Griffith University
A multi-campus South East Queensland university ranked 3rd in the world for nursing by ShanghaiRanking.
- Students
- 44,807
- 30,710 undergraduates
- International
- 19%
- of students
- Tuition
- A$38,000
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1971
About Griffith
Griffith University was founded in 1971 and opened in 1975 on a bushland site at Nathan in Brisbane with 451 students. It now teaches across campuses in Brisbane (Nathan, South Bank and Mount Gravatt), the Gold Coast and Logan, plus online, and had 44,807 students in 2024, of whom 30,710 were undergraduates and 8,673 were international.
Teaching is organised into four academic groups: Arts, Education and Law; Griffith Business School; Griffith Health; and Griffith Sciences. The Queensland Conservatorium and the Queensland College of Art are part of the university. Griffith is strongest in health: ShanghaiRanking puts its nursing and midwifery 3rd in the world and 1st in Australia, and the Gold Coast campus hosts medicine, dentistry, paramedicine and allied health degrees.
Griffith has a particular record on sustainability and teaching: it placed 2nd worldwide in the 2026 THE Impact Rankings and sits in the national top three for Australian Awards for University Teaching, with 77 since 2012. It suits students who want a large, outdoorsy campus near the beach or bushland, flexible trimester intakes and a clear pathway into health, law, business or the creative arts.
Make it matter
University motto
Why students choose Griffith
Nursing and midwifery at Griffith is ranked 3rd in the world and 1st in Australia (ShanghaiRanking GRAS 2025).
Three trimesters a year let many degrees start in March, July or November, so you can begin without waiting a full year.
High achievers in Year 12 can enter the Bachelor of Medical Science and, with a GPA of at least 5.5, move into Griffith's Doctor of Medicine.
The Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship covers 50% of tuition for the whole degree, and the International Academic Merit Scholarship covers 20%.
Admissions
2027 intakes (Trimester 1 from March 2027, Trimester 2 from July 2027, Trimester 3 from November 2027)
Selectivity
Griffith does not publish an overall offer rate. Each degree lists the minimum adjusted ATAR or selection rank that received an offer in the 2026 admission round, e.g. 63 for Information Technology, Business and Criminology, 70 for Commerce and Engineering (Honours), 72 for Nursing at Nathan, 75 for Psychology (Honours), 78 for Laws (Honours), 96.55 for Paramedicine and 99.9 to 99.95 for Medical Science. International applicants are assessed against a Standard or Higher (H1 to H6) entry scale.
Typical entry requirements
| ATAR (Australian Year 12, via QTAC) | 2026 minimum adjusted ATAR/rank offered: Information Technology, Business, Criminology 63; Commerce and Engineering (Honours) 70; Nursing 70 to 72; Psychology (Honours) 75; Laws (Honours) 78; Paramedicine 96.55; Medical Science 99.9 (Gold Coast) to 99.95 (Nathan) |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | 26 points for Standard entry (most degrees), 32 for H2 (e.g. Laws, Advanced Commerce), 39 for H6 (Medical Science, Dental Health Science) |
| UK GCE A-levels (best 3, A*=6) | 6 points for Standard entry, 10 for H2, 16 for H6 |
| Other international qualifications | Standard entry e.g. Gaokao 60%, India ISC/CBSE 65%, US SAT 1000 or ACT 22 with high school diploma; higher levels for H1 to H6 degrees |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Most programs: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 79 (no sub-score below 19); PTE Academic 58 (no score below 50). Laws, Nursing, Medical Science and Dental Health Science require IELTS 7.0. Test results should normally be less than two years old. |
Deadlines
- Dental Health Science online interviews Non-binding Next deadline · In 48 days23-27 November 2026
Interviews via SAMMI for shortlisted applicants who have sat the UCAT ANZ.
- Trimester 1, 2027 (recommended application date) Non-bindingMid-November 2026
Orientation 22-26 February 2027; teaching starts 1 March 2027. Some degrees have different closing dates.
