What is a Graduate Degree Package?
A Graduate Degree Package is a combined offer for both an undergraduate degree and a place in a specialised professional graduate program.
Packages are available for both domestic and international students. In addition to the general eligibility criteria, each package has its own specific entry requirements.
Why choose a Graduate Degree Package?
In contrast to a double degree structure, the Melbourne curriculum comprises a three-year broad undergraduate degree followed by a two-year specialised graduate program. This study approach enables you to explore your interests and strengths, gain a higher qualification and set yourself up to make an impact on a global scale.
If you know already what you want to specialise in at the end of high school, a Graduate Degree Package can help secure your graduate place before you begin your undergraduate studies at Melbourne.
Secure peace of mind
With a Graduate Degree Package you'll lock in your spot in a highly competitive graduate degree, so you'll know what lies ahead on your study journey.
Save on graduate course fees
If you’re a domestic student you'll be guaranteed a Commonwealth Supported Place – where a portion of your tuition fees is paid by the Australian Government – as long as you fulfil the requirements of your graduate course.
What packages are available?
Click on a study area to discover the undergraduate degree and graduate program package options and their individual entry requirements for both domestic and international students.
Engineering
Health
Information technology and data science
Law
Teaching
Veterinary science
How to apply for a Graduate Degree Package
Domestic students
If you're a domestic student or international student studying in Australia, simply add the unique Graduate Degree Package course code to your preference list through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).
If you include a Graduate Degree Package as a preference in your VTAC application but don't quite achieve the required ATAR, you will not be automatically offered a place in the correlating bachelors degree. To ensure you can also be considered for a place in the bachelors degree, ensure you list this course separately in your VTAC preferences.
International students
If you're an international student studying outside Australia, you can indicate your preferred Graduate Degree Package in your direct application for the correlating bachelors degree.
If you indicate in your application that you wish to be considered for a Graduate Degree Package but don’t achieve the required score, you will still be considered for a place in the correlating bachelors degree.
General eligibility requirements
To be eligible, you must:
- Enrol and commence studying at the University of Melbourne (or be granted an approved deferral) in the intake immediately following your completion of Year 121, the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or GCE A Level.
- Commence graduate study within 18 months of completing your undergraduate degree (subject to exceptions for cases that require special treatment, for example, protracted illness).
- Apply for entry through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC):
- School-leaver applicants who are completing an Australian Year 12, the IB or GCE A Level in Australia are currently eligible to be considered for a Graduate Degree Package
- Australian citizens who are completing any of the approved Year 12 equivalent qualifications outside Australia are also eligible.
- Apply for a University of Melbourne Graduate Degree Package via VTAC for commencement in the intake following the completion of your Year 12, the IB or GCE A Level.
- You will initially enrol in your chosen package’s undergraduate degree. Once you have satisfied all selection criteria, you will automatically receive the graduate degree offer for this package in the third year of your bachelors degree.
If you do not achieve the required score for a Graduate Degree Package, you will have an opportunity to apply for our graduate programs by submitting an application during the third year of your bachelors degree. Places are not guaranteed.
If you are already enrolled at the University of Melbourne, you are not eligible to enrol into a Graduate Degree Package retrospectively. Instead, you may be eligible for one of our existing guaranteed undergraduate to graduate pathways.
1. For example: if you are finishing Year 12 in December 2024, you will be eligible to apply for a Graduate Degree Package in the Start Year 2025 (Semester 1, 2025) intake. If you receive an offer, you will have the option to either commence your studies in this intake or apply to defer your place for up to one year. If your deferral is approved, your place in the Graduate Degree Package will be held for you, and you will remain eligible for the bachelors degree and the packaged graduate program. Please note that deferrals are not granted automatically, and you are not permitted to undertake other tertiary studies during an approved deferral period. Refer to our deferral FAQs for more detail.
To be eligible, you must:
- Enrol and commence studying at the University of Melbourne (or be granted an approved deferral) in the intake immediately following your completion of Year 121, the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or GCE A Level.
- Commence graduate study within 18 months of completing your undergraduate degree (subject to exceptions for cases that require special treatment, for example, protracted illness).
- Apply for entry through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC):
- School-leaver applicants who are completing an Australian Year 12, the IB or GCE A Level in Australia are currently eligible to be considered for a Graduate Degree Package
- Apply for a University of Melbourne Graduate Degree Package via VTAC for commencement in the intake following the completion of your Year 12, the IB or GCE A Level.
- You will initially enrol in your chosen package’s undergraduate degree. Once you have satisfied all selection criteria, you will automatically receive the graduate degree offer for this package in the third year of your bachelors degree.
If you do not achieve the required score for a Graduate Degree Package, you will have an opportunity to apply for our graduate programs by submitting an application during the third year of your bachelors degree. Places are not guaranteed.
If you are already enrolled at the University of Melbourne, you are not eligible to enrol into a Graduate Degree Package retrospectively. Instead, you may be eligible for one of our existing guaranteed undergraduate to graduate pathways.
