Where to find postgraduate Commonwealth supported places
Hoping to land a government subsidised place as a postgraduate? Here’s everything you need to know, including where to look for relevant courses.
What is a Commonwealth supported place (CSP)?
When you study in a Commonwealth supported place, you don’t pay the full cost of your course. The Australian Government subsidises most of your tuition, and you only pay the remaining balance. Most undergraduate degrees offer CSPs to domestic students.
Can you get a Commonwealth supported place when you’re a postgraduate student?
You might be surprised to learn that yes; you can apply for a Commonwealth supported place as a postgraduate. While not all courses give you this enrolment option and places are much more limited than they are in undergraduate degrees, it’s possible to study certain graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and masters degrees at a reduced cost. It’s something you should look into, if you’re considering postgraduate study.
You can browse this list of CSP postgraduate courses to see what’s available with different universities.
In 2023 and 2024, there are more government subsidised places available for postgraduates than ever, especially in education, nursing and health, IT and engineering, because the government wants to boost graduates in these areas. So there has actually never been a better time to take the next step in your career and upskill with a more advanced qualification.
What does it mean when you land a Commonwealth supported place as a postgraduate?
You can save up to 80% on the total cost of your course fees, depending on the university that you choose to study with and the course you choose to enrol in. This could mean you only pay $4,000 for a graduate certificate, instead of $16,000, as an example.
That can be a huge weight off your shoulders when kicking off your postgraduate study—knowing that you’re bettering yourself for the good of your career, without accumulating a significant student loan.
You can pay your portion of the tuition (what’s known as your student contribution amount) upfront, or defer it through a HECS-HELP loan. It’s up to you. The benefit to deferring is that you only have to start paying your student contribution amount back once you’re earning a suitable income in your job.
Students who don’t land a CSP study in a domestic full fee-paying place instead. They can still defer some or all of their tuition fees through a FEE-HELP loan—it’s just that their overall debt is higher. For those in this position, it can be worth looking into postgraduate scholarships offered by your university, or even the Centrelink Student Start Up Loan, which is designed to ease your everyday living costs while studying.
What makes you eligible for a Commonwealth supported place?
You’re eligible if you:
- are an Australian or New Zealand citizen.
- hold an Australian permanent residency visa.
- hold an Australian permanent humanitarian visa.
- hold a Pacific Engagement visa from Feb 1 2024.
You can ask to be considered for a CSP when you apply for your course through us. Your university will then assess your eligibility and let you know if you’ve been successful.
How hard is it to get a Commonwealth supported place as a postgraduate?
Since places are limited, postgraduate CSPs can be quite competitive to get. Being eligible doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to land a spot.
You can increase your chances by:
- applying for your degree early—it’s often first come, first served. You can ‘save’ courses on our marketplace to track upcoming intake dates.
- ensuring you meet all academic entry requirements for the course.
- maintaining a high Grade Point Average (sometimes called a Weighted Average Mark) during your undergraduate degree.
If you’re knocked back because your course has already allocated its CSPs, you could still be in with a chance. Some universities will put you on a waiting list full of students who meet the eligibility requirements for a CSP. Then if someone withdraws from the course before the study period starts, they can offer you that CSP instead. You can always withdraw from the course before the census date if you’re not successful in making it off the waiting list.
You can speak with an Open Universities Australia student advisor or your university to discuss whether this is a wise option for you.
A list of Commonwealth supported postgraduate courses available through Open Universities Australia in 2023
To see which postgraduate courses have Commonwealth supported places available, just click your interest area below. You'll find qualifications from 27 different universities.
These courses are offered flexibly online rather than on campus, giving you the freedom to gain practical new experience on your own schedule.
Want to find out more about how Commonwealth supported places work? Read our frequently asked questions, or book a free phone consultation with a student advisor. You can ask our advisors anything; no question is too big or small!
