About the university
Federation University Australia began as the School of Mines in Ballarat in 1870 and has grown through mergers into regional Victoria's largest education institution. It is dual-sector, so it offers both university degrees and TAFE courses, and has more than 123,000 graduates.
Federation calls itself Australia's first co-operative university: many degrees include guaranteed paid Co-op internships or placements with employers. Its homepage reports that 80% of undergraduates were in full-time work four to six months after finishing, and it was ranked 175th in the THE Young University Rankings 2024.
Indian students mainly choose Federation for two-year master's degrees in data science, cyber security, professional accounting and engineering technology, which cost AUD 39,600 to 43,500 a year in 2027. Several Melbourne City courses have three intakes a year. Merit scholarships of 25% (75% average) and 50% (90% average, for South Asian students among others) can bring the cost down further.
The main campus at Mt Helen sits on 110 hectares of bushland about 10 km from the centre of Ballarat, a historic gold-rush city in regional Victoria. Berwick is about 40 km from Melbourne's CBD, and the Melbourne City campus is in the CBD itself. Regional study may count towards extra post-study work time; see our Australia country guide.
- Roots
- Started as the School of Mines in Ballarat in 1870; now a dual-sector university and TAFE
- Type
- Public university, regional Victoria's largest education institution
- Total students
- About 8,700 (8,733 in THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- International students
- 34% (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 17.9 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Campuses
- Ballarat (Mt Helen and Camp Street), Berwick, Gippsland, Wimmera and Melbourne City
- Intakes
- March and July for most courses; November too for several Melbourne City courses
Rankings
THE World University Rankings 2027
501–550 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- A$41,400
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; July; November (Melbourne City only) at Mt Helen or Melbourne City
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Postgraduate
Master of Forensic Cyber Security
- Fee / year
- A$41,400
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; July; November (Melbourne City)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Postgraduate
Master of Applied Cyber Security
- Fee / year
- A$41,400
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; July (Mt Helen, Ballarat)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Postgraduate
Master of Professional Accounting
- Fee / year
- A$39,600
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; July; November (Melbourne City)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Postgraduate
Master of Digital Business Transformation
- Fee / year
- A$39,600
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; July; November (Melbourne City)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Postgraduate
Master of Engineering Technology (Civil)
- Fee / year
- A$43,500
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; July (Mt Helen, Ballarat)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Postgraduate
Master of Engineering Technology (Mechanical)
- Fee / year
- A$43,500
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; July (Mt Helen, Ballarat)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- A$42,000
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- March (Mt Helen, Berwick, Gippsland); July (Gippsland only)
- English
- IELTS 7.0 (no band below 7.0)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (AUD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Data Science | 2 years | A$41,400 | ≈ ₹26.9 lakh |
| Master of Forensic Cyber Security | 2 years | A$41,400 | ≈ ₹26.9 lakh |
| Master of Applied Cyber Security | 2 years | A$41,400 | ≈ ₹26.9 lakh |
| Master of Professional Accounting | 2 years | A$39,600 | ≈ ₹25.7 lakh |
| Master of Digital Business Transformation | 2 years | A$39,600 | ≈ ₹25.7 lakh |
| Master of Engineering Technology (Civil) | 2 years | A$43,500 | ≈ ₹28.3 lakh |
| Master of Engineering Technology (Mechanical) | 2 years | A$43,500 | ≈ ₹28.3 lakh |
| Bachelor of Nursing | 3 years | A$42,000 | ≈ ₹27.3 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 Federation University Australia with similar universities in Australia.
Scholarships
- Undergraduate and postgraduate coursework
Vice-Chancellor's Award
Value: 50% off annual tuition fees
Eligibility: Students from South-East Asia, South Asia or China with a 90% average in their previous studies.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate and postgraduate coursework
Merit Scholarship
Value: 25% off annual tuition fees
Eligibility: International students with a 75% average in their previous studies.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate and postgraduate coursework
Global Achiever Scholarship
Value: 15% off annual tuition fees
Eligibility: International students; cannot be combined with other tuition scholarships.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - New students living in FedLiving
50% Off Accommodation Bursary
Value: 50% off FedLiving rent in year one and 25% in year two
Eligibility: New international students at FedLiving residences. A $550 acceptance fee applies.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Courses with compulsory placement units
Paid Placement Support Guarantee
Value: Up to AUD 10,000 (undergraduate) or AUD 5,000 (postgraduate)
Eligibility: Students on courses with mandatory placement units who are not enrolled in a Co-op.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Australian Year 12 or an overseas equivalent such as Indian Class 12. Federation's 2027 course guide does not list a single Indian percentage.
