La Trobe University
A bushland campus in Melbourne's north plus regional campuses, strong in health, agriculture and public-sector careers.
- Students
- 39,648
- International
- 25%
- of students
- Tuition
- A$38,200
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1964
About La Trobe
La Trobe University was established by an Act of the Victorian Parliament in 1964, the third university in Victoria after Melbourne and Monash. Its main campus is in the northern Melbourne suburb of Bundoora, a large parkland site among gum trees and waterways, with regional campuses in Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton, and city sites in Melbourne and Sydney. It had 39,648 students in 2025.
Teaching is organised into schools rather than faculties, including the La Trobe Business School, La Trobe Law School, the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, and the La Trobe Rural Health School. Health is a particular strength: the university runs professional degrees from physiotherapy and speech pathology to dental science at Bendigo.
La Trobe suits students who want a green suburban campus within reach of Melbourne, a regional option, or a health or allied health career. Its admissions are relatively accessible for many courses, but competitive professional degrees such as Physiotherapy (Honours) needed a median ATAR of about 96 in 2026. Work-integrated learning and industry placements are built into many degrees, and health, engineering and education students complete compulsory professional placements.
Qui cherche trouve
“Whoever seeks shall find” — university motto
Why students choose La Trobe
A long list of allied health degrees, including Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Orthoptics, and Prosthetics and Orthotics, plus Dental Science at Bendigo.
Nursing students go into hospitals in their first year through partners such as Austin Health, The Royal Women's Hospital and Bendigo Health.
Work-integrated learning and industry placement options are embedded across many degrees, with compulsory professional placements in health, engineering and education.
International students can receive the High Achiever Scholarship (20% or 25% off tuition) automatically, and a $2,000 Early Acceptance Grant for accepting an offer early.
Admissions
2027 intakes (Semester 1 from March 2027, Semester 2 from July 2027; some courses also start in November)
Selectivity
La Trobe does not publish an overall offer rate. Its student profile reports for Semester 1, 2026 (Melbourne campus) give the ATAR of recent Year 12 applicants who received offers, before adjustments. Medians: Physiotherapy (Honours) 96.05, Laws (Honours) 85.9, Biomedicine 71.35, Commerce 71, Nursing 68.7, Computer Science 60.5, Psychological Science 60.4.
Typical entry requirements
| ATAR (Australian Year 12, via VTAC) | Median ATAR of Semester 1, 2026 offers (Melbourne): Physiotherapy (Honours) 96.05; Laws (Honours) 85.9; Biomedicine 71.35; Commerce 71; Nursing 68.7; Computer Science 60.5. VCE prerequisites include English (e.g. study score 30 EAL or 25 other English for Nursing and Law; 20 in any Mathematics for Computer Science) |
|---|---|
| International qualifications | Year 12 equivalent with the course's minimum grade, shown on each course page; scholarships are set by weighted average mark, e.g. 75+ for the 25% High Achiever Scholarship and 80+ for the Vice Chancellor Scholarship |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 79 Set per course. In La Trobe's international handbooks: Computer Science IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0); Commerce 6.5 (no band below 6.0); Nursing and Physiotherapy 7.0 (no band below 7.0); Speech Pathology 7.5. La Trobe's equivalence table maps IELTS 6.0 to TOEFL iBT 64 (13 R, 12 L, 18 S, 21 W) and IELTS 6.5 to TOEFL iBT 79 with the same minimums; PTE and Cambridge C1/C2 are also accepted. |
Deadlines
- Semester 1, 2027: applications open (domestic) Non-binding Passed29 June 2026
Year 12 students apply through VTAC instead (see the VTAC round).
- VTAC late applications (Australian Year 12, 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 24 days30 October 2026
VTAC timely applications for 2027 courses closed 28 September 2026 (5pm AET); late applications close 30 October 2026 and very late applications 4 December 2026, with higher fees.
- Semester 1, 2027: standard domestic closing date Non-binding In ~4 months14 February 2027
Some courses close earlier if places fill or they start early.
- Semester 2, 2027: standard domestic closing date Non-binding In ~9 months27 June 2027
Applications open 15 February 2027.
- International applications Non-bindingRolling; apply well ahead of your intake
La Trobe assesses international applications on a rolling basis and advises leaving time to accept the offer and get a student visa.
The dates shown are La Trobe's standard 2027 application dates for domestic students. International applications are assessed on a rolling basis; some courses close early when places are filled.
How to apply
International students apply directly to La Trobe online or through an authorised agent; applications are assessed on a rolling basis for the next or a future intake. International students taking Year 12 in Australia, or the VCE offshore, apply through VTAC. Domestic students apply through VTAC or directly, depending on the course.
What admissions looks for
- A completed Year 12 (or accepted international equivalent) at the grade set for your course.
- Subject prerequisites, such as minimum English study scores, or Mathematics for Computer Science.
- English proficiency at the course's level, from IELTS 6.0 up to 7.5 for Speech Pathology.
- For Vice Chancellor Scholarships, excellence both academically and in extracurricular activities.
Tips for applying to La Trobe
- 1 Read the student profile PDF on each course page: it shows the highest, median and lowest ATAR that received an offer last year, and the gap can be wide (Physiotherapy's lowest was 92.05, Computer Science's 48.6).
- 2 Accept your offer early: the Early Acceptance Grant takes $2,000 off first-semester fees.
- 3 Apply separately for the Vice Chancellor Scholarship (50% or 100%, WAM 80+); the High Achiever Scholarship is assessed automatically.
