Master of Data Science in Australia: Which Entry Route Fits Your Degree
TL;DR: Can you study a Master of Data Science in Australia without a computing degree? Yes. Monash, Deakin and Charles Darwin University accept a bachelor's in any field for their standard 2-year course. A related degree in IT or computing can shorten the course to about 1.5 years at Monash, RMIT and Deakin. Most courses ask for IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, and published international fees run from about AUD 36,000 to AUD 56,000 a year.
Data science master's courses look alike from the outside, but the entry rules decide how long you study and how much you pay. The same student can face a 2-year course at one university and a 1.5-year course at another.
This guide shows which route fits your first degree, compares five courses and explains what accreditation means. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local points are near the end.
Not sure which route your degree qualifies for? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
Which route fits your first degree?
| Your bachelor's | Likely route | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Any field, including unrelated | Standard 2-year course | Monash standard entry, Deakin 16 credit points, CDU |
| IT, computing or software engineering | Shortened route, about 1.5 years | Monash expedited entry, Deakin 12 credit points, RMIT with credit |
| Engineering or science with strong IT and maths | May qualify for a shortened route | Monash expedited entry if you studied calculus, linear algebra and statistics |
| Statistics | Named as a related field at RMIT | RMIT direct entry |
| Honours, graduate certificate or graduate diploma | About 1 year | Deakin 8 credit points, RMIT with up to 96 credit points of credit |
| Business | Usually the standard route | No shortened route found for business degrees |
RMIT accepts a bachelor's in any field only with 3 years of relevant work experience. Its direct route is for degrees in computer science, data science, AI, software engineering, IT or statistics with a GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0.
How do five courses compare?
| University | Length | IELTS | Annual fee (AUD) | Intakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monash University | 2 years, or 1.5 with expedited entry | 6.5, no band below 6.0 | 55,700 (2026 guide) | February, July |
| RMIT University | 2 years, shorter with credit | 6.5, no band below 6.0 | 47,040 (2027, indicative) | February, July |
| Deakin University | 1 to 2 years by background | 6.5, no band below 6.0 | 45,800 per full-time year | Trimesters 1, 2 and 3 |
| Adelaide University | 2 years | 6.5, no band below 6.0 | 54,900 (indicative) | February, July |
| Charles Darwin University | 2 years | 6.5, no band below 6.0 | 36,440 (2026) | Semesters 1 and 2, Summer |
Monash also asks for a credit average, about 60 percent, in your bachelor's. Adelaide asks for a GPA equivalent to 4.5 out of 7 and assumes pre-calculus maths knowledge.
Want us to work out your course length before you apply?
Does accreditation matter?
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) accredits ICT courses. Monash, RMIT, Deakin and Charles Darwin University list ACS accreditation for these courses, and RMIT, Deakin and CDU describe it at professional level under the Seoul Accord. Adelaide University lists provisional professional-level accreditation. Accreditation is not required to study, but it signals that the course meets an industry benchmark, which matters if you want a career in Australia's technology sector.
How to choose between them
- Start with your transcript. List your IT, maths and statistics subjects. That list decides whether you qualify for a shorter route.
- Compare total cost, not the annual fee. A 1.5-year course at a higher annual fee can cost less than a 2-year course at a lower one.
- Ask for credit when you apply. RMIT says credit must be requested at application.
- Check the intake. Deakin offers three intakes a year, which helps if you finish your degree mid-year.
Jobs and Skills Australia lists about 3,400 people employed as data scientists in Australia. Compare this course with our guides on the Master of Business Analytics in Australia and the Master of Information Technology in Australia before you decide.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- Universities convert local grades to their own scale. Ask your university for a transcript with subject names and marks, not only a final class, so the credit assessment is accurate.
- If you hold a degree from a Sri Lankan university with IT or statistics modules, list them clearly with credit values. This can decide whether you qualify for the shorter route.
- Budget for the full course length and living costs. Our guide on how much money you need to study in Australia works through a full budget.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know programming before a Master of Data Science?
Not for entry to the standard 2-year route at Monash, Deakin and CDU, which accept a bachelor's in any field. The shortened routes assume you already have IT or computing study.
Is a Master of Data Science the same as Business Analytics?
No. Data science usually goes deeper into programming, statistics and machine learning, while business analytics focuses on applying data to business decisions.
Can I start in July?
Yes, at Monash, RMIT and Adelaide, which list July intakes, and at Deakin and CDU, which offer several intakes a year.
PS: Before you compare rankings, compare routes. The right route can save you a semester of fees. If you want us to map your degree to each course, Check your eligibility with Prosper.
Lasantha Jayawardena
References
- IT undergraduate and postgraduate course guide 2027, Monash University. https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/4399657/MONU11046-IT-Undergraduate-and-Postgraduate-Course-Guide-2027_V22-0_FAScreen-Single_28082026.pdf (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Graduate international course guide, Monash University. https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/3945205/graduate-international-course-guide.pdf (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Master of Data Science (MC267), RMIT University. https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/levels-of-study/postgraduate-study/masters-by-coursework/master-of-data-science-mc267 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Master of Data Science for international students, Deakin University. https://www.deakin.edu.au/course/master-data-science-international (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Master of Data Science, international, Adelaide University. https://adelaide.edu.au/study/degrees/2026/master-of-data-science/int/ (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Master of Data Science (SDASC3), Charles Darwin University. https://www.cdu.edu.au/study/course/master-data-science-sdasc3?year=2026 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Occupation profiles, Jobs and Skills Australia. https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations-osca?page=30 (accessed 23 October 2026)
