🩺Australian Catholic University

Sydney, Australia

A national Catholic university built around nursing, teaching and psychology rather than a broad subject range.

About ACU

Australian Catholic University runs six campuses across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Ballarat and Adelaide, with an academic identity concentrated on a tight cluster of vocational, people-facing disciplines — nursing, education, psychology and allied health — rather than trying to cover every field. Course availability varies meaningfully by campus, so families need to confirm early which city actually offers the intended degree. Teaching leans on extensive clinical placements and school practicums built into the degree itself, delivered inside a values-based, pastoral-care culture that welcomes students of all faiths. Fees sit at the lower-to-mid end of Australian international tuition for health and education degrees, and nursing and teaching graduates move into clear, registration-based career outcomes.

Why students choose it

  • Clear, licensed career outcomes in nursing and teaching, with registration pathways built into the degree
  • Smaller classes and a pastoral-care culture across most programmes, rather than large anonymous lecture halls
  • Choice of six Australian cities studying the same accredited programme, letting families weigh cost of living against course fit

🎓 Free application support for ACU

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to ACU — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 26

High tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

AU$32,000–AU$45,000/yr

mid tier for Australia — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

mixed campus, Sydney

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or ACU's financial aid office.

Most Group of Eight and other Australian universities offer international merit scholarships as a tuition-fee reduction for strong academic results, generally requiring a linked application alongside (or shortly after) your course application.

  • University international scholarships: e.g. 'International Undergraduate Scholarship' schemes offered by many Go8 and other universities — typically a percentage reduction on international tuition for high ATAR-equivalent/IB/A-Level results.
  • Australia Awards: Australian government-funded, mainly postgraduate and restricted to specific partner countries — not a general undergraduate route.

Scholarship percentages and slots vary significantly by university and course — check the specific university's international scholarships page, not just the government schemes.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Nursing

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years — Some degrees (e.g. Engineering) run 4 years — check the specific course.

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Typical entry: Biology recommended

Education (Primary & Secondary)

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years — Some degrees (e.g. Engineering) run 4 years — check the specific course.

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Psychology

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years — Some degrees (e.g. Engineering) run 4 years — check the specific course.

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Typical entry: A science or Mathematics recommended

Exercise and Sport Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years — Some degrees (e.g. Engineering) run 4 years — check the specific course.

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Social Work

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years — Some degrees (e.g. Engineering) run 4 years — check the specific course.

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Durations are typical for Australia — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
February (Semester 1), July (Semester 2)
Typical deadline
Early December for the February intake
Note
Group of Eight universities recommend applying by October–November for on-time scholarship consideration.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to ACU for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

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See where ACU ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Australia University Shortlist Builder to see whether ACU is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Australia university that matches.

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More Australia universities

ACU FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to ACU as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into ACU?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, ACU expects around BBB at A Level or 26 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for ACU's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on ACU's own admissions page before applying.

How much does ACU cost for international students?

International tuition at ACU typically falls in the AU$32,000–AU$45,000/yr range (mid tier for Australia). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not ACU's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for ACU?

ACU follows Australia's typical intake calendar: February (Semester 1), July (Semester 2), with applications generally due early december for the february intake. Group of Eight universities recommend applying by October–November for on-time scholarship consideration. Always verify the exact date on ACU's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for ACU?

Australia universities, including ACU, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is ACU known for?

A national Catholic university built around nursing, teaching and psychology rather than a broad subject range. Australian Catholic University runs six campuses across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Ballarat and Adelaide, with an academic identity concentrated on a tight cluster of vocational, people-facing disciplines — nursing, education, psychology and allied health — rather than trying to cover every field. Course availability varies meaningfully by campus, so families need to confirm early which city actually offers the intended degree. Teaching leans on extensive clinical placements and school practicums built into the degree itself, delivered inside a values-based, pastoral-care culture that welcomes students of all faiths. Fees sit at the lower-to-mid end of Australian international tuition for health and education degrees, and nursing and teaching graduates move into clear, registration-based career outcomes.

Can I apply to ACU with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — ACU accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Australia University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against ACU and every other Australia university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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