Bachelor of Information Technology

• NCEA Level 3
• 14* credits at Level 3 in each of three NZQA approved university entrance subjects, and
• 10 Literacy credits at Level 2 or above, made up of: 
  • 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing, and 
• 10 Numeracy credits at Level 1 or above, made up of:
  • specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects OR
  • package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627- all three required).

• You must submit an essay, explaining in approximately 500 words: 
  • what it is about Information Technology that interests you
  • what future you see for yourself in Information Technology and what sort of job you are interested in
  • what your educational background is and which subjects you enjoyed most at school
  • whether you have previously studied at tertiary level and what you studied
  • whether you have worked since leaving school
  • why you have applied to study at Otago Polytechnic. 

• If you do not hold the above qualifications, you must demonstrate equivalent work/life experience.
• International students will be individually assessed to ensure they meet degree-level entry requirements and must have achieved the equivalent of Year 11 mathematics. 
• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 6.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes. 

If you do not meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Information Technology, our New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Essentials (Level 4) is the perfect solution as it will enable you to achieve the foundation knowledge you need to progress into other higher level Information Technology qualifications.

You must supply certified copies of proof of identify, academic records and proof of residency (where appropriate).

All eligible applicants will be accepted unless the number of applications exceeds the available places (as indicated by the Bachelor of Information Technology Team Leader). In this case, applicants will be interviewed and ranked according to the professional judgement of the admissions panel on the basis of the candidate's likelihood to succeed in the Information Technology industry.

There are no additional costs associated with this programme.

This qualification is widely recognised, allowing you to apply for entry to postgraduate study in Information Technology. You will be qualified to apply for graduate teacher training programmes, leading to a career in Information Technology secondary education.

The Bachelor of Information Technology degree is a broad-based programme providing an introduction to most areas of computing. Gain technical skills in programming, networking, operating systems, control technology and databases and learn about the Information Technology environment and practice skills in business and interpersonal communication. Year one courses are compulsory and will give you a solid base for selecting specialist electives during the following years. In third year, you will undertake an industry-based project for an external client over two semesters and this will represent the culmination of your degree studies.

COURSES

Studio 1 (Level 5)

Learn the fundamentals of professionalism in a technical environment. You'll learn to communicate in informal and semi-informal written and spoken contexts; discern functional and non-functional aspects in a data-modelling problem domain; and use collaboration tools and workflows in a simple group project.

Introduction to Systems Analysis (Level 5)

Be introduced to business processes and information management in the information technology and related industries. Acquire knowledge about fundamental topics in business and, through a business context, learn about subjects in systems analysis and relational databases.

Programming 1 (Level 5)

Learn about concepts of program design and programming fundamentals.

Programming 2  (Level 5)

Build event-driven, GUI (Graphical User Interface) applications using pre-built controls. Be introduced to the theoretical issues involved in Object-Oriented analysis, design and programming, and the principles of correct design and implementation for applications of this type.

Fundamentals of Web Development (Level 5)

Use basic technologies for the development of web-based functionality. Learn components of web pages and client/server web communication. Develop simple web-based applications using industry relevant client/server-side programming languages. Use industry-relevant tools and workflows to develop web-based applications.

Introduction to Networks (Level 5)

Learn about fundamental networking concepts and technologies, by covering the basics of network theory and the skills needed to implement a simple network.

Maths for Information Technology  (Level 5)

Learn about the mathematical concepts and methods that underpin and are directly applicable to the theory of information systems. This course is primarily sited within the field of discrete mathematics.

Platforms and Devices (Level 5)

Learn to use a range of devices, platforms and concepts utilised within the Information Technology industry. 

Introductory Application Development (Level 6)

Learn the concepts of application development, including algorithms, data structures and design patterns required to use a simple, industry-relevant development framework.

Intermediate Application Development (Level 6)

Extend the concepts of application development, including algorithms, data structures and design patterns required to use complex, industry-relevant frameworks or libraries.

Studio 3 (Level 6)

Use an industry-relevant project management approach to produce simple, functional group outputs.

Operations Engineering (Level 6)

Gain the knowledge and hands-on skills to perform systems administration tasks securely within different computing platforms, using the command line interface.

Software Engineering (Level 6)

Develop an understanding of software engineering methodologies. This involves knowledge of the methods and problems of the development, implementation and deployment of information systems. An important outcome of this module is preparing you for IN700001 and IN700002.

Scaling Networks (Level 6)

Scaling Networks covers the architecture, components, and operations of routers and switches in larger and more complex networks. Students learn how to configure routers and switches for advanced functionality.

Databases 2 (Level 6)

Learn the fundamentals of relational database theory and how to design, build and use a database on a modern database management system.