1. For example: if you are finishing Year 12 in December 2024, you will be eligible to apply for a Graduate Degree Package in the Start Year 2025 (Semester 1, 2025) intake. If you receive an offer, you will have the option to either commence your studies in this intake or apply to defer your place for up to one year. If your deferral is approved, your place in the Graduate Degree Package will be held for you, and you will remain eligible for the bachelors degree and the packaged graduate program. Please note that deferrals are not granted automatically, and you are not permitted to undertake other tertiary studies during an approved deferral period. Refer to our deferral FAQs for more detail.
To be eligible, you must:
- Enrol and commence studying at the University of Melbourne (or be granted an approved deferral) in the intake immediately following the completion of your high school qualification.
- Commence graduate study within 18 months of completing your undergraduate degree (subject to exceptions for cases that require special treatment, for example, protracted illness).
- Apply for entry directly to the University of Melbourne – see 'How to apply'
- Select the option to choose a Graduate Degree Package within your application.
- You will initially enrol in your chosen package’s undergraduate degree. Once you have satisfied all selection criteria, you will automatically receive the graduate degree offer for this package in the third year of your bachelors degree.
If you do not achieve the required score for a Graduate Degree Package, you will have an opportunity to apply for our graduate programs by submitting an application during the third year of your bachelors degree. Places are not guaranteed.
If you are already enrolled at the University of Melbourne, you are not eligible to enrol into a Graduate Degree Package retrospectively.
Frequently asked questions
You will not be automatically assessed for a Graduate Degree Package place when you are finishing high school; you will need to indicate that you want to be assessed at the time of application.
Visit How to Apply for a Graduate Degree Package for application instructions.
Applying through VTAC: You can only receive offers for courses that are in your VTAC preference list. If you are unsuccessful in receiving an offer for the Graduate Degree Package in your preference list, you will not automatically be considered for the bachelors degree by default. You must have the correlating undergraduate course listed as a separate preference.
For example, if you applied for Bachelor of Design/Master of Engineering and were unsuccessful, you will not automatically be considered for the Bachelor of Design. In this scenario you would put Bachelor of Design/Master of Engineering as your higher preference and Bachelor of Design below that. This will ensure you are still considered for Design, should you be unsuccessful in receiving an offer for the package.
Applying directly to University of Melbourne: If you do not meet the Graduate Degree Package entry requirements, the University will automatically consider your eligibility for the undergraduate component, and you will receive an offer for that if you are qualified.
For example, if you applied for Bachelor of Arts/Master of Teaching but your grades do not meet the minimum requirement for the package, however your grades do meet the minimum for the Bachelor of Arts, the University will make you an offer for the Bachelor of Arts.
For both VTAC and direct applicants studying a non-package undergraduate degree, you can apply for your preferred graduate program during the final year of your undergraduate course. Your eligibility will be assessed on your academic performance in the undergraduate degree and places are not guaranteed, so it’s important to maintain a strong WAM.
Students who meet the guaranteed minimum for entry into the Graduate Degree Package as a school leaver and satisfy all selection criteria are guaranteed a place, regardless of the number of students who qualify.
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is an enrolment at the University of Melbourne subsidised by the Commonwealth Government. A student enrolled in a CSP contributes to their course tuition fee by paying the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) amount up-front or in a deferred arrangement through HECS-HELP.
Scholarships may be available for undergraduate studies; further information regarding possible graduate scholarships will be available during the third/final year of your undergraduate course.
There are no additional application fees for Graduate Degree Packages on top of standard tuition fees for both the undergraduate and graduate components.
The applicable tuition fees for the graduate part of a package will be based on the standard fee of the year you begin your graduate studies.
For international students, during the final semester of your bachelors degree we will provide you with a conditional offer for your graduate program. Depending on the package, you may also be asked to nominate the specialisation in your graduate degree (for example, Engineering or Teaching).
Once you successfully complete your undergraduate course and meet the conditions, you can formally accept and make the necessary payment. You will then receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for your student visa application.
If you're offered a Graduate Degree Package you choose your Master of Engineering program in the final year of undergraduate study. This allows you the flexibility to explore your interests before committing to a particular program. The duration of your Master of Engineering will depend on the undergraduate major you choose.
You can exit at the completion of your bachelors degree, however some professions will require a graduate degree for entry.
Higher level qualifications generally lead to improved salary and employment outcomes (see 2022 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
There may be deferral options available. You must apply to defer. If your request is approved, your packaged offer will automatically be held for you.
If you are deferring a Graduate Degree Package, you must not commence other higher education studies prior to starting your deferred package.
If you change your mind during your undergraduate program and opt for an alternative graduate program, your Graduate Degree Package place will lapse. You can apply for the alternate graduate program during the third/final year of your undergraduate studies.
Your eligibility for the alternative graduate program will be assessed on your academic performance with no guarantee of entry.
We understand that plans can change. If you transfer to a different undergraduate degree, your original Graduate Degree Package will lapse. You will need to apply for your preferred graduate degree during the final year of your undergraduate studies.
Transfers to a different undergraduate degree are competitive and cannot be guaranteed.