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Graduate Certificate in Data Science Online
Gain essential data skills for future leaders.
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Benefit from RMIT Online's practical and industry-based perspective
Gain hands-on data science skills, infused with RMIT's excellence in technology, design and innovation.
Create business value
Immediately add value to your team and organisation with practical data science skills that enhance your business role.
Be in demand sooner
This unique, first-to market program will give you the highly sought-after technical skills to solve business problems. Graduate in as little as 8 months.
Successful business strategies depend on understanding data.
But not everyone “speaks data”, and without data-literate leaders, even the best data teams can struggle to apply their insights to business.
RMIT Online’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science has been created to help business professionals gain the critical foundations in data wrangling, programming, analytics and visualisation that employers are demanding now.
You can also choose to continue your studies into the Master of Business Analytics and AI Strategy, which will develop your skills as a senior leader in business analytics and AI Strategy.
4
Courses
(7 weeks each)
(7 weeks each)
8 months intensive,
part-time^
part-time^
Jan, Mar, May, July, Aug, Oct
$4,440 per course, FEE-HELP available*
Program code: GC173KP19
^Number of courses and duration to be comprised depends on prior degree. Please see Entry Requirements or contact us for further details.
*Plus a capped Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) based on your credit point enrolment load.
The RMIT Online Graduate Certificate in Data Science is comprised of four core courses.
Pathways
Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Data Science, you may continue on to further study at the master's degree level. You could continue your studies and further develop your skills to become a senior leader in business analytics and AI Strategy with the 100% online Master of Business Analytics and AI Strategy.
One of our Student Enrolment Advisors can provide more information and discuss your individual circumstances.
*If you do not meet the entry requirements for the 12 course master's, you may have the opportunity to enrol in a 16 course master's. See entry requirements for more details.
Graduate Certificate
4 Courses
or continue studying
Master's (12 courses)*
+8 Courses
with advanced standing
JAN
INTAKE
MAR
INTAKE
MAY
INTAKE
JULY
INTAKE
AUG
INTAKE
OCT
INTAKE
RMIT Online postgraduate students must meet minimum academic requirements, and international students must have a proficient level of English.
To successfully complete the Graduate Certificate of Data Science, we recommend that students have the following skills:
- an understanding of statistics
- previous knowledge of coding
You can find more details below.
Academic requirements
English language requirements
Recognition of Prior Learning
- A bachelor's degree or equivalent, or higher-level qualification, in any discipline from a recognised tertiary institution*; or
- An alternate entry requirement. If you don't have the formal bachelor's or higher qualification listed above, you will be required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) if you have the following: at least five years full-time experience working in an analyst or management role in business, information technology or information systems with a portfolio of evidence demonstrating analysis and report writing.
- International or offshore students may need an IELTS score of 6.5 or above.
*If your qualification was completed more than 10 years ago, you will need to provide evidence of ongoing professional work and/or professional development in the same discipline as the program for which you are seeking entry.
Articulation and pathways
On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Data Science, you will be granted 48 credit points of exemption and may be eligible to continue your studies in the following master's programs:
- MC274 Master of Business Analytics and AI Strategy
If you are successful in gaining entry into the online master's programs, you will be granted 48 credit points of exemption and will be able to complete these online programs in as little as 16 months of intensive part-time study.
Exemptions from this program will be assessed consistently with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.
For international or off-shore students, an IELTS score of 6.5 may be required.
International students are required to provide current evidence of English language proficiency for admission to RMIT University. For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT visit the English language requirements and equivalency information.
Australian Student Visas
RMIT's online Graduate Certificate in Data Science does not meet Australian student visa requirements. For an Australian student visa, you must have an on-campus place in a program of study. For more details on RMIT's on-campus programs, visit rmit.edu.au.
Recognition of Prior Learning
RMIT assesses each student’s prior learning and qualifications to grant credit so you can complete your online postgraduate degree sooner. Your application will be decided on a case-by-case basis. RMIT aims to grant as much credit as possible at the time of offer, so it’s important to provide as much evidence of prior study and work experience as possible with your application.
RMIT’s 100 per cent online postgraduate degrees are designed specifically for an online experience.
Our specialist online learning designers and renowned academics collaborate to craft engaging, interactive content, making the experience enjoyable.
Network with your peers via online chat and course-based discussion groups as you gain the real-life skills you need to progress your career.
You’ll receive the same qualification as you would studying on-campus.
Download my program guide
Our comprehensive program guides provide more detailed information about our online programs, including:
- Eligibility and enrolment
- Program duration and fees
- How to manage your studies and work life
- Program entry and exit pathways
Ask a question
Speak with one of our Enrolment Advisors to ask questions about your future study:
- Determining which program is for you
- Understanding how online study works
- How to apply and enrol
On campus study
The Graduate Certificate in Data Science is also available via on campus Study.
Find out more >Latest news
Why gender diversity matters in data science
28th April 2022
Data science roles are generally regarded as well‑compensated relative to many other professions, reflecting the specialised combination of analytical, programming and problem‑solving skills they require. Compensation levels vary widely by region, industry, experience and role focus, for example, business‑oriented data roles, research positions and applied machine‑learning specialists may all differ in pay emphasis.
