Have you considered furthering your bachelor’s qualification, developing your career or totally switching things up?

There’s never been a better time to put thought into action – this challenging year has given us much time to think about where we are and what we envision for our future. 

No matter your stage of life or personal circumstances, postgrad study is more financially possible than you think. Here are our 7 tips to make your postgrad dream a reality.

1. Choose a CSP course

We added more than 40 degrees to our existing list of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) courses, which are subsidised by the Australian Government. This means the costs to you have significantly reduced, so it’s now more affordable than ever to study courses, with savings between 61% and 83% on course fees.

The increased range of CSP postgraduate degrees at UWA are across a broad range of disciplines, such as Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Science Communication, Urban Design, IT, Clinical Psychology, Education, Public Health, Strategic Communication and more.

Courses include graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and master’s degrees, like the Graduate Diploma in International Law, with a new average annual fee of only $5,577 (as opposed to the previous cost of $23,400 equalling a saving of 76%). View our newest CSP courses or check your course of interest’s webpage to view fee information.

2. Apply for a scholarship

UWA offers a range of general and course-specific scholarships to support postgraduate coursework and research students, covering academic excellence; diversity, equity and inclusion; global experience; and leadership, talent and social impact. Most importantly, if you come from a background of hardship or difficult circumstances, we can help you achieve your goals through financial support. Don’t forget to hunt around for scholarships specific to your course or area of interest, like the:

• Master of Public Health
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• BUPA Mental Health Scholarship
• Rio Tinto Talent Scholarship

Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships are also provided by the Australian Government to support domestic and international students looking to undertake a research degree like a PhD.

3. Ask your employer

Undertaking study to advance your career? Why not propose a cost-sharing arrangement with your employer. Many companies will have budget allocated to professional development, including higher education. Be sure to present a clear case on how your study will benefit your workplace and what your employer can expect in return, such as you’ll be able to bring the latest knowledge, skills and experience to your role and the wider team.

4. Take advantage of UWA’s industry partner discounts

If your employer is a UWA industry partner, the Industry Partner Discount could get you a 10% tuition fee discount for a range of courses across business and leadership, engineering and science, and health and public policy.

5. Ask for HELP

You’ve probably heard of HECS if you deferred your fees for your undergraduate degree. The good news is government loans are also available to domestic students for postgraduate study. If you have a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), you may be eligible to defer tuition fees through HECS-HELP. If your place is full fee-paying and you‘re a domestic student, you may be eligible to defer your fees through FEE-HELP.

6. Take credit

Learning credit, that is. If you’ve already completed study either at UWA or at another institution, you could qualify for recognition of prior learning, also known as credit transfer or advanced standing. Course fees are charged at the unit level, so with credit for units already completed, you could save the associated costs. Contact our Future Students team to find out more.

7. Maximise your tax gains

If you’re a domestic student, take advantage of your tax return and put it towards your chosen course. Also be sure look into how much of your study costs you could claim for next year, including incidentals. If your degree is for professional development for your current job, you may be able to claim expenses in your tax return.