What is a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for postgraduate study?

How a CSP can reduce the cost of postgraduate study at QUT

You may have heard of CSP and wondered what it is and how it works. Here are five things you need to know about this subsidy and how CSPs can significantly reduce your postgraduate course fees in information technology (IT), data science, AI, cyber security and business process management (BPM) to help you make informed decisions about your higher education.

What is CSP?

A CSP is a higher education place that the Federal Government partially subsidises. The subsidy is not a loan; you don’t have to pay it back. In a nutshell, it means you pay much less for your course than a full-fee-paying student. The amount you pay depends on the course you choose and your citizenship status.

How much could I save?

Studying one of our postgraduate CSP courses can reduce the cost of your fees by more than 70%. This is great news for professionals looking to boost their careers or current undergraduate students keen to do a deep dive with a graduate certificate or master degree. You can select from a range of graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and master degrees.

Find a postgrad course with CSP

Want to move into tech?

• Graduate Certificate in Information Technology
• Graduate Diploma in Information Technology
• Master of Information Technology

Want to specialise and keep up with demand?

• Graduate Certificate in Business Process Management
• Master of Artificial Intelligence (new in 2025)
• Master of Cyber Security (new in 2025)

Turn data into decisions?

• Graduate Certificate in Data Science
• Master of Data Science

Am I eligible for CSP?

To be eligible for a CSP, you must be a domestic student and satisfy one of the following residency requirements:

• Australian citizen, and will undertake at least one unit of study in Australia that contributes to your course of study.
• New Zealand citizen, living in Australia for the teaching period, unless your course requires you to live elsewhere.
• Holder of an Australian permanent visa (including humanitarian visa holders), and living in Australia for the teaching period, unless your course requires you to live elsewhere.

How do I secure a CSP?

1. Find the course that best supports your study and career goals.
2. Apply for the course. Follow this step-by-step guide if you get stuck.
3. Following an offer to study at QUT, follow the instructions to accept your offer. QUT communications will highlight if the place you have been offered is a CSP or not.
4. Complete your CSP and HECS-HELP loan application form provided by QUT by the census date.

Understanding Commonwealth Supported Places can significantly impact your higher education decisions. These subsidised places can be a game-changer for both professionals and current undergraduate students. They offer substantial cost savings and the chance to pursue high-demand careers.

By following the steps outlined to secure a CSP, you can make the most of these opportunities and advance your academic and career goals.