The overall trend shows that professionals with strong data skills tend to be valued in the job market because of their ability to generate actionable insights and support evidence‑based decision‑making.
For learners seeking to build these capabilities, programs such as RMIT University’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science aim to strengthen the technical and analytical foundations that are often associated with data science and analytics roles.
Yes, data science relies on mathematical and statistical concepts to understand patterns in data, build models, and validate results. Core areas like statistics, probability and elements of linear algebra form part of the foundation for many data science methods and algorithms. However, you don’t need to be a mathematician to start in the field.
Many industry roles involve applying pre‑built models and tools, and essential math skills can be learned progressively alongside other competencies like programming and data handling.
Programs like the Graduate Certificate in Data Science at RMIT include coursework in data wrangling, analytics and applied programming, which help you build the practical maths and logic skills you need in real‑world roles without requiring advanced mathematics up front.
Yes, demand for data science skills continues to be strong in many sectors as organisations increasingly rely on data to inform strategy, operations and customer insights. Growth in job postings and industry hiring data show that roles involving data science, analytics and related competencies remain among the faster‑growing segments of the labour market, driven by technology adoption and digital transformation.
For example, RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science has been designed to give professionals foundational skills in programming, analytics, data wrangling and visualisation that are highly sought after by employers across industries.
Both cybersecurity and data science are valuable fields with strong demand, but they serve different market needs. Cybersecurity focuses on protecting systems and data from threats and attacks, while data science centres on interpreting data to inform decisions, build predictive models and reveal insights.
Which is “better” depends on your interests and career goals. If you enjoy logical problem‑solving with risk and defence, cybersecurity might suit you; if you enjoy analysing data patterns and applying analytics to strategic decisions, data science might be the better fit. External labour data shows sustained interest in both areas, though they involve different core skill sets and professional pathways.
The Graduate Certificate in Data Science at RMIT is suited to people aiming to build practical data science and analytics skills that support data‑driven business decisions, while cybersecurity study would prepare you for different risk‑focused roles.
Yes, beginners can enter the data science field, particularly if they focus on building a core set of foundational skills such as data handling, analytical thinking, statistics, basics, and introductory programming. Many entry‑level roles and graduate positions are designed to support people transitioning into the field, and employers increasingly recognise that practical experience with data tools and real‑world projects can be as important as formal credentials.
A structured program like RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science provides a pathway for beginners to systematically develop these applied skills and build confidence working with data in business contexts.
Data science professionals use a combination of programming languages and tools to collect, clean, analyse and visualise data. The most commonly used languages include Python and R, which are supported by rich ecosystems of libraries for data manipulation, machine learning and statistical analysis.
SQL is widely used for querying data from databases, and tools like Tableau, Power BI or visualisation libraries such as Matplotlib and Seaborn help communicate insights.
In programs like the Graduate Certificate in Data Science at RMIT, you’ll learn practical skills with languages like Python along with analytics and visualisation techniques that reflect these industry tools.
Yes, earning a data science certificate can be worth it if you want to formalise your skills and demonstrate to employers that you’ve acquired practical competencies valued in the job market.
Certificates show that you’ve completed structured training in areas such as data handling, analytics and problem solving, which can strengthen your credibility and help you transition into or advance within data‑focused roles.
For example, the Graduate Certificate in Data Science at RMIT helps learners build foundational data science capabilities that are directly applicable to workplace tasks, and it can serve as a stepping stone to further postgraduate study or career progression.
Data science can be challenging, particularly when learning to work with complex tools and concepts, but it isn’t inaccessible and many learners successfully enter the field through structured study and hands‑on practice. The difficulty tends to arise from juggling technical skills like programming and statistics together with analytical thinking, but these can be learned in stages, and many education programs are designed to introduce them progressively.
A targeted course like RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science breaks the subject into manageable parts - such as data wrangling, visualisation and analytics - helping you build confidence and practical skill over time.
There isn’t a single mandatory degree for becoming a data scientist. Many professionals start with a bachelor’s degree in fields such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, business analytics or related disciplines, but alternative pathways exist through specialised postgraduate certificates, diplomas or master’s degrees. Employers also value practical experience and demonstrable project work alongside formal education.
The Graduate Certificate in Data Science at RMIT can help individuals with diverse academic backgrounds build the essential data science skills needed for industry roles and potentially provide credit toward further study.
The time it takes to learn data analytics depends on your starting point, study approach and goals. For many learners, gaining a solid foundation in core topics (data handling, basic statistics, visualisation and introductory coding) can take a few months of focused study if you are learning regularly.
More advanced competencies, such as building predictive models or working with large datasets, typically develop with ongoing practice and real‑world application.
Structured programs like RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science are designed to be completed in an intensive part‑time format over about eight months, helping you build practical skills in a systematic way while you continue working.
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Find more detailed information on our
Download a program guide
Find more detailed information on our
programs, including:
- Program fees
- Career pathways
- Course descriptions
- Workload and tips
- Academic profiles