Web 2 - Programming (Level 6)

Receive a thorough introduction to modern techniques for adding programmed behaviours to web pages. The course will include a review of basic network architecture and currently supported HTML dialects, and will introduce appropriate tools and languages for adding programmed interactivity and dynamic database support to web pages. As this is a rapidly changing field, the contents and tools will be regularly reviewed and updated as required to maintain discipline currency.

Multimedia Development (Level 6)

Become acquainted with multimedia and hypermedia development, focusing on the creation of multimedia materials using current industry-relevant applications. Theoretical material includes both technical issues in multimedia and design principles for artefact development.

Routing and Switching Essentials (Level 6)

Learn how to describe the architecture, components, and operations of routers and switches in a small network and to configure a router and a switch for basic functionality.

Operating Systems Concepts (Level 6)

Learn about the major components of operating systems and the basic organisation of computer systems.

Linux Operating Systems (Level 6)

Gain experience in the installation, support, maintenance and administration of a Unix-based operating system.

Quality Assurance and Software Testing (Level 6)

Lay the foundation for a potential craeer in the information technology field as a software tester. Understand the fundamental principles and processes of software testing.

Embedded Systems (Level 6)

Be introduced to the core principles of computer hardware and architecture and become acquainted  with a range of embedded application contexts.

Automation and Robotics (Level 6)

Use microprocessors and sensors to build mobile, context-aware robots. Learn to programme classic robotic behaviours and add wireless communication to explore basic swarm algorithms.

Studio 5 (Level 7)

Apply technical skills within complex Information Technology projects. Extend professional behaviour through group work, professional development activities and external engagement.

Security (Level 7)

Gain the theoretical knowledge and technical skills in the field of information security. Learn to identify security threats and vulnerabilities, then mitigate them by implementing robust, industry-accepted solutions.

Advanced Front-end Development and User Experience Design (Level 7)

Build on your front-end development skills to design and build screens with inclusive, flexible and sound user experience.

Project 1 (Level 7)

Apply the skills you've learnt to complex Information Technology projects and extend professional behaviour through group work, professional development activities and external engagement.

Project 2 (Level 7)

Apply the skills you've learnt to complex Information Technology projects and take leadership responsibilities in your group projects.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (Level 7)

Choose and deploy the appropriate machine intelligence tool to solve problems that demand a cognitive component. For example: computer vision, natural language processing, recommendation systems, data analytics, anomaly detection, conversational agents (ie chatbots), machine translation, autonomous navigation, robotic control etc.

Advanced Algorithms (Level 7)

Use a wide variety of advanced algorithms and tools to develop efficient solutions to complex computational problems. 

Advanced Networking (Level 7)

Provides students with an understanding of how to evaluate and apply advanced networking protocols, services and concepts to the design, deployment and maintenance of medium to large scale networks.

Administering a Virtual Infrastructure (Level 7)

An in depth knowledge and techniques used to efficiently implement, optimize and troubleshoot a virtual infrastructure.

Design and Development of Applications for Mobile Devices (Level 7)

Explore the design and implementation of applications for mobile devices.

Systems Administration (Level 7)

Look at, and practice the configuration, management and troubleshooting of systems within an enterprise network including aspects of both applications and operating system components.

Next Generation Networked Hardware (Level 7)

Students are exposed to current and upcoming developments in the context of networked hardware and apply these in a project-oriented environment.

Databases 3

Gain the skills and understanding necessary to design and implement enterprise databases and to administer database management systems. Use a range of tools and platforms for developing large databases and explore current areas of research in database implementation, use and management.

Developing Flexible IT Courses (Level 7)

Prepares students for the training role that is often performed by information technology professionals. 

If studying at our Dunedin Campus

Most Information Technology courses are worth 15 credits and are the equivalent of four hours contact time per week. A full-time programme will usually consist of four courses per semester. During an average week, you will be expected to undertake 16 hours of directed learning and an additional 15-20 hours of self-directed study completing assignments and reading.

If studying at our Auckland International Campus 

You will be expected to spend about 38 hours per week (or 300 hours per study block) on your course work. This includes both scheduled class time and self-directed study. Some of these hours may be spent in a workplace gaining hands-on experience and developing important industry and business connections.

To be awarded the Bachelor of Information Technology, you must successfully complete 360 credits, made up as follows:

• Minimum of 120 credits at Level 5
• Minimum of 225 credits at Level 6 or 7 (minimum of 105 at Level 7)
• 15 further credits from any level.

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful. 

If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process at Capable NZ. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification.  

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While every effort is made to ensure that this sheet is accurate, Otago Polytechnic reserves the right to amend, alter or withdraw any of the contained information. The fees shown in this document are indicative ONLY. Both domestic and international fees are subject to change and are dependent on the development and implementation of Government policies. Please note that additional fees may from time to time be required for external examination, NZQA fees and/or additional material fees.