You can study online for a computer science degree in Australia. The best online universities offer bachelor degrees in computer science, with large, highly-rated programs.
Let's explore Australia's top online degrees in computer science, especially for a Bachelor of Computer Science. An online course is the most efficient way to earn a degree in this field. You can fit study around work and other commitments.
In today's digital age, studying computer science has become an empowering and lucrative career choice. Computer scientists solve programming challenges, create software, and lead in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, digital forensics, web development, and data security.
Australian universities offer an assortment of computing qualifications by distance learning. We've selected the top programs based graduate ratings and faculty size. Here is the best Australia has to offer in terms of online computer science degrees.
Best Bachelor of Computer Science Online
Here are Lerna Australia's selections for the best computer science degrees at undergraduate level. If you're interested in studying computer science at an Australian university, these are some of the first programs you should check out.
We based the rankings of faculty size and, in particular, how many undergraduate IT students were studying online at each university. Universities with few students were excluded due to the obvious lack of popularity. We also used satisfaction ratings of graduates who recently entered the job market.
Comparison Table
| UNE | CSU | ECU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Satisfaction | 83.9% | 78.5% | 76.9% |
| Majors | Data Science, Software Development | Game Design | Cyber Security, Software Engineering |
| IT Students Online | 307 | 428 | 445 |
| ATAR Score for Entry | 72.55 | 55 | 70 |
Sources: University course pages, uCube enrolment statistics, Compared student survey statistics. Updated: 21 February 2023.
University of New England
The University of New England's undergraduate computing program has an impressive 83.9% satisfaction rating among recent graduates. That's 11.5 points above the national average! The Bachelor of Computer Science course develops programming, mathematics, software engineering and problem-solving skills. Two majors are available, Software Development and Data Science, and students can choose to complete one or both. The course provides theoretical and practical knowledge in computing. The guaranteed ATAR for this course is 72.55, with alternative entry pathways available. At last count, 307 fully online learners were doing undergraduate IT courses at UNE.
Charles Sturt University
The Bachelor of Computer Science from Charles Sturt University offers students a well balanced education in computer sciences and programming, from foundations to the most up-to-date technologies. Students can major in Game Design or choose electives from areas such as cyber security and web development. If you want more freedom over subject choice, there's always the option to enroll in CSU's Bachelor of Information Technology. The minimum ATAR for entry into the program is 55. CSU is Australia's second largest online university for computing, with 428 undergraduate and 716 postgraduate students. The satisfaction rating among recent graduates is good, at 78.5%.
Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University in Perth is Australia's 3rd largest university for online computing, with 445 bachelor and 343 postgraduate students. The comp sci department also does well in student satisfaction, with 76.9% of recent graduates giving a positive rating. The Bachelor of Computer Science prepares students for computing and software engineering careers, covering programming, mathematics, networking, databases, and security. You have a choice of two majors: Cyber Security (network and information security, digital forensics, cryptography, ethical hacking) and Software Engineering (software development life cycle). An ATAR of 70 will get you into the program.
Why Study Computer Science?
Computer Science is an exciting field that offers lucrative career opportunities. By studying for a university degree in this field, you'll build a strong foundation of concepts and problem-solving techniques. You'll be well positioned to launch a career and adapt to new technologies in fast-paced industries.
In Australia, there is a high demand for graduates. Potential career paths are available in application development, programming, software engineering, systems analysis, multimedia development, database administration, network management, and more. These are all high-paying kinds of jobs.
As well as developing skills for these careers, a computer science degree establishes a knowledge platform from which you can grow. With such a comprehensive education under your belt, professional development will be made easier. You'll have the technology literacy and broad-based IT training to keep up with the latest advancements, ensuring your skills remain relevant throughout your career.
Computer Science vs Information Technology
Bachelor of Computer Science and Bachelor of Information Technology degrees in Australia are similar and it can be difficult to tell the difference. Often, the degrees essentially refer to the same thing: an undergraduate computing program. But there are some subtle distinctions.
- Comp sci programs tend to focus on the back-end of computer services, such as software development, algorithms, and operating system design. IT courses may be more concerned with the front-end, including information systems, security, and customer support.
- Computer sciences training is heavy on coding, programming, data structures, and mathematics. IT degrees may cover these topics more briefly.
- A good computer science program prepares students for almost any computing role. IT programs may be more specialised or non-technical.
Ultimately, you should look in detail at the subjects offered by any given computing degree program. Whatever the label, choose the course that best helps you achieve your learning and career goals. Remember that some BIT degrees are perfectly fine for students who originally planned to study computer science.
FAQs
One way to answer this question is to look at the number of students enrolled in postgraduate online courses. The universities which attract the most mature-age technology students from around the country must have strong programs.
Based on graduate enrolment data for Information Technology (extracted from uCube on 21 Feb 2023), the top university for computer science in Australia is Charles Sturt University (716 postgrad students), following by Deakin University (611), Edith Cowan University (343), the University of Southern Queensland (337) and UNSW (323).
Of course this doesn't count on-campus students and ignores quality measures. But it gives you an idea of which universities are good at attracting people to their online computing programs at a postgraduate level.
For bachelor degrees, our rankings place the University of New England at number one, following by Charles Sturt University and Edith Cowan University.
Computer science is about as difficult as information technology as a study field, although it's perceived to be somewhat more difficult. The discipline gets into theories of computing, mathematics and programming to a greater extent than your typical IT degree.
But I.T. itself is not that difficult. As we explain in our feature article, 'Is Information Technology Hard to Study?':
Information technology is not hard to study if you’re technically minded and a solid student. You’ll examine how computer systems work and do subjects on programming, logic and mathematics. Passing with strong grades is achievable by diligently attending classes and doing the work.
Some people are highly unsuited to to the field due to the need to get stuck into technical topics. But, for those that can handle this sort of thing, computer science is a challenging but achievable degree to earn.
