Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane's 'university for the real world', with a riverside city campus and Australia's top robotics research centre.
- Students
- 52,423
- 37,911 undergraduates
- International
- 18%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 21:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- A$40,800
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1989
About QUT
Queensland University of Technology became a university in January 1989, building on the Queensland Institute of Technology and, from 1990, the Brisbane College of Advanced Education, whose roots go back to 1849. It calls itself 'the university for the real world' because of its close links with industry. In 2024 it had 52,423 students, including 37,911 undergraduates and 9,615 international students.
QUT has two inner-city campuses. Gardens Point sits beside the Brisbane River and City Botanic Gardens and houses engineering, science, IT, business and law, along with The Cube, one of the world's largest digital interactive learning spaces. Kelvin Grove, three kilometres away, is home to health, education and the Creative Industries Precinct. Teaching is organised into five faculties: Business and Law; Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice; Engineering; Health; and Science.
QUT is known for applied, technology-heavy teaching: its Centre for Robotics is rated Australia's top robotics and AI research institution, and its communication and media studies are ranked 1st in Australia by QS. It suits students who want a city-centre campus, industry projects and work placements, and courses in engineering, IT, design, health or the creative industries.
The university for the real world
University motto
Why students choose QUT
The QUT Centre for Robotics is rated Australia's number one robotics and AI research institution for the sixth year running, and engineering students can build projects free in the Motorsport Lab and OP3 Blueprint makerspace.
Communication and media studies are ranked 1st in Australia and 19th in the world in the QS Subject Rankings 2026, taught in the Kelvin Grove Creative Industries Precinct.
90% of QUT graduates are employed after finishing their degree (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
International students are automatically considered for merit scholarships worth 20% or 25% of tuition; more than 3,400 students received QUT scholarships in the last year.
Admissions
2027 intakes (Semester 1 from February 2027, Semester 2 from July 2027)
Selectivity
QUT does not publish an overall offer rate. Each course has a published ATAR or selection rank: for international students completing Year 12 in Australia, 2026 thresholds were 70 for most degrees (e.g. Business, Information Technology, Science, Nursing 74), 80 for Architectural Design and Data Science, 84 for Engineering (Honours), Laws (Honours) and Mathematics, 97 for Vision Science/Master of Optometry and 99.30 for Medical Imaging (Honours). Overseas qualifications are mapped to the same bands.
Typical entry requirements
| ATAR / selection rank (Australian Year 12, via QTAC) | 2026 thresholds: Business, Information Technology, Science, Behavioural Science (Psychology) 70; Nursing 74; Architectural Design and Data Science 80; Engineering (Honours), Laws (Honours) and Mathematics 84; Vision Science/Master of Optometry 97; Medical Imaging (Honours) 99.30 |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | 28 points for most degrees (e.g. Business, IT, Engineering); 30 for Laws, Nursing, Data Science and Pharmacy; 35 for Vision Science |
| UK GCE A-levels (best 3, A*=6) | 8 points for most degrees; 9 for Laws, Nursing and Data Science; 12 for Vision Science |
| Other international qualifications | Most degrees: Gaokao 60%, India CBSE/CISCE 60%, US high school diploma with SAT 980; Laws and Nursing: Gaokao 70%, CBSE 75%, SAT 1100 |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Most degrees: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79 (no sub-score below 16), PTE Academic 58 (no score below 50) or Cambridge English 176. Nursing requires IELTS 7.0 (7 in listening, reading and speaking, 6.5 in writing); Social Work 7.0 with 7.0 in each band. Tests must be taken at a secure test centre within two years of starting. |
Deadlines
- Semester 1, 2027 Non-bindingApply as early as possible
Welcome Week 15-19 February 2027; teaching starts 22 February 2027.
- Semester 2, 2027 Non-bindingApply as early as possible
Welcome Week 12-16 July 2027; teaching starts 19 July 2027. Many courses, including Business, IT, Engineering, Laws and Nursing, have a July intake.
QUT does not publish a single international closing date for undergraduate courses; it advises applying as soon as possible because offers and student visas take time. Courses with additional entry requirements (such as auditions) have earlier QTAC closing dates, and some health courses require you to be on campus from 9am Monday of week 1. Students completing Australian Year 12 apply through QTAC: QTAC offer rounds for QUT's Semester 1, 2027 run from 1 October 2026 to 19 February 2027, including QUT Year 12 Early Offer Scheme rounds on 20 and 27 November 2026, and QUT describes the main offer round as mid-January.
How to apply
International students apply directly to QUT online or through a QUT official representative (required for applicants from some countries), with transcripts, identity documents and English test results. Students completing Year 12 in Australia apply through QTAC. Courses with additional entry requirements, such as auditions, interviews or portfolios, have earlier closing dates.
What admissions looks for
- Results that meet the course's ATAR threshold or its equivalent in your qualification, such as IB 28 for most degrees and 30 for Laws and Nursing.
- Assumed knowledge in subjects such as Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Mathematics, and Chemistry or Physics for health sciences.
- English proficiency at the course's level, from IELTS 6.5 for most degrees to 7.0 for Nursing and Social Work.
- For courses with additional entry requirements, the extra selection task listed on the course page.
Tips for applying to QUT
- 1 Compare your results with QUT's international entry table: IB 28 or A-level 8 points is enough for Engineering (Honours), even though the threshold for Australian Year 12 students is an ATAR of 84.
