James Cook University is a public university in tropical north Queensland, with campuses in Townsville and Cairns. It is best known for marine biology, environmental science, medicine and tropical health, sitting beside the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforest. Choose it for a science degree in the field, with regional post-study work advantages.
Townsville and Cairns, Australia
Official website: jcu.edu.au
#445
Among the top in the world (ShanghaiRanking, Oceanography)
Top 50 worldwide under 50 years old (THE)
Above world standard in all broad fields (ERA)
A$32,000 – A$44,000
International students, undergraduate and coursework master's
A$18,000 – A$24,000
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 jcu.edu.au before you apply.
Master of Information Technology
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 74
Master of Business Administration
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 74
Master of Science (Marine Biology)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 74
Master of Public Health
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 74
Master of Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 74
Bachelor of Nursing Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Feb
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 94
Marine biology — one of the world's leading programmes, with the Great Barrier Reef as a field site.
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine — a major research centre on campus.
Regional classification — graduates get extra post-study work years compared with Sydney or Melbourne.
Campuses in Townsville, Cairns and Singapore.
Graduates can stay and work in Australia for up to four years, thanks to north Queensland's regional status.
Marine science alumni work at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Reef Authority and research bodies worldwide.
Nursing and health graduates enter Townsville and Cairns hospitals, which recruit directly from JCU.
IT and business graduates join Queensland Government, mining-services firms and Cairns's tourism sector.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The Townsville campus is a large tropical site with a teaching hospital and student lodges; the Cairns campus is a smaller rainforest-edge site 15 minutes from the city centre.
Both cities are warm year-round with beaches, the reef and rainforest on the doorstep, and rents far below Sydney and Melbourne. Summers are hot and humid with a wet season.
Confirmation of Enrolment from JCU
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. Medicine, nursing and some health programmes have fixed earlier deadlines listed on their course pages.
JCU has two main intakes: Semester 1 in February and Semester 2 in July. Most undergraduate and coursework master's programmes admit for both. Nursing, medicine and some science programmes are February only, so check the course page.
You need a Student visa (subclass 500). After you accept your offer and pay the deposit, JCU 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, marine biology, public health and engineering are the most applied-for programmes. Master's entry usually needs a bachelor's degree with a pass or credit average (around 55-60% for Indian degrees) and IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0; nursing requires 7.0.
Yes. JCU offers international merit scholarships that reduce tuition by a set percentage for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate applicants, including awards for students from India and South Asia, assessed automatically on application. Check the scholarships page for current eligibility and amounts.
