Master of Science (Computing)

A Master of Science (Computing) at the University of Tasmania is a two-year postgraduate degree for people who want to work at the technical end of computing — building software, managing data, securing systems, or moving into research. You will usually need a bachelor's degree to get in, though it does not have to be in computing; the course is structured so that students from other backgrounds can pick up the core material before specialising. The degree sits at AQF level 9, which means it is a genuine master's qualification: more advanced than a graduate diploma and shorter and more coursework-focused than a doctorate.

How the degree is structured

Like most Australian master's degrees, this one runs on a semester basis. You enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to accumulate the required total to graduate. A typical full-time load is four units a semester, though the exact mix depends on whether you are doing the coursework stream or a research stream. Core units cover programming, data management, networks and security, and software engineering practice. From there you choose electives or a specialisation. Many students finish with a capstone project — a substantial piece of work where you take a real problem and build or investigate a solution — and some pathways include a research thesis if you are aiming at a PhD later.

What you actually study and where it leads

The coursework is hands-on. You write code, design databases, test systems, and work through security scenarios. Tasmania's setting matters here: the university has research strengths in areas like data-intensive science and environmental computing, partly because of the state's role in Antarctic and marine research, and there are links with local industry, government agencies and the health sector. Some units include work-integrated learning or industry projects, which is common in Australian IT master's degrees because employers want graduates who have already worked in a team on a real deliverable. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia for a period. Always check the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs.

Who this suits

This degree suits three groups: computing graduates who want to go deeper into a specialisation, graduates from other fields who want to switch into IT, and professionals already working in tech who need a formal qualification for promotion or a move into research. It is not a quick bootcamp — it is two years of university study, and you should expect to spend time on theory as well as practice. English requirements for international applicants are set by the university: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for coursework postgraduate degrees, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Student visa has its own separate English threshold. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 027732G. Confirm all details — entry requirements, unit offerings, fees and English levels — on the official University of Tasmania page before you apply.

• Software developer or engineer — building and maintaining applications for tech companies, banks, government agencies and consultancies across Australia.
• Data analyst or data engineer — working with large datasets in sectors like health, finance, retail and environmental science.
• Cybersecurity analyst — monitoring systems, assessing risk and responding to incidents, a role in steady demand from Australian banks, telcos and government.
• ICT project manager — running technology projects and teams, often after a few years in a technical role.
• Systems administrator or network engineer — keeping infrastructure running for organisations of all sizes.
• Research assistant or PhD candidate — continuing into academic or industry research, particularly in data-intensive science or computing fields where Tasmania has strengths.
• IT consultant — advising businesses on systems, security and digital transformation.