The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university in Canberra, Australia’s capital, founded in 1946.[1][2] It has 10,252 undergraduate and 7,128 postgraduate students, from across Australia and 100 countries.[1] ANU is ranked 29th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up three places and fourth in Australia.[3]
ANU prices international tuition in six bands. For 2027 they run from A$47,940 to A$64,130 per 48 units, a full-time year, and the band depends on the discipline and the level of study; for example the Bachelor of Arts is indicatively A$51,170 a year.[4][5] The undergraduate English requirement is IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | The Australian National University (ANU) |
| Location | Canberra, Australia’s capital[1] |
| Type | Public national research university[2] |
| Founded | 1946; the only university created by the Parliament of Australia[2] |
| Students | 10,252 undergraduate and 7,128 postgraduate, from across Australia and 100 countries[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 29th in the world (up from 32nd), 4th in Australia[3] |
| Group of Eight | Member of the Group of Eight, Australia’s research-intensive universities[7] |
| Nobel laureates | Six among staff and alumni[1] |
| Tuition 2027, international bands | A$47,940 to A$64,130 per 48 units (one full-time year), by discipline and level[4] |
| Example: Bachelor of Arts, 2027 | A$51,170 indicative annual fee[5] |
| Services and Amenities Fee | Payable by international students in addition to tuition[8] |
| English (undergraduate) | IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0[6] |
| Visa | Typically the Student visa (subclass 500); apply once you have your Confirmation of Enrolment[9] |
| Official website | anu.edu.au |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
About the Australian National University
ANU was founded in 1946 and is the only university created by the Parliament of Australia.[2] It describes itself as a university in the heart of Canberra, the nation’s capital, three hours’ drive from Sydney.[1] ANU reports 10,252 undergraduate and 7,128 postgraduate students from across Australia and 100 countries, and six Nobel laureates among its staff and alumni.[1]
It is a member of the Group of Eight, Australia’s research-intensive universities.[7] For the wider picture of living and studying in the country, see our Study in Australia guide and the Australia overview.
How is the Australian National University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, ANU is 29th in the world, up from 32nd, and it kept its place as Australia’s fourth-ranked university, with an overall score of 87.6.[3] A national press report of the same release lists UNSW (19th), the University of Melbourne (22nd) and the University of Sydney (28th) ahead of it among Australian universities.[10]
ANU’s international application page also cites Times Higher Education’s 2026 world ranking for “most international university in Australia” and the Times Higher Education Global University Employability Ranking 2023–25 for “most employable graduates in Australia”.[11] These are the university’s own claims, so treat them as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the Australian National University?
ANU’s international application page lets you filter programmes by qualification (diploma, bachelor, honours, master, graduate certificate, graduate diploma) and by area of study: arts and social sciences; business and economics; health, medicine and psychology; law, governance and policy; security, international affairs and Asia-Pacific studies; and science, technology, engineering and mathematics.[11] The listings include flexible double degrees and, for example, the Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Honours).[11]
Programme pages on the Programs and Courses site give the indicative annual international fee for each programme.[8]
How much does the Australian National University cost in 2027?
ANU sets international fees by band. In the 2027 schedule the six bands are A$47,940 (band 1), A$51,170 (2), A$54,540 (3), A$57,640 (4), A$60,870 (5) and A$64,130 (6), each per 48 units, which is one full-time year.[4] Which band applies depends on the discipline (the field of education) and on whether you study an undergraduate, postgraduate coursework or higher degree by research (HDR) programme:[4]
| Discipline | Undergraduate | Postgraduate coursework | Research (HDR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural and physical sciences | A$57,640 | A$57,640 | A$57,640 |
| Information technology | A$57,640 | A$57,640 | A$57,640 |
| Engineering and related technologies | A$57,640 | A$57,640 | A$57,640 |
| Agriculture, environmental and related studies | A$57,640 | A$57,640 | A$57,640 |
| Health | A$57,640 | A$54,540 | A$60,870 |
| Medical studies / medical science | A$64,130 | A$64,130 | A$64,130 |
| Education | A$47,940 | A$54,540 | A$47,940 |
| Management and commerce (incl. MBA) | A$57,640 | A$57,640 | A$54,540 |
| Society and culture | A$47,940 | A$54,540 | A$47,940 |
| Political science and policy studies | A$54,540 | A$57,640 | A$57,640 |
| Behavioural science | A$57,640 | A$60,870 | A$60,870 |
| Law | A$54,540 | A$57,640 | A$54,540 |
| Economics and econometrics | A$57,640 | A$57,640 | A$54,540 |
| Creative arts | A$47,940 | A$47,940 | A$47,940 |
The Juris Doctor is in band 6 (A$64,130).[4] The Doctor of Medicine and Surgery is priced separately at A$102,340 per 48 units.[4] Higher doctorates carry flat fees.[4]
The indicative annual fee for a whole programme can differ from a single band because programmes mix disciplines: the Bachelor of Arts shows A$51,170 for 2027, based on a standard full-time load of 48 units.[5] Fees may increase each year during your studies, and international students also pay the Services and Amenities Fee on top of tuition.[8] Fees for individual courses are published on the Programs and Courses website.[8] For living costs see the Study in Australia guide.
