Entry requirements and pathways
International students

Academic entry requirement

Prerequisites

Successful completion of an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent).

Note: Meeting minimum prerequisites does not guarantee an offer of a place. Entry into all La Trobe courses is based on competitive selection and there may be limited places available.

English language requirement

6.5 IELTS (Academic) with no individual band less than 6.0.

Please refer to our English Language Requirements page for details of other accepted English Proficiency tests and additional recognised English Language Proficiency Measures, such as English as the language of instruction.

Credit for previous study (advanced standing)

Credit for previous study (advanced standing) is the recognition of prior study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous study and the number of subjects completed.

The University will designate courses where there is only admission into Year 1 of the course. In these cases, there is limited credit. See list of limited entry courses.

To check if this course is available for credit, please visit the Advanced standing webpage.

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

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What you'll study

Sample course structure

Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.

To qualify for the award of Master of Data Science, students must complete a total of 240 credit points across 2 years.

Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 75 credit points from chosen Core
  • 30 credit points from chosen Specialisation
  • 15 credit points from chosen Electives
  • 15 credit points from chosen Electives

Study options

Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.

Subject name Subject code Year Credit points
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE LTU0AIM 1 0
DATA EXPLORATION AND ANALYSIS CSE5DEV 1 15
DATABASE FUNDAMENTALS CSE4DBF 1 15
INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING CSE4IP 1 15
MATHEMATICS FOR DATA SCIENCE MAT4MDS 1 15
PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS FOR DATA SCIENCE STM4PSD 1 15
BIG DATA MANAGEMENT ON THE CLOUD CSE5BDC 2 15
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CSE5003 2 15

A range of standalone elective subjects is available in this course. Some electives are recommended for your course, but you may also be able to choose from a range of University-wide electives or electives from other interest areas or disciplines. Note these electives may have their own prerequisites and other requirements. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook for the subjects available. The following electives are recommended for Master of Data Science.

Subject name Subject code Year Credit points
DATA WRANGLING BUS5DWR 1 15
VISUAL ANALYTICS BUS5VA 1 15

Core choice subjects are one or more subject groups you need to select in your course. Core choice subjects may be specific to your course, major, minor, specialisation or other learning requirements.

Students to select one learning pathway from the list below.

Pathway

  • Statistics thesis
  • Computer science thesis
  • Computer science industry project
  • Statistics industry based learning
  • Computer science industry based learning

For more information on these please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.

A specialisation is a sequence of related subjects studied in your course. In some courses, you need to complete at least one specialisation to attain your degree.

Students to select one specialisation

Course specialisations Specialisation code
Artificial intelligence analytics SPE-AIA01
Big data and cloud computing SPE-BDC01
Bioinformatics SPE-BII01
Business applications SPE-BIA01
Data modelling and analytics SPE-DMA01
Mathematical data science SPE-MDS01
Sport analytics SPE-SPT01

For more information on these please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.

See La Trobe University Handbook for more details

The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.

View course information for Melbourne (Bundoora)

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

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Master of Data Science course and career outcomes

However you choose to structure your study, La Trobe recognises your hard work. Here are the pathways you could follow as you move through your course.

Course intended learning outcomes

  • Evaluate, communicate and interpret information and results of advanced analysis in the field of data science to expert and lay audiences
  • Critically analyse and solve complex problems in data science by using expert judgement, advanced knowledge and multi-disciplinary approaches
  • Use and adapt advanced computing techniques and mathematical and statistical approaches to solve complex scientific problems in the field of data science
  • Apply advanced theoretical concepts that underpin data science to complex problems using highly developed, integrated knowledge and skills
  • Apply professional knowledge and skills autonomously or in a team, in a range of specific analytics and performance analysis settings
  • Use and appropriately customise a broad range of established and emerging data collection and analysis technologies and methodologies related to specialisations

Master of Data Science career opportunities

After graduation, you could work across a range of industries, including business and finance, science, education, health, and sports.

  • Data scientist
    • Understand complex data and leverage it to the advantage of businesses and organisations.

  • Business analyst
    • Understand how businesses run and use data to solve problems and improve processes.

  • Health analyst
    • Gather, analyse and verify healthcare information.

  • Bioinformatician
    • Develop methods of research and analysis for understanding and leveraging biological and genomic data.

