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Best Universities In Australia For Masters In Computer Science

Details about admissions to ms in computer science in australia eligibility, university of melbourne & rmit university melbourne can be found here. Feel free to keep reading to receive the most updated information.

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Universities in Australia rightfully occupy high positions in world rankings and are centers of research and scientific progress. International students come to Australian universities for high-quality education, an international atmosphere, developed infrastructure, and prestigious diplomas. Australia has the third-largest number of leading institutions in the world after the United States and Great Britain. For example, the QS ranking 2021 includes 36 Australian higher education institutions, 7 of which are in the top 100.

Masters in Computer Science in Australia is a 1.5 to 2 years program with tuition fees ranging from 38,120 AUD to 91,709 AUD in leading universities. The average annual salary of masters in computer science graduates in Australia is 90,000 AUD. Eligibility for an international student to pursue masters in computer science in Australia is to have a bachelor’s degree in CS, IT or relevant field and language proficiency.

  • With high job prospects after a Masters in Computer Science in Australia, they can apply for PR directly on gaining sufficient points. 
  • Australian universities have two intake sessions for the program: February and July 
  • The comprehensive program involves the study of the design and development of computer systems to equip the students for a leadership role in computing and technology.

Why study Masters in Computer Science in Australia?

  • Times Higher Education World University Ranking ranks 23 leading Australian Universities amongst the top 750 international universities for Computer Science programs.
  • The top 5 Australian universities offering an MS in Computer Science are listed amongst the top 150 universities for computer science programs according to THE and QS World University Rankings.
  • The top Australian universities, University of Melbourne and ANU offering the program have a high international student enrollment of 46% and 44%, respectively.
  • Australian Computer Society (ACS) predicts there will be a greater demand for computer science graduates by 2024 owing to a shortage of 100,000 employees with 164,000 qualifications.
  • The number of international students in the recent past pursuing Computer Science and Mathematics program in Australia was registered to be 24,000
  • International students with a skilled graduate temporary visa can work from 18 months to 3 years after the completion of studies. 
  • The graph compares the projected employment outlook of careers open to computer science professionals in Australia from 2018 to 2023.

Advantages of universities in Australia

  • Admission to universities. Australian universities have a clear and straightforward application process and the required package of documents for admission is relatively small. Australia does not have strict restrictions on the number of places in universities or specialties (with the exception of medicine). As a consequence, for example, in 2016 the share of rejected applicants was just under 5% of all applicants. 90% of applications were accepted[0].
  • Quality control. Australia takes the quality of teaching and education in its universities very seriously. There is a national agency dedicated to managing the quality of higher education — Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). It was established by the Australian government to control the quality and regulation of universities and other educational institutions. TEQSA also monitors compliance with standards developed by the independent Higher Education Standards Panel. In addition, the quality of education is additionally guaranteed by the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act.
  • Feedback from students. One way to measure the quality of higher education in the country is through surveys of students and alumni. In Australia, special government surveys, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), are compiled. They cover topics from the beginning of training to employment. For example, during the period from 2012 to 2018, about 80% of students rate their learning experience in Australia as positive[1]. For universities, surveys are done to improve the quality of the student experience, highlight weaknesses at the institutional or disciplinary level, and identify best practices.
  • Comparative tool. Within QILT there is a website called CompareED that allows applicants to compare universities and study programs based on real-life feedback from 2 million local and international students. The user-friendly interface provides up-to-date and transparent information about Australian universities based on general experience of students, the development of their skills and the further employment of graduates.
  • Doctoral studies in Australia. The goal of Australian universities is to attract the best PhD candidates from around the world to help the country to develop the research and innovation sector. Therefore, Australian public universities charge lower fees for doctoral programs than for master’s and bachelor’s ones. For example, a year of studies at state universities in doctoral programs costs, on average, about 20 times less than in bachelor’s programs[2]. This was one of the reasons why the share of international students among doctoral students in Australia is 40% or more[3]. Moreover, the government generously funds the R&D at universities in the country, therefore universities provide various scholarship opportunities for researchers.
  • Student support services. Australian educational institutions offer student support services to help them to settle in Australia. Some cities and towns have separate international student support centers. They offer practical advice and support on legal and career guidance issues and organize meetings for local and international students.
  • Wide choice of university locations. Australian universities are scattered across the continent. The majority of them are located in Sydney and Melbourne — the largest cities in the country. If you are focused on working in international companies or just want to be in the thick of the action, then it is best to go here to study. The oldest universities in Australia are named after states and major cities: Sydney University, University of Melbourne, University of Adelaide, University of Queensland, University of Western Australia. The main advantages of such universities are prestige, focus on research work, and a greater emphasis on theoretical knowledge. As a rule, students of the oldest universities are children from wealthy families. Graduates from these institutions have a high chance of getting high-paying and influential positions. Education in small provincial towns is more affordable and the atmosphere is calmer. Here you can view and download the map of universities’ locations.

