Online Degrees for Mature Age Students in Australia

For many adults considering university, online study is what makes the whole thing possible. It removes the need to be in a specific place at a specific time. It fits around work schedules that do not pause for semesters. It eliminates commuting time from an already stretched day.

Online degrees in Australia have moved well beyond a niche offering. They are now a mainstream, well-resourced, and fully accredited part of the higher education system, and for mature age students in particular, they are often the most practical way to earn a degree without dismantling the life you have already built.

Are online degrees the same quality as on-campus ones?

Yes. Online degrees offered by accredited Australian universities carry identical qualification status to their on-campus equivalents. Your transcript does not record how you studied. Your degree certificate does not specify online or on-campus. Employers do not distinguish between them in the vast majority of cases.

The learning experience is different, particularly in terms of social connection and campus life, but the academic content, assessment standards, and qualification outcomes are equivalent.

The growth in online study

16.8% growth in microcredential enrolments at Australian universities in 2024 (Department of Education, 2024)

14.6% growth in enabling course enrolments in 2024, many of which are delivered online (Department of Education, 2024)

33% of Australians aged 15–74 now hold a bachelor degree or higher, up from 26% in 2016, with online delivery a significant driver of this growth (ABS, May 2025)

The system is clearly moving toward more flexible, online-compatible study. The infrastructure, support services, and academic delivery that once existed only on campus are now largely available online at major institutions.

The best online providers for mature age students

Open Universities Australia (OUA)

OUA aggregates online courses from multiple Australian universities, including Curtin, Griffith, RMIT, Swinburne, and others, into a single enrolment platform. One of its most valuable features for mature age students is its open-entry policy: you can begin studying individual units without meeting standard entry requirements, and your results in those units can then be used to gain entry to a full degree. This makes it an excellent starting point for students who are unsure whether university is right for them, or who want to ease back into academic study gradually.

University of New England (UNE)

UNE is one of Australia's most established distance education providers, with a history stretching back to 1954. It is particularly strong in education, business, law, arts, and science, and a large proportion of its student body consists of mature age, part-time, and distance learners. Its support infrastructure for remote and independent study is well-developed.

Deakin University

Deakin is consistently ranked among the top Australian universities for graduate employment outcomes and has a strong online delivery capability across a wide range of disciplines. Its CloudDeakin platform is well-regarded, and many of its online degrees are available with genuine flexibility in how and when you engage with the material.

Swinburne Online

Swinburne Online is a dedicated online campus offering a focused range of degrees in business, technology, and health. It is designed specifically for working adults, with a trimester structure that allows students to complete more units per year if they choose, and a support model built around students who are juggling study with other commitments.

Charles Sturt University (CSU)

CSU has a long history of serving regional, remote, and mature age students through distance education. It is particularly well-regarded in agriculture, health, education, and policing, and its flexible delivery options are designed for students who cannot access campus regularly.

Other strong online options

Other regional universities, who provide education to regional areas, that have strong online programs include: 

• Southern Cross University

• CQ University, and

• the University of Southern Queensland 

What to look for when choosing an online degree

• Accreditation: confirm the degree is offered by a registered higher education provider and, where relevant, is accredited by the appropriate professional body for your field


• Flexibility of delivery: check whether you can study fully asynchronously (at your own pace) or whether there are live sessions and fixed deadlines that may not suit your work schedule


• Student support: look for institutions with dedicated support services for online and mature age students, including academic skills support, online tutoring, and mental health resources


• Technology requirements: most online degrees require reliable internet access and a reasonably capable computer. Some have specific software requirements, particularly in design, engineering, or science disciplines


• Credit recognition: if you have prior qualifications, confirm whether the institution offers credit transfer before enrolling

Part-time online: the combination that works for most adults

A three-year bachelor degree studied part-time online takes approximately six years to complete. For most mature age students, this is not a drawback. It is a realistic, sustainable plan that ends with a real qualification without requiring you to step back from your income or your life in the meantime.

If online part-time study sounds like the right fit, the Choosing Your Uni Virtual Expo is a useful place to compare institutions, ask about specific programs, and understand what the day-to-day reality of online study looks like at different universities.