Considering a change into a completely new career? Think you need to go back to uni and start from scratch? Think again. A postgraduate degree can open the door for career change to a new profession. Here are the ones that do.
The spectrum of career change is broad, and postgraduate study can be one of the many options to support that change depending on your motivations. Where it may be overlooked is as a catalyst to a completely new vocation - regardless of the discipline of your undergraduate degree.
While some of our postgraduate coursework degrees do require study in a certain area, such as the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics or Master of Physiotherapy, others do not. In fact, having a variety of undergraduate qualifications and previous experience only enriches the potential of what you have to offer in your new career direction.
A career change involving professional accreditation is a big decision; but exploring your options doesn't have to be. We've put together the below list of postgraduate coursework degrees which welcome students from all educational and professional backgrounds.
So whether you were unsure of what you wanted to pursue straight from school and have gone down a different path, or you've decided you're ready for a career change at 30, 40 or 50, postgraduate study might hold the answer.
Start your teaching career with a school ranked 20th in the world for education. Our master's degrees in teaching provide the opportunity to become an accredited teacher in either two years of full-time study or three years of reduced load study. Choose from Early Childhood, Primary, Health and Physical Education, Secondary or School Counselling streams.
It's not too late to pursue your passion in healthcare. Gain a professional health qualification in just two years and join our students who have completed a wide range of undergraduate degrees, from commerce and arts to science. While varying admissions criteria do apply, you can study nursing, diagnostic radiography, occupational therapy, rehabilitation counselling, or speech language pathology with a bachelor's degree from any discipline. You may also be eligible to apply for our postgradaute physiotherapy, exercise physiology and pharmacy courses provided you meet specific prerequisites including pre-existing knowledge. Check the course pages for more details on admission criteria to see if you're eligible.
Learn from some of the world's leading experts at a law school ranked 13th in the world*. The Juris Doctor (JD) is one of Australia's most reputable graduate entry degrees and develops your skills of analysis, research, writing and advocacy. Pursue a career as a solicitor, at the bar or in government service, industry or the not-for-profit sector with the JD, which will equip you with the analytical, ethical and problem solving skills you will need to excel in the modern age of legal practice.
Increase your employment prospects and gain real-world experience with Australia's top ranked Management degree for seven consecutive years* and the only Australian business school to achieve membership to CEMS - the Global Alliance in Management Education. Start a dynamic business career with a degree that provides opportunity to work directly with multi-national corporations in a highly interactive learning environment. You will apply theory to practice and learn by doing, graduating with a holistic understanding of all aspects of business, from strategy to project management, and ready to launch your career with confidence.
Study on-campus during the day, evening, or via intensive mode to develop the knowledge and expertise you need for a rewarding career in accounting. This degree holds professional accreditation with CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Gain advanced project management skills to complement your on-the-job experience. Launch your career with confidence by gaining the fundamental methodologies, modelling and analytical techniques for the design and implementation of projects across a wide range of industries. This degree is accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Centre and is available in a variety of flexible study options, including: on-campus during the day or evening; online; block mode; and/or during summer and winter school.
Accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia, during this degree you will develop specialised knowledge in environmental design and strategic planning for well-structured cities, including the sustainable management of towns and cities. Be equipped for a dynamic career across Australian and international contexts.
Advance your career and be equipped to take on social work roles in the health, community services or non-government sector. As well as leading to professional accreditation as a social worker, our Master of Social Work (Qualfying) is a pathway to leadership roles in social work and related professions.
As pathways to professional practice, these four-year graduate entry programs are available to students from all undergraduate degrees. The application and admissions process for these programs, however, is quite comprehensive and competitive and requires applicants to take the GAMSAT exam which involves previous knowledge of scientific concepts.
The above are examples of our degrees which offer career change through a professional accreditation, however, we offer a range of postgraduate degrees which can create career change opportunities but don't require accreditation as an outcome for employment. Degrees in this category include, but aren't limited to, a Master of Museum and Heritage Studies, Master of Sustainability or Master of Public Health. Learn more about these options by reading 'Which postgraduate course should I choose?' and chatting to course advisers at our postgraduate events throughout the year.
Last updated: 21 June 2019
