Apply

Yes. Registering with iStart will allow you to do the following:

• Complete your application
• Monitor the status of your application
• Receive an offer
• Accept your offer.

Yes, iStart can accept applications for all courses including English, vocational, undergraduate, postgraduate coursework and Research Higher Degrees (RHD).

You can apply to study English language only, or for both English language and academic course at the same time.

If your chosen academic course is available by online study, you can choose Distance Education on the relevant screen when you apply.

You can only submit one application. If you change your mind about the course you are applying for, please log into iStart and send an email to the International Admissions Team through the system or email  international-admissions@cqu.edu.au.

You can apply for credit within iStart. Instructions are provided on the relevant screen.

You will need to provide certified* copies of the supporting documents below:

• Academic transcripts
• Translations of academic transcripts (if original documents are in a language other than English)
• Personal identification document e.g. passport
• Evidence that you meet the English requirement e.g. an English test result.

If you do not have your latest academic transcript, please provide a copy of your most recent academic transcript. The International Admissions Team will be in contact if they need further information or documentation.

* A certified copy is a photocopy of the original document with a certification stamp that includes the certifier's printed name, title or position, signature and date of notary. It may be from a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Declaration, a contracted agent of CQUniversity or the issuing authority of the institution.

A non-refundable application fee of A$100 may apply for some regions. 

Your application will be automatically assessed for the International Merit Scholarship. You may find more information on the International Merit Scholarship, including the selection criteria on our website.

Yes. During the application, you will be able to indicate if you would like to apply for an International Merit Scholarship, which is funded by CQU and available to new students undertaking a research higher degree, as well as other courses in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework levels. 

For all other RHD scholarships such as the RTP Stipend Scholarship, you must use the research scholarship online application form. Please check what is available on the Research Scholarships page or email sgr@cqu.edu.au with any queries. These RHD scholarship rounds are only open twice a year.

A research proposal is required to provide more information to the research abstract that you provided when you submitted your Expression of Interest (EOI) via iStart.

Here are some guidelines to help you prepare your proposal:

• What is your research project title? (max 30 words)
• Background to the proposed research and research question/s to be investigated. (max 500 words)
• What is the anticipated significance and/or impact of the proposed research? (max 200 words)
• What research methods will you use to undertake the proposed research? (max 300 words)
• What are the intended timelines to undertake the proposed research? (max 100 words)
• What resources, facilities, equipment, fieldwork will be required to undertake the proposed research? (max 200 words)
• What are the intended research outputs and contribution to research culture (max 300 words).

Please keep your proposal to no longer than 5 pages in length.

All international candidates must apply via iStart with an Expression of Interest which asks you to select your course and location, along with providing a brief description of your proposed research topic. Expression of Interest and research proposal must be submitted by the prospective candidate.

Depending upon the outcome of your Expression of Interest and research proposal, you may be invited to submit a full application for admission as a research higher degree candidate. The University reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant.

For undergraduate and postgraduate coursework, once we receive all required supporting documents, it will take approximately 7 to 10 working days to process.

For research higher degrees, there is a longer application process and the turnaround times for applications will depend on a few factors including supervisor availability. 

You can log into iStart to check the status of your application. You will receive an email from the International Admissions Team notifying you of the outcome of your application.

Please email the International Admissions Team at international-admissions@cqu.edu.au.