Compared with the high entry barriers of popular majors like engineering and nursing, IT majors are arguably a top-tier choice for most students pursuing study abroad and migration! Some universities do not require a related bachelor’s background to apply for a master’s degree.

A favourite for state nomination (invited by nearly every state)

State nomination has replaced the 189 visa as the mainstream migration pathway for international students. Nearly every state actively invites IT occupations, and if you choose a regional university (anywhere other than Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane), as a graduate of that state you can also enjoy preferential state nomination policies.

IT occupations have been consistently popular in recent invitation rounds. NSW 190 state nomination has made a strong comeback, with most invitations concentrated in engineering and IT. Invited IT occupations include 261111 Business Analyst, 261312 Developer Programmer, and 261313 Software Engineer. See: NSW 190 Invitation Flood + 4.21 EOI Official Report! NSW Snaps Up Popular ICT and Engineering! 189 Accounting and ICT — Zero Invitations All Year…

Below are partial invitation screenshots from our clients in the 5.14 NSW invitation round (too many to display in full), the majority of which are IT-related occupations!

Canberra issues IT invitations nearly every week. The most recent minimum Matrix score for IT 491 invitations was 50 — a historic low. See: Canberra Opens the Floodgates — Invitations at 50 Points! ICT/Engineering and Other Majors Hit Record-Low Scores!

Canberra state nomination IT invitation scores: 491 has been sitting at 50–65 points long-term, and 190 (one-step PR) requires only 70/75 points.

Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and other regions have also issued IT state nomination invitations.

On top of that, IT occupations appear on the federal government’s “certified” PMSOL list of critical migration skills, and IT 189 and 190 visas are processed faster than most other majors!

Perfect for students looking to do another master’s degree to pave the way for migration!

But many people have this question

In my daily consultations, students in this group often ask:

With no bachelor’s foundation / as a humanities student, can I keep up?

Which specific IT major has the best job prospects?

When I graduate, will opportunities still be strong?

To address the popular IT migration sub-specialisations, we’ll work through Data Analyst / Business Analyst, Information Systems Analyst, and Software Engineer / Developer.

By combining each major’s career development and job characteristics, we’ve pulled together the following courses and universities to make your choice easier!

Data Analyst / Business Analyst

Data Analyst / Business Analyst

Business analytics sits at the intersection of business and data science. It uses analytical techniques to make data more valuable and predictive, helping companies improve operational efficiency and strategic management.

In real-world work, the role demands strong English communication and presentation skills. Students need to be comfortable with basic SQL database operations, fluent in programming languages like Python, and able to use data-visualisation tools such as Tableau or Matplotlib to present comparison and analysis results to clients or management.

Data analytics builds on business analytics, requiring students to deepen their data knowledge. There’s also scope to branch into Data Engineering and Data Science. In real-world work, you’ll want to be proficient with AWS services as well as VBA, Power BI, and similar tools.

The University of Adelaide — Master of Data Science

Course highlights: Builds core skills in programming, mathematics, and data science; explores emerging areas like big data and data engineering; and shows how data science drives organisations, industries, and communities. The course is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Intake: February and July each year

Entry requirements: Successful completion of the Big Data Micro Masters program, with certificates of completion for each unit

English requirements: IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0), or PTE overall 58 (no band below 50)

Monash University — Master of Data Science

Course highlights: In the core coursework, students can choose either data science or advanced data analytics, building skills in data management, data analysis, and data processing to solve real-world problems across science, business, and government. The course also includes an industry-experience studio project.

Intake: February, July, and October each year

Entry requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a 60%+ average — apply for the 2-year course
Bachelor’s degree in an IT-related discipline with a 60%+ average — apply for the 1.5-year course

English requirements: IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0), or PTE overall 58 (no band below 50)

Charles Darwin University — Master of Information Technology (Information Systems and Data Science)

Course highlights: Covers data science and information systems management, data visualisation, and analytics. Through projects and practical exercises, the course emphasises both theoretical foundations and their practical application. It accepts diploma-to-master’s pathway students — those who have completed 3 years of full-time diploma study can enter the MQP bridging course based on their IELTS score before progressing to the master’s program. The course is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Intake: February and July each year

Entry requirements: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, or a related bachelor’s degree

English requirements: IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0), or PTE overall 58 (no band below 50)

Information Systems Analyst

Information Systems Analyst

Information systems analysts need both business management skills and IT expertise to improve the efficiency of their teams and organisations. The CRM and ERP systems you’re familiar with are designed, module-planned, coded, tested, and deployed by information systems analysts based on the company’s business requirements — drawing on agile development, DevOps, cloud computing, network management, and related areas. In terms of learning difficulty, Information Systems is a little more approachable than software development or computer science.

It’s also a friendlier path into IT for students who don’t have a bachelor’s background in the field.

Curtin University — Master of Commerce (Information Systems and Technology)

Course highlights: Applies systems theory and systems development techniques to design and build information systems for organisations across industries, effectively integrating information and systems business cases, requirements, strategy, and system design, and providing professional support for information security, governance, and sustainability. The course is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Intake: February and July each year

Entry requirements: Related bachelor’s background, or no specific discipline required

English requirements: IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0), or PTE overall 58 (no band below 50)

The University of Adelaide — Master of Computing and Innovation

Course highlights: Learn C++ and programming, understand data structures and computer systems, and design and build large-scale software systems. The course is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Intake: February and July each year

Entry requirements: No specific discipline required; bachelor’s degree in any field meeting a minimum GAP of 4.5

English requirements: IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0), or PTE overall 58 (no band below 50)

University of Canberra — Master of Information Technology and Systems

Course highlights: Artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science, IoT and robotics networking, and project management. The course accepts diploma-to-master’s pathway students — those who have completed 3 years of full-time diploma study can enter the GCAF bridging course before progressing to the master’s program. The course is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Intake: February, July, and October each year

Entry requirements: Related bachelor’s background, or no specific discipline required

English requirements: IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0), or PTE overall 58 (no band below 50)

Software Engineering / Development

Software Engineer / Developer

Software engineering and software development are core pillars of the computing field. Graduates aiming to work in this area need coding skills and a firm grasp of the importance of data structures and algorithms for organising data — this is what lets you solve defined problems in the shortest possible time. A solid networking foundation is also essential, because in most work environments the applications or websites developers build run on a client-server model. You’ll also need a thorough understanding of the software development lifecycle — from requirements analysis through to product maintenance — to ensure that high-quality software or applications are delivered.

Compared with business analytics, data analytics, and information systems analysis, software development and software engineering require students to already have a related background at the bachelor’s level. So for undergraduate IT students who want to continue in IT at the postgraduate level, software development and software engineering courses are a solid choice.

University of Technology Sydney — Master of Information Technology (Software Development)

Course highlights: UTS partners with over 1,000 industry organisations — including Cisco and other leading companies — for teaching and research, giving students a deeper understanding of the business environment and technological developments shaping modern information and communications technology (ICT), and equipping them with the skills needed for a future career in IT.

Intake: February and July each year

Entry requirements: Related bachelor’s background, or a bachelor’s in an unrelated discipline with a fail rate of no more than 25%

English requirements: IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0), or PTE overall 58 (no band below 50)

The above are our recommended IT-related majors and universities. Students can choose the major and university that interests them from the angle of career development — choosing an IT course lets you pursue both a career plan and a higher qualification at the same time.