How to finance postgraduate study

From CSPs to FEE-HELP, RMIT can help you finance your postgraduate study so you can put the focus back on your career.

Postgraduate study is the perfect opportunity to expand your horizons and progress your career in a direction of your choosing. But you might be worried about the cost. 

When you’re choosing your postgrad, you might be worried about how much university will cost, but at RMIT you’ve got multiple avenues to break the cost barrier to your next qualification. 

It’s time to direct your focus back towards learning and progressing your career goals, and away from the worries of tuition fees or your finances. Discover your options to manage, or even reduce, the cost of your course below. 

Four postgraduate students stand in front of Building 80 on the RMIT city campus

Ease your worries and focus on your career progression with a postgrad option

Commonwealth Supported Places

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a spot at a university where the tuition fee is shared by you and the Commonwealth Government. 

They are an excellent way to finance your postgraduate study, as they can decrease the total cost of your study. Postgraduate Commonwealth Supported Places act as a subsidy, reducing the cost of a course without the need to pay the government back for their contribution. 

If you’re an eligible postgraduate student with a Commonwealth Supported Place, your share of the tuition fee is set by the government and depends on the subjects you study rather than the overall course.   

You can get an idea of what your student contribution might be by referring to the subject bands and their cost. If you’re not sure where to find this info, check out RMIT’s webpage with the 2025 student contribution fees for commencing students.

For example, if you were planning on studying a Master of Marketing which has a total annual fee of AU$33,600 per year, but if you secure a Commonwealth Supported Place you can save AU$16,992 in fees. That means you could save up to 50% on your course fees.

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is a loan from the Australian Government that can cover all or part of your course fees. Effectively, this means that if you are eligible for FEE-HELP, part or all of the cost of your studies are deferred, and you then pay them through the tax system once you have completed your studies.    

This means you can enrol in your course and concentrate on acquiring the skills, knowledge and experience for your career. Then, once you’re in the workforce and earning above the compulsory repayment threshold, you start repaying the loan. On top of that, FEE-HELP is an interest-free system, so you don’t have to worry about generating interest while you study.

You might be juggling the costs of paying rent and everyday living expenses or even raising a family. FEE-HELP can ensure that you can finance your postgraduate study and don’t have to sacrifice your learning and career progression. 

Not sure if you’re eligible? Find out more on the Australian government’s FEE-HELP webpage.

Ease your fee concerns and put the focus back on your interests and passions

Postgraduate scholarships

RMIT proudly awards more than 3,000 scholarships each year. That’s opening the door to new opportunities for over 3,000 students. Could you be next?

From coursework and research scholarships to assistance pay for overseas study - RMIT’s scholarships aren’t just a way to finance your postgraduate study; they can offer you accessibility and additional learning opportunities beyond the classroom. 

With RMIT’s diverse array of scholarships, there is something for everyone. For example:

If you’re dreaming of expanding your expertise with an Executive Master of Business Administration, you could apply for the Emily McPherson Executive MBA Scholarship which covers 50% of your tuition fees.
If you’re a future teacher who’s planning on studying RMIT’s Master of Teaching Practice (Secondary Education), you could be eligible for the Teach Tomorrow Program, which offers a $15,000 scholarship while you study for the first 6–12 months.
Students pursuing a Master of Architecture who have financial or circumstantial barriers between them and their studies can apply for the Bruce Henderson Architects Scholarship, which is worth up to $30,000.

If you’re hoping to browse RMIT’s range of scholarships addressing the financial, educational and difficult circumstances students can face, visit our Scholarships page to find out more.

Stackable learning

If you’re worried about how much studying a master’s degree costs, you should know there are alternative postgrad options which can be completed in a shorter timeframe and at a reduced financial commitment. 

At RMIT, stackable learning adds strings to your professional bow. Whether you enrol in a microcredential, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma, RMIT’s shorter postgraduate courses allow you to upskill and gain the experience you need to take the next step in your career.

They’re also a great way to build up to a Master’s course, even if it’s not your priority just yet.

Microcredential

A microcredential is a study option that focuses on a single subject so you can quickly gain a skill or expand your expertise in a specific area. Microcredentials often only take a few weeks to complete.

A diploma with a small merit badge in the top left hand corner

Graduate Certificate

Studying a graduate certificate develops your skills across an area of study to support your personal and career goals. This study option takes six months to complete.

Graduate Diploma

Graduate diplomas expand your knowledge of in a chosen field. They cover more topics in the twelve months it takes to complete than a grad certificate. Additionally, grad diplomas allow you to flexibly build towards a master’s degree.

Postgraduate study gives you the ability to guide your future. It’s an opportunity invest in yourself and get invaluable expertise – and you simply cannot put a price on that!

So, if returning to study has been on your mind but the prospect of it being a financial burden has been weighing too heavily, remember that you have access to a range of options that can help you manage, or even reduce, the cost of your postgrad course at RMIT.

Story: Jacqueline Guldon

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