Sources
Deakin references government reports, reputable ranking bodies and media outlets to support our claims.
Accounting and finance
| #1 Victorian university for course satisfaction and study experience in business and management (undergraduate and postgraduate including accounting and finance) | Business and management (found full-time employment for undergraduate and postgraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022-2024 |
| #2 business school in Victoria for career impact – based on graduate employment and average salary | AFR Boss Best Business Schools, 2025 |
| Top 150 worldwide for accounting and finance | QS World Rankings by Subject, 2025 |
| Top 3 business school in Victoria | AFR Boss Best Business Schools, 2025 |
Architecture
| #1 Victorian university for architecture and building facilities and resources (undergraduate and postgraduate) | Architecture and building (undergraduate and postgraduate), CompareEd (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2024 |
| #1 Victorian university for architecture and building graduate employment (undergraduate only) | Architecture and building (undergraduate), CompareEd (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| Top 200 worldwide for architecture and built environment | QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025 |
Artificial intelligence
| #1 Victorian university for computing and information systems median salary, undergraduate and postgraduate. Above national average | Computing & Information Systems (undergraduate and postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| 86.9% (undergraduate) and 92.9% (postgraduate) of Deakin computing and information systems graduates found employment within four months. Higher than national average | Computing & Information Systems (undergraduate and postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| AI and machine learning specialists are #3 fastest-growing role, while AI and big data top the list of fastest-growing skills | World Economic Forum’s ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’ |
| Top 3 in Victoria for artificial intelligence | U.S. News Best Global Universities, 2025–2026 |
| Top 200 in the world for data science and artificial intelligence | QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 |
Arts
| 2025 Deakin Arts Graduate Careers report | Self-reported LinkedIn data from 9,955 Deakin arts graduates [Bachelor of Arts or combined arts degrees] cross-checked with Deakin records, as at 28 November 2024. Some figures are based on smaller groups within the cohort. This sample does not represent the full Deakin arts graduate population. Occupations mapped to Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 | Australian Bureau of Statistics. Industry mapped to ANZSIC 2006 ‘Division’ Level (Revision 2.0), released 26/06/2013. Excludes unclassified records. |
| 1 in 4 Deakin arts graduates hold leadership or management roles | Self-reported LinkedIn data from 9,921 Deakin arts graduates (Bachelor of Arts or combined arts degree) as at 28 November 2024. This sample does not reflect the full Deakin arts graduate population |
| 1 in 10 Deakin arts graduates are chief executives or managing directors | Self-reported LinkedIn data from 8,594 Deakin arts graduates (Bachelor of Arts or combined arts degree) as at 28 November 2024. This sample does not reflect the full Deakin arts graduate population |
| 2025 Deakin Arts Graduate Careers report Note for specific occupations requiring further study: | To become a solicitor in Victoria, Bachelor of Arts/Laws graduates must complete 12 months of supervised training or a course approved by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board. Requirements differ overseas - check with the local authority. To become a registered psychologist, you need to complete additional study beyond an undergraduate degree including a fourth year and postgraduate training. To become a solicitor in Victoria, Bachelor of Arts/Laws graduates must complete 12 months of supervised training or a course approved by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board. Requirements differ overseas - check with the local authority. To become a teacher, arts graduates must complete an accredited teaching program, such as Deakin’s Master of Teaching and meet local registration requirements. Check Deakin’s course pages and your local authority for details. |
| Out-earn other arts grads in Victoria with a Deakin arts degree | Humanities, culture and social sciences, CompareEd (QILT – Recent Graduate Employment and Salary – median graduate income five years out), 2022–2023 |
| Top 10 in Australia for arts and humanities | Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026 |
Biomedical science
| #1 Victorian university for science facilities and resources (undergraduate) | Science & Mathematics (undergraduate), CompareEd (QILT – Course Experience Questionnaire), 2023–2025 |
| Average Salaries: $85k Biomedical Engineer; $110k Research Scientist; $90k Pharmacist | Seek, Typical Salaries in Australia, March 2025 |
Business and commerce
