Switching fields to an IT, CS or IS master's in Australia? Don't forget ACS accreditation!

Updated 2024/12/30

Many people want to study Information Technology, Computer Science or Information Systems in Australia so they can build up overseas work experience there and also bring that experience back to Taiwan. A reminder: when choosing schools and programs, look for courses accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS). After graduating, you'll have a better chance of finding a job locally and staying in Australia long term.

Did you study something in college that you weren't really interested in? If after starting work you find your interest lies in Information Technology (IT), Computer Science (CS) or Information Systems (IS), you can still seize the chance to apply for a cross-disciplinary master's in Australia, but only apply if you're very sure you have the passion for it! It's also best to study related material on your own before you start, to lower the risk of falling behind.

Most Australian master's programs in these fields accept applicants from other fields. Once you're in, you start with 4~5 foundation courses, and the difficulty increases over time. Switching careers like this is relatively hard to do in other countries, so it's a rare opportunity. For the actual background requirements, go by what the official website publishes for that year.

📍 What is the ACS?

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is an IT accreditation body authorized by the Australian government. On the government's behalf, the ACS checks whether Australian university course design can train IT, CS and engineering professionals with the right expertise and skills, and after graduating you can use this accreditation to get more job opportunities.

Look up ACS-accredited courses

ACS Accredited Courses: here you can check which universities offer ACS-accredited courses.

📍 Information Technology programs open to applicants from other fields

• The University of Queensland (UQ) - Master of Information Technology

  (Not open to applicants from related fields) No more than one third of your bachelor's courses can be IT/CS-related

• Queensland University of Technology (QUT) - Master of Information Technology

• UNSW Sydney - Graduate Certificate in Information Technology

  Applicants from other fields start with the 0.7-year Graduate Certificate in Information Technology and, once they meet the university's standard, continue into the Master of Information Technology for 1.3 years. If your bachelor's is in the field, you can apply directly for the 2-year Master of Information Technology (your degree must be in a related field, as shown in this image:

• University of Technology Sydney (UTS) - Master of Information Technology (Extension)

• University of Wollongong - Master of Information Technology

• The University of Melbourne (UniMelb) - Master of Information Technology

  (Must have taken at least one programming language course)

• Monash University - Master of Information Technology

• RMIT University - Master of Information Technology

• The University of Western Australia (UWA) - Master of Information Technology

📍 Cyber Security programs open to applicants from other fields

• The University of Queensland (UQ) - Master of Cyber Security

• The University of Adelaide - Master of Cyber Security

• Monash University -Master of Cybersecurity

📍 Computer Science programs open to applicants from other fields

• The University of Sydney (USyd) - Master of Computer Science

• The Australian National University (ANU) - Master of Computing

• The University of Adelaide - Master of Computing and Innovation

• University of Wollongong - Master of Computer Science

📍 Information Systems programs open to applicants from other fields

• The Australian National University (ANU) - Master of Business Information Systems

• The Australian National University (ANU) - Master of Business Information Systems (Advanced)

• The University of Melbourne (UniMelb) - Master of Information Systems

• Monash University - Master of Business Information Systems

📍 Worth prioritizing if you already have a related background

• UNSW Sydney - Master of Information Technology (up to two majors)

• The University of Melbourne (UniMelb) - Master of Information Technology

• The University of Sydney (USyd) - Master of Computer Science (advanced entry) (up to two majors)

• The Australian National University (ANU) - Master of Computing (Advanced) (single major)

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