Undergraduate
Bachelor of Computer Science/Master of Information Technology
2021
The Bachelor of Computer Science/Master of Information Technology focuses on developing your skills and knowledge in a specialised area of your choice in information technology.
As a computer science specialist, your role will be to continue to not only improve technologies vital to the modern world but also educate your community about their importance.
You will develop skills and knowledge in the principles and applications of computer science as well as strengthen your problem solving, decision making and communication skills making you a confident and competent candidate for your dream job.
During your master’s studies, you will focus on three information technology specialisations; software engineering, cyber security, information systems and data science, so you can follow your interests in related fields.
Career opportunities
Graduating from this course may lead to career opportunities as a computer scientist in government, private companies and non-government organisations (NGO) as a web designer and developer, games developer, networking and application developer, analyst, consultant, UX specialist, programmer, SEO specialist, database administrator and business analyst.
Professional recognition
This course is designed to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) at Professional Level. This course is also designed to meet the European Quality Assurance Network for Informatics Education (EQANIE) accreditation requirements at master's level.
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
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There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.
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This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
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Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Admission criteria
Admission requirements are met by one of the following:
- Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 80*.
- Successful completion of a national qualification at Diploma level or higher.
- Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma with a GPA of at least 5.
- Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
- Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 162 (or a score of 168 if prior to May 2010).
- Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program or the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses or a recognised enabling course of at least twelve months duration.
* After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.
Essential requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education in an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 169, with no skill below 169. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of B2. |
| Navitas Academic English (will not be accepted from 2021 onwards) | A minimum overall pass and 55% in Academic English 3. (Note: this score will not be accepted from 2021 intakes onwards). |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50. |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 60 and a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
ATAR profile
There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.
Course structure
This combined degree consists of core computer science units, specialist IT units in software engineering, cyber security and information systems and data science, a yearlong thesis and a project.
The first three years of study introduce basic computer science skills. The next two years allow students to specialise to a higher professional information technology standard.
The course is available on campus or externally by distance learning for those who are not able to attend classes on campus on a regular basis. Access to the internet is required for distance learning, with access to high speed broadband highly recommended.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 400 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Common Units (2 units) |
20cp | Common units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below.
CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability Select Common Units to find out more about individual units and advanced standing options |
| Bachelor of Computing Science Core Units (20 units) |
200cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 200 credit points as detailed below.
HIT137 Software Now |
| Undergraduate Electives (2 units) |
20cp | Elective units totalling 20 credit points selected from undergraduate units offered by the University. |
| Master of Information Technology Core Units (4 units) |
40cp |
Compulsory Core units totalling 40 credit points as detailed below. ENG519 Sustainability (replaces ENG417 from 2021) |
| Master of Information Technology Specialist Electives (5 units) |
60cp | Specialist Elective units totalling 60 credit points selected from one of the specialist streams.
Software Engineering Information Systems and Data Science Cyber Security |
| Research Units (2 units) |
40cp | Research units totalling 40 credit points as detailed below. PRT820 Thesis x 2 (20cp, repeatable) |
| Postgraduate Electives (2 units) |
20cp | Elective units totalling 20 credit points selected from Postgraduate units offered by the University. |
| 400cp | Total Credit Points |
Course Changes from 2021
HIT140 Foundations of Data Science replaces STA101 Statistics 1 from 2021. Students who have already completed STA101 will not be required to complete HIT140.
ENG519 Sustainability replaces ENG417 Sustainability from 2021. Students who have already completed ENG417 will not be required to complete ENG519.
Course Changes from 2020
HIT274 Network Engineering Applications replaces HIT174 Network Engineering Concepts as a core unit from 2020. Students who have already completed HIT174 will not be required to complete HIT274.
Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| E = Elective | R = Research |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology | CU | CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU |
| HIT164 Computing Fundamentals | CO | HIT140 Foundations of Data Science (replaces STA101 from 2021) | CO |
| HIT172 Operating Systems and Applications | CO | HIT137 Software Now | CO |
| SMA101 Mathematics 1A | CO | SMA102 Mathematics 1B | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| HIT226 Mobile Web Structures | CO | HIT220 Algorithms and Complexity | CU |
| HIT235 Digital Systems and Computer Architecture | CO | HIT274 Network Engineering Applications (replaces HIT174 from 2020) | CO |
| HIT237 Building Interactive Software | CO | PMO201 Project Management | CO |
| HIT234 Database Concepts (replaces BIS234 from 2019) | CO | Elective - Undergraduate | E |
| Year 3 | |||
| HIT365 C Programming | CO | HIT339 Distributed Development (replaces HIT337 from 2019) | CO |
| HIT381 Human Computer Interaction Design | CO | ENG303 Research Project | CO |
| HIT326 Database Drive Web Applications | CO | HIT333 Cyber Security (replaces BIS243 from 2019) | CO |
| HIT332 Embedded and Mobile Systems | CO | Elective - Undergraduate | E |
| Year 4 | |||
| PRT581 Principles of Software Systems (replaces PRT451 from 2020) | CO | ENG519 Sustainability (replaces ENG417 from 2021) | CO |
| PRT551 Project Management, Risk and Reliability | CO | PRT503 Entrepreneurship for Professionals | CO |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Elective - Postgraduate | E | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Year 5 | |||
| PRT820 Thesis x 2 (20cp, repeatable) | R | PRT820 Thesis x 2 (20cp, repeatable) | R |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Elective - Postgraduate | E | ||
Students commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| E = Elective | R = Research |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | ||
| HIT140 Foundations of Data Science (replaces STA101 from 2021) | CO | ||
| HIT137 Software Now | CO | ||
| Elective - Undergraduate | E | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology | CU | SMA102 Mathematics 1B | CO |
| HIT164 Computing Fundamentals | CO | HIT220 Algorithms and Complexity | CO |
| HIT172 Operating Systems and Applications | CO | HIT274 Network Engineering Applications (replaces HIT174 from 2020) | CO |
| SMA101 Mathematics 1A | CO | PMO201 Project Management | CO |
| Year 3 | |||
| HIT226 Mobile Web Structures | CO | HIT339 Distributed Development (replaces HIT337 from 2019) | CO |
| HIT235 Digital Systems and Computer Architecture | CO | ENG303 Research Project | CO |
| HIT237 Building Interactive Software | CO | HIT333 Cyber Security (replaces BIS243 from 2019) | CO |
| HIT234 Database Concepts (replaces BIS234 from 2019) | CO | Elective - Undergraduate | E |
| Year 4 | |||
| HIT326 Database Drive Web Applications | CO | ENG519 Sustainability (replaces ENG417 from 2021) | CO |
| HIT381 Human Computer Interaction Design | CO | PRT503 Entrepreneurship for Professionals | CO |
| HIT365 C Programming | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
| HIT332 Embedded and Mobile Systems | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Year 5 | |||
| PRT581 Principles of Software Systems (replaces PRT451 from 2020) | CO | PRT820 Thesis x 2 (20cp, repeatable) | R |
| PRT551 Project Management, Risk and Reliability | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Elective - Postgraduate | E | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||
| Year 6 | |||
| PRT820 Thesis x 2 (20cp, repeatable) | R | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||
| Elective - Postgraduate | E | ||
Course fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study of 80 credit points (1.0 EFTSL) for commencing students in 2021 is AUD $29,616.00.
These fees are subject to annual increases each year of your study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.
Domestic students - undergraduate studies
SATAC
UAC
If you do not meet any of the criteria above please visit Pathways to study to view the options available to you.