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13 Best Public Master's Universities in Australia

University of Melbourne tops our list of 13 Public Master's universities in Australia at #19 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by Australian National University (QS World #30) and Monash University (QS World #37). The universities on this list offer 114 matching courses between them.

13 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1Best overall
ME University of Melbourne logo
QS World #19 #1 in Australia Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

University of Melbourne

Public University · 6 courses in Master's

All 6 courses →
AUD 41,500 – AUD 56,000/yrTuition (indicative)
1853Founded
52,000Students
18,000International
Admissions open
#19 QS World University Rankings 2026
#1 in Australia
6Ranked
WS Western Sydney University logo
QS World #400 #23 in Australia Australia
#400 QS World University Rankings 2026
#23 in Australia
10Ranked
AL Australian Lutheran College logo
#51 in Australia Australia
#51 in Australia · by research impact
1,345 citations · h-index 22

By university type

How these universities are ranked

6 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #19 (University of Melbourne) to #400 (Western Sydney University); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: University of Melbourne is cited most (31,503,308 citations). 3 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

13 are public and 0 private (100% public). By location, Victoria (2) and Australian Capital Territory (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of Melbourne, founded in 1853. Monash University is the largest, with 86,000 students.

Levels, lengths and start dates

The most common subjects are Business & Management (20), Education (13), Life Sciences (12) and Science (9). The usual length is 1–2 years and 2 years. 100% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (95% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (94% of courses with a stated intake). Western Sydney University offers the widest choice, with 26 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 3 of these universities. Monash University is the least expensive at USD 30,000 a year and University of Melbourne the most at USD 32,000; the middle of the range is about USD 31,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Australia for Public Master's?

University of Melbourne (QS World #19), Australian National University (QS World #30) and Monash University (QS World #37) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public Master's in Australia?

Of those with published fees, Monash University is the least expensive at about USD 30,000 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Public Master's in Australia?

13 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Master's course take in Australia?

Most listed courses run 1–2 years, with 2 years the next most common.

When do Public Master's courses start in Australia?

Fall is the main intake — 95% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Which university has the most Public Master's courses in Australia?

Western Sydney University, with 26, ahead of Avondale University (20).

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