Sciences in Australia

What you can expect from postgraduate study in Sciences

What you're in for
This is a large and diverse field. It is one of the few where most specialisations are still based on the pure academic disciplines. However, a more interdisciplinary approach is creeping into many programs and science departments, enabling scientists and students to apply a mix of scientific expertise to solve practical problems. Most coursework programs, but not all, demand a science-based first degree for entry. There are an increasing number of graduate certificate and graduate diploma programs, in addition to the masters programs that have always been a popular option for postgraduates of the field. Science is also one of the biggest, most advanced and most well-funded research fields in the country. Relative to its size, Australia is an impressive contributor to the world’s scientific research effort. Many research students are focused on the traditional science disciplines but there are also many interdisciplinary and applied research opportunities provided by research centres (including the Commonwealth-funded Cooperative Research Centres) and the APA (Industry) scholarships which encourage research across disciplinary and organisational boundaries. If you are contemplating a research degree you are likely to be better off looking at departments and schools with an established research program in your area of interest. You should also try to get a sense of where postgraduate researchers sit on the list of priorities and to check out the strengths and weaknesses of possible supervisors. For information about what graduates of various institutions think of their programs and about careers and career prospects, see details below. Depending on your particular bent you may find specialisations of interest in a number of fields including agriculture, computing and information systems, environmental studies, engineering, rehabilitation, medicine and veterinary science.
Who does postgraduate courses in Sciences?
Number of students: 12,176
Percent of students over 25 years: 70%
Percent of students with a prior degree: 94%
Percent of students with Non-English speaking backgrounds: 25%
Number of international students: 2,960
Percent studying part-time: 41%
Percent studying externally: 15%
Percent women: 48%
Graduates view of the course experience
Teaching quality: 3 stars
Development of generic skills: 2 stars
Overall satisfaction: 3 stars
Your prospects
According to the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey, postgraduate students in this field are moderately satisfied with their experience. Their employment prospects are a little below average and salaries are in the middle range compared with those in other fields.
What salary can I expect?
Graduate starting salary: $62,364
Will I get a job?
Percentage of people looking for job who did not find full-time work four months after graduation: 16%
Where graduates go when they get jobs
Public sector: 27%
Private sector: 39%
Private practice: 5%
Overseas: 18%
Do institutions differ in how they teach Sciences?
Yes. The following 37 institutions all provide Sciences courses. Click on the University name to see how their Sciences courses rate and compare.
Australian Defence Force Academy
Australian National University
Bond University
Central Queensland University
Charles Sturt University
Curtin University of Technology
Deakin University
Edith Cowan University
Flinders University
Griffith University
James Cook University
La Trobe University
Macquarie University
Monash University
Murdoch University
Queensland University of Technology
RMIT University
Southern Cross University
Swinburne University of Technology
University of Adelaide
University of Ballarat
University of Canberra
University of Melbourne
University of New England
University of New South Wales
University of Newcastle
University of Queensland
University of South Australia
University of Southern Queensland
University of Sydney
University of Tasmania
University of Technology, Sydney
University of the Sunshine Coast
University of Western Australia
University of Western Sydney
University of Wollongong
Victoria University