How to Study at Monash University as an International Student: The Complete 2026 Guide

Monash University gives Indian students something most universities cannot: a choice of campuses, each built around its specialisms. Engineering and IT are at Clayton, business at Caulfield, and pharmacy has its own campus at Parkville. Many first-time applicants don't realise this, and knowing it helps you choose the right course and the right part of Melbourne.

Founded in 1958 and named after the engineer and general Sir John Monash, the university has grown into one of the best-known names in Australian higher education. It also has a long connection with India through the IITB-Monash Research Academy in Mumbai, a joint PhD programme with IIT Bombay. For students planning to study in Australia, this guide covers what it takes to study at Monash University as an international student: courses, entry marks, English scores, the visa money rules and the post-study work rights that apply to Indian graduates.

Monash University at a Glance

The ranking is useful, but the campus structure is what you will notice every day. Your course decides your campus, and your campus decides your commute, your housing options and your classmates. Pick the course first, then plan your life in Melbourne around the campus where it is taught.

Monash University Courses for Indian Students

1. Information Technology, Data Science and AI (Clayton)

Monash describes itself as the only Group of Eight university with a dedicated IT faculty. The Master of Information Technology (C6001) runs for 1.5 or 2 years at Clayton, depending on your background, with February and July intakes. It welcomes students from IT and non-IT backgrounds and is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS). The Master of Data Science (C6004) and Master of Artificial Intelligence (C6007) follow the same two-level structure: 2 years if your degree is in another field, 1.5 years if you already have the right computing subjects.

2. Engineering (Clayton)

The four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (E3001) starts with a common first year, and then you choose a branch: aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, environmental, electrical and computer systems, materials, mechanical, robotics and mechatronics, or software engineering. For graduates, the Master of Professional Engineering (E6011) offers chemical, civil, electrical, materials and mechanical specialisations and is accredited by Engineers Australia. It takes 3 years, or 2 years if you hold a four-year Bachelor of Engineering in a related discipline with at least a 65% average, which is exactly the profile of many Indian BE and BTech graduates.

3. Pharmacy (Parkville)

The four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (P3001) is taught at Parkville, home of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Monash describes it as a fully integrated course with plenty of hands-on practice, including work placements in hospitals and community pharmacies. There is also a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) (P3002) for students interested in drug discovery and research rather than practice.

4. Business (Caulfield)

The Master of Business (B6005) at Caulfield is designed mainly for graduates without prior business study. It lasts 2 years, 1.5 years with a related degree, or 1 year with a related degree plus two years of relevant professional experience, and you can specialise in areas such as business economics. The Master of Banking and Finance (B6004) is a focused alternative if you are aiming for finance roles.

Entry Requirements for Indian Students

Postgraduate (Master's)

• The 60% line: the 2027 Handbook entries for the Master of IT, Data Science, AI and Business all ask for a bachelor degree (or equivalent) with at least a credit (60%) average. Monash converts Indian marks to its own scale, so check your conversion early.
• The shorter route: if your degree already covers the right subjects, you can enter at Level 2 and finish in 1.5 years. For the Master of IT, that means completed studies in Java and Python programming, algorithms, computer architecture, operating systems, networks and databases. A strong BE, BTech or BCA transcript often fits, and it saves you a full semester of fees and living costs.
• Engineering: the Master of Professional Engineering asks for a high credit (65%) average and prior maths (including linear algebra and calculus), plus physics and/or chemistry depending on the specialisation. A four-year BE in a related branch at 65% or above qualifies you for the shorter 2-year version.
• Statement and documents: transcripts, your degree certificate and English test results are the core of your application. Make sure your course choice makes sense for your career. That matters again when you write your Genuine Student answers for the visa.

Undergraduate

• Class XII results: Monash lists minimum Indian results on each course page. For 2027 entry, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) lists 80% in CBSE (AISSCE) or 75% in ISC, and the Bachelor of Information Technology lists 70% (CBSE) or 65% (ISC), along with prerequisite subjects such as English and mathematics.
• Your board matters: state boards such as Karnataka's II PUC are not listed separately on these course pages, so confirm the figure for your exact board and course with Monash before you apply.

English Language Requirements

• Monash Level A (most courses): IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0; PTE Academic 58 with no band below 50; or TOEFL iBT 79 with Writing 21, Listening 12, Reading 13 and Speaking 18.
• Higher levels for some health courses: for example, the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) uses Monash Level B, with higher band minimums.
• Plan to sit your test with time to retake if needed. Hitting the band minimums is what matters, not just the overall score.

