New Master’s Degrees Added to CRICOS in August 2026
Australia’s CRICOS register gained a new group of postgraduate degrees in August 2026, including programs in artificial intelligence, teaching, data analytics, sustainability, finance, social work, sport and environmental studies.
A comparison of the July and August 2026 CRICOS course databases identified 20 newly appearing courses whose official titles explicitly include “Master”.
These courses were registered by 13 Australian higher education providers, with Monash University accounting for the largest number of additions.
Most of the new master’s programs have a registered duration of approximately two years, while tuition fees range from A$52,800 to A$175,320 in the August CRICOS dataset.
20 new Master’s programs appeared on CRICOS in August 2026
The following courses were present in the August database but not in the July snapshot.
| Provider | New Master’s Degree | CRICOS Code | Duration | Tuition Fee |
| Melbourne Institute of Technology | Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning | 120737E | 104 weeks | A$52,800 |
| Macquarie University | Master of Environment and Conservation | 121049K | 104 weeks | A$100,900 |
| The University of Sydney | Master of Sustainability | 121051E | 104 weeks | A$132,000 |
| Monash University | Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education | 121127A | 104 weeks | A$92,700 |
| Monash University | Master of Teaching in Early Childhood and Primary Education | 121128M | 104 weeks | A$92,700 |
| Flinders University | Master of Business Administration (Artificial Intelligence) | 121143A | 104 weeks | A$96,048 |
| ECA Higher Education Institute | Master of Social Work | 121153K | 104 weeks | A$65,600 |
| James Cook University | Master of Business Administration [36cp] | 121157F | 66 weeks | A$59,309 |
| Monash University | Master of Teaching in Primary Education | 121162J | 104 weeks | A$92,700 |
| Monash University | Master of Teaching in Primary and Secondary Education | 121163H | 104 weeks | A$92,700 |
| Monash University | Master of Teaching in Secondary Education | 121164G | 104 weeks | A$92,700 |
| Swinburne University of Technology | Global Master of Business Administration | 121176C | 104 weeks | A$103,400 |
| University of Technology Sydney | Master of Quantitative Finance (Extension) | 121177B | 104 weeks | A$105,012 |
| Central Queensland University | Master of Data Analytics | 121180G | 104 weeks | A$79,680 |
| Australian Institute of Higher Education | Master of Research (ICT) | 121184C | 104 weeks | A$72,000 |
| Deakin University | Master of Fine Arts | 121189J | 104 weeks | A$83,232 |
| Deakin University | Master of Humanitarian, Development and Disaster Studies | 121190E | 104 weeks | A$80,660 |
| Flinders University | Master of Accounting / Graduate Certificate in Social Impact | 121085F | 104 weeks | A$91,287 |
| Murdoch University | Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science / Master of High Performance Sport | 121019E | 208 weeks | A$175,320 |
| Murdoch University | Master of High Performance Sport | 121020A | 52 weeks | A$60,030 |
Monash University added the most new Master’s degrees
Monash University led the August update with five new Master of Teaching programs.
All five are registered for 104 weeks and list tuition fees of A$92,700.
The new programs are:
- 121127A — Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education
- 121128M — Master of Teaching in Early Childhood and Primary Education
- 121162J — Master of Teaching in Primary Education
- 121163H — Master of Teaching in Primary and Secondary Education
- 121164G — Master of Teaching in Secondary Education
This makes teacher education the largest single discipline represented among the new master’s degrees identified in the August database.
Of the 20 new Master-titled programs, five — 25% — are in the Education broad field, and all five come from Monash.
Artificial intelligence appears in new postgraduate degrees
Artificial intelligence continues to appear in new CRICOS registrations at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Two particularly notable August additions are explicitly focused on AI.
Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Melbourne Institute of Technology Pty Ltd
- CRICOS code: 120737E
- Course level: Masters Degree (Coursework)
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$52,800
- Field: Information Technology / Computer Science
At A$52,800, this is the lowest listed tuition fee among the 20 newly identified Master-titled programs in the August comparison.
Master of Business Administration (Artificial Intelligence)
Flinders University
- CRICOS code: 121143A
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$96,048
- Field: Management and Commerce / Business and Management
The Flinders program is significant because AI is being incorporated not only into technical degrees but also into postgraduate business education.
The August update therefore shows two different approaches to AI postgraduate study: one focused directly on artificial intelligence and machine learning, and another combining AI with management and business administration.
