Charles Darwin University

Charles Darwin University is a public university based in Casuarina, Australia. It is accredited by TEQSA. Two campuses of CDU are in Darwin and six satellite campuses in metropolitan and regional areas of the Northern Territory.

This university is largest tertiary education provider in Northern Territory and first dual-sector university in Australia, which offers academic degree courses and vocational educational courses. At CDU Australia, more than 22,000 students are enrolled. Charles Darwin University acceptance rate stands at 78%.

Why Choose CDU University?

As per the Graduate Outcomes Survey for 2024, CDU University is the highest performing dual sector university for graduate employment. On top of this, CDU graduates earn more than the national average.

• It ranks within the Top 23% of the Universities worldwide as per Times Higher Education world rankings for 2026.
• CDU University is home to world class research. The researchers tackle challenges across Health, Science, Environment and Technology, and Education

Overall Shiksha Study Abroad platform, Charles Darwin University has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5. Some of the Indian students reviews for CDU are-

• Harsimran Kaur (Master of Data Science, Batch of 2025) states that teaching methods at CDU are really good. Also, this university offers many opportunities for students to explore careers in their study fields. This student landed the first corporate job in the Northern Territory government because CDU conducted events to connect with people
• Jasleen Kaur (Diploma of Health Science, Batch of 2026) states that CDU campus offers a welcoming environment. The university offers diverse faculty and great campus life. The faculty at CDU is higly approachable and knowledgeable. They use interactive teaching methods like real world case studies, practical labs, and group discussions

Facts about CDU

Note that Charles Darwin University is one of members of Innovative Research Universities in Australia. It is also a member of Northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA). Check facts about CDU University from the table given below-

Charles Darwin University application deadline for international students is Oct 9, 2026, for offshore students applying for Sem 3. 

Charles Darwin University is a public university based in Casuarina, Australia. It is accredited by TEQSA. Two campuses of CDU are in Darwin and six satellite campuses in metropolitan and regional areas of the Northern Territory.

This university is largest tertiary education provider in Northern Territory and first dual-sector university in Australia, which offers academic degree courses and vocational educational courses. At CDU Australia, more than 22,000 students are enrolled. Charles Darwin University acceptance rate stands at 78%.

Why Choose CDU University?

As per the Graduate Outcomes Survey for 2024, CDU University is the highest performing dual sector university for graduate employment. On top of this, CDU graduates earn more than the national average.

• It ranks within the Top 23% of the Universities worldwide as per Times Higher Education world rankings for 2026.
• CDU University is home to world class research. The researchers tackle challenges across Health, Science, Environment and Technology, and Education

Overall Shiksha Study Abroad platform, Charles Darwin University has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5. Some of the Indian students reviews for CDU are-

• Harsimran Kaur (Master of Data Science, Batch of 2025) states that teaching methods at CDU are really good. Also, this university offers many opportunities for students to explore careers in their study fields. This student landed the first corporate job in the Northern Territory government because CDU conducted events to connect with people
• Jasleen Kaur (Diploma of Health Science, Batch of 2026) states that CDU campus offers a welcoming environment. The university offers diverse faculty and great campus life. The faculty at CDU is higly approachable and knowledgeable. They use interactive teaching methods like real world case studies, practical labs, and group discussions

Facts about CDU

Note that Charles Darwin University is one of members of Innovative Research Universities in Australia. It is also a member of Northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA). Check facts about CDU University from the table given below-

Charles Darwin Uni offers a generous range of scholarships to international students. Note that these scholarships reward high-achieving students with outstanding academic accomplishments and who contribute to their potential by making a positive impact on the world.

Listed below are some of the most popular Charles Darwin University scholarships for international students-

• Vice Chancellor’s International High-Achievers Scholarship
• CDU Bachelor of Nursing Scholarship
• Dili International School Scholarship
• CDU Global Merit Scholarship
• CDU International College Pathway Scholarship

CDU offers best degree programs at both UG and PG levels for its international students. Charles Darwin University offer more than 300 courses, including degrees, certificates, diplomas, and short courses. But, for iternational students, 120+ course options are there. Study areas for Charles Darwin University courses are Architecture, Accounting, Data Science, Engineering, Health Science, etc.