Monash University Fees and Scholarships

Monash sets an international fee for each course and shows it on the course page when you switch to the international view. Fees are revised every year, so always confirm the number on Monash's own page for your course and intake year. When you compare offers, compare the total cost of the course, not just the annual fee. A 1.5-year master's can cost much less in total than a 2-year one, which is why entering at the right level matters so much.

These are Monash's published 2027 international fees for a standard full-time year of 48 credit points. The Master of Banking and Finance is also A$62,140 and the Bachelor of Information Technology A$58,940. For pharmacy and any course not listed here, switch the course page to the international view to see its fee. Multiply by your course length to get the total: a 1.5-year Master of IT at A$57,540 a year comes to roughly A$86,000 in tuition, against about A$115,000 for the 2-year version.

Monash International Study Grants

Monash's course pages advertise International Study Grants valued at up to $10,000 for eligible international students. Check the current conditions and eligible intakes when you apply.

Monash merit scholarships

Monash also runs competitive scholarships for high-achieving international students. Names, values and deadlines change from year to year, so use Monash's scholarship search for your intake rather than lists copied onto other websites.

Research degrees and the IITB-Monash Research Academy

If you are aiming for a PhD, the IITB-Monash Research Academy in Mumbai offers a joint PhD with IIT Bombay and Monash, which is worth exploring alongside Monash's own research scholarships.

Your Student Visa and Post-Study Work Rights

• Working while you study: Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session, with no limit during scheduled breaks. Master's by research and doctoral students have no work limit.
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): under the Australia–India agreement (AI-ECTA), Indian nationals can stay 2 years after a bachelor degree, 3 years after a bachelor with first-class honours in STEM (including ICT), 3 years after a master's degree and 4 years after a PhD. You must be 35 or under when you apply, with exceptions for research graduates.
• 485 costs and English: the Temporary Graduate visa charge rose to A$5,750 from 1 July 2026. For tests taken from 7 August 2025, the English requirement is IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each band.
• Melbourne is a major city for regional purposes, so a Monash degree from the Melbourne campuses does not lead to the extra regional second 485 visa. Most students find the standard post-study period more than enough to build a career.

Applying from Bangalore and Karnataka

Bangalore students often have exactly what Monash's IT, data science and engineering courses look for: strong maths, solid programming and, for graduates, industry experience in the city's tech sector. Here is how to turn that into a strong Monash application.

• II PUC students: if you are finishing Class XII with the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board, confirm Monash's minimum for your board and course before you apply. State-board and CBSE requirements are not always the same.
• Karnataka graduates: whether your degree is from a VTU-affiliated engineering college, Bangalore University or an autonomous institution, Monash assesses the degree and your average against its credit (60%) or high credit (65%) threshold. Send transcripts that show every semester's marks clearly.
• Use your work experience: if you have worked in Bangalore's IT sector, use your application and Genuine Student answers to explain why a Monash master's is the right next step for your career.
• Visa logistics: you lodge the Student visa online in ImmiAccount from Bangalore. India is not on Home Affairs' current list of Australian Biometrics Collection Centre locations, so if you are asked for biometrics, follow the instructions in the request letter (an approved centre or, if eligible, the Australian Immi app) and act within the 14 days you are given.
• Meet us in person: Falcon Nova's office is on the 7th floor of Kirloskar Business Park in Hebbal, North Bangalore, and you can book free counselling in person or online.

Life at Monash

Clayton, in Melbourne's south-east suburbs, is home to engineering and IT, with on-campus housing, sport and food. Caulfield is closer to the city and has a business-district feel, while Parkville sits in Melbourne's medical and research precinct. Melbourne itself has a large, well-established Indian community, so familiar food and festival celebrations are never far away.

One practical point: because your campus is fixed by your course, choose accommodation along the transport lines that serve it. Students who plan housing around their campus save time every day and settle in faster.

Is Monash Right for You?

Monash suits students who know what they want to study and want a large, well-resourced university with a campus built around it: IT and engineering at Clayton, business at Caulfield or pharmacy at Parkville. If you are comparing Australian options, it is worth reading our guides to the University of Queensland and the University of Western Australia too, since each has a different city and a different post-study picture.