Best Degrees for a Career Change in Australia

1.1 million Australians changed jobs in the year to February 2025 (ABS Job Mobility Survey)

A lot of people are looking for something different. More meaningful work. Better pay. A field that suits who they've actually become, not who they were at 22.

For some career changers, a new job is enough. For those looking to move into professional or regulated fields, a degree is often the gateway. The question isn't whether to go back. It's which degree will actually get you where you want to go.

Before you pick anything: work backwards

The most common mistake career changers make is choosing a degree that interests them rather than one that leads somewhere specific.

Interest matters. You'll be studying this for two to four years. But it shouldn't be the only filter.

Start with the outcome you want. Look at job listings for the roles you're aiming for. Note what qualifications keep appearing. Talk to people already in those jobs. Then find the most direct qualification pathway to get there.

Jobs and Skills Australia projects over 2 million new jobs in Australia over the next decade, with more than 90% requiring post-secondary qualifications. The labour market rewards the right credentials. Not credentials in general.

The degrees worth considering

Nursing

• Duration: 3 years full-time (part-time available)


• Employment rate: Strong — consistent workforce shortage


• Availability: Online and hybrid formats at most universities

Healthcare demand in Australia is consistent and growing. University health commencements grew 5.1% to nearly 94,000 in 2024. The degree leads to a clear registration pathway through the Nursing and Midwifery Board. If you already hold a TAFE nursing diploma, credit transfer may let you enter at an advanced stage.

Teaching

• Duration: 4 years undergrad / 2 years Masters (for degree holders)


• Employment rate: 91.7% full-time within months of graduating (QILT, 2023)


• Availability: Part-time and online widely available

Teacher shortages are real, widespread, and not resolving quickly. If you already hold a bachelor degree in any discipline, a Master of Teaching gets you to classroom qualification in two years. You don't have to redo an undergraduate degree.

Information Technology and Cyber Security

• Duration: 3 years undergrad / 1–2 years postgrad


• Demand: Consistently among highest-shortage occupations in Australia


• Career changer entry: Graduate-entry IT degrees exist specifically for non-tech backgrounds

Cyber security in particular has a severe national skills shortage. Many universities offer graduate-entry IT programs designed for career changers with no prior technical background. You don't need to have studied computers before.

Psychology

• Important note: Full registration requires postgraduate study beyond a bachelor degree


• Timeline to full registration: At least 6 years of study — be realistic about this before starting

For career changers who already hold a degree, a Graduate Diploma or Master of Psychology is the more direct path than starting an undergraduate program from scratch. Employment outcomes and earning potential in the field are solid, but go in with eyes open about the timeline.

Business and MBA

• Bachelor of Business — Best for: Earlier career stage, no prior degree in business. Median salary: ~$75,000+


• MBA — Best for: Mid-career professionals with 3–5 years experience. Median salary (postgrad): ~$124,000 (QILT, 2023)

Business skills are relevant in virtually every industry. For career changers at the earlier stage of their professional life, a bachelor degree works well. For more experienced professionals, an MBA delivers the highest salary outcomes of any postgraduate qualification in Australia, and most programs are designed to be completed part-time or online while continuing to work.

MBA median salary: ~$124,000 (QILT, 2023) — the highest salary outcome of any postgraduate qualification in Australia.

You probably don't have to start from scratch

This is the question career changers ask most often, and the answer is usually more encouraging than they expect.

• Already hold a bachelor degree? A graduate diploma or master's in your target field is usually faster than a second undergraduate degree.


• Relevant work experience or vocational qualifications? Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may reduce the units you're required to complete.


• Moving into a field related to your current one? Credit transfer between subjects may apply.

Before committing to any program, contact the university's admissions team and ask specifically about credit recognition and alternative entry. The answer might save you a year of study.

The Choosing Your Uni Virtual Expo is a practical place to compare career change pathways across universities and get direct answers about which route fits your situation.