| #1 Victorian university for business and management graduate employment, with 84.9% of Deakin undergraduates and 92.7% of Deakin postgraduates securing full-time employment within four months of course completion | Business and Management (Found full-time employment for undergraduate and postgraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| #1 Victorian university for course satisfaction and study experience in business and management (undergraduate and postgraduate) | Business and Management (undergraduate and postgraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Course Experience Questionnaire) 2023–2024 |
| #2 business school in Victoria for career impact – based on graduate employment and average salary. | AFR Boss Best Business Schools, 2025 |
| Top 3 business school in Victoria | AFR Boss Best Business Schools, 2025 |
Construction and property
| Average Salaries: $160k Construction Manager; $145k Project Manager; $105k Quantity Surveyor; $105k Estimator; $115k Property Developer; $105k Property Valuer; $100k Commercial Property Manager; $115k Facilities Manager | Seek, Typical Salaries in Australia, February 2025 |
| Construction industry set to employ over 1.5 million by 2034 | Jobs & Skills Australia, employment projections to 2034 |
| Construction project directors earn up to $232,682 annually | SEEK, Highest-paying jobs, August 2024 |
| Top 3 business school in Victoria | AFR Boss Best Business Schools, 2025 |
Cultural heritage and museum studies
| Top 10 in Australia for anthropology, art and history | QS World University Rankings by Subject - Subjects: anthropology, art and design, history, sociology, 2025 |
| #1 Victorian university for postgraduate humanities, culture and social sciences for positive overall experience | Humanities, culture and social sciences (Postgraduate) ComparEd (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2024 |
| Earn an average of $92,400 as a postgraduate humanities, culture and social sciences graduate from Deakin | Humanities, culture and social sciences (Postgraduate) ComparEd (QILT – Graduates Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
Data science and business analytics
| #1 provider in Australia for data science and business analytics undergraduate courses | Universities Australia, domestic commencing undergraduate enrolment data, 2023 |
| #1 Victorian university for business and management graduate employment (undergraduate and postgraduate) with 80.6% of Deakin undergraduates and 90.6% of Deakin postgraduates securing full-time employment within four months of course completion | Computing and Information Systems (Found full-time employment for undergraduate and postgraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| #1 Victorian university for computing and information systems median salary (both undergraduate and postgraduate) | Computing and Information Systems (undergraduate and postgraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| Big data specialists top the list of the fastest-growing roles globally. Data warehousing specialists, along with data analysts and scientists rank top 12 | World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report, 2025 |
| Top 200 in the world for data science and artificial intelligence | QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 |
Design and creative arts
| #1 Victorian university for creative arts (including arts and design study areas) course overall satisfaction | Creative arts (Undergraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Course Experience Questionnaire), 2023–2024 |
| Top 10 in Australia for art and design | QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025 |
Disability and inclusion
| #1 Vic uni for disability, inclusion and social work student experience | Social work including disability inclusion (postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2025 |
| #1 Vic uni for disability, inclusion and social work student support and services | Social work including disability inclusion (postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2024 |
| Top 100 in the world for social sciences and public health | U.S. News & World Report Rankings, 2025–2026 |
| Average salaries: Support Coordinator $83k; Disability Advocate $91.7k; Speech Pathologist $98k | Seek, September 2025 |
| Average salary: Inclusion Officer $100k | Jora, September 2025 |
| 5-year employment growth projections: Support Coordinator 25.2%; Disability Advocate 12.5%; Speech Pathologist 34.7% | 2025 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2030, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| No. 8 LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise (Disability and Inclusion Specialist) | LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2024: 25 Australian in-demand roles |
Education and teaching
| #13 worldwide for education and educational research | U.S. News Best Global Universities Subject Rankings, 2025-2026 |
| #3 in Australia for education and educational research | U.S. News Best Global Universities Subject Rankings, 2025-2026 |
| #1 Victorian university for postgraduate teacher education graduates finding full time employment | Teacher education (Postgraduate) ComparEd (QILT – Graduates Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
Engineering
