STEM courses in Australia

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics . This diverse area of employment is growing rapidly and offers a wide range of career options for individuals with a passion for technical innovation, critical thinking, and the intersection of tech and sciences. There are numerous career options for those with a STEM degree , depending on their interests.

*Source : https://www.education.wa.edu.au/what-is-stem

There is a wide variety of career options available that cater to diverse interests. If your passions lie in the fields of medicine, psychology, engineering, IT, animal health, agriculture, or food production, then pursuing a career in one of these areas may be the right choice for you. Here’s an overview of what you can pursue after studying STEM courses :

1. Agriculture and food production are vital areas of life, and studying how living systems interact with the environment and how to improve current systems are important for better crop management and accounting for climate change. Animal health and vet sciences can help optimise the way we raise animals and increase animal health for farmers and can also play a role in conservation and managing populations of at-risk animals. Engineering and IT are among the most in-demand skills globally, and individuals can help develop innovative solutions that create positive change.

2. Mathematics and statistics are also important parts of every facet of our world, including business, science, commerce, technology, and human nature. Medicine disciplines range from front-line emergency management to research and development of cures and preventative measures for diseases. Science encompasses every aspect of life, from biology and geosciences to psychology and entomology, and offers numerous opportunities to make a difference on a micro or macro scale. Technology is also a broad field that impacts every aspect of our lives, and the technologies we use will increasingly shape the world of tomorrow.

3. Animal health and vet sciences: The fields of animal health and veterinary sciences have a significant impact in various areas, such as improving animal welfare and health for farmers, optimising animal farming practices, and aiding in the conservation and management of endangered species. These areas play a critical role in environmental sustainability.

4. Engineering and IT : These are highly sought-after careers globally, and professionals in these fields have the opportunity to contribute to positive change by creating innovative solutions. Whether it involves developing cutting-edge AI and computer science technologies or more practical engineering projects, these fields offer ample opportunities to make a difference.

5. Medicine : The medical field encompasses a broad range of disciplines, from emergency response to research and development. Each area of study is critical, whether it involves improving patient care on a daily basis or advancing the development of cures and preventative measures for diseases.

6. Science : Science plays a fundamental role in every aspect of our lives, ranging from biology and geosciences to psychology and entomology. The field offers diverse career opportunities that allow individuals to make a difference on both small and large scales.

7. Technology: Technology is a broad term that affects every aspect of our lives. As the technologies we use continue to evolve, they will shape the world of tomorrow in significant ways.

There are numerous options for studying a STEM field in Australia . Four Australian universities are ranked in the top 50 in the world for civil and structural engineering, five for computer science and information systems, four for chemical engineering, four for mechanical, aeronautical, and manufacturing engineering, and four for electrical and electronic engineering. Students can start with a generic undergraduate degree such as a BSc and then specialise as they move into postgraduate qualifications.

• The University of Sydney offers a range of top-quality courses in science, engineering, mathematics, medicine, agriculture, and IT Bachelor degrees, as well as a range of post-graduate Masters and Doctorates. Their focus is on using purpose-built labs and learning hubs to provide a hands-on learning experience and a global view that enables further study and working options

• The University of Melbourne offers an array of courses from molecular biology to artificial intelligence, designed to allow curious minds to grow, explore, and challenge themselves. They also focus on creating a diverse range of graduates to address the imbalance of gender and race in these fields

• The Australian National University aims to make STEM accessible to everyone who has a passion for the field. They offer a range of science-related degrees and modern applications of STEM and emphasise that it's not just about lab coats and mathematics unless you want it to be.

STEM careers, particularly in science, are in high demand and offer fast growth opportunities. However, the outlook varies across areas of interest, and in general, a better education leads to better employment prospects. The best STEM majors in Australia , in terms of employment, permanent residency, and income levels, include petroleum engineering, agricultural science, and ICT security architecture. It is expected that Australia's STEM workforce will increase by 2.5% annually and exceed 1.9 million employees by 2024.

The list of STEM careers might astonish you as it reveals that the most significant areas include the application of mathematics in business and the utilisation of science in healthcare professions.* Also, Australia's most extensive group of STEM workers is predicted to be Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals shortly. By 2024, future employment in this field is expected to reach 376,000, accounting for 19.4% of STEM jobs, up from 313,000 in 2019. Not just that, did you know Business professionals constitute approximately 20% of STEM workers? The force is expected to slightly decrease to an estimated 19.5% by 2024.*

In Australia, health professionals make up the third largest STEM occupational group , projected to account for 17.1% of jobs by 2024. Following this, engineering is the fourth biggest category of STEM occupations, with professional engineers estimated to account for 9.1% of the STEM workforce - a share expected to remain consistent in the future. Finally, the sixth largest STEM occupational group is a unique careers category that sits at the intersection of technology and art. This group, which includes web designers, graphic artists, architects, urban and regional planners, surveyors and spatial scientists, accounts for just over 7% of STEM jobs .*

*Source : https://www.education.wa.edu.au/what-is-stem

The field of STEM offers a diverse range of occupational groups in Australia, each with unique opportunities and challenges. With the growth of technology and innovation, STEM courses in Australia continue to be in high demand, with a focus on developing skills that are vital to the country's economy and future prosperity. As such, pursuing a career in STEM can be a rewarding choice for individuals looking to make a significant impact on society while advancing their own professional and personal growth. If you want to know to enrol for STEM courses in Australia , you can seek guidance from our international education experts at IDP, they will help you with the course, university selection and the end-to-end admission process.