Data analytics joins the new IT postgraduate programs
Central Queensland University added:
121180G — Master of Data Analytics
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$79,680
- Course level: Masters Degree (Coursework)
- Broad field: Information Technology
- Narrow field: Information Systems
Another technology-related registration came from the Australian Institute of Higher Education:
121184C — Master of Research (ICT)
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$72,000
- Course level: Masters Degree (Research)
This is particularly notable because it is the only one of the 20 newly identified Master-titled programs classified as a Masters Degree (Research). The other new master’s programs are predominantly coursework degrees.
New sustainability and environmental master’s degrees
Environmental and sustainability-related postgraduate education also expanded in the August CRICOS update.
Macquarie University
Macquarie added:
121049K — Master of Environment and Conservation
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$100,900
- Field: Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies
- Narrow field: Environmental Studies
The University of Sydney
The University of Sydney added:
121051E — Master of Sustainability
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$132,000
- Field: Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies
- Narrow field: Environmental Studies
The Sydney program has one of the highest tuition figures among the new standalone Master’s programs in the August dataset.
Together, the two registrations show continued expansion of postgraduate study options connected with environmental management and sustainability.
New business, accounting and finance master’s degrees
Management and Commerce accounted for four of the 20 new Master-titled programs.
Flinders University
In addition to its AI-focused MBA, Flinders added:
121085F — Master of Accounting / Graduate Certificate in Social Impact
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$91,287
James Cook University
James Cook University registered:
121157F — Master of Business Administration [36cp]
- Duration: 66 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$59,309
At 66 weeks, this is substantially shorter than the standard 104-week duration seen across most of the new master’s degrees.
Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne added:
121176C — Global Master of Business Administration
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$103,400
University of Technology Sydney
UTS added:
121177B — Master of Quantitative Finance (Extension)
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$105,012
- Broad field: Natural and Physical Sciences
- Narrow field: Mathematical Sciences
Although the course is finance-focused, its CRICOS field classification places it within Mathematical Sciences rather than Management and Commerce.
New Master of Social Work
ECA Higher Education Institute added:
121153K — Master of Social Work
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$65,600
- Field: Society and Culture
- Narrow field: Human Welfare Studies and Services
The program is among the lower-cost new Master’s degrees identified in the August snapshot.
Deakin adds two new postgraduate programs
Deakin University registered two new Master’s programs in quite different disciplines.
Master of Fine Arts
CRICOS code 121189J
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$83,232
- Broad field: Creative Arts
Master of Humanitarian, Development and Disaster Studies
CRICOS code 121190E
- Duration: 104 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$80,660
- Broad field: Society and Culture
- Narrow field: Studies in Human Society
The two additions broaden Deakin’s international postgraduate offering across both creative and humanitarian disciplines.
Murdoch expands postgraduate sport programs
Murdoch University added two programs involving a Master of High Performance Sport.
The standalone degree is:
121020A — Master of High Performance Sport
- Duration: 52 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$60,030
At 52 weeks, it is the shortest new Master-titled course identified in the August comparison.
Murdoch also registered a combined qualification:
121019E — Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science / Master of High Performance Sport
- Duration: 208 weeks
- Tuition fee: A$175,320
This is the longest and most expensive program among the 20 courses in this particular comparison, although it combines undergraduate and postgraduate study rather than representing a standalone Master’s degree.
How much do the new Master’s degrees cost?
Tuition fees among the 20 newly appearing Master-titled courses vary considerably.
The range in the August dataset is:
- Lowest: A$52,800
- Highest: A$175,320
- Median: A$92,700
The lowest listed tuition fee belongs to:
Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning — Melbourne Institute of Technology — A$52,800
The highest belongs to the combined:
Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science / Master of High Performance Sport — Murdoch University — A$175,320
If combined Bachelor/Master programs are set aside, the highest tuition figure among the standalone new Master’s degrees in this group is:
Master of Sustainability — The University of Sydney — A$132,000
Other courses above A$100,000 include:
- Master of Quantitative Finance (Extension), UTS — A$105,012
- Global Master of Business Administration, Swinburne — A$103,400
- Master of Environment and Conservation, Macquarie — A$100,900
Most new Master’s degrees are registered for two years
Duration is one of the clearest patterns in the data.
Of the 20 new Master-titled programs:
- 17 are registered for 104 weeks
- 1 is registered for 52 weeks
- 1 for 66 weeks
- 1 combined Bachelor/Master program for 208 weeks
That means 85% of the new courses in this group have a 104-week CRICOS duration, roughly corresponding to two years.
For international students comparing postgraduate study options, the 104-week format remains the dominant structure among these newly registered programs.
