Study Computer Science and Information Technology with the online education expert

There are now many ‘johnny-come-lately’ universities in online education. UNE has been delivering distance education since 1955 – that’s longer than any other Australian university. Perhaps that’s why our students continue to rate us so highly for student satisfaction and teaching quality. 

Study across three study periods with 24/7 online tutor support. If you don’t have entry qualifications, our free Pathways Enabling Course gives you entry and credit to most of UNE’s undergraduate degrees.

If you prefer to study on-campus, UNE has a campus in Armidale.

If you’re not ready to commit to a whole degree right now, we also have our revolutionary new Bespoke Courses where you can design a short course of just 2, 3 or 4 units. Because they’re real degree units you may get credit towards a full degree later.

The world runs on technology, and computing now underpins everything from agriculture to zoology. The computing degrees at UNE provide you with the skills you need to become one of the technology creators - to design, create, deploy, improve, adapt, and apply technology to solve problems for people and society. They provide a solid foundation in programming, software design, operating systems and computer algorithms, as well as providing technological skills that are in high demand throughout the IT industry, including data science, artificial intelligence, distributed computing, mobile application design, and web and network technologies.
Our computing courses are taught by dedicated and highly qualified professionals who are active computer science researchers. Areas of research include data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer vision, distributed systems, human-computer interaction, and software engineering.

Featured Courses

Bachelor of Computer Science

The Bachelor of Computer Science teaches students strong programming, technical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills. The course is particularly designed with software development and computational science roles in mind, but as computing has become so important to so many different fields, it allows the flexibility to take a number of units from other disciplines if students choose to.

The course includes a core of units that gives all our students a solid programming, mathematical, and software engineering background. From the core units, students will learn multiple programming languages as well as the modern collaborative tools and practices that software teams use to design, develop and deliver software that solves problems for their users. They will also take a team capstone project, in which they must develop solutions to real world computing problems drawn from community organisations and industry. The degree has two majors:

  • Software development - Topics include artificial intelligence, functional programming, development for the modern web, mobile development, and interaction design.
  • Data Science - Includes topics that are of particular relevance to applying computing to science, such as statistical machine learning, distributed computing, and computational science. You can also take both majors, or a single major with your own customised set of additional units.

The Bachelor of Computer Science has a professional-level accreditation from the Australian Computer Society.

Bachelor of Computer Science

This course provides a comprehensive, modern postgraduate education in the principles and practice of ICT together with the opportunity gain enhanced knowledge and skills in research. Emphasis is placed on the structured design of algorithms for computer-based implementations of real-life tasks. The interactive execution, analysis and use of programs are discussed together with advanced algorithmic designs and programming techniques; informal notions of program specification and verification; a high-level description of the abstract architecture of the von Neumann machine; numerical and non-numerical applications; and social issues.

Emphasis is placed on the structured design of algorithms for computer-based implementations of real-life tasks. The expression of algorithms in Java, and the interactive execution, analysis and use of programs are also discussed. Practical elements of basic hardware components are introduced.

Bachelor of Information Technology

This degree is designed for students who do not have a computing background and who are seeking to achieve qualifications in information technology. Study is available in areas such as internet publishing, operating systems, software engineering, GUI programming and interaction design, internet security, data mining, wireless networks, and game programming.

Bachelor of Information Technology (Business)

This degree is designed for students who do not have a computing or IT background and who are seeking to achieve qualifications in information technology. The course offers considerable depth and flexibility with study available in topics such as computer networks and security, artificial intelligence, management information systems and user experience design and web programming. The course also allows students to complete an information and communications project relating to a real-life case.

The Master of Information Technology has been granted professional accreditation by the Australian Computer Society.

Available Courses in Computer Science and Information Technology

UNE offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in computer science and information technology. Most are available to be studied online and can be started in one of our three entry periods: February, June, and October.

Course

Trimester 3 
Start October 2017

Trimester 1 
Start February 2018*

Please see course details for individual course rules and admissions criteria. Note some degrees have mandatory intensive schools which require attendance on campus.

*Course list is subject to change. 

Flexibility is the key to our online learning programs. Whatever your commitments you can study at any time or place around the world - at home, travelling or at work. Your study can be balanced with the competing interests of work, family and social commitments.
UNE has been providing flexible education for over 60 years, so we know what the challenges are, and have a wide range of support services in place to help students overcome them. Our online teaching is designed to be inclusive, and to create a learning community for all students to engage with each other as well as academic staff. This is one of the reasons why we’ve been rated the best online university by Online Study Australia in its national list of top ten online universities.

How does online study work?

Instead of turning up to a lecture on campus at a designated time, the course content is provided online for you to access when it suits you each week. It might be a podcast (recorded lecture), a set of readings, questions posed in a discussion board, an online quiz or a video. Your lecturer will guide you through the unit with a weekly plan of study.

Intensive Schools

Some online units have intensive schools, which are usually held in the term breaks at our Armidale campus. Intensive schools are a valuable and enjoyable experience that enrich the learning process and help build your networks. Check the Course and Unit Catalogue to see if any units in your degree have intensive schools.
Please note: International students who wish to study wholly online are only permitted to do so if they are studying online from overseas or are studying in Australia on a visa other than a student visa.
The Pathways Enabling Course prepares you for admission to an undergraduate course at UNE. It is free from course fees and available online. The course awards you with the minimum entry requirements and can provide credit towards your UNE degree.

Why study the Pathways Enabling Course?

  • Prepare for university without paying course fees
  • Gain admission to university
  • Flexible online study
  • Develop valuable skills and knowledge
  • Complete study that can count towards your degree
  • Start in any three teaching periods
More information about the 
Pathways Enabling Course.

Getting Started

Prior to applying we suggest you:
1. Check out our 
Course and Unit Catalogue
, to see all the degrees UNE has to offer. You can search by course or for specific subjects. If you find yourself thinking 'that might be good', then have a look at which degree program is linked to those subjects.
2. Check if you need to add any 
entry requirement documentation
 to your application.
3. 
Check the closing dates for applications.
 Some courses have earlier closing dates and requirements.
4. You may also be eligible for credit for study you've previously undertaken successfully, find out about 
Advanced Standing
.

Ready to apply?

Applications are now open for Trimester 3, 2017
APPLY NOW
Please note: International students who wish to study wholly online are only permitted to do so if they are studying online from overseas or are studying in Australia on a visa other than a student visa.

Need some more information?

Use the form below to email our Future Student Team and they'll be able to help you with details about the application process, degree questions, studying at UNE and more.
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