Charles Darwin University Popular Programs

The duration of the most Charles Darwin University UG courses is 3 years and that of PG courses is 2 years. The top programs opted by Indian students at CDU are listed below-

• Bachelor of Nursing (Pre-Registration)
• Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
• Bachelor of Design
• Master of Public Health

Charles Darwin University Fees in INR

Charles Darwin University fees for international students: Studying at the university can be considered expensive for Indian students as the first-year tuition Charles Darwin Uni fee for undergraduate courses is around INR 4.46 L - 23.77 L. Whereas, the annual tuition fee for postgraduate courses is around INR 8.9 L - 24.6 L.

Charles Darwin Uni Cost of Living

The annual Charles Darwin University cost of living for Indian students is around AUD 25,205 - AUD 28,005 (INR 13.8 L - 15.3 L). Listed below is the breakdown of the expenses:

Charles Darwin University rich alumni network include 21,000+ members all over the world. CDU alumni network include mentors, innovators, famous personalities, leaders, etc. Some most popular notable alumni at CDU are listed below-

Alumni Name	Profession/Designation	Image
Jaquelyne Hughes FRACP	A Torres Strait Islander Woman and Senior Research Fellow at Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University
Gail Garvey (AM)	An Indigenous Australian Health Services Researcher
Peter Donald Styles	An Australian Politician
Vicki Susan O'Halloran	An Australian Businesswoman and Community Worker
Natasha Stacey	An Environmental Anthropologist

Charles Darwin University grads work for leading industries such as Operations, Education, Business Development, etc. As per the Good Universities Guide 2025, CDU University ranks at #23 in Australia for Undergraduate starting salary. A few years back, this university received 5-star rating for employment outcomes.

Charles Darwin University Placement Rate

As per QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey for 2025, CDU University placament rate is 90.7% (overall). Charles Darwin University graduates work for leading firms such as Northern Territory Government, Department of Education and Training, Power and Water Corporation, etc. International students in Australia can work part time. Australia Student Visa holders can work 48 hours per fortnight.

ROI after Education at CDU University

As per the 2024 Graduates Outcomes Survey, Charles Darwin University graduates earn more than the national average. While the Undergraduates earn 3% more than the national average and the Postgraduates earn 6% more than the national average. Given below is the salary mentioned in the 2025 Survey.

What after graduating from CDU University?

After graduating from CDU University, international students can apply for Temporary Graduate Visa (Sub-Class 485). As per this, the students can stay in Australia for 2-3 years, depending on the study qualification and look for work. The application fee to apply for this Australia Post Study Work Visa is AUD 5,750.

Charles Darwin University application deadline for international students is Oct 9, 2026, for offshore students applying for Sem 3. 

For Charles Darwin University admissions, Indian students can either apply directly or via a registered agent. CDU offers admission for international students in three semesters namely Semester 1, Semester 2, and Semester 3 every year. Indian students can apply for UG programs through CDU Agent and CDU Application Portal. Whereas, for PG programs via SATAC. Charles Darwin University does not charge any application fee for international students.

Charles Darwin University Application Deadline

Charles Darwin University application deadline for UG Indian students is given below-

Charles Darwin University Eligibility of Indian students

Indian students have to submit the following documents for CDU University admission-

• Passport copy
• IELTS or relevant language proficiency score
• SOP
• Resume
• Other supporting documents

Entry Requirements

• For admission to the UG courses of CDU University, Indian students should have completed Class 12 with 60% - 75% (percentage varies as per the boards)
• Those who want to take admission to the PG courses of this university should have a Bachelor's degree.

One of the top universities in the Australia, Charles Darwin University ranks at #29 nationally in 2026, as per Shiksha Popularity rankings. For 2026, Charles Darwin University ranking stood at #470 in the world rankings. Subject rankings of CDU University are #24 for Engineering, #29 for MS, #30 for Science, #33 for MSN, etc.

By Other Ranking Bodies

Apart from Shiksha Popularity ranking, QS has also ranked the university globally. Charles Darwin University QS ranking is #584 in 2026. In 2027, the QS rankings of CDU University has improved as it is placed at #551. Charles Darwin University ranking stood at #401-500 by THE in 2026, globally.

Located in Darwin, Australia, the Charles Darwin University Campus is one of the best campuses around the globe. While studying at CDU University, students can check out the student groups. There is one CDU Indian Student Forum, which celebrates Indian festivals and traditions. Housing options for international students are offered at Casuarina campus.

CDU Location

Charles Darwin Uni operates on 7 campuses, Casuarina Campus, Education and Community Precinct Campus, Palmerston Campus, Sydney Campus, Katherine (Rural) Campus, Alice Springs Campus, and Nhulunbuy Campus.