- 4 If you want July or November entry, check the course: Computer Science, IT, Cybersecurity and Business offer a November (Summer) start, but Physiotherapy and Nursing start only in March.
- 5 Consider regional campuses such as Bendigo, where degrees like Dental Science and Pharmacy are taught.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in AUD
Domestic bachelor's students are usually in Commonwealth Supported Places (e.g. an indicative AU$7,394 a year for Nursing in 2027). International students can receive the High Achiever Scholarship (20% for WAM 60-74.9, 25% for WAM 75+, assessed automatically), the Vice Chancellor Scholarship (50% or 100%, WAM 80+, application required), subject scholarships for AI and analytics courses, and a $2,000 Early Acceptance Grant.
- 50% or 100% of tuition; minimum WAM 80+
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship (international)
- 20% (WAM 60-74.9) or 25% (WAM 75+)
- High Achiever Scholarship (international)
- $2,000 toward first-semester fees
- Early Acceptance Grant
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Semester 1 from March, Semester 2 from July) plus a Summer period and shorter terms for some courses
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)
One of La Trobe's most selective courses at Melbourne (median ATAR of offer holders 96.05 for Semester 1, 2026); AU$60,400 a year for international students.
Bachelor of Nursing
Hospital placements from first year with partners including Austin Health, The Royal Women's Hospital and Bendigo Health.
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Median ATAR 85.9 in 2026, with double degrees such as Law and Commerce.
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
Five-year degree taught at the Bendigo campus.
Bachelor of Computer Science
Majors in artificial intelligence, data science and software engineering, with March, July and November intakes.
Bachelor of Agriculture
Backed by La Trobe's research institute for sustainable agriculture and food (LISAF); March intake only, AU$47,800 a year for international students.
Research
- Research income reached about AU$125.3 million in 2025 (unaudited), up from AU$84.1 million in 2021.
- Research institutes include the La Trobe Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and Food (LISAF), the Care Economy Research Institute and the Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation.
Schools & faculties
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment
- School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport
- La Trobe Business School
- School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
- School of Education
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- La Trobe Law School
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- School of Psychology and Public Health
- La Trobe Rural Health School
- School of Cancer Medicine
72.5% of La Trobe graduates were in full-time employment and 22.6% in full-time study (Graduate Outcomes Survey figures in the 2025 Annual Report key statistics).
Student life
The Bundoora campus is a large, green site with gum trees, waterways and open lawns, and on-campus housing close to lecture buildings. Regional campuses in Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton are much smaller. There are clubs and societies, sports facilities and multi-level libraries across campuses. International students who sign a 41-week or 52-week on-campus housing contract get two weeks' free accommodation through the accommodation grant.
- The Melbourne campus in Bundoora is one of Australia's largest, set in bushland.
- Regional campuses in Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton.
- About 11% of Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre first preferences go to La Trobe (2025).
- 80.3% first-year retention for bachelor's students (2024).
Housing. On-campus accommodation is available at Melbourne and regional campuses; international students get one to two weeks of free accommodation through a grant when they sign a 20-, 41- or 52-week contract.
Location
The main campus is in Bundoora, a suburb in Melbourne's north, and La Trobe also has a city campus on Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD. Melbourne is Australia's second-largest city, with a big student population and a strong sporting and arts culture. The regional campuses offer a quieter life: Bendigo is in central Victoria, and Albury-Wodonga sits on the Victoria-New South Wales border.
Nearest airport: Melbourne Airport (MEL)
Notable alumni
- TF Tim FlanneryScientist, author and 2007 Australian of the Year; BA in English literature (1977)
- DW Don WatsonAuthor and former speechwriter for Prime Minister Paul Keating; undergraduate degree
- RN Richard Di NataleFormer leader of the Australian Greens; Master of Public Health and Master of Health Science
- GR Geoff RabyAustralian Ambassador to China (2007-2011); BA (Hons), master's and PhD in economics
- MA Mary AmitiEconomist and vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Bachelor of Economics
- TE Tim EntwisleBotanist and former director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria; PhD in botany
Frequently asked questions
What ATAR do you need for La Trobe?
It varies widely by course. For Semester 1, 2026 at the Melbourne campus, median ATARs of offer holders were 96.05 for Physiotherapy (Honours), 85.9 for Laws (Honours), 71 for Commerce, 68.7 for Nursing and 60.5 for Computer Science.
How much does La Trobe cost for international students?
Indicative 2027 annual tuition runs from AU$38,200 (Arts) to AU$86,000 (Dental Science), with Computer Science at AU$43,600, Commerce at AU$46,800, Nursing at AU$47,200 and Physiotherapy at AU$60,400.
When are La Trobe's intakes?
The main intakes are Semester 1 (March) and Semester 2 (July). Some courses, including Computer Science, IT, Cybersecurity and Business, also start in November; Nursing and Physiotherapy start only in March.
What IELTS score does La Trobe need?
It depends on the course: 6.0 for Computer Science, 6.5 for Commerce, 7.0 (no band below 7.0) for Nursing and Physiotherapy, and 7.5 for Speech Pathology. TOEFL, PTE and Cambridge scores are accepted at equivalent levels.
Does La Trobe offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. The High Achiever Scholarship gives 20% or 25% off tuition automatically, the Vice Chancellor Scholarship covers 50% or 100% for students with a WAM of 80 or more (application required), and accepting early earns a $2,000 grant.
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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