Which study fields gained the most new Master’s programs?
Based on the primary CRICOS broad field classification, the 20 new courses break down as follows:
| Broad Field of Education | New Master-titled Courses |
| Education | 5 |
| Management and Commerce | 4 |
| Information Technology | 3 |
| Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 2 |
| Society and Culture | 2 |
| Health | 2 |
| Natural and Physical Sciences | 1 |
| Creative Arts | 1 |
Education leads primarily because of Monash University’s five new Master of Teaching degrees.
Business and management follow, while Information Technology is represented by new programs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics and ICT research.
Which providers added the most new Master’s degrees?
Monash was the clear leader.
| Provider | New Master-titled Courses |
| Monash University | 5 |
| Deakin University | 2 |
| Flinders University | 2 |
| Murdoch University | 2 |
| Macquarie University | 1 |
| The University of Sydney | 1 |
| University of Technology Sydney | 1 |
| Swinburne University of Technology | 1 |
| James Cook University | 1 |
| Central Queensland University | 1 |
| Melbourne Institute of Technology | 1 |
| Australian Institute of Higher Education | 1 |
| ECA Higher Education Institute | 1 |
In total, 13 providers accounted for the 20 new Master-titled CRICOS registrations.
A note about CRICOS “Master’s level” classifications
There is an important distinction between searching the database by course title and by CRICOS Course Level.
The August dataset contains 24 newly appearing registrations classified under a Master’s Degree course level.
However, not all of those registrations have “Master” in their course names.
For example, the new CRICOS records include:
- 121156G — Juris Doctor, James Cook University — classified as Masters Degree (Coursework)
- 121167D — Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine, University of Queensland — classified as Masters Degree (Coursework)
- 121169B — Bachelor of Pharmaceutics and Therapeutic Science / Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Queensland — classified as Masters Degree (Extended)
The dataset also contains 121178A — Bachelor of Business Analytics and AI Management, Western Sydney University, with the Course Level field recorded as Masters Degree (Coursework), despite the course title beginning with “Bachelor”.
For this reason, this article uses the more conservative definition of a new Master’s degree: a newly appearing CRICOS registration whose official course title explicitly contains the word “Master”.
This avoids presenting every CRICOS master-level classification as if it were literally titled a Master’s degree.
What are the most notable new Master’s degrees added in August 2026?
Several programs stand out because they reflect broader changes in Australian higher education.
Artificial Intelligence
- Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning — Melbourne Institute of Technology
- Master of Business Administration (Artificial Intelligence) — Flinders University
Teaching
- Five new Master of Teaching degrees — Monash University
Data and technology
- Master of Data Analytics — Central Queensland University
- Master of Research (ICT) — Australian Institute of Higher Education
Environment and sustainability
- Master of Environment and Conservation — Macquarie University
- Master of Sustainability — University of Sydney
Business and finance
- Global Master of Business Administration — Swinburne
- Master of Quantitative Finance (Extension) — UTS
- Master of Business Administration — James Cook University
Human and social services
- Master of Social Work — ECA Higher Education Institute
- Master of Humanitarian, Development and Disaster Studies — Deakin University
The August additions therefore show growth across both traditional postgraduate areas and rapidly developing disciplines such as artificial intelligence and data analytics.
How many new Master’s degrees were added to CRICOS in August 2026?
A comparison of the July and August 2026 CRICOS databases identified 20 new course registrations whose official titles contain “Master”, across 13 providers.
Monash University added the most, with five new Master of Teaching degrees.
The dominant duration was 104 weeks, used by 17 of the 20 programs, while tuition fees ranged from A$52,800 to A$175,320.
Artificial intelligence, teacher education, business, data analytics, sustainability and social services were among the most prominent areas represented in the new registrations.
Methodology
This analysis compares the July 2026 and August 2026 CRICOS course database snapshots.
A course was considered new when its CRICOS Course Code appeared in the August dataset but was absent from the July dataset.
For the main analysis, a new Master’s degree was defined as a newly appearing course whose official Course Name contains the word “Master”, excluding Pre-Masters pathway programs.
Course names, CRICOS codes, provider names, course levels, durations, fields of education and tuition fees are taken directly from the August 2026 database.
A new CRICOS registration should not automatically be interpreted as a course commencing teaching in August 2026. Registration in CRICOS and the actual intake or commencement date are separate concepts.
Data source: July 2026 and August 2026 CRICOS course database snapshots. Analysis: CRICOS.net, August 2026.