How do you apply to the Australian National University?
International undergraduate and postgraduate applicants start on ANU’s international application page, where each programme listing has an “Apply now” link, and the site has separate pages on documentation requirements, assessment and education agents.[11] Postgraduate research has its own application page.[11]
Once you accept an offer, ANU issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which you need to apply for a student visa; the university says this is typically the subclass 500 student visa, and you should apply as soon as you receive the CoE.[9] ANU also has a page on Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).[11] We give no deadlines here because they change every year.
Which English level do you need?
ANU accepts several ways of meeting the English requirement: earlier secondary or tertiary study in English, an acceptable test (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced or PTE Academic), or citizenship of certain English-speaking countries combined with education in that country.[6] For undergraduate entry the policy sets:[6]
| Test | Minimum for undergraduate entry |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (taken at a test centre; online not accepted) | Overall 6.5; reading, writing, listening and speaking 6.0 each |
| TOEFL iBT, study starting from 1 January 2027 (TOEFL iBT Australia version only for tests taken from 21 January 2026) | Overall 81; reading 16, writing 19, listening 16, speaking 19 |
| PTE Academic (not PTE Online) | Overall 64 (skill minimums are listed in the policy) |
Tests must normally be taken within two years of the application date (four years if you have since completed a year of full-time study in English), and results from different tests cannot be combined.[6] International applicants must also meet the Department of Home Affairs English requirements for the visa.[6] From 1 January 2027 admitted students take a post-entry language assessment, which does not affect the admission decision.[6] Postgraduate coursework and research programmes have their own tables in the policy, and some programmes set higher scores.[6]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ANU cost for international students in 2027?
What is ANU’s QS World University Ranking in 2027?
ANU is 29th in the world, up from 32nd, and fourth among Australian universities.[3]
What IELTS score do you need for ANU?
For undergraduate entry, 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each of reading, writing, listening and speaking, taken at a test centre.[6]
How many students does ANU have?
The university’s facts page lists 10,252 undergraduate and 7,128 postgraduate students from across Australia and 100 countries.[1]
Is ANU part of the Group of Eight?
Yes. The Group of Eight lists ANU among its eight member universities.[7]
More about studying in Australia
- Australia: best universities
- Study in Australia: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Australia
- Adelaide University
- Curtin University
- Deakin University
- Griffith University
- James Cook University
- La Trobe University
- Macquarie University
- Monash University
- Queensland University of Technology
- RMIT University
- University of Melbourne
- University of Newcastle
- The University of Queensland
- University of Sydney
- University of Tasmania
- University of Technology Sydney
- The University of Western Australia
- University of Wollongong
- UNSW Sydney
Sources
[1] ANU: Facts about ANU (page without a date)
[2] Wikipedia: Australian National University (founding and type; page without a date)
[3] ANU Reporter: ANU climbs in QS World University Rankings (published 18 Jun 2026)
[4] ANU: Schedule of Tuition Fees 2027 (PDF) (PDF without a printed date; linked from the ANU international tuition fees page)
[5] ANU Programs and Courses: Bachelor of Arts (2027) (page without a date; indicative annual fee)
[6] ANU Policy Library: English language admission requirements and post-admission support (policy page without a printed date; includes rules for study from 1 Jan 2027)
[7] Group of Eight: About (page without a date)
[8] ANU: International tuition fees (page without a date)
[9] ANU: International student visa requirements (page without a date)
[10] Canberra Times: Australian unis ‘punch above their weight’ in rankings (QS 2027 report of 18 Jun 2026; wire story)
[11] ANU: International undergraduate and postgraduate applications (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.