- Trimester 2, 2027 (recommended application date) Non-bindingMid-April 2027
Orientation 5-9 July 2027; teaching starts 12 July 2027.
- Trimester 3, 2027 (recommended application date) Non-bindingMid-July 2027
Orientation 25-29 October 2027; teaching starts 1 November 2027. Not all degrees offer this intake.
Griffith accepts international applications all year round but recommends applying by mid-November for Trimester 1, mid-April for Trimester 2 and mid-July for Trimester 3 to leave time for the student visa. Degrees such as Medical Science and Dental Health Science only start in Trimester 1 and have separate selection steps. Australian Year 12 students apply through QTAC; QTAC offer rounds for Griffith's Trimester 1, 2027 run from 20 August 2026 to 16 February 2027, with Year 12 Early Offers on 4 September, 16 October and 20 November 2026 and a main round on 23 December 2026.
How to apply
International students apply online through Griffith's international application system or a registered recruitment representative, with certified transcripts, English test results and any portfolio or audition. Students completing an Australian Year 12 apply through QTAC. After accepting an offer and paying the deposit, you receive a Confirmation of Enrolment for your student visa.
What admissions looks for
- Academic results that meet the degree's entry level: Standard entry for most programs, or a Higher level (H1 to H6) for competitive programs such as Laws, Pharmacy, Paramedicine and Medical Science.
- Prerequisite subjects where listed, such as English for Laws or a science or mathematics subject for Paramedicine.
- English proficiency at the level set for the program, from IELTS 6.5 up to 7.0 for health and law degrees.
- For Dental Health Science, UCAT ANZ performance followed by an interview assessing motivation and suitability; for music and some creative degrees, an audition and interview.
Tips for applying to Griffith
- 1 Check which entry level your degree uses: IB 26 is enough for Standard entry, but Laws needs 32 and Medical Science 39.
- 2 If you are aiming for medicine, the Bachelor of Medical Science is the school-leaver route into Griffith's Doctor of Medicine and needs an ATAR around 99.9 or an IB of 39.
- 3 Apply early for Trimester 1: Griffith recommends mid-November, and visa processing takes time.
- 4 Griffith considers international students for its merit scholarships automatically; a GPA of 4.5 out of 7 or equivalent is the minimum for the 20% International Academic Merit Scholarship.
- 5 If your results fall short, Griffith College offers diploma pathways into second year of many degrees.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in AUD
International students are automatically considered for merit scholarships when they apply: the Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship covers 50% of tuition for the degree, and the International Academic Merit Scholarship covers 20% for students with a GPA of at least 4.5 out of 7 or equivalent. Domestic students in Commonwealth supported places pay a student contribution that can be deferred through HECS-HELP.
- 50% of tuition fees for the degree
- Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship
- 20% of tuition fees for the degree (minimum GPA 4.5/7 or equivalent)
- International Academic Merit Scholarship
Academics
Academic calendar: Trimesters (three per year)
Bachelor of Nursing
Griffith's nursing and midwifery is ranked 3rd in the world (ShanghaiRanking GRAS 2025); taught at Nathan, Gold Coast and Logan.
Bachelor of Medical Science
A two-year degree for top school leavers (ATAR about 99.9, IB 39) that leads to provisional entry into the Doctor of Medicine.
Bachelor of Dental Health Science
Gold Coast degree selected through the UCAT ANZ and an online interview; international fee $74,000 a year (2027).
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Four-year law degree at Nathan and Gold Coast; Griffith ranks 1st in Queensland for Law and Criminology in ShanghaiRanking subjects.
Hospitality and tourism degrees (Griffith Business School)
Hospitality and Tourism Management is ranked 6th in the world (ShanghaiRanking GRAS 2025).
Music at the Queensland Conservatorium
Audition-based music degrees taught at South Bank in Brisbane's cultural precinct.
