Question 1

Why should I study data analytics?

Accepted Answer

Data is one of the most powerful tools businesses and governments use to make decisions. It’s collected in all sorts of ways, from rewards programs at your local grocery store to Australia’s national census.

With so much data available, it’s critical there are people who understand data and how to interpret it.

There are plenty of good reasons to study data analytics right now. Here are just a few:

Data analysts are in high demand. Jobs are projected to keep growing strongly, meaning your employment outlook is very good.
Data analysis is a highly transferable skill that you can use across various industries, so it’s a great specialty to have on your resume.
Along with highly in-demand technical skills, a course in data analytics will help you develop sound reasoning skills and understand the nuances of data ethics.

Question 2

What skills will I learn in a data analytics course?

Accepted Answer

It varies depending on your exact data analytics online course, but what you cover may include:

Data security
Ethics
Predictive analysis
Cloud computing
Machine learning
Artificial intelligence
Computing languages like Python and R
Modelling and manipulating data sets

Question 3

What software and tools will I learn how to use in a data analytics course?

Accepted Answer

You’ll be introduced to lots of useful tools, software, and programming languages in your online data analytics course, which you’ll apply when working in the industry.

These may include:

R
Python
SQL
Excel
Tableau
SAS

Question 4

What is the difference between a data analytics and data science course?

Accepted Answer

Data analytics and data science are related—but not quite the same thing.

Data science is wider in scope and includes things like using machine learning and building predictive models to forecast future trends.

Data analytics, however, is a more specific task and profession that sits within the field of data science. It refers to the extraction of insights from data.

Read more about data science vs data analytics on our blog.

Question 5

Do I need to know programming to study data analytics?

Accepted Answer

If you don’t have a programming background, don’t worry. You will learn about programming languages in your data analytics course. If you do already have some programming knowledge, though, this will come in handy.

Question 6

How long is a data analytics course?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide:

Course	Duration
Single subject	10-18 weeks
Short course	10-18 weeks
Undergraduate certificate	6 months (if full time)
Diploma	1 year (if full time)
Associate degree	2 years (if full time)
Bachelor degree	3 years (if full time)
Graduate certificate	6 months (if full time)
Graduate diploma	1 year (if full time)
Masters degree	2 years (if full time)

If you study a degree in data analytics through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

Question 7

Which data analytics course is best for me?

Accepted Answer

If you’re having trouble choosing between online data analytics courses, take our 2-minute quiz to get matched with the courses that suit your interests, study goals and education history.

Or book a free phone consultation with a student advisor to discuss available study options.

Question 8

What career opportunities can I explore after studying data analytics?

Accepted Answer

Data analysts are in high demand in almost every industry, across both the private and public sectors. As a data analyst, you might work in:

FMCG (Fast-moving consumer goods)
eCommerce
Energy
Finance
Insurance
Healthcare
Logistics
Manufacturing

You will be qualified to take on a role as a:

Data engineer
Data architect
Information and reporting analyst
Systems analyst and administrator
Market research analyst
Business analyst
Financial analyst

Question 9

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Accepted Answer

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

Question 10

How do I enrol?

Accepted Answer

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

Question 11

What if I’m not sure about data analytics?

Accepted Answer

A great way to find out is to enrol in a single data analytics subject. You can give the field a test run, without committing to a full qualification.

Otherwise, we recommend browsing these closely related study areas. They’re broken down by interest, so you can quickly find what appeals to you most:

I want to...	We recommend exploring...
work with big data and artificial intelligence to predict trends	data science courses
lead a data team and make strategic decisions	management courses
examine data patterns using scientific methodologies	statistics courses
lead a business data project	project management courses
work on the creative projects that are guided by data insights	marketing courses

Data analytics courses

Introduction to Data analytics