Assessment process for masters courses

Qualifying as an approved course

To qualify as an approved course for student payments purposes, a masters course must be: 

• approved by the Minister for Social Services 
• listed in the Student Assistance (Education Institutions and Courses) Determination 2019(Opens in a new tab/window) (the Determination) 

Learn more about Applying for approval for masters courses(Opens in a new tab/window). 

Assessment process

We assess the applications that are received. All eligible masters courses are submitted to the Minister for Social Services for approval.  

Masters courses are considered on a course-by-course and institution-by-institution basis. Masters courses approved at one institution will not necessarily be approved at another institution given variations in course structures, duration and other course offerings at the institution. 

Incomplete applications

If an application is incomplete, we will request the missing information from the higher education provider. The higher education provider has 5 working days to provide the requested information. If the information is not provided within this timeframe, the application cannot be assessed and will be returned to the higher education provider. 

Sending to the Minister

We submit a summary of our assessment and a list of recommended courses to the Minister for Social Services. The Minister will determine which masters courses are eligible for student payments and amend the Determination to include these courses. The amended Determination is then registered on the Federal Register of Legislation. 

Advising the outcome

We will advise higher education providers of the outcome of their submission in writing. 

Reviewing approved courses

Higher education providers must advise us of any substantial changes to an approved masters course (for example, course duration, accreditation or professional requirements). We will review the changes and may ask the higher education provider to submit the course for re-assessment. 

We may conduct reviews of approved courses from time to time to determine if they are still offered by the higher education provider and continue to meet the criteria for approval. 

Appealing a decision

Where a higher education provider disagrees with the outcome of the assessment, they may write to the Minister to seek reconsideration of the decision. The higher education provider will be required to demonstrate that the course meets the approval criteria. 

Questions about applying

For questions about how to apply or to request an extension, educational institutions should email to MastersApps@dss.gov.au.  

Students with questions about eligible masters courses should contact their higher education provider. 

Criteria for masters course approval

To be approved for the Masters by Coursework program, the masters qualification must meet the overarching criteria and one additional criteria (1, 2 or 3) outlined below. Masters qualifications that do not meet these requirements cannot be approved for student payments. 

Overarching criteria

A specialist tertiary qualification is required for employment at entry-level in the relevant profession. 

To be approved for the Masters by Coursework program, a specialist tertiary qualification must be essential for entry-level employment in a specific profession, as a legal or professional requirement. 

If the masters course is considered a specialist tertiary qualification for entry-level employment to the profession then the course: 

• must be fully accredited, or undergoing the accreditation process, by a recognised professional, state or territory governing body 
• enable graduates registration and practice in, and be required for admission to, a specific profession

Additional criteria

If a masters course satisfies the above criteria, then a course may be approved for student payment purposes if it also meets at least one of the following three criteria: 

Minimum legal or professional educational requirement

A masters course may be approved where the course is the minimum educational qualification legally required for practice in a profession, or where recognised professional organisations have set a Masters qualification as the entry-level requirement for professional registration. 

Example

Registration with Audiology Australia is necessary for employment as an audiologist in Australia. Completion of an accredited, two-year master qualification is the minimum qualification to work as an audiologist. This course could meet the minimum pathway criterion. 

Fastest pathway offered by the higher education provider 

A masters course may be approved where it is the fastest pathway offered by a higher education provider for a student to gain an entry-level qualification for professional practice. 

Where professionally accepted entry-level qualifications are offered at the diploma, graduate certificate and graduate diploma level, and these courses are shorter in duration, the masters level course cannot be approved as the fastest pathway. 

If these qualifications are the same duration as the masters degree, the masters course may be approved as the (equal) fastest pathway to professional entry. 

If enrolment in a masters course is only open to holders of an undergraduate degree in the same field, and that undergraduate degree is sufficient for entry-level employment in the field, then the Masters course will not meet the fastest pathway criterion. 

If it provides a pathway to professional entry for students with an unrelated degree then it can meet the fastest pathway criterion. 

Example

Registration with the relevant state or territory teaching regulatory authority is necessary to work as a teacher in Australia. A person with an unrelated undergraduate degree (for example Bachelor of Arts) can complete an accredited two-year Master of Teaching qualification to register to work as a teacher. As an undergraduate teaching degree is typically 4 years and the Master of Teaching qualification is 2 years, this course could meet the fastest pathway criterion. 

Only pathway offered by the higher education provider

A masters course may be approved where it is the only pathway to entry-level employment in the profession offered by the higher education provider. 

For example, entry-level employment in the profession may be possible with a bachelor degree. However the higher education provider may not provide this qualification at the bachelor level and instead only offers a masters level qualification. 

If the higher education provider offers any other courses such as a diploma, bachelor degree or graduate diploma that are sufficient to gain entry-level employment in the field, the course will not meet this criterion. 

Example  

Registration with the relevant body is required to work as a physiotherapist. University A does not offer a four-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy but does offer a Master of Physiotherapy for students who have already completed a Bachelor of Science. As the masters level course is the only pathway offered by University A, this course could meet the only pathway criterion. 

Please note 

The above examples are illustrative only and are not binding or exhaustive. It is the criteria that must be considered. 

Part-time masters courses limit eligibility for student payments. Students must be studying full-time to be eligible for student payments. Some exceptions apply for students with a disability and for the part-time rate of the Pensioner Education Supplement. 

The Social Security Guide(Opens in a new tab/window) provides more information on concessional study-load students.