Master's · Security & Justice · Sydney

Master of Strategy and Security

Macquarie University, Sydney

What a first year actually costs

Tuition is rarely the number that decides anything. This is the whole first year, including the costs that usually surface late.

TuitionPer year, as published by the university	$33,173
Living costsAccommodation, food, transport — a working estimate	$17,000
Student visaGovernment fee, one-off	$1,050
Health insuranceTypically mandatory for international students	$450
First year, all in	$51,673

Not in the table above: The visa line is the STUDENT visa. The subclass 485 you need AFTER graduating costs a further AUD 5,750 (~USD 3,800) from 1 Jul 2026 — not in any figure on the page.

Macquarie University publishes this fee as AUD 47,800 a year. The dollar figures above are converted, so treat them as approximate and quote the published amount when you apply.

Getting in

English: IELTS 6.5 overall
Academic: See entry requirements below
Application deadline: Rolling or staged — see below
Intake: July 2027 (Spring session)

Applying

Deadline: Session 1: 2027-02-22; Session 2: 2027-07-26 (2027 commencement, mq.edu.au)

Entry requirements: AQF level 8 bachelor honours or graduate diploma in a related field (or recognised equivalent); OR meet two of: AQF level 7 bachelor in related field / 2+ yrs relevant senior-management experience / AQF level 7 with WAM 65

After you graduate

Graduates of this program are eligible for 2-yr post-study visa (subclass 485) in Australia. Work rights are set by government policy rather than the university, and they change — check the current rules before you rely on them.

What the headline leaves outAGE CAP 35 for coursework degrees (up to 49 only for research master's/PhD). 2 yrs for coursework, 3 only for research. English: IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 5.5, single sitting within 12 months. Apply within 6 months of completing.

Where these numbers come from

Checked against Macquarie University’s own published pages on 1 October 2026.

Is this one realistic for you?

Answer a few questions about your grades, budget and timing, and we will tell you whether this is a likely admit, a genuine match, or an ambitious stretch — alongside everything else that fits.

Check my chances