Bond University
Australia's first private not-for-profit university, where three semesters a year let you finish a bachelor's in two.
- Students
- 6,188
- International
- 37%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 11:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- A$52,400
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1987
About Bond
Bond University was created by the Bond University Act of 1987 as Australia's first private, not-for-profit university, modelled on the small, selective private universities of the northern hemisphere. Its first 322 students arrived on 15 May 1989 at a purpose-built campus on the Gold Coast, and after surviving the collapse of its original backers it bought its 50-hectare site outright in 1999. Today it has about 6,200 students, more than a third of them international, and over 30,000 graduates working in 120 countries.
Bond's defining feature is its calendar: three full semesters a year, starting in January, May and September, so a standard bachelor's degree takes two years instead of three. Teaching is organised in four faculties: Bond Business School (accredited by AACSB and EQUIS), Health Sciences and Medicine, Law, and Society and Design, which includes the Abedian School of Architecture, plus Bond University College for pathway programmes.
Classes are small, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11:1, and in the federal government's 2024 Student Experience Survey Bond undergraduates were the most satisfied with their educational experience of any major Australian university. It suits students who want close contact with academics, a residential campus feel and a fast track into work, and who can afford private-university fees.
Forever learning
University motto
Why students choose Bond
Three semesters a year mean most bachelor's degrees take two years, getting you into work up to a year earlier than at other Australian universities.
Bond undergraduates were the most satisfied with their educational experience of any major Australian university in the 2024 Student Experience Survey.
Commerce students train on 40 Bloomberg terminals in the Bond FinTech Hub, the most of any university in Australia.
International applicants with the equivalent of ATAR 95 or IB 38 can receive a 50% tuition scholarship, and ATAR 90 or IB 32 can earn 25% off tuition for eligible countries.
Admissions
2027 entry (January, May or September 2027 semester)
Selectivity
Bond does not publish an offer rate. All bachelor's applicants need at least the equivalent of ATAR 65, OP 15 or IB 24, and current Australian Year 12 students are guaranteed a place in any program except Medicine with ATAR 91 or IB 33. Of the 657 new undergraduates in January 2026, 95 (14%) were international students.
Typical entry requirements
| Minimum for all bachelor's degrees | Equivalent of ATAR 65.00, OP 15 or IB 24, and at least 17 years old; below this, entry is via a Bond University College diploma |
|---|---|
| ATAR (Australian Year 12) | ATAR 91.00 (or IB 33) guarantees entry to any undergraduate program except Medicine, subject to prerequisites |
| IB Diploma (predicted, examples) | Actuarial Science 34; Laws 32; Business Law 30; Clinical Exercise Physiology 27; International Relations 26 |
| Other international qualifications | Bond recognises many international secondary qualifications; program-specific requirements are listed on each program page |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Most bachelor's degrees: IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 79. Laws, Business Law, Jurisprudence, Psychological Science and Health Sciences (Honours): IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.5) or TOEFL iBT 94. Exercise and Sports Science: IELTS 7.0 in every band. TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS General Training are not accepted; results must be under 24 months old at commencement. |
Deadlines
- January 2027 semester Non-bindingRolling, up to the semester start date
Applications are open year-round. For comparison, January 2026 classes began on 19 January 2026.
- May 2027 semester Non-bindingRolling, up to the semester start date
May 2026 classes began on 18 May 2026.
- September 2027 semester Non-bindingRolling, up to the semester start date
September 2026 classes began on 14 September 2026.
Bond accepts applications year-round and says you can apply up to a semester's start date; its key dates page currently lists 2026 semester dates only. International students should apply several months ahead to leave time for the student visa. The Medical Program and Doctor of Physiotherapy have their own deadlines.
How to apply
Apply directly to Bond through its free online application portal at any time (Australian students do not need QTAC, except for Medicine), or through a Bond-approved education agent. Current Australian Year 12 students apply with Year 11 and Year 12 Semester 1 results; IB students can get an offer on predicted scores. Once you have an unconditional offer, you accept and pay the first-semester deposit to receive your Confirmation of Enrolment for the student visa. Scholarship eligibility for the international scholarships is assessed from your program application.
What admissions looks for
- Academic results at or above the program's entry level, from the ATAR 65 / IB 24 minimum up to IB 34 for Actuarial Science.
- Prerequisite subjects where a program requires them, which become conditions of the offer.
- English proficiency at the program's level, e.g. IELTS 6.5 for most degrees and 7.0 for Law and Psychological Science.
- For scholarships, academic excellence, leadership, community engagement and sport.
Tips for applying to Bond
- 1 Pick your start: Bond has three intakes a year (January, May, September), so you don't have to wait for the next academic year.
- 2 If you are an international student with the equivalent of ATAR 95 or IB 38, you are automatically assessed for the 50% International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship when you apply.
- 3 Check whether your subject grades meet prerequisites: offers from Semester 1 Year 12 results are conditional on passing them.