- A Diploma of Business or Diploma of Information Technology (Higher Education) at Melbourne City is a one-year pathway into the second year of related bachelor's degrees.
- Nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology need higher English scores.
Postgraduate
- A three-year Australian bachelor's degree or an overseas equivalent, so Indian three-year degrees are in scope.
- Most master's courses on this page take 2 years and need IELTS 6.0 with no band below 6.0.
- Merit scholarships use your average marks: 75% for the Merit Scholarship and 90% for the Vice-Chancellor's Award.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Degree certificate and transcripts (for master's)
- English test score, or evidence of recent study in English
- Statement of purpose and financial documents for the Genuine Student requirement
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 | 6.0 with no band below 6.0 for most IT, data science, business, engineering and science courses; 7.0 with no band below 7.0 for nursing. |
| Health and teaching courses | Higher scores apply, for example 8.0 in every band for speech pathology and 7.0 with 7.5 in speaking and listening for most teaching courses. |
| Other evidence | Federation accepts non-test evidence such as recent study (within the last two years) at a recognised institution or study in an English-speaking country. Ask admissions about PTE and TOEFL equivalents for your course. |
| English for Academic Purposes | Federation runs its own English courses at Melbourne City (AUD 5,500 per 10-week programme) for students who need to raise their level. |
Accommodation and living costs
Federation's FedLiving residences are on or near its campuses. New international students get 50% off the FedLiving fee in their first year and 25% in their second year, with a $550 acceptance fee. The course guide shows the weekly rent after the first-year bursary and compares it with private one-bedroom rents. The Australian Government's 12-month living cost figure quoted in the guide is AUD 29,710.
| Item | In AUD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| FedLiving, Gippsland (after 50% bursary, year one) | A$105per week | ≈ ₹6,825 |
| FedLiving, Ballarat (after 50% bursary, year one) | A$123per week | ≈ ₹7,963 |
| FedLiving, Berwick (after 50% bursary, year one) | A$140per week | ≈ ₹9,100 |
| Private one-bedroom rental, medianAUD 280 in Gippsland to AUD 560 in Melbourne City | A$280–560per week | ≈ ₹18,200 – ₹36,400 |
| Living costs (Australian Government figure) | A$29,710per year | ≈ ₹19.3 lakh |
Campus and location
Federation has campuses across Victoria. The main Mt Helen campus in Ballarat is set in 110 hectares of bushland, Berwick is about 40 km from Melbourne's CBD, Gippsland is on a 60-hectare site, and Melbourne City is in the CBD.
- Mt Helen (Ballarat) hosts engineering, IT, cyber security, data science and health.
- Melbourne City offers business transformation, professional accounting, forensic cyber security and data science, with three intakes a year for several courses.
- Gippsland is the home of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology.
- On-campus FedLiving residences are offered at regional campuses with a 50% first-year discount for new international students.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Federation's Co-op model builds paid internships and placements into many degrees, and its Paid Placement Support Guarantee helps students on compulsory placements. For post-study work rules, see our Australia country guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduates in full-time work 4–6 months after finishing | 80% | Federation University homepage |
| Starting salary ranking (undergraduate) | #1 in Victoria | Federation University homepage |
| International students as a share of all students | 34% | THE World University Rankings 2027 data |
Studying in Australia
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FAQs
How much does a master's at Federation cost?
In 2027, master's courses in data science and cyber security cost AUD 41,400 a year, professional accounting and digital business transformation AUD 39,600, and engineering technology AUD 43,500.
Can I get a scholarship with 75% marks?
Yes. Federation's Merit Scholarship gives 25% off annual tuition fees to international students with a 75% average. The Vice-Chancellor's Award gives 50% off for South Asian students (among others) with a 90% average.
Which intakes are available?
Most courses start in March and July. Several Melbourne City courses, including Master of Data Science, Master of Professional Accounting and Master of Forensic Cyber Security, also start in November.
Does Federation accept three-year Indian degrees for master's?
Federation's course guide asks for a three-year Australian bachelor's degree or an overseas equivalent for postgraduate courses.
Is accommodation cheaper for international students?
New international students get 50% off FedLiving rent in year one (for example about AUD 122.50 a week in Ballarat) and 25% off in year two.
Sources
- Federation University: International Course Guide 2027 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Federation University: international students (opens in a new tab)
- Federation University: Information Technology courses (opens in a new tab)
- Federation University: about (opens in a new tab)
- Federation University homepage (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: Federation University Australia (opens in a new tab)
Official website: federation.edu.au (opens in a new tab)
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