Send me a PDF copyDrive innovation with data
Turn business data into smarter decisions in the Business Data Science major. With a focus on practical skills, enterprise workflows, and a capstone project with industry partners, this course prepares you to drive innovation, improve performance, and make an impact across any sector.
Building peace through data science
'As a data science student, I have often considered ethical responsibility within the usage of data, science, and technology, but had not previously explored these ideas through the lens of peacebuilding. I had the honour to represent QUT at the 5th Global Peace Summit, organised by the Humanitarian Affairs Asia, and held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The experience expanded my understanding and developed my global perspective on ethical leadership and social impact.'
Bachelor of Data Science
Drive innovation with data
Turn business data into smarter decisions in the Business Data Science major. With a focus on practical skills, enterprise workflows, and a capstone project with industry partners, this course prepares you to drive innovation, improve performance, and make an impact across any sector.
Highlights
- Gain in-demand skills to turn business data into actionable insights for smarter decision-making.
- Learn to work with enterprise-level tools from SAP, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
- Master core business data science processes: sourcing, cleansing, analysis, visualisation, and decision support.
- Australia’s demand for data analysts and business intelligence professionals has grown by over 45% in the past five years, with continued strong growth projected (Job Outlook Australia).
- Build expertise in technologies such as in-memory databases, ETL pipelines, and advanced data visualisation tools.
Highlights
- Gain in-demand skills to turn business data into actionable insights for smarter decision-making.
- Learn to work with enterprise-level tools from SAP, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
- Master core business data science processes: sourcing, cleansing, analysis, visualisation, and decision support.
- Build expertise in technologies such as in-memory databases, ETL pipelines, and advanced data visualisation tools.
- QUT is Australia's top research institution for data mining and analysis (Australian Research Magazine 2026).
Why choose this course?
The Bachelor of Data Science (Business Data Science) equips you with the technical and strategic skills to help organisations make smarter, faster decisions using data. You’ll explore how businesses leverage data science and AI to improve products, services, operations and resource management.
Through real-world tools and platforms, such as in-memory databases, ETL pipelines, and advanced data visualisation software used by leaders such as SAP, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, you’ll gain hands-on experience in key business data workflows. This includes everything from sourcing and aggregating data to analysis, visualisation, and decision support.
You’ll also learn how enterprise data governance frameworks ensure responsible and effective use of data across sectors. This major is ideal for those who want to drive innovation and competitive advantage through intelligent, data-driven business strategies.
Big data specialist is the fastest growing job predicted globally, and big data skills the fastest growing skill required between 2025-2030 (World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025), so the demand for professionals with data science skills is high.
Explore this course
The Bachelor of Data Science (Business Data Science) is an undergraduate degree consisting of 288 credit points and is normally completed in three years of full-time study or the equivalent part-time study.
The degree structure consists of 108 credit points of core units, 72 credit points of your major, 84 credit points of complementary studies, and 24 credit points of QUT You. QUT You units are interdisciplinary in design, comprised of students working collaboratively from across all courses and year levels, and focused upon the development of skills that span careers in areas such as critical and creative thinking, self-awareness and digital fluency.
In your third year, your studies will culminate in the Data Science Capstone Project, where you’ll work with an industry partner to solve a significant real-world problem using real-world data sets. This will synthesise your knowledge and techniques in solving complex authentic problems, and build your preparedness to enter the industry.
The Bachelor of Data Science (Business Data Science) is an undergraduate degree consisting of 288 credit points and is normally completed in three years of full-time study.
The degree structure consists of 108 credit points of core units, 72 credit points of your major, 84 credit points of complementary studies, and 24 credit points of QUT You. QUT You units are interdisciplinary in design, comprised of students working collaboratively from across all courses and year levels, and focused upon the development of skills that span careers in areas such as critical and creative thinking, self-awareness and digital fluency.
In your third year, your studies will culminate in the Data Science Capstone Project, where you’ll work with an industry partner to solve a significant real-world problem using real-world data sets. This will synthesise your knowledge and techniques in solving complex authentic problems, and build your preparedness to enter the industry.
Careers and outcomes
As businesses across every industry become more data-driven, professionals who can turn data into actionable insights are in high demand. With a major in Business Data Science, you'll graduate with the skills to help organisations make better decisions, improve performance, and stay ahead in competitive markets. From analysing customer behaviour to optimising operations, your ability to bridge business needs and data science tools will make you a valuable asset in any sector.
Possible careers
- Analytics consultant
- Business intelligence analyst
- Data analyst
- Data and analytics manager
- Data architect
- Data engineer
- Data strategist
- Data systems developer
- Lead data analytics specialist
- Market analyst
In order to complete this course, you must complete a total of 288 credit points, made up of:
- Core units - 108 credit points
- A Major - 72 credit points
- QUT You - 24 credit points
- Complementary studies - 84 credit points, made up of:
- a Second Major (72 credit points) and one general elective unit (12 credit points), or
- a Minor (48 credit points) and three general elective units (36 credit points), or
- seven general elective units (84 credit points)
In order to complete this course, you must complete a total of 288 credit points, made up of:
- Core units - 108 credit points
- A Major - 72 credit points
- QUT You - 24 credit points
- Complementary studies - 84 credit points, made up of:
- a Second Major (72 credit points) and one general elective unit (12 credit points), or
- a Minor (48 credit points) and three general elective units (36 credit points), or
- seven general elective units (84 credit points)
- ATAR/selection rank threshold
- 80.00
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2026.
Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?
- Course code
- DS01
- QTAC code
- 418871
- CRICOS code
- 103170C
-
- Online
- Gardens Point
-
- Gardens Point
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
- Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
Offer guarantee
If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 84.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course in the Semester 1 offer rounds, up to the main offer round in mid-January.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course in the Semester 1 offer rounds.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2025
The figures listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent ATAR students. The entry thresholds box at the top of this page shows the lowest adjusted ATAR/selection rank required to receive an offer for all applicants for the most recent January QTAC offer round.
| Excluding adjustments | Including adjustments | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
98.65
|
Selection rank
99.95
|
| Median ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
91.20
|
Selection rank
97.30
|
| Lowest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
82.40
|
Selection rank
85.65
|
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
I completed my studies outside of Australia
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
Assumed knowledge
- Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
You must have achieved this study at a level comparable to Australian Year 12 or in recognised post-secondary studies.
I completed secondary school in Australia
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course we assume you have sound knowledge in these areas:
- Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
- ATAR/selection rank
- 80.00
Offer guarantee
If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 84.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
|
Cambridge C1 Advanced
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| TOEFL iBT Australia Test (120 scale) | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from October
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from July
2026 fees
2026: CSP $7,500 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2026 fees
2026: $42,300 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
International Merit Scholarship
A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Faculty of Science Scholarship for Women and Non-Binary People
We are committed to supporting people who may face barriers due to their gender and building diverse and inclusive cohorts for careers in science, maths and IT.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance; Women; Non-binary
Faculty of Science Indigenous Australian Scholarship
We are committed to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in science, maths and IT and ensuring students reach their full potential.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Indigenous Australian; Academic performance
International Talent Scholarship
A new scholarship for 2026 that covers tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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