor of Nursing.
What percentage do I need in Class 12?
At least 60% in your best four academic subjects (including English) for CBSE or CISCE, 65% for most state boards, and 75% for Punjab and Haryana boards.
Do I need IELTS?
Most Indian applicants need an English test. Master's degrees ask for IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or PTE 58 with no score below 50.
Is the Global Merit Scholarship automatic?
Yes. Eligible new students on selected courses are assessed when they apply, as long as they study full time on campus.
Sources
- CDU: Master of Information Technology (Cyber Security), 2027 (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: Master of Business Administration, 2027 (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: 2026 Higher Education International Annual Tuition Fees (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: international fees and payments (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: international entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: international scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: accommodation services (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: study in Darwin (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: Sydney campus (opens in a new tab)
- CDU: history (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education: Charles Darwin University (WUR 2027) (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.cdu.edu.au (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details