| #1 Victorian university for engineering graduate employment with 92% of Deakin engineering graduates finding full-time employment within four months of course completion (undergraduate) | Engineering (undergraduate), CompareEd (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| #1 Victorian university for engineering median salary at $82,500. Above national average (undergraduate) | Engineering (undergraduate), CompareEd (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| Earn $120k average salary as an electrical engineer, $95k average salary as a mechatronics engineer, $105k average salary civil engineer | Seek, typical salary in Australia, March 2025 |
| Engineers are in high demand in Australia – approximately 100,000 are required by 2030 amid a skills shortage | Australian Council of Engineering Deans, Shortages of Engineers and Supply Projections, 2021 |
| Top 3 Victorian university for engineering | Times Higher Education World University Rankings by
Subject, 2025 |
Environment, sustainability and marine
| #1 in Victoria for marine and freshwater biology | U.S. News Best
Global Universities, 2025–2026 |
| Average Salaries: $93k Environmental Health Officer; $110k Research Scientist; $110k Environmental Specialist | Seek, Typical Salaries in Australia, March 2025 |
| Join a world leader in environmental science research. Specifically, research in ‘Environmental science and management’ and ‘Fisheries sciences’ ranked well above world standard | Excellence in Research for Australia National Report |
| Ranked #112 worldwide for sustainability | QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 |
| Sustainability careers are booming: 4 in 5 employers plan to hire, and 84% are boosting salaries | World Economic Forum’s ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’ |
| The sustainability sector could create up to 24 million new jobs globally by 2030 | International Labour Organization: World Employment and Social Outlook |
Film, TV and animation
| Join a fast-growing employment field - media professional roles are expected to grow by over 19% by 2034 | Jobs and Skills Australia, National Employment Projections 2024 to 2034 |
| Top 10 in Australia for communication and media studies | QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025 |
Food and nutrition
| Ranked #1 in Australia for nutrition science research | Australian Research Magazine, 2026 |
| Top 20 fastest-growing health professions. Demand for nutrition professionals is projected to grow by over 30% in a decade | 2024 Employment Projections - for the ten years to 2034, Jobs and Skills Australia (Nutrition professionals) |
| #1 Vic uni for health course satisfaction | Health Services and Support inc. Food and Nutrition (Undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Course Experience Questionnaire), 2023 - 2024 |
| Earn more with a Deakin health degree – #1 Vic uni for median graduate salary | Health Services and Support inc. Food and Nutrition (Undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2023 - 2024 |
| #1 Vic uni for facilities, resources and support for health students | Health Services and Support inc. Food and Nutrition (Postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023 - 2024 |
| Typical salaries: Nutritionist $95k; Food Technologist $83k; Nutrition Writer $77k; Food Safety Officer $89k | Seek, September 2025 |
| 5-year employment growth projections: Nutritionist 15.6%; Nutrition Writer 15.6% | 2025 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2030, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| USD $202.62 billion global food tech calculated market size | Food Technology Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2034 |
| $173 billion Australian food industry | State of the Industry - Australian Food and Grocery Council, 2023-2024 |
Health (postgraduate)
| #36 in the world for public health | ShanghaiRankings Ranking
of Academic Subjects, 2025 |
| Over half a million new jobs across healthcare and social assistance are projected by 2034 in Australia | 2024 Employment Projections - for the ten years to 2034, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| #1 Vic uni for facilities, resources and support for health students | Health Services and Support (Postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023 - 2024 |
| 5-year employment growth projections: Health Manager 12.5%; Health Economist 13.2% (projection for Health Professionals); Health Professional 13.2% (projection for Health Professionals) | 2025 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2030, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| Average Australian salary and 5-year employment growth projections: Health Manager $128k; Health Professional $225k; Policy Adviser $115k salary and 8.7% 5-year employment growth projection | Seek, September 2025 |
| Glassdoor typical Australian salary projections: Health Economist: up to $134k | Glassdoor, September 2025 |
Health (undergraduate)
| #1 Vic uni for health course satisfaction | Health Services and Support (undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Course Experience Questionnaire), 2023–2024 |
| #36 in the world for public health | ShanghaiRankings Ranking of Academic Subjects, 2025 |
| Earn more with a Deakin health degree – #1 Vic uni for median graduate salary | Health Services and Support (undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| One of the top 5 providers of health courses in Australia | Universities Australia, Commencing Enrolments sum
