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Data science is now essential across finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries. In this era of data, those who can harness their training in statistics and computer science and subject area knowledge are in high demand — like those who graduate from Macquarie University’s School of Computing.
An education here is led by expert academic and professional staff. There’s frequent collaboration with them, as well as with peers, industry, and society. What you learn from them will pair well with what you gain from partnerships with established tech businesses and start-ups – i.e. the latest and most impactful know-how to push the boundaries of computing and information sciences.
The setting for this dynamic preparation? Cybersecurity, networking and gaming labs plus VR space in a beautiful green campus in Macquarie Park Innovation District. It’s in the heart of Australia’s largest high-tech precinct situated in one of the world’s safest and most liveable cities. You’ll be a part of a vibrant community, one that supports innovation and inspires exploration.
university for graduate employment rate in Sydney
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in the world for data science and artificial intelligence (QS World University Rankings 2024, Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024)
The Master of Data Science, accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS), is tailored to meet industry standards. The programme balances 80% of content from information technology subjects and 20% from statistics subjects – with an emphasis on real-world relevance and teamwork skills.
All modules include practical applications and exposure to how computer science innovates other disciplines. You’ll take on project management options that span ethics, privacy, and data governance and gain confidence in teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
The newly designed programme is as interdisciplinary as it is experiential. It has multiple subject areas, such as predictive modelling, data mining, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data visualisation, and analysis of big data. Each offers emphases in data science, empowering you to face the challenges and opportunities presented by a world increasingly informed and shaped by data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
One of the programme’s standout features is the people you’ll meet. The School’s location within Macquarie Park Innovation District is great for forming professional partnerships with established and start-up tech businesses, including organisations such as Fujitsu, Microsoft, and Domain. Some of these even lead to full-time employment for students – just ask Hijab Alavi, a Data Science graduate who is now a data quality officer at Domain.
“All the subjects in my undergraduate and postgraduate studies contributed to my current role in the Information Systems field,” Alavi says. “My strongest technical skills are in databases, project management, and information systems taught at Macquarie University.”
Guest seminars, industry-sponsored workshops, data hackathons and other hands-on projects further expose students at Macquarie to cutting-edge techniques and industry methods.
Stories like Alavi and Shammasi are common here at the School of Computing. As the Master of Data Science includes an internship, students are set to gain even more direct, on-the-job learning experiences, strengthening connections with corporate and government entities and fostering valuable connections. This is a big part of the university’s global reputation for generating and delivering high-impact computing research and education – the kind that transforms students into in-demand, career-ready graduates.
Macquarie graduates enjoy strong earning potential as data scientists – up to US$108,000 a year – across a diverse range of industries and government sectors. They contribute and positively impact key sectors as well, such as climate change, medical research, education, rural planning in agriculture, transportation, and social enterprise.
“The Big Data Technology unit with Prof. Beheshti has been one of the most practical courses for me,” says Alireza Shammasi, a PhD candidate at Macquarie University and data scientist for Domain. “We had guest speakers from companies like Microsoft, Snowflake, and Neo4J, which introduced me to the tools I now use in my job. The assignments in this unit were designed to mirror real-world challenges and the tasks I handle daily, making the course directly applicable to my work.”
You can say IoT is a very niche degree – it's been around for years, but as a degree, it's very recent. I would want to work as an IoT architect, an IoT developer, or even a tester. I see myself using the skills required for that kind of role, which I see myself acquiring in these two years of my studies at Macquarie.
“At Macquarie University, I received support from various individuals. Many teachers went above and beyond to offer feedback, advice, and recommendations for my academic and career development. The PACE unit during my undergraduate degree and the internship programme during my master’s were particularly beneficial, allowing me to apply my skills in real-world scenarios through engagement with industry panels and working with new people within the degree. This allowed me to not only utilise my technical skills but also learn about project leadership, the importance of collaboration, documentation, and presentation skills.”
Hijab Alavi
“I chose Macquarie University because of its amazing industry connections, which gave me the chance to gain real-world experience through internships. The flexible course options made it easy for me to tailor my studies to my interests. Plus, the campus is truly one of the most beautiful in Australia – it's such a great place to study and unwind. Macquarie has provided me with the perfect environment to learn, grow, and prepare for my future.”
Alireza Shammasi
“I decided to study a Master of Data Science at Macquarie University to position myself at the forefront of technological innovation. While studying for my degree, I had the opportunity to complete an internship with a big accounting firm, helping them identify new business opportunities by analysing the transaction records of the organisation.”
Sukhdeep Singh
We do a lot of hands-on work, and we try to learn new things by doing them, such as working with many microcontrollers or different working methods. So, I'm quite sure if I were to enter an industry, I'd have knowledge of every single controller and microprocessor. I'm looking forward to working with automation in cars because the Internet of Vehicles is a part of IoT, and it's a booming industry now.
What I like most about this program is that it doesn't just focus on typical classroom learning. It introduces the mechanism for students to get involved in real-world scenarios, internships and opportunity to get out there and build projects. In an area like IoT, which is so tied to the context of where you use it, when you take all of that and you put it into healthcare, transport, education, and you have that context as a student, seeing what it actually does to people's lives is invaluable.
These IoT programs that are being offered by universities like Macquarie University are going to change the way IoT is being deployed in today's world. The students come out with practical experience. Companies are then getting these students with this practical experience to solve real-world problems.
You can say IoT is a very niche degree – it's been around for years, but as a degree, it's very recent. I would want to work as an IoT architect, an IoT developer, or even a tester. I see myself using the skills required for that kind of role, which I see myself acquiring in these two years of my studies at Macquarie.
We do a lot of hands-on work, and we try to learn new things by doing them, such as working with many microcontrollers or different working methods. So, I'm quite sure if I were to enter an industry, I'd have knowledge of every single controller and microprocessor. I'm looking forward to working with automation in cars because the Internet of Vehicles is a part of IoT, and it's a booming industry now.
What I like most about this programme is that it doesn't just focus on typical classroom learning. It introduces the mechanism for students to get involved in real-world scenarios, internships, and opportunity to get out there and build projects. In an area like IoT, which is so tied to the context of where you use it, when you take all of that and you put it into healthcare, transport, education, and you have that context as a student, seeing what it actually does to people's lives is invaluable.
These IoT programmes that are being offered by universities like Macquarie University are going to change the way IoT is being deployed in today's world. The students come out with practical experience. Companies are then getting these students with this practical experience to solve real-world problems.
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