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Master of Information Science
PostgraduateCUR-ISC-MAS2025
Expertise in libraries and archives
Develop advanced technical skills for specialist roles in the information profession. You’ll deep dive into library science, archival science, and records management. Explore changes in information management. Unlock new career opportunities.
- Study method
- 100% online study with practicum placement
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 21 May 2025,
- 20 Aug 2025,
- 19 Nov 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 12
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Information Science
About this degree
On successful completion of this program the learner will be able to:
- apply knowledge of the theory, principles and practices in information science, library science, archival science, and records management
- generate creative and innovative solutions to complex issues facing the information professionals
- access, adapt, and create information and technologies to communicate with diverse stakeholders
- engage in ethical and culturally capable information practices within local, regional and international contexts
- recognise, respect and support diverse cultures and knowledges with particular awareness of Indigenous perspectives
- demonstrate personal autonomy, accountability and collaboration in professional practice that reflects high ethical and moral standards
Master Degrees (Coursework) prepare students to apply advanced knowledge for professional practice, scholarship and further learning corresponding to AQF level 9 qualifications.
This program is designed to enhance technical skill and to provide an understanding of the ways in which the field of information science and management is developing. The program is designed to provide graduates with a professional qualification in information science or an avenue to upgrade previous qualifications. Areas of study include librarianship, records management, information science and archives.
Recommended study pattern
The degree consists of ten mandatory core subjects, including two fieldwork-focused subjects, and two core subjects that must be selected from a specified list.
Please refer to the Enrolment Guide (PDF) for more information.
See the enrolment planner below.
Master of Information Science enrolment planner (XLS)
Award requirements
The degree consists of ten mandatory core subjects, including two fieldwork-focused subjects, and two core subjects that must be selected from a specified list.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$21,880
Indicative total fee $32,820
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 13
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 14
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Applicants require a minimum of a three-year bachelor's degree from a recognised tertiary education provider. The degree relies on technology skills, so applicants must be competent in word processing and the use of the internet, including web browsing software, before starting the degree.
Applicants for a Masters are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at Study at Curtin. Applicants generally require a Bachelor Degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma.
Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at Study at Curtin.
Study method requirements
Fieldwork placements are arranged for all students. Exemptions may be possible for students with required levels of work experience in libraries or other information services.
Career opportunities
As an information professional you will be well placed to provide advice on how to acquire, organise, access, curate and preserve information as well as being able to contextualise information so it is used ethically and meaningfully. The explosion of personal and organisational information, and expansion of data tracking and recording, requires professionals in key roles within organisations that advise on data privacy, metadata, governance, information literacy, user experience, universal design, digital fluency and data management.
You may pursue a career in:
- Public, state and national libraries
- Academic and special libraries
- Corporate and government records management
- Local, state and national archives
- Family and local history
- Museum archives
- Digital repositories
- Publishing
Professional recognition
This program has met the conditions for preliminary accreditation by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Archivists, Curators and Records Managers | $93K to $120K | Up 12% |
| Librarians | $75K to $93K | Up 17.7% |
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
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 can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
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.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.