(2018-2023), 2024 |
| Over half a million new jobs across healthcare and social assistance are projected by 2034 in Australia | 2024 Employment Projections - for the ten years to 2034, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| 5-year employment growth projections: Indigenous Health Worker 9% | 2025 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2030, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| Typical salary in Australia: Health Promotion Officer $90k; Environmental Health Officer $95k; Community Development Officer $90k | Seek, September 2025 |
| Typical salary in Australia: Indigenous Health Worker earn up to $107K | Talent.com Australia, September 2025 |
Information technology and cyber security
| #1 Victorian university for computing and information systems graduate employment (undergraduate + postgraduate) | Computing & Information Systems (undergraduate and postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| Average salaries: $110k Cyber Security Analyst; $170k Software Architect; $120k Full Stack Developer; $100k IT Business Analyst; $176k Solutions Architect; $142k Testing Analyst; $167k Scrum Master; $155k Product Owner | Seek, typical salaries
in Australia, as of January 2025 |
| Earn $135K as an IT Manager, $153K as an Information Security Analyst, or $175K as a Data Architect | Seek as of August 2025 |
| Earn more with a Deakin IT degree – #1 Victorian university for median graduate salary (undergraduate + postgraduate) | Computing & Information Systems (undergraduate + postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2022–2024 |
| Join the fastest-growing employment field worldwide | World Economic Forum's ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025' |
| Top 100 universities worldwide for computer science | U.S. News Best Global Universities, 2025–2026 |
Law
| #1 Victorian university for law course satisfaction (undergraduate and postgraduate) | Law and paralegal studies (undergraduate and postgraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Course Experience Questionnaire), 2023–2024 |
| Deakin Law School is ranked among the top 3 in Victoria | QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025 |
Master of Dietetics
| Top 20 fastest growing health professions. Demand for dietitians and other nutrition professionals is projected to grow by over 30% in a decade | 2024 Employment Projections -
for the ten years to 2034, Jobs and Skills Australia (Nutrition
professionals) |
| #1 Vic uni for facilities, resources and support for health students | Health Services and Support inc. Dietetics (Postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023 - 2024 |
MBA
| #18/top 20 online MBA worldwide | CEO Magazine Global MBA Rankings, 2025 |
| Top 3 business school in Victoria | AFR Boss Best Business Schools, 2025 |
| #3 in Australia for business administration | 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects |
Media and communications
| #1 in Victoria for postgraduate communications overall experience and teaching practices | Communications (Postgraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2024 |
| #1 Victorian university for communications course overall satisfaction | Communications (Undergraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Course Experience Questionnaire), 2023–2024 |
| Earn an average of $94k as a Deakin PG Communications graduate (National average: $74,400) | Communications (Postgraduate) CompareEd (QILT – Graduates Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| #1 Victorian university for postgraduate communications graduate employment | Communications (Postgraduate) ComparEd (QILT – Graduates Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| Top 10 in Australia for communication and media studies | QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025 |
| Top 150 in the world for communication | ShanghaiRankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, 2025 |
Nursing
| #14 in the world for nursing | ShanghaiRankings Ranking
of Academic Subjects, 2025 |
| 23.8% growth for nurse managers and 21.5% for nurse educators and researchers projected by 2034 | 2024 Employment Projections - for the ten years to 2034, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| Deakin postgrad nursing students report higher confidence in their skills development than the national average | Nursing (postgraduate), ComparED (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2024 |
| 5-year employment growth projections: Nurse Unit Manager 23.1%; Mental Health Nurse 13.9%; Emergency Nurse 11.3%; Theatre Nurse 13.9% | 2025 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2030, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| Typical salaries in Australia: Nurse Unit Manager: $135k; Mental Health Nurse $105k; Theatre Nurse $95k | Seek, September 2025 |
| Typical salary in Australia: Emergency Nurse $97.5K | Randstand, September 2025 |
Occupational therapy and social work
| #1 Vic uni for occupational therapy and social work course satisfaction | Rehabilitation including occupational therapy and social work (undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Course Experience Questionnaire), 2023–2024 |
