Charles Darwin University is the public university of Australia's Northern Territory, based in Darwin with a campus in Alice Springs. It is best known for nursing, engineering, IT, business and environmental science, with small classes and a tropical setting. Choose it for a practical degree with the most generous post-study work and migration pathways in Australia.
Darwin, Australia
Official website: cdu.edu.au
#701
Top 100 worldwide under 50 years old (THE)
Darwin offers the longest post-study work rights of any Australian city
Among the smallest class sizes of any Australian university
A$26,000 – A$34,000
International students, undergraduate and coursework master's
A$16,000 – A$22,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on cdu.edu.au before you apply.
Master of Information Technology
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 60
Master of Business Administration
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 60
Master of Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 60
Master of Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 60
Master of Public Health
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 94
Darwin — the longest post-study work rights of any Australian city, up to four years.
Northern Territory migration — one of the most accessible state nomination streams in Australia.
New city campus — a Darwin CBD education and community precinct opened in 2024.
Tropical environment research — a leading centre for Indigenous, environmental and public health study.
Graduates can stay and work in Australia for up to four years, and Northern Territory nomination offers a route to permanent residence.
Nursing graduates enter Royal Darwin Hospital and NT Health, which recruit directly from CDU.
Engineering and IT alumni join Inpex, the NT Government and Darwin's defence and infrastructure projects.
Business graduates work in Darwin's government, mining-services and tourism sectors.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Casuarina is the main campus in Darwin's northern suburbs, a tropical site with student housing and a shopping centre nearby, while the new city campus sits in the CBD.
Darwin is a small tropical capital of about 150,000 people with a wet and dry season, beaches, markets and Kakadu National Park a few hours away. Rent is moderate, and Asia is closer than Sydney.
Confirmation of Enrolment from CDU
Proof of funds for fees and living costs
IELTS or equivalent English test result
Overseas Student Health Cover for stay
Genuine Student statement
Health examination, if requested
Applications are rolling for both semesters. For a February start, apply by late November to leave time for your offer, deposit and visa; for July, apply by late April. Nursing and some health programmes have fixed earlier deadlines listed on their course pages.
CDU has two main intakes: Semester 1 in February and Semester 2 in July. Most undergraduate and coursework master's programmes admit for both, and some IT and business programmes also offer a November start. Check the course page for the intakes open to international students.
You need a Student visa (subclass 500). After you accept your offer and pay the deposit, CDU issues a Confirmation of Enrolment. You then apply through ImmiAccount with proof of funds, Overseas Student Health Cover and a Genuine Student statement.
Information technology, the MBA, engineering, data science and public health are the most applied-for programmes. Master's entry usually needs a bachelor's degree with a pass average (around 55% for Indian degrees) and IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; nursing requires 7.0.
Yes. CDU offers international merit scholarships that reduce tuition by a set percentage for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate applicants, with awards for students from India and other countries assessed automatically on application. Check the scholarships page for current eligibility and amounts.
