Students wearing graduation hats and gowns.

Can you study a masters without a bachelors degree?

16 January 2021

Postgraduate study usually requires a bachelors degree as a prerequisite – but if you haven’t completed an undergraduate degree, earning a masters qualification isn’t out of the question.

Here’s how to get your masters without a previous undergraduate degree.

1. Leverage your professional experience

At Southern Cross University Online, you can use your professional experience to do an online masters degree without having completed a bachelors degree.

If you have five years’ experience in a relevant field or other qualifications that are equivalent to a bachelors degree, you could be eligible to study at a postgraduate level without an undergraduate degree. And, if you have extensive professional experience (seven years and over), you could receive credit or ‘Advanced Standing’ towards achieving your postgraduate qualification.

Entry requirements and advanced standing does vary from course to course, so it's best to speak with one of our Enrolment Advisors about entry requirements and advanced standing do vary from course to course, so it's best to speak with one of our Student Enrolment Advisors on 1300 863 819 to learn more about your preferred course.

2. Start with a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma

If you’re considering starting a bachelors degree as a pathway into postgraduate study, you should also consider enrolling into a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma, and then progress into a masters degree.

In the Australian Qualification Framework, a bachelors degree is a Level 7, while a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma is Level 8. (A masters qualification is Level 9.)

A Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma takes less time to complete and is a higher level of study. For a certificate, you’ll do four units of study and for a Diploma, you’ll do eight – all of which are nested in the masters course.

3. Transfer your knowledge to another field

If you have an undergraduate degree, you can still pursue postgraduate study in another field. For example, you can study a Master of Business Administration or a Graduate Diploma in Accounting without a relevant undergraduate business or accounting qualification.

At Southern Cross University Online, we encourage you to build on transferrable skills in order to further your career potential. Depending on your level of workplace experience, and the discipline of your undergraduate study, you could be eligible to enrol into one of our postgraduate courses:

Find out more about our great online courses or speak to one of our friendly Student Enrolment Advisors on 1300 863 819.