About Australian National University
For international students building a shortlist of Australian universities, Australian National University is one of the first names that comes up. Part of the pull is straightforward: Australian National University sits at 32nd in the QS World University Rankings 2026, in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, and offers a degree that is recognised by employers well beyond Australia’s borders. If you are comparing studying in Australia against other destinations before committing to an application, this page covers what you actually need to know about Australian National University — rankings, fees, entry requirements, scholarships, intakes and the Student visa route into and out of an Australian degree.
Australian National University is a public university located in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. It was founded in 1946 and has grown from there into one of Australia’s established centres of teaching and research. Today it is QS World University Rankings 2026: 32nd in the world, and it attracts students from well over a hundred countries every year.
Why International Students Choose Australian National University
International students choose Australian National University for reasons that go beyond the brochure: smaller class sizes within large departments, research-led teaching, and a genuinely international student body that makes settling in easier. The university is particularly well known for Political Science and Economics, two areas where its research output and employer links are strongest.
Popular Courses at Australian National University for International Students
The subject areas that bring the largest number of international applicants to Australian National University are Political Science, Economics, International Relations and Science. Each department sets its own entry bar and, in many cases, its own tuition within the ranges below, so treat the university-wide figures as a starting point rather than the final number for your specific course.
Tuition Fees and Cost of Living in Canberra
Expect to pay somewhere in the region of AUD $44,000 – AUD $50,000 per year in tuition as an international student at Australian National University, with the exact figure depending on your course and level (undergraduate, postgraduate coursework or PhD). Living costs in Canberra are a separate budget line — rent, food, OSHC and transport — and you must show evidence of these funds as part of your Student visa (subclass 500) application.
Entry Requirements and English Language
To be admitted to Australian National University, international applicants need strong academic results in a qualification comparable to Australian standards, a well-written statement of purpose, references and an approved English test score — typically IELTS 7.0 overall (no band below 6.5). Deadlines vary by course and intake, so it is worth applying several months ahead of your target start date.
Scholarships for International Students
Funding support at Australian National University includes international scholarships worth up to AUD $10,000, plus smaller departmental awards tied to subjects such as Political Science. Competition for these awards is high and deadlines are often earlier than the course application itself, so start researching funding at the same time you shortlist the university.
Intakes and How to Apply
Most courses at Australian National University begin in Semester 1 (February/March) or Semester 2 (July), with some faculties also running trimesters that allow a third entry point during the year. International applicants generally apply several months ahead of their target intake to leave time for the CoE and Student visa process.
Student Visa and Working After You Graduate
After Australian National University confirms your enrolment through a CoE, you apply for the Student visa (subclass 500), which also requires Overseas Student Health Cover for the length of your course. During your studies you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight in session and unlimited hours in the breaks. Many graduates move on to the Temporary Graduate visa (Australia’s Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)) and explore longer-term skilled migration options such as the Australian Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), often after checking their eligibility with the Australia PR points calculator.
Student Life in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory gives students at Australian National University a genuine community outside lectures: part-time jobs, international food, student clubs built around nationality and shared interests, and an orientation period aimed squarely at new international arrivals. Students consistently report that the first month is the biggest adjustment — paperwork, accommodation, a new banking and health cover system — after which most settle into a routine that balances study, part-time work and social life comfortably.
Research, Facilities and Campus Life
Australian National University’s research output is one reason its name carries weight on a resume, but day-to-day student life depends just as much on less glamorous infrastructure: extended library access during exam periods, a well-resourced careers service, and an active calendar of student clubs, many run by and for international and South Asian, African, Middle Eastern and Pacific Island student communities.
How Australian National University Compares to Other Australian Universities
No single ranking tells the whole story, so most successful applicants compare Australian National University against two or three alternatives before deciding — looking at course content and faculty, not just the overall position, plus total cost once Canberra living expenses are added to tuition.
Beyond Your Degree: Planning What Comes Next
Deciding on a university is only the first of several decisions international students end up making over a three- or four-year journey. Alongside studying in Australia, many applicants also compare notes on visiting Dubai and studying in the UK, and students who are already thinking beyond graduation often look into migrating to Australia or run their numbers through the Australia PR points calculator.
How GIEC Global Helps You Apply to Australian National University
If Australian National University is on your shortlist, GIEC Global’s counsellors can guide you through the entire process free of charge — from choosing the right course and writing a strong SOP to scholarship applications and the Student visa itself. We also support graduates planning their next step, from the Temporary Graduate visa through to the full guide to Australian permanent residency.
Australian National University will not be the right fit for every applicant, and that is fine — the goal of a shortlist is to find the one or two universities that match your subject, your budget and your long-term plans. Use the figures on this page as a starting point, confirm them on the official course page, and talk to a counsellor if you are still deciding between two or three options.
For most applicants, the decision to apply to Australian National University comes down to a mix of ranking, course fit, cost and location — and it is worth weighing all four rather than any single factor in isolation.
As with any Australian university, the official Australian National University website carries the most current figures on fees, deadlines and entry requirements, so treat the numbers on this page as a starting point for your research rather than the final word.
Every intake brings changes to scholarship amounts, visa rules and course availability, so international applicants to Australian National University are well served by checking back on this page and the university’s own site in the months before they apply.
If you are the first in your family to study abroad, Australian National University’s international office runs pre-departure briefings and arrival support specifically aimed at making the first fortnight — airport pickup, accommodation check-in, a local SIM card and bank account — far less stressful than doing it alone.
Course content at Australian National University is reviewed and updated regularly, so the modules you see listed when you apply may shift slightly by the time you enrol; this is normal and is usually a sign the department is keeping pace with its subject rather than a red flag.
Accommodation at Australian National University is usually split between university-run halls or colleges for first-year students and private rented housing from the second year onward; international students are generally advised to book university accommodation for at least the first semester.
Part-time work alongside a degree at Australian National University is common among international students — campus roles, local retail and hospitality jobs, and on-campus ambassador or tutoring positions are all realistic options within the 48-hours-per-fortnight limit set by the Student visa.
Keep a copy of every document you submit to Australian National University — transcripts, test scores, references and financial evidence — since the same set is usually needed again for your Student visa application a few months later.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory for the entire length of your Student visa at Australian National University; most students arrange it through the university at enrolment, though you can also buy it independently from an approved provider before you arrive.
Opening an Australian bank account and applying for a Tax File Number are two of the first practical tasks for new international students at Australian National University, and both are usually covered in the university’s orientation week programme.