Entry requirements and pathways
International students

Academic entry requirement

Prerequisites

Successful completion of an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent).

Applicants who hold a Bachelor degree with substantial chemistry content equivalent to second or third-year chemistry may also be considered.

Specialisation - compulsory: Chemistry

Note: Meeting minimum prerequisites does not guarantee an offer of a place. Entry into all La Trobe courses is based on competitive selection and there may be limited places available.

English language requirement

6.5 IELTS (Academic) with no individual band less than 6.0.

Please refer to our English Language Requirements page for details of other accepted English Proficiency tests and additional recognised English Language Proficiency Measures, such as English as the language of instruction.

Credit for previous study (advanced standing)

Credit for previous study (advanced standing) is the recognition of prior study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous study and the number of subjects completed.

The University will designate courses where there is only admission into Year 1 of the course. In these cases, there is limited credit. See list of limited entry courses.

To check if this course is available for credit, please visit the Advanced standing webpage.

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

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What you'll study

Sample course structure

Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.

To qualify for the award of Master of Chemical Sciences, students must complete a total of 240 credit points across 2 years.

Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 120 credit points from chosen Core

Study options

Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.

Subject name Subject code Year Credit points
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE LTU0AIM 1 0
ADVANCED CHEMISTRY LABORATORY CHE3LAB 1 15
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND CHARACTERIZATION CHE5CSC 1 15
CHEMISTRY AND THE ENVIRONMENT CHE3EAC 1 15
MOLECULAR ANALYSIS CHE5MNS 1 15
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND SPECTROSCOPY CHE3MSS 1 15
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS BIO5SCS 1 15
SKILLS IN SCIENCE BIO5SIS 1 15
SYNTHETIC TOPICS IN CHEMISTRY CHE3STC 1 15
CHEMISTRY RESEARCH PROJECT A CHE5PRA 2 60
CHEMISTRY RESEARCH PROJECT B CHE5PRB 2 60

See La Trobe University Handbook for more details

The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.

View course information for Melbourne (Bundoora)

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

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Master of Chemical Sciences course and career outcomes

However you choose to structure your study, La Trobe recognises your hard work. Here are the pathways you could follow as you move through your course.

Course intended learning outcomes

  • Employ advanced analytical and problem solving skills in developing solutions for complex scientific problems
  • Demonstrate specialised knowledge in chemistry, with an advanced and integrated understanding of the complex body of knowledge in chemistry
  • Work effectively as a practicing chemist, both independently and as part of a team
  • Critically analyse and evaluate published research literature to assess and synthesise complex information
  • Communicate scientific information in written and oral formats for different audiences
  • Apply advanced mathematical, graphical and computational methods to acquire, manipulate, interpret and evaluate chemical data and communicate results
  • Apply appropriate use of current and relevant technologies and digital literacies for collecting and reporting research data, and in professional practice
  • Demonstrate academic integrity and scientific rigour in conducting and evaluating scientific research, and in professional practice
  • Formulate and apply safe laboratory practices when designing and performing experiments and collecting data

Master of Chemical Sciences career opportunities

Experts in chemical sciences are employed in a range of roles including:

  • Industrial chemist
    • Use your knowledge to provide technical support in an industrial setting.
    • Innovate and develop products and processes.
    • Report to management, lead or work in teams and ensure documentation is current.
  • Senior process engineer
    • Develop, advise and lead teams to improve industrial processes related to chemistry.
    • Train staff, provide support and feedback to management.
    • Work towards the continuous improvement of all technical and human-related processes.
  • Senior analytical chemist
    • Mentor and train staff.
    • Solve problems, maintain and improve processes, test new methodologies, lead teams and report to management.

Professional recognition

Graduates of the Master of Chemical Sciences may apply for membership with the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Membership may be subject to additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

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Fees and scholarships

Estimated course fees for international students

Estimated fees per year (2025): Indicative based on 2024 fees
A$41 600 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.

Scholarships: Available for this course

The International estimated fees are indicative only. The tuition fees you pay will depend on the subjects you choose to study, with each subject having its own cost. In some cases, your course fees may be higher than the indicated fees because of the subjects you choose.

International scholarships

Destination Australia – an Australian Government initiative

The Destination Australia scheme supports new international students to study in regional Australia and offers students a high-quality learning experience. For eligible applicants, these scholarships are worth up to A$15 000 per annum for up to four years.

Find out more about Destination Australia scholarships.

If you're a La Trobe graduate, you may be eligible for a 10 per cent fee reduction when you apply for a full-fee postgraduate coursework program. See our Alumni Advantage page for further details.

International students applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate course to study at La Trobe University can be rewarded a bonus grant for completing their admission process early. Recipients will automatically be eligible to receive an Early Bird Acceptance Grant of 5% of the first-year tuition fees.

If you’re a high-achieving international student from either Vietnam, Cambodia or the Philippines and are considering full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study, you can apply to receive a 50 - 100 per cent tuition fees scholarship for the duration of your studies from 2024.

Do you have an excellent academic record? La Trobe High Achiever Scholarships are awarded to high-achieving international students and provide up to a 25 per cent reduction in course fees for selected courses.

Note: You must first have an offer to study at La Trobe before you are eligible to apply for a La Trobe scholarship.

Questions about fees and scholarships?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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How to apply

Apply now or ask us a question if you need more help. You can also call us on +61 3 9627 4805.

Note: Some courses start earlier than the standard semester, term or study period. Applications for these courses close one week prior. Always check your course’s start date to ensure your application is submitted in time.

Check when course applications close

CRICOS code: 062473J

Ready to apply?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

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 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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Overview

Key facts

Award Master of Chemical Sciences
CRICOS code062473J
Start dates

Indicative based on 2024 start dates

Semester 1 (March 2025), Semester 2 (July 2025)
Duration 2 years full-time
Available locations Melbourne (Bundoora)
Scholarships View fees and scholarships
Annual tuition fee

Indicative based on 2024 fees

A$41 600 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.

About the Master of Chemical Sciences

Refine your chemistry skills.

La Trobe's Master of Chemical Sciences gives you advanced training in key chemistry fields such as analytical, computational, medicinal, organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Complete a research project, prepare a thesis and graduate ready for chemistry careers across a wide variety of industries.

You'll learn:

  • Advanced chemistry
    • Complete core subjects in advanced chemistry including environmental, medicinal, organic, inorganic, polymer chemistry and more.
  • Chemical structure and characterisation
    • Build on your understanding of techniques for the study of chemical compounds.
    • Receive advanced training in spectroscopic methods such as NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy, separation science and chromatography.
  • Scientific communication skills
    • Understand how to make your findings coherent and intelligible through report writing and data visualisation.
    • Learn to access scientific information using scientific journals, databases and online resources.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 9 - Masters Degree.

Have questions?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

Live chat

Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

Live chat

Ask a question

Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.

Ask a question

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