Studying online has become increasingly popular. As more and more people explore learning in later life or look to combine working with studying online, virtual courses offer incredible opportunities. Offering flexibility, affordability and convenience, online universities cater to a wide range of students. In this guide, we’ll shine a spotlight on the top universities for online study in Australia, highlighting our picks for 2025.
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Where to Study Online in Australia: Our Top 5 Universities
Choosing the right university is key, whether you plan to study in person or online. With an ever-growing range of options available, there’s never been a better time to study online, but how do you find the best place to learn? To save you time and effort, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 universities for online study in Australia in 2025:
- UTS Online- Best for postgraduates
If you’re on the lookout for postgraduate programmes online, you’ll struggle to beat UTS Online. Australia’s leading young university and part of the renowned University of Technology Sydney (UTS), UTS Online specialises in fully online postgraduate courses.
Studying online with UTS Online provides quick and easy access to graduate courses via dedicated learning platforms with continuous support available from experienced, knowledgeable tutors. The joy of doing an online course with UTS Online is being able to balance studying with other activities and commitments. Online learning fits around work, making it an ideal solution for busy professionals who want to learn and earn simultaneously.
UTS Online offers a wide range of postgraduate courses, covering fields such as:
- Building & design
- Business
- Communication
- Education
- Sustainability
- Health
- Technology
By focusing solely on postgraduate courses, students can benefit from tailored learning experiences that cater to their requirements and recognise the needs of individuals balancing online study with other activities. UTS Online leads the way for online postgraduate study, providing flexible courses that make further study as accessible as possible.
Pros:
- Fully online courses for optimum flexibility and affordability
- Wide range of courses
- Leading university
- Dedicated advice and support from experienced tutors
Cons:
- Postgraduate courses only
- Deakin- Best for course variety
Deakin is located in Victoria. This university is famed for its expansive online student base, with over 78,000 students boasting online qualifications.
The standout feature Deakin offers is the variety of courses. There are over 260 courses available, covering a wide range of subjects. Although Deakin is known for online learning, some courses offer in-person tuition for those who want to enjoy the best of both worlds. There’s a vast array of undergraduate programmes, as well as postgraduate courses and research opportunities.
Examples of areas of study include:
- Psychology
- Education
- Business
- Communication
- Computer science
- Law
- Criminology
- Engineering
- Health sciences
- Property & real estate
- Social work
Pros:
- Vast range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses
- Options to learn online or on campus
- Highly rated for graduate employment
Cons:
- Not all courses are fully online
- Charles Sturt University- Best for flexible study options
Located in the heart of Sydney with additional campuses across Australia, Charles Sturt University is a top choice for online learning.
The main advantage of choosing Charles Sturt University for online courses is the flexibility of study options. This university runs a range of programmes, from traditional degrees and postgraduate courses to micro-courses, certificates and diplomas. The online micro-courses, which involve 4-8 hours of study per week, are ideal for building credits towards diplomas and certificates.
Charles Sturt University offers courses in the following areas:
- Agriculture & environment
- Animal & veterinary sciences
- Arts & communication
- Business
- Education & teaching
- Information & library studies
- IT & computing
- Medicine & health
- Policing, law & security
- Psychology & social work
- Science & engineering
- Theology & Islamic studies
Pros:
- Over 240 online courses available
- Wide range of subjects
- In-person courses available
- Large student community
Cons:
- Not as highly rated as other universities that offer online courses
- The University of New England- Best for student support
The University of New England (UNE) is one of the most established providers of online learning in Australia. With extensive experience in helping students gain the best possible results while enjoying distance learning, UNE shines for its dedication to student support and holistic approach to online study.
UNE offers a diverse range of online programmes, including undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses for domestic and international students.
Areas include:
- Animals & agriculture
- Business & finance
- Earth & environment
- Education & teaching
- Health
- Humanities & arts
- IT & data science
- Languages & linguistics
- Law & criminology
- Psychology & mental health
- Sciences & social sciences
Pros:
- Vast experience in delivering online courses
- Comprehensive, accessible student support
- Focus on student socialisation
- Flexible study options
- High ratings for overall student experience
Cons:
- Academic ratings are not as high as other leading universities with online course options
- University of South Australia- Best for online course accessibility
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is one of Australia’s largest providers of online courses. Offering both campus-based and online programmes, this is a university that caters to a wide range of students.
We rate UniSA highly due to the ease of access for students looking to pursue online study opportunities. With fully online courses, it’s possible to study and get a qualification from anywhere in the world. The online degree programmes have been designed with fully remote access in mind, meaning students can access course content, support and expert guidance with minimal effort.
UniSA covers a broad spectrum of subject areas, with online courses available in the following fields:
- Accounting & finance
- Healthy ageing
- Business
- Construction management
- Criminology & criminal justice
- Community & public health
- Financial planning
- Digital media
- Engineering
- Health science
- Human resource management
- IT & data analytics
- Marketing & communication
- Nutrition & exercise
- Psychology & social services
Pros:
- 100% online programmes available
- Easy access to course materials, resources and academic support
- Over 30 years of experience in delivering remote learning
Cons:
- Smaller number of courses than other leading online universities
The Last Word
Studying online has become increasingly popular. It affords flexibility while removing common barriers to learning, such as cost and working around other commitments. Australia has some fantastic universities that specialise in online study. If you’re looking for online courses, this guide will help you find the best place to study.