
Key areas to study
You can study a huge range of subjects in Tasmania. Explore a few of our most popular areas of study below.
Tasmania is renowned for its high quality produce, and its agricultural education has received a world-class ranking. Be a part of this exciting and innovative industry by studying Agriculture in Tasmania.
Studying agriculture in Tasmania provides students with access to not only world heritage and wilderness areas, but one of the state’s most significant employment areas. Courses focus on practical and field experience, taking students out of the classroom and onto the land for research in areas such as agriculture, horticulture, biology, chemistry, dairy production, crop protection, sustainability and farm management.
Agriculture courses in Tasmania are designed to set students up for a full career in the area, with the option to study agribusiness.
Agriculture facts:
- more than one quarter of Tasmania’s land is dedicated to agriculture
- the state is well known for its high quality, organic growing conditions
- Tasmanians account for about 25% of the national vegetable exports
- the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) is highly rated globally and the University’s Sense-T project leads the world in the development and implementation of technological sensors for use in farm management
- the agricultural sector directly employs around 10 000 people.
Tasmania’s graduates in Architecture and Design have an outstanding success rate, with many going on to win prestigious national awards and contribute to innovative local design firms.
Studying architecture in Tasmania enables students to engage in a close-knit community of like-minded peers, both local and international.
Tasmania offers architecture subjects that embrace the future, including Augmented Reality Architecture and environmental-based design.
The teaching structure is based on the mentality of “Learning by making” – where students engage in prototyping activities including constructing physical models to explore all design possibilities available for their projects. Students are also able to engage in community projects which give them an authentic real-world experience in working in teams and collaborating with clients and consultants. These community projects are based with just that in mind – the goal of serving the wider Tasmanian community through design.
Tasmania has an excellent focus on arts and humanities. Its new Media School is the first of its kind in Australia, with significant national industry partners including MONA, News Corp, ABC and Fairfax.
Arts, Humanities and Social Science degrees in Tasmania are known for their flexibility and diversity, making them ideal degrees for first-time studiers. There are also many research and higher-degree options available in Tasmania focused on the needs of the population locally and globally.
The University of Tasmania has an internationally recognised research culture, with programs in History & Classics and Philosophy and Gender Studies ranking above world standard1.
Tasmania offers a large range of humanities and social-science based study areas, including media, politics and international relations, social work, sociology and criminology, English, history and media. Due to the wide range of disciplines on offer, the career opportunities are also extremely diverse and can take students around the country and the world.
Tasmania has recently boosted its media study program with a new Media School located in the picturesque Salamanca area. The school offers a Bachelor of Media, an internationally recognised qualification which allows students to develop practical skills, learn how to utilise new media technologies, and build a portfolio of work through engaging in industry placements. With the strong links to the media industry in Tasmania, nationally and across the Asia region, studying media in Tasmania is an ideal opportunity to begin a diverse and rewarding career.
With high-class industry connections and a rating in the top three for marine and ocean engineering in Australia, an engineering diploma or degree in Tasmania is ideal for those seeking a strong hands-on approach to learning.
Studying engineering in Tasmania will not only provide you with project experience and practical knowledge, but also an opportunity to make industry connections and engage in hands-on learning. There is a focus on highly practical courses, and students can get firsthand experience in the field and in labs from day one of their studies.
TasTafe offers various engineering opportunities, including diplomas and certificates that can be delivered as an apprenticeship in the workplace.
The University of Tasmania has multiple industry connections, with many firms looking to hire from the University’s pool of final year students once they have graduated.
Tasmanian Engineering students also have the ability to have their career take them across the world. The University of Tasmania’s courses are recognised internationally by the Washington Accord, which is recognised in countries including Canada, China, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, NZ, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, UK and USA.
Study options are vast and can range from civil and mechanical engineering to degrees with focus areas of electronics, communications, electrical power and technology.
Tasmania is also rated in the top three places in Australia to study Marine Engineering. Having immediate access to the ocean allows students studying Marine Engineering in Tasmania to engage in professional short courses and hands on training at sea. Additionally as part of your training, you will receive an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Certificate of Competency.
Studying Law in Tasmania gives students access to the Tasmanian judiciary with many Judges, Magistrates and Lawyers being involved in the legal education. As one of the top 100 places to study law in the world, Tasmania offers a unique legal education experience with an additional focus on social justice and community service.
Tasmania is home to the fourth oldest law school in Australia. Founded in 1893, the faculty of Law in Tasmania is now a nationally and internationally recognised institution, ranking number nine in Australia and 61 in the world.