Research
- The Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics works on biomedical research, including drug discovery and infectious disease.
- The Australian Rivers Institute studies waterways from source to sea; Griffith ranks equal 1st in the world for SDG 14 Life Below Water in the THE Impact Rankings.
- The Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution (ARCHE) combines archaeology, environmental and biological evidence to study long-term human history.
- The Griffith Criminology Institute and the Griffith Asia Institute are among the university's named research institutes.
Schools & faculties
- Arts, Education and Law
- Griffith Business School
- Griffith Health
- Griffith Sciences
- Queensland Conservatorium
- Queensland College of Art
Griffith reported 9,982 completions in 2024, including 5,793 undergraduate degrees. 91% of its international students said they were happy with their life at university (2025 International Student Barometer).
Student life
Griffith spreads student life across several very different campuses: the Gold Coast campus near the beaches, the Nathan campus set in bushland in Brisbane, and the South Bank campus beside the city's cultural precinct and parklands. There are over 100 clubs covering cultural, religious, political, sporting and academic interests, and students can join a community internship program with at least 50 hours in a not-for-profit organisation. On-campus housing is self-catered: Griffith runs accommodation at Nathan, and the Griffith University Village on the Gold Coast is run with Campus Living Villages.
- Over 100 student clubs and societies.
- Campuses in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Logan, linked by an intercampus bus.
- Griffith University Village on the Gold Coast offers on-campus housing.
- The Queensland Conservatorium and Queensland College of Art bring performances and exhibitions to campus.
Housing. Griffith offers self-catered on-campus accommodation at Brisbane South (Nathan) and, with Campus Living Villages, at Griffith University Village on the Gold Coast; homestay and private student housing are also available.
Location
Griffith is spread across South East Queensland. Brisbane, a city of 2.7 million and host of the 2032 Olympic Games, has around 283 days of sunshine a year, and the Gold Coast, about an hour south by car, has nearly 60 km of beaches and World Heritage-listed rainforest in its hinterland. Both cities are warm year-round, with average temperatures of about 15 to 26°C.
Nearest airport: Brisbane Airport (BNE); Gold Coast Airport (OOL) for the Gold Coast campus
Notable alumni
- JC Jim ChalmersTreasurer of Australia; Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Communications with first-class honours
- AW Anika WellsFederal Minister for Communications and Sport; studied arts and law
- LW Larissa WatersSenator for Queensland and former Australian Greens leader; BSc and LLB
- DP Dinesh PalipanaDoctor, lawyer and disability advocate; Queensland's first quadriplegic medical graduate (Griffith MD, 2016)
- TA Tony AlbertContemporary Aboriginal artist; graduated from the Queensland College of Art
- BY Brett YangViolinist and co-founder of TwoSet Violin; studied at the Queensland Conservatorium
- NV Nick VujicicEvangelist and motivational speaker; Bachelor of Commerce
Frequently asked questions
What ATAR do you need for Griffith University?
It depends on the degree. In the 2026 round the lowest adjusted ATARs offered were 63 for Information Technology and Business, 70 for Engineering (Honours) and Commerce, 78 for Laws (Honours) and about 99.9 for Medical Science.
How much are Griffith's international fees?
Indicative 2027 international tuition runs from about A$38,000 a year (Psychological Science) to A$47,500 for Engineering (Honours) and A$74,000 for Dental Health Science. Fees are reviewed every year.
When can I start at Griffith?
Many degrees start in Trimester 1 (March), Trimester 2 (July) or Trimester 3 (November). Griffith recommends international students apply by mid-November for the March 2027 intake.
What IELTS score does Griffith require?
Most programs require IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or TOEFL iBT 79. Laws, Nursing and Medical Science require 7.0.
Does Griffith offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. The Vice Chancellor's International Scholarship covers 50% of tuition and the International Academic Merit Scholarship covers 20% for the whole degree, subject to ongoing conditions.
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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