Overview
Build skills for a data-connected career with a Graduate Certificate in Data Science. The latest online courses from Australia prepare you for vital roles and are pathways to further study. Choose from applied and foundational courses, with options to continue for graduate diplomas and masters degrees.
The ability to extract insights and knowledge from large and complex datasets is valuable today. By studying data science, you'll gain skills to inform business decisions, improve operations, and drive innovation. With a relatively short course, you can establish the foundations for a lucrative career exploiting the power of big data.
Online Courses
A data science graduate certificate is a short course by university standards, consisting of four subjects from a master's program. These online courses from Australia give you different learning options, emphasising data science foundations, rapid applied learning, or a combination of approaches.
Is this Graduate Certificate Worth It?
If you have an interest in this field, there are few drawbacks and plenty of upside from studying for a Graduate Certificate in Data Science online. You'll gain a postgraduate university qualification in a growing employment area, with the option to continue studying for a graduate diploma or masters.
Graduate certificates are often worth it because of their compactness and high regard among recruiters. Although data science is an area with an uncertain future due to rapid technological change, this is mitigated with a shorter course of study. The opportunity to study part-time online also means students don't have to bear travel costs or take time off work.
The course provides an opportunity to build a foundational understanding of useful concepts and techniques, and to develop the skills needed to analyse and interpret data. These skills are in high demand across industries, making you more attractive to potential employers. Jobs for ICT Business and Systems Analysts, for example, are projected to grow by 12.7% to 58,100 by 2028. The average salary for a data scientist is currently estimated to be $112,500 based on job ad data.
Related: How to Become a Data Scientist in Australia
What You'll Learn (Course Structure)
As a foundations course, a grad cert in data science typically eases students into the discipline. Your instructors may outline data science methods, introduce programming, explore statistical and data visualisation techniques, and give students the opportunity to do applied projects.
Students learn core statistical concepts, focusing on data exploration, summarisation, and the principles of probability. This foundation supports skills in data interpretation and analytical decision-making.
Courses also cover data wrangling and visualisation. Students gain proficiency in cleaning and preparing data using programming tools like Python, alongside developing skills in communicating data insights through visual representation.
Related: Master of Data Science Online Courses
Career Opportunities
The job outlook for those interested in data analysis and science is extremely positive. Data scientists and analysts is often considered to be a top emerging occupation globally (WEF). The growth trend is driven in large part by the technology sector, where companies like the world's five largest technology firms alone employ a significant number of data scientists and engineers. The kinds of jobs available include these:
Graduate Diploma in Data Science
A Graduate Diploma in Data Science is a popular extension of the grad cert course that provides advanced training in key areas. This is a demanding profession in terms of the skillset required and a grad dip may offer you the right balance. You gain a strong skills foundation for a career as a data scientist while still leaving room for professional development in your own way after graduating.