If you're interested in becoming a computer programmer, and there are plenty of reasons, you'll likely have to complete a course in computer science or a related subject.
If you know exactly what you want to do with computer programming, then it may be worthwhile looking at specialist courses and degrees.
There's more to choosing a university than just the course and what's right for one student mightn't be right for another so keep that in mind. However, these are what we consider the universities in the country (in no particular order) for focusing on computer science, which makes them a great place to start your search.
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
Queensland University of Technology offers a Bachelor of Information Technology (Computer Science) degree which can be studied over 3 years as a full-time course or over 6 years if you study part-time.
The degree gives students options so that they can look into a second area of study to complete either as their second major or double minor.
This can include second majors like computational and simulation science or data science. As for minors, students can focus on things like networks and security, IoT and mobile technologies, intelligent systems, user experience, etc.
The overall goal of the course is to teach students about the principles of computing and how to solve system design issues in terms of efficiency usability and security.
The University of Queensland, Brisbane
The University of Queensland's Computer Science degree is a 3-year program that teaches students about all aspects of computer technology through theoretical and practical applications.
The University of Queensland has taught computer science for over half a century and the department is well-established.
Students also have the option to specialise in aspects of computer science like cyber security, data science, machine learning, programming languages and scientific computing.
This is certainly a great course for students interested in breaking into the world of computer programming and also attending a university that regularly ranks within the top 100 in the world.
Griffith University, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan
Griffith University offers a reputable computer science program with options to study on-site at the Gold Coast campus or online. There are also the options to complete the course over 3 years through full-time study in-person or online or in 6 years with part-time study. However, with the latter, the course is only offered online.
Students are given the choice to specialise in fields like programming languages, distributed computing, computer architectures, algorithms and operating systems, machine learning, robotics, and big data mining. There are two options for majors and a good choice of electives.
The course also provides graduates with the option to join the Australian Computer Society (ACS), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide offers several computer science programs and degrees and has done for over 50 years.
Through computer science and software engineering, students can major in fields like artificial intelligence, computer science, cybersecurity, data science, distributed systems and networking.
The University of Adelaide is another highly-rated university and is just outside the world's top 100.
Monash University, Melbourne
The computer science program at Monash University focuses on a practical approach through using the latest technology where students will also study the theory of computation in depth to master its practical applications in the real world.
There's also a good amount of freedom for students with a third of the course offering electives that allow students to adapt the course to what they want to do in the future. They'll have options to study more computer science, and specialise in other aspects of IT like cybersecurity or games development.
Students can even add electives from outside the world of IT and computer science or get a double degree that combines science, law, engineering, or commerce with computer science, for example.
The course also provides the option for a half-year industry-based learning placement which is also supported by scholarships.
University of Sydney
Majoring in computer science at the University of Sydney is a great option for anyone thinking about jobs with computer programming.
There are several courses where students can major in computer science and students can study things like algorithm design, data structures, distributed systems, graphics and multimedia, artificial intelligence, programming, models of computation, systems programming and object-oriented programming.
The University of Sydney is both one of the best universities in the country and also one of the world's top 50 universities! For graduate employability, it's first in Australia and 4th in the world.
The facilities are excellent and with such great prospects for graduates, this is definitely a university that every student should look into.
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
The Bachelor of Computing Science (Honours) degree at UTS is either 4 years for full-time students or 8 years for part-time students.
The program is for both those who want to stay in academia as researchers or those looking for careers in computing.
As with the other courses in this article, there are many options for majors including artificial intelligence and data analytics, cybersecurity and privacy, mathematical analysis, quantum information science, enterprise systems development and business information systems management.
The course is split into core computing science subjects, students' major choices in the field of information technology, computing science honours subjects, and a small number of sub-major or elective choices.
This is one of the world's top 100 universities with a very structured honours program that could be the right choice for students who know exactly what they want to do.
UNSW Sydney
At UNSW Sydney, students have options to study computer science and software engineering, bioinformatics engineering, computer hardware engineering or data science.
While all of these will have options to learn computer programming, we'll consider computer science and engineering as we have done with the other universities throughout this article.
The degrees at UNSW Sydney are accredited by Engineers Australia and the Australian Computing Society and include partnerships with research networks focusing on areas like artificial intelligence and programming languages.
There are options for students to get double degrees and combine their bachelor of engineering (honours) with commerce, science, arts, biomedical engineering, etc.
From there, graduates can start looking for work in a broad number of industries or remain in academia for postgraduate study or postgraduate research.
Australian National University (ANU), Canberra
ANU has been ranked as the best university in Australia, 27th in the world and first for employability (in addition to the other benefits of becoming a computer programmer). Of course, different organisations rank things differently so when it comes to who ranks first, it will depend on who you ask, which is why a couple of these universities are claiming first place.
However, being ranked first by anyone makes a university worth considering and ANU offers degrees in advanced computing, applied data analytics, software engineering, and information technology to name a few.
If you want to become a computer programmer or study computer science, ANU is worth looking into.
University of Melbourne
Last but not least is the University of Melbourne where students can specialise in computing, computing and software systems or data science.
This university is one of the world's top 50 universities and also ranks highly for graduate employability.
For students majoring in computing, they'll study the technologies involved in computer science including web services, databases, and computer networks and see how they're used across a variety of industries and fields including business, education, healthcare, etc.
The university offers a flexible study program where students can either choose their major right at the start of their course or before they start their second year. From there, they'll start focusing more closely on their major and the electives they've chosen.
This program also includes options for double majors combining computing with fascinating and complementary areas of study like construction, graphic design, landscape architecture, performance design, spatial systems, urban planning or property.
There's also the option to study electives that are outside of related fields of study so students with a broad range of interests will feel intellectually satisfied without feeling they've been pigeonholed into their major.
Once students have graduated, there are very clear paths into further study or postgraduate research or careers in computer science and computer programming.
Much like a lot of the other programs we've listed here, the University of Melbourne's Bachelor of Design (Computing) is accredited by the Australian Computer Society.
Of course, just because a university didn't make our list, that doesn't mean it isn't worth considering, but if you want to start your search with these institutions, you won't be disappointed.
Don't forget that you know what you're like better than anyone else and remember that what makes these establishments worthy of inclusion in this list mightn't be the same criteria you consider to be worthwhile or beneficial.
There are plenty of great reasons to look at going to one of these places, but they aren't the only reasons. Think carefully about where you want to go and do your research and don't forget to consider the downsides of becoming a computer programmer, too.
Good luck.
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