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The essentials at a glance
You can study information technology in Australia as a diploma, a three-year bachelor degree or a two-year master's, and Nepali students can apply at each level. This guide explains the courses at TAFE NSW, UQ, Adelaide University and UNSW, what they ask for, what tuition looks like and how long they take. It also explains plainly why a student visa needs an on-campus course on the CRICOS register, so an online master's in IT will not work for the visa.
Key takeaways
Main points from this page
- IT is offered at diploma, bachelor and master's level in Australia, and each level has its own entry rules.
- A TAFE NSW diploma takes one year and can give one year of advanced standing into a bachelor degree.
- UQ and Adelaide both list IELTS 6.5 overall for their IT degrees, with no band below 6.
- A non-IT graduate can enter a master's in IT at UNSW through a graduate certificate or at UQ with a GPA of 5.0.
- A student visa needs a course registered on the CRICOS register, and the courses here are taught on campus.
Which Information Technology Courses Can You Study in Australia?
You can study IT as a diploma, a bachelor degree or a master’s degree, and each level suits a different starting point.
This guide is part of our study in Australia from Nepal series. It covers IT at every level, so you can pick the entry point that fits your marks and plans.
IT covers software, networks, cyber security, data and the systems businesses use every day. It is broader than computer science and less maths-heavy than data science. See our Bachelor of Data Science guide to compare.
- Diploma: one year at TAFE NSW, with a path into a bachelor degree.
- Bachelor: three years full-time, for students who have finished +2.
- Master’s: two years for most students, including graduates from other fields.
- Study mode: on campus in Australia, because the student visa needs it.
Can You Study an Online Master’s in IT and Get a Student Visa?
No, a student visa is for study on campus in Australia, so a fully online master’s in IT will not give you the visa.
The CRICOS register lists the Australian courses that international students can study on a student visa. A course you want for the visa should be on that register. The Australian Government also sets national rules on how much study can be online for visa holders. You can read them in the National Code of Practice.
If you like digital work but care more about design and storytelling than code, compare IT with creative media in Australia.
The courses in this guide show their delivery mode on the course page. UNSW lists its Master of Information Technology as a campus course. Adelaide says its degrees are delivered mainly on campus, and you may take a few selected subjects online.
Online IT courses do exist, but they are for people who study from home. They do not replace study in Australia for a student visa. Check the delivery mode on every course page before you pay.
What Is a Diploma of Information Technology in Australia?
It is a one-year higher education diploma that prepares you for entry-level IT roles and can lead into a bachelor degree.
TAFE NSW lists its Diploma of Information Technology as a one-year course. After you finish, you can receive one year of advanced standing into its Bachelor of Information Technology in cyber and network security, or in data engineering. The tuition range is AUD 26,720 to AUD 30,160, which is about Rs 24 lakh to Rs 27 lakh.
A diploma can help if your +2 marks are below the bachelor entry level or you want a lower first-year cost. The path only helps if the university gives you credit, so ask in writing before you pay. Read our diploma vs bachelor’s after +2 guide and our diploma courses in Australia page. You can also see TAFE NSW for the college profile.
What Does a Bachelor of IT Ask For After +2?
The University of Queensland and Adelaide University both ask for IELTS 6.5 overall, and Queensland also asks for English and a maths subject.
Queensland lists its Bachelor of Information Technology as three years at the St Lucia campus. You need Year 12 English and one maths subject. The maths can be General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics. IELTS must be 6.5 overall with no band below 6.
Adelaide lists its Bachelor of Information Technology as three years full-time. IELTS must be 6.5 overall with 6 in each band. Each university decides how your +2 subjects match its Year 12 rules. Ask it to assess your result.
Check your own result with our NEB GPA calculator and read GPA required to study in Australia.
Can You Study a Master of IT Without an IT Degree?
Yes, some universities accept graduates from other fields, with a minimum average or a bridging step.
UNSW offers two entry points to its Master of Information Technology. If your bachelor degree is in IT, you need a 65 percent average. If it is in another field, you need a three-year degree with a 65 percent average, and you enter through a graduate certificate. You move into the master’s after you pass it.
