Bachelor of Information Technology

More about this programme

• Why study IT at Auckland International Campus?

  You'll learn what Information Technology professionals do through hands-on and practical work. Build the communication skills you need to work effectively in the industry. 

  The first year covers a broad range of general IT knowledge. Key topics come up again throughout the year, and you’ll address them with more depth each time as you learn more and understand more.

  For the second and third years, you can focus on an area that interests you most:

  • Software development
  • IT infrastructure and operations
  • Network engineering
  • Alternative digital platforms (hardware, IoT, etc.)

  Courses include Databases, Automation and Robotics, Mobile App Development, Advanced Networking, UX Engineering, Game Development, AI and Data Science, and the Internet of Things and Cloud Development. There's even the option of doing a course from a programme outside of the BIT! 

• What will I learn?

  The Bachelor of Information Technology degree is a broad-based programme providing an introduction to most areas of IT. A standard learner pathway will consist of:

  • Eight compulsory Level 5 courses in your first year 
  • Two compulsory Level 6 studio courses and six Level 6 elective courses in your second year 
  • Two compulsory Level 7 studio courses and five Level 7 elective courses (plus one other 15 credit course from Level 5, 6 or 7) in your third year. 

  Variations of this are possible. You could replace a Level 6 course with a Level 7, and the 15 additional credits can be drawn from courses outside the BIT using unspecified credits. 

  Year One - Level 5 courses 

  Course name	Credits	What will I learn?
  Programming 1	15	Learn about concepts of program design and programming fundamentals.
  Programming 2	15	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	15	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	15	Learn about fundamental networking concepts and technologies, by covering the basics of network theory and the skills needed to implement a simple network.
  Devices and Platforms	15	Learn to use a range of devices, platforms and concepts utilised within the Information Technology industry.
  Maths for IT	15	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.
  Year One Special Topic	15	Pursue an individual course that will focus in-depth on a particular aspect of IT.
  Studio 1	15	Learn the fundamentals of professionalism in a technical environment.
  Studio 2	15	Be introduced to user-centric and technical project planning techniques to create solutions to simple IT problems.
  Unspecified credits	15	This course is intended to act as a repository for "unspecified credits" where you can undertake courses from outside the BIT.

  Year Two - Level 6 courses 

  Course name	Credits	What will I learn?
  Databases 2	15	Learn the fundamentals of relational database theory and how to design, build and use a database on a modern database management system.
  Switching, Routing and Wireless Essentials	15	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	15	Learn about the major components of operating systems and the basic organisation of computer systems.
  Embedded Systems	15	Be introduced to the core principles of computer hardware and architecture and become acquainted with a range of embedded application contexts.
  Automation and Robotics	15	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.
  Year Two Special Topic	15	Carry out semi-independent exploration into a specific IT topic.
  Studio 3	15	Use an industry-relevant project management approach to produce simple, functional group outputs.
  Studio 4	15	Produce a professional, high-quality group project, following industry-relevant quality assurance and ethical practices.
  Introductory Application Development (Dev3)	15	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 (Dev4)	15	Extend the concepts of application development, including algorithms, data structures and design patterns required to use complex, industry-relevant frameworks or libraries.
  Operations Engineering 1	15	Gain the knowledge and hands-on skills to perform systems administration tasks securely within different computing platforms, using the command line interface.
  Unspecified credits	15	This course is intended to act as a repository for "unspecified credits" where you can undertake courses from outside the BIT.

  Year Three - Level 7 courses 

  Course name	Credits	What will I learn?
  Studio 5	15	Apply technical skills within complex Information Technology projects. Extend professional behaviour through group work, professional development activities and external engagement.
  Studio 6	15	Extend your skills within a complex IT project.
  Developing Flexible IT Courses	15	Prepares students for the training role that is often performed by information technology professionals.
  Databases 3	15	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.
  Advanced Algorithms	15	Use a wide variety of advanced algorithms and tools to develop efficient solutions to complex computational problems.
  Operations Engineering 2	15	Look at, and practice the configuration, management and troubleshooting of systems within an enterprise network including aspects of both applications and operating system components.
  Administering a Virtual Infrastructure	15	An in-depth knowledge and techniques used to efficiently implement, optimise and troubleshoot a virtual infrastructure.
  Mobile Application Development	15	Explore the design and implementation of applications for mobile devices.
  Advanced Networking	15	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.
  Year Three Special Topic	15	Carry out an independent exploration into a specific IT topic.
  UX Engineering	15	Build on your front-end development skills to design and build screens with inclusive, flexible and sound user experience.
  Security	15	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.
  AI and Data Science	15	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 Application Development Concepts	15	Build and deploy optimised and efficient applications using a range of advanced industry tools and frameworks.
  Quality Assurance and Software Testing	15	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.
  Enterprise Networking, Security and Automation	15	Understand and apply knowledge of architectures and considerations related to designing, securing, operating and trouble shooting enterprise scale networks.
  Game Development	15	Apply game programming techniques and tools to develop an effective game.
  Internet of Things and Cloud Computing	15	Investigate and analyse the applicability of an IoT solution for a real-world problem and develop an IoT application involving cloud computing.
  Business Analysis and Intelligence	15	Apply the theories, methods and tools for analysing business processes, and propose solutions for a variety of organisational problems.
  Unspecified credits	15	This course is intended to act as a repository for "unspecified credits" where you can undertake courses from outside the BIT.

• What's the weekly workload?

  You will be expected to spend about 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. 

• What are the entry requirements?

  • NCEA Level 3
  • 14 credits at Level 3 or above 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).

  Discretionary entry may be given to applicants over 20 who do not hold the above requirements (you will need to undertake an interview).

  International students 

  Will be individually assessed to ensure they meet degree-level entry requirements. Click here for equivalent academic entry requirements by country. 

  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). 

  Selection process

  All eligible applicants will be accepted unless the number of applications exceeds the available places. 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. 

• What could I study next?

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

• What are the equipment requirements?

  You will need to have your own computer. We recommend a Windows-based PC, as most software applications are compatible with Windows rather than Apple Mac. Students with a Mac PC may spend a lot of time fixing issues with applications that are not highly compatible with Mac. 

  Minimum System Requirements:

  • CPU: Intel Core i5 or higher
  • RAM: 8 GB minimum
  • Hard Disk: 256 GB minimum

  New students will be required to set up their OP account and network access during the orientation and before the beginning of their classes. They must have their device ready before the first session. 

• Cancellation of a programme

  Any programme of study, course or course occurrence may be cancelled or postponed where there are insufficient numbers. As far as is practically possible, we avoid cancelling or making other significant changes less than two weeks before the programme starts (or five working days for short courses). If this happens, we will do our best to suggest alternative study options for you. If you don’t want to do the alternative programme, we will give you a full refund. If a programme change affects your visa status, we will let you know and support you to find an alternative option. We also advise Immigration New Zealand of any programme change that will affect international students.