Australia offers not only a world-class university education system but also flexible Post-Study Work (PSW) visas and strategic skilled migration pathways, making it a highly desirable destination for international students. However, facing hundreds of course options available, how do you choose the major with the highest “return on investment”?
This in-depth guide analyzes the latest Australian job market data (2024/2025) to detail the top majors with the highest salary potential, long-term job demand, and favorable immigration pathways, helping you make the most informed decision for your future.
Top Majors in Australian Universities
High-Demand & Immigration-Favorable Majors
These fields are primary areas of skill shortage in Australia, meaning graduates enjoy numerous job opportunities and often find stable pathways onto the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
1. Information Technology (IT & Data Science)
The IT sector is forecast for continuous high growth over the next five years, with average annual salaries well above the national average.
IT & Cybersecurity:
Popular Degrees: Master of IT / Cyber Security.
Advantage Analysis: High demand for advanced software developers and cybersecurity experts; rapid salary growth.
Data Science & Analytics:
Popular Degrees: Master of Data Science / Analytics.
Advantage Analysis: Essential in almost all industries (finance, healthcare, retail); strong long-term outlook.
City Connection: Melbourne and Sydney are tech hubs, offering the most corporate jobs but higher living costs. Adelaide and Brisbane are growing rapidly in tech with more affordable accommodation.
2. Healthcare (Health & Nursing)
The health sector is Australia’s most resilient employment pillar, with job security rarely affected by economic cycles.
Registered Nursing:
Popular Degrees: Bachelor / Master of Nursing Practice.
Advantage Analysis: Long-term skill shortage in the Australian health system; extremely high employment rates; stable and wide migration path.
Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy:
Popular Degrees: Master of Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy.
Advantage Analysis: Consistent demand, high average starting salaries, and professional work environments.
3. Engineering
Australia continues to make massive investments in infrastructure, ensuring sustained demand for engineers.
Civil Engineering: Essential for urban development, transport, and energy projects; demand remains stable.
Electrical Engineering: Driven by the push for clean energy, renewable technology, and electric vehicles, leading to increased demand.
High-Return & Business Elite Majors
If you seek high starting salaries and career progression within international enterprises, these majors should be your top priority.
4. Finance & Accounting
Financial and accounting graduates command some of the highest starting salaries in Australia, particularly in competitive sectors like investment banking.
Financial Analysis & Investment:
Popular Degrees: Master of Finance.
Advantage Analysis: High-salary roles concentrated in investment banking, asset management, and consulting firms.
Professional Accounting (CPA/CA Pathway):
Popular Degrees: Master of Professional Accounting.
Advantage Analysis: An essential role in almost every business; a reliable, steady career choice with clear professional accreditation paths (CPA/CA).
5. Law
Law degrees (LLB or JD) have high application thresholds and demanding studies, but offer significant career rewards upon successful graduation.
Career Advantage: Not limited to traditional law firms; legal expertise is highly valued in government, corporate compliance, and international trade.
Challenge: Study is rigorous and lengthy (typically 3-4 years undergraduate), and requires passing state/territory-specific practical legal training for full accreditation.
Critical Factors for Choosing Your Major
Before making your final selection, consider these three crucial factors to maximize your return on educational investment for 2025/2026:
1. Track Migration List Changes (Skilled Occupation List)
Strategic Selection: Australian immigration policies are dynamic. Choosing a major that is consistently listed on the SOL (e.g., nursing, IT specialist, engineering) provides a clearer path for post-graduation PR.
Professional Accreditation: Ensure your course is accredited by the relevant professional bodies (e.g., Engineers Australia, CPA Australia), as this is mandatory for skilled visa applications.
2. Matching City to Job Market (Linking Majors to Cities)
Choosing a major should involve factoring in the geographical distribution of job opportunities.
| Major Category | Best Employment Cities | Accommodation Cost Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Finance/Law | Sydney (Financial Centre) | Highest rent and living costs; suitable for higher budgets. |
| IT/Creative | Melbourne (Tech & Cultural Hub) | High competition, but many opportunities. Rental market is tight. |
| Healthcare/Education | Perth, Adelaide (Regional migration points) | Relatively lower rent, often provides additional points towards migration. |
3. Practicality and Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
Internships and Placements: Opt for degrees that offer Internships, Paid Placements, or Industry Projects. Practical experience is essential for graduate recruitment in Australia.
Skill Breadth: Avoid choosing overly narrow subjects. In STEM, for example, combining your core major with electives in Artificial Intelligence or Sustainability will significantly boost your market competitiveness.
Specific Program Excellence: Matching Strategy with Institution
Once you have analyzed the job market and decided on a major based on your strategic goals (whether permanent residency or a high starting salary), the next crucial step is choosing the right institution. Australia is home to several universities that are globally renowned for excellence in specific fields, offering the industry connections, accreditation, and practical experience necessary to turn your degree into a successful career. We now delve into some of the top-ranking programs and why they stand out in their respective disciplines:
Design Studies at RMIT
When it comes to design studies in Australia, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) immediately comes to mind. RMIT can be considered as the leader of the Australian design industry and enjoys a certain reputation in the international arena.
RMIT’s design program is very complete. We can usually come into contact with like partial science and engineering classes of architectural design, industrial design, as well as like pure design classes of visual communication, clothing design, and like painting such pure art, in such a temple of art inside the students can find their own point of interest!
However, RMIT’s requirements for these design majors are very high, not only for students’ undergraduate grades but, more importantly, to consider your understanding of the profession.
If you want to enrol in RMIT’s design studies, most of you need to prepare a portfolio.
Although it can be difficult to apply, RMIT’s design studies work with top companies in the industry to provide students with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the industry and to help students broaden their network.