The University of Queensland lists a Master of Information Technology for graduates from outside IT. You need a bachelor degree and a GPA of 5.0 on a seven-point scale. UQ may give up to eight units of credit for earlier study. The course takes two years full-time.
See our master’s degree in Australia guide for the general rules.
How Much Do IT Courses Cost in Australia?
First-year tuition runs from about AUD 26,720 for a diploma to AUD 63,000 for a master’s, which is about Rs 24 lakh to Rs 57 lakh.
Amounts are in Australian dollars, and the rupee figures are rounded. Use our AUD to Rs forex converter for today’s rate.
| Course | Provider | First-year tuition (AUD) | In rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma of Information Technology | TAFE NSW | 26,720 to 30,160 | about Rs 24 lakh to Rs 27 lakh |
| Bachelor of Information Technology | Adelaide University | 52,500 | about Rs 48 lakh |
| Bachelor of Information Technology | The University of Queensland | 60,952 (2027 fee) | about Rs 55 lakh |
| Master of Information Technology | The University of Queensland | 60,952 (2027 fee) | about Rs 55 lakh |
| Master of Information Technology | UNSW Sydney | 63,000 (2026 indicative) | about Rs 57 lakh |
The fees are on the course pages linked above, and they rise most years. Living costs and health cover are extra. See our cost to study in Australia and cost of living in Australia pages, and scholarships in Australia for awards.
Which Part of IT Should You Choose?
Choose the area that matches your strengths, and check the course offers it as a major or specialisation.
Software and apps
You build programs, websites and apps. It suits students who enjoy logic and practice.
Cyber security and networks
You protect systems and connect them. The TAFE NSW diploma leads into a cyber and network security degree.
Data
You work with data and models. See our Master of Business Analytics guide for a related master’s.
Systems and business IT
You help companies choose and run their systems. UNSW lets you focus on up to two specialisations in its master’s.
What Jobs Can You Get With an IT Degree?
Graduates work as software developers, network and systems staff, cyber security analysts and data analysts.
IT roles do not need a licence the way nursing or engineering do. Employers look at your skills, projects and any work placements. Some courses include industry projects or placements, so ask each course.
For skilled migration, occupation rules apply, and they change. Our PR courses in Australia page explains what permanent residence depends on.
Can You Work and Stay After an IT Course?
You can work part-time during study, and a degree can lead to a graduate visa if you meet its rules.
Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while classes run, as the Home Affairs student visa page explains. See working hours for students in Australia for more.
After study, the Temporary Graduate visa may apply. A degree usually earns two to three years, and a diploma stream is shorter. Read the Home Affairs 485 page and our Australia 485 visa guide.
How Do You Choose a University for IT?
Compare course content, cost, location and how the university treats your +2 or bachelor results.
You can start with our profiles of University of Queensland, Adelaide University and University of New South Wales. Each lists courses, fees and how to apply.
Check the semester dates on each course page. Our Australia intakes for Nepali students guide shows how to plan back from the start date. For English scores, see minimum IELTS and PTE for Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A student visa is for study on campus in Australia, in a course on the CRICOS register. Check the delivery mode on the course page.
It is a good choice if you like computers, logic and steady practice. Pick the level that matches your marks, and check the cost carefully.
Yes. You can start with a bachelor degree or a diploma. UQ also asks for English and one maths subject.
Three years full-time at UQ and Adelaide University.
Yes, at some universities. UNSW uses a graduate certificate pathway, and UQ asks for a GPA of 5.0 for graduates from outside IT.
IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6 is listed by UQ and Adelaide. The visa has its own English rule.
No. It can lead to a graduate visa, and PR depends on separate rules.
How Can Goreto Help You Apply?
Goreto counselors help you choose a course, check your marks and prepare your papers.
Counselors can also help you compare a diploma, bachelor and master’s route for your marks. You can meet a counselor at our Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari or Pokhara branch. Visit get in touch to book a time.
Sources
Reference links
Disclaimer
Important guidance note
Fees, entry rules and course structure change, so confirm each detail on the official university page before you apply.
