Overview

The Postgraduate Qualifying Program (PQP) is designed for students who would like to undertake postgraduate studies at Swinburne, but who haven't met our English language or academic entry requirements.

After completing this program, you'll be guaranteed entry into the first year of a postgraduate degree at Swinburne.

We'll equip you with the skills necessary to succeed in postgraduade study in areas including: business administartion, marketing, supply chain innovation and IT.

Skills you’ll learn

  • Demonstrable linguistic and numeracy skills
  • Research-based decision-making skills
  • Develop solutions to problems in local and international contexts
  • Practice academic integrity
  • Enhance knowledge through tech

Key codes

CRICOS course code
0101744
International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Why Swinburne?

Smaller class sizes and one-on-one time with teachers

Seamless and guaranteed connection to your degree

24/7 support for Academic English and skill development

Admissions

Satisfactory completion of a 3 Year post-secondary qualification (After Australian equivalent Year 12 completion).

Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne

Course prerequisites

  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English or English as an Additional Language (EAL) or equivalent.

Please note that applicants with a study score of 20–24 in EAL will be required to complete Swinburne's free Skills Plus program as part of their studies.

  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English or English as an Additional Language (EAL) or equivalent.

Please note that applicants with a study score of 20–24 in EAL will be required to complete Swinburne's free Skills Plus program as part of their studies.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Book your Pearson Test of English

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

How credit points work

To complete the Postgraduate Qualifying Program students must complete units comprising of:

4 core non-award units

Upon completion of the Postgraduate Qualifying Program, students’ English competency will be deemed equivalent of IELTS 6.5 to proceed to their Masters destination program.

Below is a list of courses which includes the Postgraduate Qualifying Program as an optional entrance requirement.

Please refer to the individual courses for a full list of entrance requirements.

4
Core non-award units
=
Postgraduate Qualifying Program

Your units

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Academic Practices and Communication Skills
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
COM10010
Applied Academic Literacies
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
LAL10003
Critical Thinking for Further Study
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MFP30001
Research Techniques for Further Study
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MFP30002

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$16,240.00

Fees are estimates only

Published student tuition fees for 2025 unit enrolments in HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) are subject to change based on individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees may vary for units studied in future years, with part-time fees being proportionally lower depending on the number of units taken per semester. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

How do I pay my fees?

HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front. 

Find out more about fees

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

  • log in to My Financials
  • check your Australian bank account details are correct 
  • check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe 
  • pay using your preferred payment method.
Learn more about paying your fees

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

Learn more about SSAF

Future scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals. 

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

Learn more about scholarships

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents
NN-PQP
Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! 

Course code
NN-PQP
Apply directly
Course code
NN-PQP
CRICOS code
0101744
Apply directly
Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
26-February-2025
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
30-July-2025
Start dates
04-August-2025
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
04-August-2025
Upcoming events
Course and Career One-on-ones
25-November-2024
Change of Preference Expo 2024
13-December-2024