How to become a business analyst in Australia

Start your career in business with a degree from UNSW.

Students and teachers in business school computer lab

A business analyst is the link between a business’s current situation and its goals. They help organisations in understanding current situations, identifying necessary changes, and determining actions by defining and analysing business needs, processes and structures.

The pathway into becoming a business analyst is flexible. Business, systems or IT qualifications can help. However, you can also build on your other work experience, such as problem-solving or project management, to pivot your career towards business analysis. 

What do business analysts do?

What a business analyst mostly does is identify areas where a business can improve, recommend the actions needed and help implement those actions. This can include:

specifying business needs
mapping processes
analysing data
gathering requirements
supporting digital transformation
working closely with stakeholders.

Business analysts connect people, systems and strategy. They often facilitate workshops, solve problems, and communicate to support management through periods of change and implement new strategies and approaches.

Business analyst vs data analyst: What’s the difference?

The difference between a business analyst and a data analyst is their sphere of focus.

A business analyst takes a broad organisational view, understanding business problems, documenting requirements, improving processes and ensuring solutions to meet user needs.

Data analysts, on the other hand, dig deep into datasets, identifying patterns, building reports and supporting decision-making with quantitative insights.

The roles can overlap but have different objectives. The data analyst helps to define a problem with data. Meanwhile, a business analyst takes a more strategic approach, using data as one of the inputs into their assessment and recommendations.

How do you become a business analyst?

Business analyst qualifications can come in many forms. For some students, undergraduate degrees in business, commerce, information systems or related fields are a great start. Practical experience will help you stand out to employers when you start your career in business analytics.

Enrol in an undergraduate degree: Enrol in a bachelor's degree in business, commerce, information systems or a similar field to develop technical foundations in data, processes, and organisational systems.
Get hands-on experience: Look for internships or part-time roles to gain experience in analysis or project work and develop your professional and technical skills. Your study at UNSW includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL), which allows you to earn credit through industry placements and internships.
Apply for graduate programs or junior roles: When you’ve finished your undergraduate degree, you could apply for junior business analyst roles or deepen your knowledge with a postgraduate qualification such as a Master of Business Analytics or Master of Information Systems.

For career changers, postgraduate study in business analytics, project management, or information technology can open doors to business analyst roles. Short courses or certifications that strengthen analytical tools and BA methodologies are also beneficial.

What skills do you need to be a business analyst?

Business analysts require a balanced mix of people skills and technical capability. Strong business analysts can switch comfortably between talking with stakeholders, analysing information and translating insights into clear recommendations. 

Business analyst skills take time to develop. University study will give you the theory, but the real insights will come with project-based learning, workplace exposure and practice in organisational settings.

Soft skills

confident communication and the ability to explain ideas clearly
stakeholder engagement and relationship building
problem solving and critical thinking
facilitation and active listening
adaptability in fast-changing project environments
time management and organisational skills
curiosity and a willingness to ask the right questions

Technical skills

requirements gathering and documentation
process mapping and modelling
understanding of business systems and workflows
basic data analysis and interpretation
familiarity with common BA and project tools
awareness of UX concepts and user needs
ability to translate business needs into practical solutions

Explore our degrees

FAQs about becoming a business analyst in Australia

Undergraduate students typically spend three years completing their degree, while a postgraduate qualification usually takes one to two years.

However, practical experience is vital to develop strong business analyst skills. The overall timeline depends on how quickly you can gain relevant workplace exposure. 
The core skills of business analytics are extremely transferable and you will be able to shape your career depending on your interests. You may like to focus on a specific industry, such as health or manufacturing, or an area of the business, such as IT, customer engagement or product strategy.

When you first start as a junior business analyst, you will most likely work on small projects or internal process improvements. Then, as your experience grows, you can consider specialising in areas such as digital transformation, systems analysis or customer experience.

As you progress, you’ll take on more complex projects. You could transition into roles like product management, project management or UX strategy. Alternatively, you might move into high-level positions such as business architect, chief information officer or consultancy work.
International students can study business analytics and related programs in Australia, provided they meet English language and academic requirements and are able to obtain the appropriate visa.

There is a strong demand for analytics professionals across many sectors, which may help with visa applications.
A business analyst's salary in Australia depends on experience, workplace setting, location and opportunities for progression into specialised or leadership roles.

The average salary for a Business Analyst in Australia is between $105,000 to $125,000 (Seek, 2025). The average annual salary for Product Managers ranges from $120,000 to $140,000, and for Project Managers, from $135,000 to $155,000.
Becoming a business analyst will give you the opportunity to learn about many aspects of a business, work with different people throughout the organisation and see how your problem-solving skills can create value in the workplace.

However, you will also have to absorb and analyse a lot of information quickly. You’ll wear many hats at various times, and some employees are resistant to change, so gaining trust and support can take time.

How UNSW will prepare you for your future in business analytics

When you study business analytics at the UNSW Business School, you’ll be studying at the top Business School in the Asia Pacific. The School of Information Systems and Technology Management is ranked #1 in Australia, #3 in the Asia-Pacific and #14 globally (Association for Information Systems (AIS), 2024). You’ll learn how to source data, perform data analysis and apply data insights. 

Our reputation for hands-on learning, access to real business projects, a strong analytics curriculum and opportunities to build technical and consulting skills. These elements will give you both theoretical knowledge and the practical experience needed to succeed as a business analyst in evolving industries.

Start your career as a business analyst at UNSW

At UNSW, you’ll build a strong foundation in business analytics.

Want to find out more about studying business at UNSW?

If you have any questions about studying at UNSW or how you can make your studies work for you, contact us below. We’re here to help.

Ask a question

Connect with us

Follow