Being the only University in the State, the University of Tasmania is closely connected to and supported by Tasmanian judges, magistrates and legal practitioners.
Studying Law in Tasmania as an international student provides you with innovative, nationally-recognised support programs. These programs aim at providing practical academic support to help international students improve their results and get the most out of their law degree whilst studying in Tasmania.
Engage with national leaders in medicine and pharmacy when studying in Tasmania. With some of the highest graduate job outcomes in Australia, Tasmania’s focus on health care and commitment to health research makes it a key study destination for students.
Studying health and medicine in Tasmania gives students the opportunity to engage in innovative and hands on programs with a focus on technology and high-quality research.
In addition to degrees in medicine and pharmacy, Specialist areas are also available for study. These include but are not limited to dementia care, nutrition science, and paramedic practice and laboratory medicine.
Tasmania is also the home to the Menzies Institute for Medical Research. The renowned institute, established in 1988, has contributed to internationally significant medical research. Some of its discoveries include:
- key evidence on the link between babies' sleeping position and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- genetic markers are linked to men's risk of developing prostate cancer
- children who are exposed to their parents' cigarette smoke may suffer an irreversible impact to their cardiovascular health later in life
- higher vitamin D levels are associated with a lower relapse risk in multiple sclerosis
- childhood obesity does not permanently increase cardiovascular risk if obesity in adulthood is avoided
- nerve cells in undamaged parts of the brain can remodel themselves in response to acquired brain injury
- platelets found in the blood kill the malaria parasite during the early stages of a malarial infection
- development of risk algorithms for prediction of heart failure in persons at risk of heart failure, and risk assessment for hospital re-admission in patients with heart failure.
Health and aged-care qualifications are highly sought in Tasmania, as the area is one of the state’s largest employment growth areas.
There are many options to choose from when it comes to studying nursing in Tasmania.
Completing a degree in Nursing is a pathway to becoming a registered nurse, while other short courses and diplomas in nursing and aged care provide students with highly valued and transferable skills that are sought after in multiple industries within the state.
Nursing and aged/in-home care is a highly valued skill area and qualifications in these areas are in high demand by Tasmanian employers.
A nursing degree or diploma can see you working in a variety of environments. This not only includes hospitals, but aged care, mental health, acute care and other community facilities focused on providing clinical health services to the community.
A study experience you won’t receive anywhere else in the world. Tasmania is rated the number one place in the world to study the Southern Ocean and the number one in Australia for Oceanography.
As an island state, Tasmania is a gateway to the diverse marine environment of the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic. Being so close to this environment has allowed Tasmania to develop world-class research programs and maritime facilities with a focus on the sustainable management of the marine environment.
Tasmania is not only rated the number one place in the world to study the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, but it has also gained the following rankings in 2018:
- Oceanology: number one in Australia and number 13 in the world
- Marine and Fresh Water Biology: number four in the world
- Fisheries: number seven in the world.
Marine and Antarctic studies in Tasmania combines science-based research with themes of global sustainability to provide a unique and meaningful study experience. You will be able to major in areas such as chemistry, geology, marine biology and physics with a focus on the temperate marine, Antarctic and southern ocean . Taught by world-renowned experts, you will be able to excel in specialised research areas such as:
- fisheries and aquaculture
- ecology and biodiversity
- oceans and cryosphere studies
- ocean-earth systems
- oceans and Antarctic governance.
Tasmania is currently centre stage when it comes to special events, festivals and being a world-class holiday destination. Studying Tourism and Hospitality in Tasmania is a great pathway to finding work in an exciting, diverse and ever-growing global market.
If you’ve ever wanted to gain professional experience in the hospitality or tourism industries, Tasmania is a great place to start. Studying these industries puts students in a prime position to develop their skills and find a career that could take them anywhere in the world.
There are many opportunities to gain professional experience in these industries after completing study in Tasmania due to the steady growth in employment opportunities in the area. In 2014-2015, the total value of Tourism to the Tasmanian economy grew by $270 million, with tourism jobs jumping from 4 500 to 36 700 - 15.3% total State employment.
Courses and study areas range from food and beverage service, kitchen and bar operations patisserie and barista courses to tour/outdoor recreation guiding and event management.
There are also options to study tourism and hospitality management in Tasmania, allowing students to gain experience in human resource management and marketing with an industry-based focus.
1. Source: State Of Australian University Research 2015–16, Australian Research Council.