Disadvantages of universities in Australia

  • High tuition fees. Australian universities charge high prices for study programs. A bachelor’s degree costs about 34,983 USD per year on average, and a master’s degree is even more expensive. This is not even counting the cost of living, food and tickets. So, studying in Australia is not available for everyone. The universities and the government offer grants and scholarships, but they are quite difficult to obtain.
  • Admission after grade 11. Graduates of eleven-year schools cannot immediately enroll in the 1st year of bachelor’s studies in Australia. Such applicants will have to take the Foundation course, study for a year at a university in their country, or complete their studies at A-Levels/IB. This can become an obstacle to the candidate’s admission. However, bachelor’s programs in Australia last 3 years. That is why for some applicants, whose countries have 4-year long undergraduate programs, it actually makes no difference. They can still complete their studies within the usual period not worrying about “wasting”a year.
  • Lack of innovation. Australian universities are actively promoting research, but innovation and entrepreneurial spirit are poorly developed here. For example, in the top 100 Most Innovative Universities of 2019 by Reuters there is not a single Australian university. Former chief scientist of the country, Professor Ian Chubb, said: “Australians aren’t short of talent but we need to get better at turning our creativity into successful products and services.”[4]

The requirements for admission to universities in Australia

ProgramAgeDurationMin. cost/yearAvg. cost/yearMin. language proficiencyExams
Foundation16+1-2 years16,481 USD2,332 USDA2IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL 62
Bachelor’s17+3-5 years20,896 USD34,983 USDB2IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 75
MBA20+1-2 years24,659 USD/program45,089 USD/programC1IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 86
Master’s20+1-2 years19,808 USD38,870 USDC1IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 79
Doctoral20+3-4 years21,301 USD32,651 USDC1IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 79

The process of admission to a university in Australia is almost the same as in Europe, the USA and the UK. All applications are accepted in digital form. Requirements for applicants:

  • Document on previous education:
    • For bachelor’s. To enter an Australian university, you need to have at least 12 years of school. This includes a secondary vocational education / 12-year high school diploma / university first-year academic transcript;
    • For master’s and doctoral students.A diploma of a completed bachelor’s or master’s program.You can apply for doctoral programs right after university in your country. Applicants should make sure that they have a high GPA in advance, as competition for master’s and PhD programs is quite high.
  • Language certificate. Proficiency requirements depend on the university, on average IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 78 is required. Keep in mind that this is a minimum requirement, so meeting the lowest threshold will not distinguish a candidate. For successful admission, it is better to focus on the results of IELTS 7.0 and TOEFL 90.
  • Motivation letter and letters of recommendation.