- 4 Book TOEFL at a test centre: Bond does not accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
- 5 International students wanting Medicine cannot enter directly; Bond's routes include its Bachelor of Biomedical Science (pre-health professional major) or certain health master's degrees.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in AUD
Bond offers full-fee scholarships to domestic students only (such as the Vice-Chancellor's Elite Scholarship) and part-fee scholarships to both domestic and international students. International applicants can receive the International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship (50% tuition remission, for ATAR 95 or IB 38 equivalent) or the International Stand Out Scholarship (25%, for ATAR 90 or IB 32, citizens of eligible countries). Loyalty discounts of up to 10% apply for family members and alumni; there are no Bond scholarships for the Medical Program.
- 50% tuition remission (ATAR 95 / IB 38 equivalent)
- International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship
- 25% tuition remission (ATAR 90 / IB 32 equivalent)
- International Stand Out Scholarship
- Up to 10% of tuition
- Loyalty discount
Academics
Academic calendar: Three semesters a year (January, May, September)
Bachelor of Commerce
Two-year degree with majors such as accounting, actuarial science, data analytics, economics and finance, taught with 40 Bloomberg terminals in the FinTech Hub.
Bachelor of Actuarial Science
Bond says it is the only actuarial program in Queensland accredited by the Actuaries Institute.
Bachelor of Laws
Taught with a Legal Skills Centre and moot court; Bond law teams have won a series of international mooting competitions.
Medical Program (Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine)
Australia's first private medical degree, approved in 2004; direct entry is for domestic students, with pathways for international students.
Bachelor of Film and Television
Linked to a screen-industry co-working hub on campus launched with Screen Queensland.
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Bond introduced Australia's first Doctor of Physiotherapy program.
Research
- Bond placed 75th in the world for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) in the THE Impact Rankings 2024.
- Bond cites a 'world-class research' rating from the Australian Research Council.
- The Centre for Dispute Resolution sits within the Faculty of Law.
Schools & faculties
- Bond Business School
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Society & Design
- Bond University College
- Transformation CoLab
Bond says it has rated first in Australia for employer satisfaction for three years, and a 2023 LinkedIn analysis published in the Australian Financial Review found 60.6 business leaders per 1,000 Bond alumni, the highest of any Australian university.
Student life
Bond feels like a residential college town: sandstone buildings around Lake Orr and The Arch, a Sports Centre, an aquatic centre with a 10-lane pool, and on-campus residences where every resident buys a dining plan. The Bond University Student Association runs more than 70 clubs and societies and a busy events calendar, and Bond has a strong swimming and rugby tradition that has produced Olympians. With students from more than 90 countries and three intakes a year, new faces arrive every semester.
- More than 70 clubs and societies run by the Bond University Student Association.
- Aquatic Centre with a 10-lane, 25-metre pool and a Sports Centre included in the student amenities fee.
- The Bond University Film and Television Awards (BUFTA) and an eSports hub.
- Alumni network of 30 chapters in 25 cities across 15 countries.
Housing. On-campus rooms cost AUD 3,825 to 5,550 per semester in 2026 (a 10% discount applies for new full-degree students), plus a compulsory dining plan from AUD 2,400 per semester.
Location
Bond's 50-hectare campus is on the Gold Coast in south-east Queensland, a coastal city known for its surf beaches and outdoor lifestyle. Bond describes the Gold Coast as a more affordable place to live than most of Australia's major cities, and parking on campus is free. Students can live on campus or choose off-campus options such as share accommodation, local apartments or homestay.
Nearest airport: Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
Notable alumni
- TV Tupou VIKing of Tonga since 2012 and former Prime Minister of Tonga
- GH Grant HackettOlympic champion swimmer
- TW Tommy WirkolaNorwegian film director and screenwriter
- SS Samantha StraussScreenwriter and creator of the TV series Dance Academy
- SC Steven CioboFormer Australian federal minister and Member for Moncrieff
- BJ Brian JeanFormer Leader of the Opposition in Alberta, Canada
- FJ Fiona de JongFormer CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee
Frequently asked questions
How much does Bond University cost for international students?
In 2027 most bachelor's degrees cost AUD 26,200 per semester for international students, so AUD 157,200 for a six-semester (two-year) degree. On-campus living starts at about AUD 6,225 per semester including the dining plan.
What ATAR do you need for Bond University?
The minimum is ATAR 65 (or IB 24) for any bachelor's degree, and current Year 12 students with ATAR 91 (IB 33) are guaranteed entry to any program except Medicine, provided prerequisites are met.
When can I start at Bond?
Bond has three intakes a year, in January, May and September, and accepts applications year-round up to the semester start date.
What IELTS score does Bond require?
Most bachelor's degrees need IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0 (TOEFL iBT 79). Law and Psychological Science need IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.5 (TOEFL iBT 94).
Can international students study medicine at Bond?
Not by direct entry: the Medical Program is only open directly to Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents. International students can reach it through pathways such as Bond's Bachelor of Biomedical Science (pre-health professional major).
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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