Master of Aboriginal Studies

A Master of Aboriginal Studies is for people who want to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and knowledge systems, and who want to do it properly. At Adelaide University, this is a two-year coursework master's degree. The first year builds your grounding in Aboriginal histories, cultures, identity and the politics of representation. The second year takes you into research methods, policy analysis and a substantial independent project on a topic you choose.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees are normally one to two years of full-time study, and this one sits at the two-year end. That usually means four semesters, or three trimesters a year at institutions that run on a trimester calendar. You enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to accumulate the total credit points the degree requires to graduate. Core units cover the foundations; electives let you specialise in areas such as Indigenous health, native title, education, or community development. Check the official course page for the exact unit list and credit point rules.

Most students finish with a capstone research project or minor thesis. That means you design a question, gather and analyse evidence, and write it up under supervision. Some students do fieldwork or archival research with community partners. Where the field uses it, work-integrated learning or a professional placement can be part of the degree, giving you time inside an Aboriginal organisation, a government agency or a research centre. Confirm placement options and any prerequisites on the official page before you apply.

What you actually learn

You learn to read and use research critically, to work ethically with communities, and to understand how colonisation, policy and law have shaped Aboriginal lives in Australia. You practise writing for different audiences, from academic papers to policy briefs. You learn about Indigenous research methodologies and why they matter. You also learn to work in teams and to communicate across cultural differences. These are skills employers in the sector ask for.

This degree suits people already working in Aboriginal affairs, health, education, justice or community services who want to move into research, policy or leadership. It also suits recent graduates in the social sciences, humanities or health who want to specialise. If you are considering a doctorate later, the research component gives you a taste of what that involves. Australian doctorates usually run three or more years, and an honours year adds one year to a bachelor degree.

Studying in Australia

Adelaide has a long history of Aboriginal scholarship and community organisations, and South Australia has its own policy and legal context that you will study up close. International students should note the English requirement: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, though some fields ask for higher. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. While you study, a student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work in Australia, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 115892C. Check the official page for current fees, intake dates and entry requirements.

• Policy officer or analyst in Aboriginal affairs, health, education or justice agencies
• Community development officer or program manager in Aboriginal community-controlled organisations
• Researcher or research assistant in Indigenous research centres, universities or consultancies
• Cultural heritage or native title officer working with land councils and legal services
• Aboriginal liaison or engagement officer in government, health services or NGOs
• Project officer in reconciliation, social justice or community grants programmes
• Further study: PhD or professional doctorate in Indigenous studies or a related social science

Australian employers in these areas include Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations, land councils, native title representative bodies, state and federal government departments, universities, and not-for-profits. Some roles are identified positions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.