Australian universities rank fairly high in world ratings. However, when choosing a university, you should not rely solely on the positions in the general ranking, since they only reflect the average indicators for all areas. At the same time, Australian universities that are not included in the top world rankings can have an impeccable international reputation in a particular field.
Accordingly, the more important indicator of success is the position of a particular faculty or a study program. To choose a university, you need to decide on a specialty and, based on this, select a university with the highest achievements in the chosen field. This can be determined by the number of publications of the faculty researchers, competitions and using specialized rankings like QS Subject Rankings or THE Times Subject.
You can find an educational institution and courses in a special search engine.
READ MORE

Types of institutions in Australia

There are only 43 universities (public, private, and international). In addition to universities, other institutions offer higher education programs. For example, TAFE (Technical and Further Education) colleges teach students a specific profession, their training courses are mainly focused on practice. After college, students can work or go to university to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Almost all universities in Australia are public. They are funded, supported, and accredited by the Australian government. Here you can find a list of Australian universities.
When choosing a university, a student must take into account not only the cost of training and the location of the campus, but also the focus of the course of interest: practical or research. A distinctive feature of Australian universities is a high academic level of teaching, where great attention is paid to the practical side of learning.

Top Universities for Masters in Computer Science in Australia

The following table details the top Australian Universities offering a master’s program in Computer Science ranked in accordance with THE World University Rankings 2020 by Subject: Computer Science along with the duration of the program and the course fee.

THE World University RankingsUniversityProgram/DurationProgram Cost (AUD)
56University of MelbourneMaster of Computer science(2 years)91,709
69Australian National UniversityMaster of Computing(2 years)
Master of Computing(Advanced)2 years
91,200
79University of Technology, SydneyMaster of Science(research) in Computing Sciences(2 years)71,760
96University of AdelaideMaster of Computer Science (2 years)84,000
101-125The University of QueenslandMaster of Computer Science(1.5 years)
Master of Computer Science(1 year)
69,034
45,120
201-250Victoria UniversityMSc (research) computer science(2 years)60,800
201-250University of WollongongMaster of Computer Science(2 years)68,736
251-300RMIT universityMaster of Computer Science (1.5 years)53,760
301-400Curtin UniversityMSc Computer Science(2 years)64,400
301-400La Trobe UniversityMaster of Computer Science(2 years)79,200

Apart from pursuing masters in computer science in Australia, applicants can also pursue masters in computer engineering from top computer science colleges in Australia

Masters in Computer Science: What is it About?

Detailed below is the outline of the program, course curriculum, types of degrees offered in Australia for pursuing a PG degree in Computer Science. The top universities in Australia offer the masters program in Computer Science under the Information Technology Department, Faculty of Science, and School of Engineering. Hence the criteria of the same apply to masters in Computer Science in Australia also. 

Course Curriculum: The master’s degree in Computer Science is for prospective students with an undergraduate degree in a related subject or significant work experience. The course is structured to provide a strong foundation of advanced computer science topics to enhance career prospects. Emphasis is placed upon the structured design of algorithms, programming techniques, high-level description of the abstract architecture of the von Neumann machine, numerical and non-numerical applications. Hence the program equips the students with the following technical and professional skills for higher career outcomes.

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving
  • Research planning and execution
  • Scientific communication.

Degree types: 

The degree types offered through the master’s program in Computer Science except Computer Science Engineering include:

  • Masters of Computer Science: The degree involves a course-based program involving a broad base of high-level knowledge in areas of knowledge systems, programming languages and distributed computing, information systems, mathematics/statistics, spatial information science or linguistics.
  • Master of Science in Computer Science: The degree involves a research-based program to extend and deepen their knowledge in a specialized area of computing by undertaking research under the supervision of a member of academic staff.

Australian Universities do offer master’s programs in related topics Computer Science including computing, IT, computer systems engineering, architecture applied broadly in the emerging sectors of AI, Data Science, Database Systems, Big Data, Telecommunications, and IT, and software engineering among many others.

Specialization & Electives: The common areas of specializations offered by most Australian Universities include the following emerging fields: Intelligent Systems, Machine Learning, and Big data, Network and Information Security, Software Engineering, Big data management, Cloud computing, Mobile computing, Software architecture, Web systems and Search technology

Electives: Advanced Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Human-Computer Interaction, Programming Languages, and Distributed Computing, Spatial Information, etc. 