  • Machine learning engineer
    • Use your detailed understanding of machine learning, big data, cloud technology and mathematics to create effective machine learning solutions.

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

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Fees and scholarships

Estimated course fees for international students

Estimated fees per year (2025): Indicative based on 2024 fees
A$39 400 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.

Scholarships: Available for this course

The International estimated fees are indicative only. The tuition fees you pay will depend on the subjects you choose to study, with each subject having its own cost. In some cases, your course fees may be higher than the indicated fees because of the subjects you choose.

International scholarships

Destination Australia – an Australian Government initiative

The Destination Australia scheme supports new international students to study in regional Australia and offers students a high-quality learning experience. For eligible applicants, these scholarships are worth up to A$15 000 per annum for up to four years.

Find out more about Destination Australia scholarships.

If you're a La Trobe graduate, you may be eligible for a 10 per cent fee reduction when you apply for a full-fee postgraduate coursework program. See our Alumni Advantage page for further details.

International students applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate course to study at La Trobe University can be rewarded a bonus grant for completing their admission process early. Recipients will automatically be eligible to receive an Early Bird Acceptance Grant of 5% of the first-year tuition fees.

If you’re a high-achieving international student from either Vietnam, Cambodia or the Philippines and are considering full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study, you can apply to receive a 50 - 100 per cent tuition fees scholarship for the duration of your studies from 2024.

Do you have an excellent academic record? La Trobe High Achiever Scholarships are awarded to high-achieving international students and provide up to a 25 per cent reduction in course fees for selected courses.

Note: You must first have an offer to study at La Trobe before you are eligible to apply for a La Trobe scholarship.

Questions about fees and scholarships?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

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How to apply

Apply now or ask us a question if you need more help. You can also call us on +61 3 9627 4805.

Note: Some courses start earlier than the standard semester, term or study period. Applications for these courses close one week prior. Always check your course’s start date to ensure your application is submitted in time.

Check when course applications close

CRICOS code: 092396B

Ready to apply?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

Live chat

Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

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Ask a question

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Overview

Key facts

Award Master of Data Science
CRICOS code092396B
Start dates

Indicative based on 2024 start dates

Semester 1 (March 2025), Semester 2 (July 2025), Term 6 (November 2025)
Duration 2 years full-time
Available locations Melbourne (Bundoora), Online
Scholarships View fees and scholarships
Specialisations

What is a specialisation?

A postgraduate specialisation is a chance to deepen your knowledge and confidence in your field. Choose from options across your discipline, aligning your studies and passion. With career-focused outcomes and industry connections, you'll graduate ready to make an expert impact.

Annual tuition fee

Indicative based on 2024 fees

A$39 400 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.

About the Master of Data Science

Data science professionals are in high demand in today's data-driven world. Whether you're already working in data science, or you're ready to make a career change, our Master of Data Science prepares you for a successful career in this exciting field.

Designed in collaboration with our industry partners, this degree gives you the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to transition from university to the workplace. And with two early exit points along the way, you can be sure that every subject is contributing to your career.

You'll build fundamental skills in programming, databases, probability, statistics, data exploration and analysis. Got a particular interest in artificial intelligence, bioinformatics or sport analytics? This degree allows you to specialise in these areas and others, such as big data and cloud computing, business applications and data modelling and analytics.

As you study, you'll have opportunities to work with our industry partners on real-world projects and take on an industry work placement. If your sights are set on a research career, you can choose to undertake a thesis in computer science or statistics.

Every step of the way, our supportive and highly qualified teaching staff will be there to offer ongoing support and advice.


You'll learn:

  • Data science
    • Get practical experience with open-source software and platforms, including Python, R and Hadoop.
    • Understand database fundamentals, programming languages such as Java and Python, and cloud-based services offered by Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft.
  • Mathematics and statistics
    • Learn how to create complex models and use powerful tools for advanced analysis and problem-solving.
    • Build your skills using real data sets from our industry partners and learn how to solve data challenges facing businesses and organisations.
  • Project management
    • Learn how to manage large-scale IT projects and work in a team to develop a small-scale, industry-based system.
  • Complementary skills in other disciplines
    • Boost your knowledge through electives in business, health sciences, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 9 - Masters Degree.

Have questions?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

Live chat

Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

Live chat

Ask a question

Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.

Ask a question

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