For example, the Fashion Management program works with over 100 Australian fashion and textile companies such as Hugo Boss, David Jones, Myer and Country Road. Students also have the opportunity to participate in promotional events for international fashion brands.
Engineering Studies at UNSW
University of New South Wales, or UNSW for short, was founded in 1949 and is located in Sydney, Australia. It is a member of Go8(The Group Of Eight Universities is a collective of Australia’s best research universities). Its School of Engineering and School of Business are highly reputable and have great strength in the fields of engineering and computing.
UNSW’s School of Engineering is the largest engineering school in Australia, and in 2015 alone, 22 researchers and alumni were named to the annual list of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Engineers.
Nearly a quarter of the Top 100 Most Influential Engineers list published in Australia graduated from UNSW Sydney, according to the list. The faculty has the premier Quantum Computing and Communications Technology Laboratory and the largest Power Electronics and Drives Research Laboratory.
Business Studies at the University of Melbourne
When it comes to business majors, the University of Melbourne is Australia’s deserved Top 1.
In the QS World Business Rankings, University of Melbourne has achieved the first ranking in Australia in the MBA and Business Analytic.
In particular, the University of Melbourne’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is academically rigorous with a variety of options designed to enhance students’ career prospects and help students build personal leadership skills.
However, the MBA program at the University of Melbourne requires GMAT or GRE scores if you are not an undergraduate in Australia, so you need to prepare ahead.
The business program of the University of Melbourne has a wide range of courses, including non-professional background, professional background, work experience and further study. The school has outstanding research strength and a strong faculty. It is very famous around the world.
Most importantly, the University of Melbourne is a Target School for many famous companies, such as McKinsey, Bank of America and other top financial companies, or EY, PwC, and so on will hold Target School Events at the University of Melbourne, which is an exclusive advantage for the University of Melbourne students.
Sports Studies at UQ
University of Queensland is one of the first universities in Australia to be recommended for sports-related programs! The University of Queensland is not only ranked in the top 50 of the QS World Rankings, but also ranked No.2 in the world and No.1 in Australia.
The University of Queensland is also a traditional sports school, in addition to perfect sports facilities, in rowing and rugby, Australia has produced a number of outstanding players.
During the Sydney Olympics in 2000, QUT was selected by the International Olympic Committee as the athletes’ village and training site for the Italian team, with about 300 athletes and Olympic Committee staff staying there due to its excellent sports facilities.
Hotel Management Studies at Griffith University
When it comes to hotel management studies, you have to mention Griffith University. Griffith University’s hotel management program enjoys high recognition in the world, and the employment rate is also very high.
Griffith University was one of the first universities in Australia to offer programs in tourism and hospitality management. Today, Griffith University remains a leader in this field.
The University has strong links with major local hotel chains and tour operators, and students will have the opportunity to gain further relevant knowledge and experience through innovative work and integrated learning. Graduates will also be able to pursue development opportunities in areas such as conference and event organization, government departments, hospitality and entertainment services, retail tourism, theme parks and attractions.
Media Studies at QUT
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is ranked No. 1 in Australia for its Media Studies program and is a leader in Australia for the quality of its programs.
And like the Master of Digital Communication (MDC) program, there is no specific requirement for applicants to have a professional background, with an average GPA of 4.0+/7.0, which means that it is very friendly to students who are inter-disciplinary.
In addition to master’s degree programs, QUT also offers many film and television production and media-related undergraduate programs. The curriculum also places more emphasis on students’ individual creativity and innovation in directing and production, scriptwriting, photo editing, sound and multimedia production, etc. It is equipped with advanced digital technology equipment for students to use, which is very helpful for future employment.
Conclusion about Top Majors in Australian Universities
In 2025, the top majors in Australia value not only academic excellence but also market demand and long-term career planning. Selecting fields like IT, Healthcare, Engineering, or Advanced Finance will lay a solid foundation for a successful career and potential high-quality life in Australia.
Once you have locked in your ideal major, the next step is finding convenient and comfortable accommodation. Whether you are close to Sydney’s financial district or Melbourne’s tech innovation hub, uhomes.com can provide you with the perfect student housing options, ensuring your study journey is worry-free!
FAQ
What is the best major to study in Australia?
Determining the “best” major to study in Australia depends on individual interests, career goals, and strengths. However, popular choices among students include Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Health Sciences, and Natural Sciences. Business majors offer diverse career opportunities, Engineering provides technical skills for various industries, Information Technology is in high demand for digital innovation, Health Sciences lead to rewarding healthcare careers, and Natural Sciences contribute to environmental sustainability. Ultimately, the best major aligns with personal passions, skills, and future aspirations, leading to a fulfilling and successful career in an ever-evolving global landscape.
What is the most popular university course in Australia?
In Australia, the most popular university course among domestic and international students is typically Business and Management. This field encompasses a wide range of disciplines, such as Marketing, Finance, Accounting, and Human Resources. Business courses are highly sought after due to their relevance in today’s competitive job market, offering practical skills and knowledge applicable to various industries. Students are attracted to the dynamic and versatile nature of business studies, as well as the potential for career advancement and global opportunities upon graduation. Business and Management courses consistently draw a large number of applicants to Australian universities each year.
What are Australian universities known for?
Australian universities are known for their high-quality education, research excellence, and diverse academic offerings. They consistently rank among the top universities globally, particularly in fields such as engineering, natural sciences, medicine, and business. Australian universities are renowned for their innovative teaching methods, world-class facilities, and strong emphasis on practical skills development. They also attract a large number of international students due to their multicultural environment, vibrant campus life, and the opportunity to gain a globally recognized degree. Australian universities are respected for their commitment to academic excellence and preparing students for successful careers in a competitive global market.
