Programme details

Bachelor of Information and Communication Technologies

Enhance your computing expertise and expand your career prospects in this rapidly evolving industry.

Course description

This programme, developed with strong input from IT industry partners, ensures graduates gain the skills employers need.

In your first year, you’ll build a solid foundation in software engineering, networking, hardware, web development, IT concepts, and applied mathematics. In years two and three, you’ll specialise in Information Systems, Networking and Infrastructure, or Software Development, developing advanced expertise through practical and theoretical courses.

Students will also strengthen essential professional skills like problem solving, teamwork, communication, project management, and critical thinking. Your final semester features a 45-credit capstone project, typically for a local business, giving you valuable hands-on experience and a portfolio piece to showcase to future employers.

Specialisations

-Software Development Pathway
-Networking and Infrastructure Pathway
-Information Systems Pathway

Immigration benefits

This course may qualify for the following visa rights:
In-study work rights
Post-study work rights

This course qualifies for 3 points if applying for residency under the Skilled Migrant Category.

Career Prospects

Employment prospects are very strong for IT graduates. Depending on the specialist pathway followed, you might gain employment in roles such as:

-Business Analyst
-Network Manager
-Webmaster
-IT Support Specialist
-Database Administrator
-Test Analyst
-Systems Administrator
-Web Developer
-Interactive Media Developer
-Software Developer / Programmer

Entry requirements

Academic requirements:

-New Zealand University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at level 3 and 20 credits at level 2 or higher) which must include:

-14 credits at Level 3 in each of:
mathematics or physics or statistics or accounting
English or history or art history or classics or geography or economics

-One other subject from the list of approved subjects
Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in writing, and

Numeracy – 10 credits at Level 1 or above (specified achievement standards, or unit standards 26623, 26626, 26627)

OR one of the following:

-New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology Technical Support Level 5
-New Zealand Diploma in Web Development and Design Level 5
-New Zealand Diploma in Networking Level 6
-New Zealand Diploma in Systems Administration Level 6

OR New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) Ara Business and ICT Pathway or equivalent

Due to Covid-19 disruption, if you studied and achieved NCEA Level 3 during 2020, you only need 12 credits per Level 3 subject (i.e. total of 36 credits). Literacy and Numeracy requirements remain the same

-If you have undertaken examinations other than NCEA (e.g. International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Examination), Ara will assess your qualification for academic entry equivalency.

If English is not the first language, students must provide a result from a test or qualification on the acceptable alternatives.

Test	Minimum Requirement
IELTS (Academic)	Overall score of 6.0, with no band lower than 5.5
TOEFL iBT	Total score of 60, with a writing score of at least 18
Cambridge English Qualifications	B2 First, B2 First for Schools, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169, and no less than 162 in each skill
OET (Occupational English Test)	Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL (New Zealand Certificate in English Language)	Level 4 (Academic)
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)	Score of 50, with no band lower than 42
LanguageCert International ESOL	C1 Expert (overall PASS) with no less than 25/50 in each skill, or Academic test with a minimum score of 65 overall and no skill below 60
Trinity College London ISE	ISE II with no less than distinction or 96 in any band