Masters in Computer Science in Australia: Course Highlights

Top universities offering the programMore than 90 (23 top rankings)
Duration of the program1.5 to 2 years
Course Fee Range38,120 AUD to 91,709 AUD
Top SpecializationsData Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computing Systems
Top Recruiting CompaniesGoogle, Microsoft, Intel, HP, Deloitte, KPWC, EY and much more
Job positionsProgrammers, designers, analysts, managers, scientists, administrators, networking professionals, etc.
Average Salaries90,000 AUD

Masters in Computer Science in Australia: Admissions


International students should fulfill the English Language requirements in addition to meeting the academic and non-academic requirements as specified by the university to secure admission to masters in computer science in Australia. 

Intake sessions and Deadlines

Most of the top universities in Australia offer admission intakes twice a year during the months of February and July. The two teaching semesters run from February to June and from July to November. The university recommends international students apply well in advance of the specified deadlines to allow enough time for the Australian visa process and secure admission to the program in the desired semester. 

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How to Apply

Prospective international students can apply to the universities in Australia for a masters program in Computer Science in one of the following ways:

  • Complete the online application in University’s official website/application portal well in advance of the application deadlines
  • Agents and representatives of the corresponding University to assist with the preparation and submission of the application to study as well as the student visa application.

Masters in Computer Science in Australia: Eligibility

The leading Australian universities follow similar eligibility criteria for both the international as well as domestic students. However, International students should meet the following criteria to be eligible for the program.

  • Minimum 15 years of education mandating a 10+2+3 breakup
  • A 3-4 year bachelor’s degree in computer science, science, mathematics or other related fields. 
  • Work experience in a related field (recommended)
  • Proof of English proficiency

University-Specific Eligibility Criteria

The international students should fulfill the international credential equivalence and English language requirements as tabulated to secure admission to the masters in computer science in computer science colleges in Australia is as follows:

UniversityUG Credential EquivalenceEnglish Language Requirements
University of Melbourne75% in bachelors with Maths/statistics subjectsIELTS:6.5
TOEFL iBT:79+
PTE:58+
CAE:176
Australian National UniversityMinimum GPA – 5/7 (or) GPA – 4/7 with at least 3 years of work experience in the related fieldIELTS: 6.5
TOEFL iBT: 80
PTE: 64
CAE: 176
University of Technology, SydneyBachelors with major in computingIELTS: 6.5
TOEFL iBT: 79
PTE: 58
CAE:176
University of AdelaideStrong foundation in Object-oriented programmingIELTS: 6.5
TOEFL iBT: 79
PTE: 58
CAE: 176
The University of QueenslandGPA:5/7 in bachelors IT/CScIELTS:6.5
TOEFL iBT:87
PTE:64
Victoria UniversityOverall 70% average in all subjects of the final yearIELTS: 6.5
TOEFL iBT: 79
PTE: 58
CAE:176
University of Wollongong60% averageIELTS: 6.5
TOEFL iBT: 86
RMIT UniversityGPA:2/4 or equivalent (or) Work experience of at least 5 years in the related fieldIELTS:6.5
TOEFL iBT:79
PTE:58
CAE:176
Curtin UniversityBachelors in Science/honors/Postgraduate diplomaIELTS:6.5
PTE:60
CAE:176
La Trobe University65% averageIELTS:6.5
TOEFL iBT:79
PTE:58
CAE:176

Documents Required

  • Completed application form with the application fee. 
  • All academic transcripts including professional qualifications must be certified as a true copy of the original.
  • Certified English translations all academic documents accredited by the university specified agencies.
  • Proof of language proficiency in the form of tests required to study in Australia
  • official ID including the birth certificate, Citizenship documents or the passport, 
  • Financial affidavits as proof of funding
  • 2-3 letters of recommendation & Updated CV (if required)

Admission Decision

On successful submission of the completed application along with the supporting documents, the students receive a confirmation email. They can monitor the status of the application updated frequently in the student portal of the university. The ranking of the applications is based on prior academic performance. However, knowledge of formal logic and discrete mathematics and second-year university-level mathematics/statistics is recommended. 

All applicants can expect to receive an outcome regarding the admission decisions of the university applied through Email. The Australian universities recommend a time frame of 4-8 weeks and 8-12 weeks from receipt of a complete application for graduate coursework and graduate research work in Computer Science towards admission decision.

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