Pre-Master's Programs in Australia
A Pre-Master's is a postgraduate pathway for students who already have tertiary education but don't yet fully meet the academic or English requirements for a Master's. It builds academic English, research, critical thinking and discipline skills — then leads into an approved Master's course.
The pathway
In Australia there is no single course title for this kind of pathway — universities and pathway colleges use different names for programs with a similar purpose.
Some pathways are non-award preparation programs; others are formal award courses. Duration, credit toward the Master's, entry criteria and progression conditions vary by provider.
Common course titles — many names, one purpose
Kaplan International College Adelaide, University of Newcastle CIE, Flinders University Academy, UNSW College, UWA College
Curtin College, Deakin College, Griffith College
Edith Cowan College, Murdoch College, Swinburne University of Technology
University of Canberra
Charles Darwin University, through CDU International College
La Trobe University — confirm current onshore availability
Where to study
Each pathway and the Master's degrees it can lead to on successful completion. Exact progression depends on the packaged course, the required pathway result and any destination-course prerequisites.
Post-Graduate Qualifying Program (PQP): Business, Communications and IT
Business
Communications
IT
Masters Qualifying Program (MQP)
Commerce
Other selected pathways
Pre-Master's Program: Extended, Standard and Accelerated
The exact destination master's degree is confirmed in the packaged offer.
Postgraduate Qualifying Program (PQP)
Pre-Master's Program / Pre-Master's Program Accelerated: Business and IT
Business
IT
Up to 30 credit points may be awarded, depending on pathway and destination degree.
Graduate Certificate in Academic Foundations (GCAF)
Masters Qualifying Program (MQP)
Most listed pathways include 1 credit point of RPL.
Masters Qualifying Program (MQP)
Arts, Education & Law
Business
Science & Engineering
Health
Pre Masters: Business, Health and Information Technology
Business
Health
IT
Accelerated International Masters Qualifying Program (ZAMQP2)
Master of Engineering may also accept the pathway with relevant engineering qualifications and course-coordinator approval.
Postgraduate Qualifying Program (PQP)
Pre-Masters Program: Engineering, Information Technology and Media
Engineering
IT
Media
Up to 12 units of credit may be available, depending on English level and specialisation.
Entry requirements
Academic entry
Depending on provider and pathway: a recognised 3- or 4-year Bachelor's, an Advanced Diploma, an Associate Degree or another comparable post-secondary qualification. These pathways often suit students whose prior qualification, result or qualification length doesn't meet direct Master's entry.
Master's degrees that need a cognate background — Engineering, some IT, Teaching, Health and other professional courses — may still require a relevant Bachelor's and specific prerequisite subjects.
Nepalese applicants with 3-year Bachelor's qualifications may be considered by selected providers, but recognition is institution- and course-specific — check before applying.
English entry
English entry is usually set slightly below the destination Master's direct-entry requirement. A common range is IELTS 5.5–6.0 overall with minimum components around 5.0–5.5, or an accepted PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT equivalent.
Teaching, Health, TESOL and other professionally regulated areas may require higher results.
Below the required English level? An English-language pathway such as ELICOS can sometimes be packaged before the Pre-Master's program.
Before you enrol
Completing a Pre-Master's does not give entry to every Master's at that university — only the approved or packaged pathway, with the required progression result.
Engineering, Teaching, Health and other professional programs may still need a relevant Bachelor's, prerequisite subjects, professional checks or extra selection.
Some pathways give no credit toward the Master's; others may give advanced standing.
Talk to a Genix Education counsellor and get a personalised plan — course, university, visa and scholarships.
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