The biggest and highest rated Australian universities for studying IT online.
When you study for an IT degree, you build the foundations for a successful career. You develop core skills to start and maintain a professional career as a technology specialist. Your future options in the tech space are almost unlimited.
The Bachelor of Information Technology is the most popular and versatile IT degree in Australia. You can specialise in almost any IT field. More students do a BIT (or BInfTech) than similar degrees such as Computer Science or Information Systems.
Australia's Best Online IT Degrees
Australia's best Bachelor of Information Technology courses do the essential job of an undergraduate IT program, which is to lay the foundations for any future role as a tech professional.
Find a program you're likely to enjoy, as indicated by Graduate Satisfaction Ratings. That way, you'll stay motivated and engaged and get the best learning outcomes. A good degree also helps you maintain energy and a desire for learning beyond graduation.
Charles Sturt University - Bachelor of Information Technology
CSU's program is accredited by the Australian Computer Society. Students can select a major that aligns with their interests and career aspirations, including Cyber Security, Network Engineering, Software and Application Development, or Web Development. Through a partnership with IBM Australia, the university provides an opportunity for students to gain practical experience via a paid internship program. Recent graduate rating: 78.5% satisfaction. ATAR: 55.
Edith Cowan University - Bachelor of Information Technology
The Bachelor of Information Technology online at ECU prepares students for careers in IT, tech management, and cyber security. With a strong practical focus, the program includes foundational courses in programming, databases, and computer security, advancing to specialised skills in web development and IT project management. Course satisfaction rating: 76.9% (surpassing the national average of 72.3%). Minimum ATAR: 70.
La Trobe University - Bachelor of Information Technology
La Trobe University's Bachelor of Information Technology scores high, with a graduate satisfaction rate of 76.8%. That's above the national 72.3%. The entry ATAR is 56 in Melbourne. Majors include artificial intelligence, cloud analytics, data science, information systems, network engineering, and software engineering. Accredited by the ACS, it combines theory with practical experience, ensuring graduates are ready for careers in technology and cyber security.
Related: Best Computer Science Online Degrees
Why This Degree Is Worth It
Australia has a growing and thriving IT industry, offering numerous career opportunities for the next generation of IT professionals. Demand for expertise is only expected to rise as technology continues to play a crucial role in all aspects of life. Specialisations currently in greatest demand include:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). AI and ML are starting to change everything. Job opportunities will be created in harnessing the power of these technologies. See AI Management Courses.
- Cybersecurity. With the increasing threat of cyber attacks, there is a growing need for professionals who can secure digital assets. See Cyber Security Courses.
- Data science and analytics. With the explosion of data in recent years, there is a high demand for professionals who can turn data into valuable insights and decision-making information. See How to Become a Data Analyst.
- Software development. The demand for software developers remains high, as software continues to be a critical component in business.
- Cloud computing. With the increasing need for flexible, scalable and cost-effective computing solutions, demand for cloud computing specialists is on the rise.
These are some of the areas that are currently in high demand in Australia. The industry is constantly evolving and new areas of specialisation may emerge in the future.
Related: Data Analyst vs Cyber Security: Which Career is Best?
FAQs
Adapt to change faster with a degree in information technology. How your future technology career might unfold is uncertain. Many of the jobs IT professionals do today hardly existed a decade or two ago. New technologies – such as AI and big data – create new jobs or change the nature of work.
A successful IT professional should have an intense curiosity about future developments and the reasoning behind them. The technology industry is constantly evolving, leading to a never-ending learning process where one may not feel fully confident or comfortable in their knowledge. Despite this, the rapidly changing nature of the field ensures that boredom is not a factor.
The inevitability of change is a good reason for getting an IT degree. Completing the program increases your adaptability. You gain or strengthen:
- a learning habit
- a set of foundation skills that can be applied to different jobs
- a big-picture perspective of the kinds of work you could do
- a general, versatile professional qualification.
Investing in a technology career makes sense if you have the right abilities and temperament. You can achieve an excellent salary payoff from a BIT or BInfoTech. Alternatively, you can study computer science.
Not everyone has the talent to step through a problem logically and methodically. And few have the discipline and patience to come up with technology solutions to difficult problems. If you have such qualities, gaining an IT degree is a solid way to put them to good use.
A good online Bachelor of Information Technology program covers the core subjects while also offering advanced study of some topics.
Generally, the aim of an undergraduate degree is to build knowledge and skills broadly. Because IT systems tend to be linked, professional competency requires at least a little knowledge across many topics. Establishing a wide skills base also allows graduates to take different career paths according to the job market and their (changing) interests.
Core topics, which you can expect to be introduced to in your first and second years, include: how databases work, programming principles, project management, web development and languages, and systems analysis. Depending on the program, you may be able to do advanced studies on subjects such as business analysis, cyber security and system administration.
As an information technology graduate, many career opportunities become available to you. Technology is a big and growing employment sector. But you'll have to do at least a couple of things to turn opportunity into job success.
1. Find an in-demand niche
There may be little point in targeting a certain type of IT work if no jobs are advertised in that field or the level of competition is extreme.
Jobs that are regularly advertised in Australia include Business Analyst, Computer Service Technician, Cyber Security Analyst, Database Administrator, Database Analyst, IT Consultant, IT Manager, IT Security Specialist, Multimedia Developer, Network Administrator, Programmer, Software Analyst, Systems Administrator, Systems Analyst, Tech Support, and Web Developer (Source: IT Jobs and Descriptions).
The largest employment sectors in Australia are for Software and Applications Programmers (119,000 jobs), ICT Managers (76,000), Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators (68,000), ICT Support Technicians (59,000), DB and Systems Administrators, ICT Security Specialists (41,000).
2. Bring valuable skills
Just studying isn't enough. Real-world experience helps you get up to speed and become an asset to employers.
Even during your studies, you can get experience by interning or doing applied projects. You can also do your own projects, such as starting a website or building your own app. Gain a competitive edge by developing all-round skills, including communication and other soft skills that employers always look for.