- 2 Apply early for February entry and check if your course requires you on campus from the first Monday of teaching, as Nursing and Biomedical Science do.
- 3 You do not need a separate scholarship application: QUT considers international applicants for its 25% International Merit Scholarship and 20% International Talent Scholarship automatically.
- 4 If you are short of the English or academic requirement, QUT can offer a package with QUT College diploma, foundation or English courses leading into your degree.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in AUD
International applicants are automatically considered for the International Merit Scholarship (25% of tuition for the full course) and the International Talent Scholarship (20% of tuition per semester), for selected countries and faculties, provided they keep minimum academic standards. More than 3,400 students received QUT scholarships last year. Domestic students in Commonwealth supported places can defer their contribution through HECS-HELP, and equity scholarships support students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
- 25% of tuition fees for the full course
- International Merit Scholarship
- 20% of tuition fees per semester
- International Talent Scholarship
- More than 3,400
- Students receiving QUT scholarships last year
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (February and July intakes)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Ten majors from mechatronics to machine learning systems, taught at Gardens Point alongside the QUT Centre for Robotics; A$50,200 a year for international students (2027).
Bachelor of Information Technology
Majors include artificial intelligence, computer science, cyber security and software development; ATAR 70 or IB 28.
Bachelor of Communication
QUT is ranked 1st in Australia and 19th in the world for communication and media studies (QS 2026), with majors in journalism and screen industries.
Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting)
A February-intake acting major taught in the Kelvin Grove Creative Industries Precinct, alongside majors in animation, film and screen, and music.
Bachelor of Vision Science / Master of Optometry
One of QUT's most competitive courses (ATAR 97), with clinical training in QUT Health Clinics.
Bachelor of Nursing
Taught at Kelvin Grove; QUT is 6th in Australia and 20th in the world for nursing (ShanghaiRanking GRAS 2025).
Research
- The QUT Centre for Robotics has been rated Australia's number one robotics and AI research institution for six consecutive years.
- QUT's research income reached $140.9 million in 2024, with 3,756 research outputs.
- The Gardens Point campus houses The Cube, one of the world's largest digital interactive learning and display spaces.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Business and Law
- Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Health
- Faculty of Science
- QUT College
90% of QUT graduates are employed after finishing their degree (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024, as cited in QUT's 2027 International Quick Guide). QUT recorded 11,619 completions in 2024, including 7,288 undergraduate degrees.
Student life
QUT is a city university: Gardens Point sits beside the Brisbane River, City Botanic Gardens and Old Government House, and Kelvin Grove is a short free intercampus bus ride away in an urban village. There are more than 100 clubs, from Engineering Without Borders to the Bubble Tea Society, and Welcome Week introduces new students to societies, sport and campus life. QUT does not run its own halls; students live in nearby purpose-built student apartments, residential colleges or rentals, with help from QUT's accommodation services team.
- More than 100 student clubs and societies.
- The Cube at Gardens Point, one of the world's largest digital interactive learning spaces.
- The Creative Industries Precinct at Kelvin Grove has performance spaces, galleries, music and film studios.
- QUT Health Clinics let students in optometry, podiatry, exercise science, nutrition and counselling work with real patients under supervision.
Housing. QUT has no on-campus halls of its own; student complexes near both campuses (Iglu, Scape, Student One and UniLodge) cost from about $419 a week for a room in a shared apartment or $550 for a single apartment, and QUT's accommodation team helps students find housing.
Location
Brisbane is Queensland's capital and host city of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. QUT's Gardens Point campus is in the central business district beside the river and City Botanic Gardens, and Kelvin Grove is three kilometres from the city. The subtropical climate means warm summers and mild winters.
Nearest airport: Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Notable alumni
- HB Helen BowskillChief Justice of Queensland; Bachelor of Laws (Honours), 1995
- DM Deborah MailmanActress; Bachelor of Arts in performing arts, 1992
- BT Brenton ThwaitesActor; studied acting at QUT, graduating in 2010
- KS Karl StefanovicTelevision presenter; journalism graduate, 1994
- PG Peter GresteFormer Al Jazeera correspondent and author; Bachelor of Business
- GC Greg CreedFormer CEO of Yum! Brands; business degree
- KM Kate Miller-HeidkeSinger-songwriter; Master of Music
Frequently asked questions
What ATAR do you need for QUT?
Most QUT degrees had a 2026 threshold of 70, including Business, IT and Science. Engineering (Honours) and Laws (Honours) need 84, Vision Science/Master of Optometry 97 and Medical Imaging 99.30.
How much does QUT cost for international students?
2027 tuition runs from about A$40,800 a year (Mathematics) to A$59,500 (Medical Laboratory Science); for example, Business is A$46,800, IT A$46,700 and Engineering (Honours) A$50,200.
What IELTS score does QUT require?
Most degrees need IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or TOEFL iBT 79. Nursing and some other health courses require 7.0.
When does QUT's academic year start?
Semester 1, 2027 teaching starts on 22 February after Welcome Week (15-19 February); Semester 2 starts on 19 July 2027. Many undergraduate courses accept both intakes.
Does QUT offer scholarships for international students?
Yes. QUT automatically considers international applicants for merit scholarships covering 25% of tuition for the full course or 20% per semester, depending on country and faculty.
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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