A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a government-subsidised place that can reduce the cost of studying a postgraduate degree. With a CSP, the government contributes some or all of your tuition fees, and you’ll pay the remainder. If you have a CSP, you may be able to access the government's HECS-HELP loan scheme to pay your student contribution.

CSPs are available for some postgraduate courses, but not for every course or every student. At Charles Sturt University, CSP availability for postgraduate study depends on your course and eligibility, and may change across intakes. So please check the relevant course details before applying.

The main differences between a graduate certificate and a graduate diploma are the duration, depth and number of credit points required to graduate. Generally, a graduate certificate is a shorter qualification that develops skills in a specific field, while a graduate diploma offers more in-depth study.

At Charles Sturt University, a graduate certificate usually takes six to 12 months, depending on whether you study full-time or part-time. A graduate diploma typically takes one to two years to complete. You’ll need 32 credit points to graduate from a graduate certificate and 64 credit points for a graduate diploma. You can often progress from a certificate to a diploma and then a master’s, building an increasingly sophisticated skill set and knowledge.

Master’s degrees at Charles Sturt University generally take between one and two years of full-time study to complete. The duration may vary depending on the subject requirements and whether it includes research or practical components. Many master's degrees can also be studied part-time. Typically, part-time study takes about twice as long as the full-time equivalent.

One factor that can affect how long a master's degree takes to complete at Charles Sturt University is whether you are eligible for advanced standing through credit for prior learning. If you receive credit for qualifications and experience you already have, you may not need to complete as many subjects in order to graduate. So you can complete the degree sooner than the standard duration.

Yes, you can study a postgraduate research degree at Charles Sturt University. These include master's degrees by research and PhDs (also known as doctorates) across disciplines such as agriculture, animal and veterinary sciences, environmental science, education, health, information technology and business.

A postgraduate research degree at Charles Sturt University involves an in-depth investigation into a specific research topic, with guidance from academic supervisors with relevant expertise in the field. Depending on the degree, you may develop a research proposal, complete a literature review, conduct original research, analyse your findings, and write and submit a thesis for examination.

Yes, Charles Sturt University alumni receive a 10 per cent discount on full-fee-paying postgraduate courses. The discount applies to graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, master's degrees and doctorates, with some exclusions for packaged course sets.

While Charles Sturt University alumni do get a discount on postgraduate study, it applies only to full-fee-paying places. If you have a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the discount does not apply. The alumni discount applies to course fees and does not cover other study-related costs. If eligible, you may be able to further reduce course costs by applying for scholarships and grants. You may also be able to access the government's FEE-HELP loan scheme to defer some or all of your tuition fees or, if the course relates to your work, claim a tax deduction for self-education expenses.

How quickly Charles Sturt University postgraduates are employed after graduating varies by student, depending on their course of study, location, and the positions they apply for. The latest Graduate Outcomes Survey states that 91.6 per cent of domestic postgraduate coursework graduates from Charles Sturt University were in full-time work within four months of graduating, while 86.7 per cent were in full-time work for those with a postgraduate research degree.

Employment outcomes for Charles Sturt University postgraduates can vary by course of study. For example, according to the Good Universities Guide 2025/26, 96 per cent of Charles Sturt University science postgraduates and 95 per cent of nursing and education postgraduates were in full-time work within four months of graduating.

The time it takes to apply for a postgraduate course can range from a few minutes to several weeks, depending on the university, course and required information. At Charles Sturt University, an online application can take as little as 15 minutes. However, the overall process can take longer if you need to source or verify academic transcripts or provide other documents, such as employer references or accreditation from relevant professional bodies.

How long it takes to apply for a postgraduate course can vary depending on the type of course. For example, if you’re applying to study a postgraduate research degree at Charles Sturt University, you’ll need to first provide an outline of your research proposal and connect with a suitable research supervisor before submitting an application.

When you study a postgraduate course online with Charles Sturt University, you can access a range of academic, technical and personal support services to help you manage study remotely and alongside work.

Online postgraduate students at Charles Sturt University receive free IT support and complimentary access to Microsoft 365. Most library resources are available digitally, while printed books can be posted to students free of charge. Connect with our Academic Skills team online or book an appointment to get answers to your questions. You can also access wellbeing, counselling, accessibility, financial and careers support.