| #1 Vic uni for occupational therapy and social work median graduate salary | Rehabilitation including occupational therapy and social work (undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduates Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| #1 Vic uni for social work and occupational therapy graduate employment | Rehabilitation including occupational therapy and social work (undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduates Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| #1 Vic uni for support, facilities and resources for social work students | Social work (undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2024 |
| Occupational therapy and social work roles are in the top 10 fastest-growing health professions | 2024 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2029 and ten years to 2034, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| Eligible social work students can receive weekly government payments of approximately/~ $330 to support placement | Department of Education data |
| 5-year employment growth projections: Occupational Therapist 17.2%; Social Worker 16.4%; Child Safety Officer 12.2% | 2025 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2030, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| Behaviour Support Practitioner: Almost one in three jobs created in 2023 was for the NDIS | ABS, JARDEN data, cited in the Australian Financial Review |
| Typical salaries in Australia: Occupational Therapist $98k; Social Worker $98k; Behaviour Support Practitioner $100k; Child Safety Officer $95k | Seek, September 2025 |
Politics and international relations
| Earn an average of $92,400 as a postgraduate humanities, culture and social sciences graduate from Deakin | Humanities, culture and social sciences (Postgraduate) ComparEd (QILT – Graduates Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
Psychology and counselling
| #1 Victorian uni for psychology facilities and resources | Psychology including counselling psychology (undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2024 |
| #1 Victorian uni for psychology undergraduate employment. | Psychology including counselling psychology (undergraduate), ComparED (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
| #2 Victorian uni for psychology | Ranking for psychiatry/psychology, U.S. News & World Report Rankings. 2025–2026 |
| Psychologists and counsellors are two of Australia’s top 30 fastest-growing careers | 2024 Employment Projections - for the ten years to 2034, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| 5-year employment growth projections: Registered Psychologist 16.1%; Counsellor 15.3%; Clinical Psychologist 16.1% | 2025 Employment Projections - for the five years to 2030, Jobs and Skills Australia |
| 5-year employment growth projections: Human Resources Manager 16.3% | Seek, September 2025 |
Science
| #3 Victorian university for biological sciences / ecology | ShanghaiRankings Global
Ranking of Academic Subjects, 2024 |
| Above world standard in biochemistry and cell biology research | Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) evaluations, 2018 |
| Average Salaries: $85k medical scientist; $105k chemical engineer; $105k quality control inspector; $105k zoologist; $102 forensic scientist | Seek, typical salaries in Australia, March 2025 |
| Deakin science graduates achieve employment outcomes above the national average (86% found employment) | Science and mathematics (undergraduate), CompareEd (QILT – Graduate Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
Sport
| #1 postgraduate sport business course in Australia and Asia-Pacific | SportBusiness Magazine’s Postgraduate Rankings, 2025 |
| #1 provider for sport in Australia | Universities Australia, commencing enrolments sum (2018-23), 2024 |
| #1 sport science school in the world (five years running) | ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments, 2021–2025 |
| #14 in the world for sports-related subjects | QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 |
| Typical salary in Australia: Exercise Physiologist $85k; Sports Coach $90k; Participation Manager $160k | Seek, September 2025 |
| Typical salary in Australia: Business Development Manager $115k | Seek and Indeed, September 2025 |
Writing and literature
| Top 10 for English language and literature related subjects in Australia | QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 |
| #1 Victorian university for postgraduate humanities, culture and social sciences for positive overall experience | Humanities, culture and social sciences (Postgraduate) ComparEd (QILT – Student Experience Survey), 2023–2024 |
| Earn an average of $92,400 as a postgraduate humanities, culture and social sciences graduate from Deakin | Humanities, culture and social sciences (Postgraduate) ComparEd (QILT – Graduates Outcomes Survey), 2022–2024 |
Frequently cited websites mentioned on this page
- ComparEd.edu.au
- Jobs and Skills Australia
- QS World Rankings by Subject
- ShanghaiRankings
- US News and World Report
- World Economic Forum
- Seek
For an overview of Deakin's overall university rankings, visit our University rankings page.
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