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Bachelor of Information & Communications Technology

Bachelor of Information & Communications Technology

with majors in Business & Systems Analysis, Data Management & Analytics, Network Engineering, Project Management, Security, Software Engineering, Systems Administration, and Web & Mobile Development.

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If you want to find out what it takes to be the next big thing in the Internet of Things, UCOL’s Bachelor of Information & Communications Technology can give you the IT skills and experience needed for a career in this innovative industry.

A photograph of a young man working on a computer network
Quick info

Locations: UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North

Duration: 3 years, full-time

Dates:
22 Feb 2021 -  03 Dec 2021
26 Jul 2021 - 01 Jul 2022

Domestic Fees: *
$7,144.00Scholarship info

Find out if you're eligible for fees-free study

International Fees:*
$21,500.00

Additional Fees
Compulsory course costs may apply.

* Fees are indicative only, and are inclusive of the student services levy and GST (goods and services tax). The fee shown is for one year of study.

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UCOL’s Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology begins with a broad foundation in essential ICT skills and technologies and progresses toward a number of specialist areas including software engineering, systems analysis, databases, web development, networks installation, and project management.
 
This three-year degree is industry aligned learning at its best.  It includes a final project or internship, which brings together and showcases the skills you have developed and also allows you to push the boundaries by providing innovative solutions to real-world requirements.  UCOL’s Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology graduates are uniquely qualified, highly skilled, and have strong industry experience.
 
Majors
You can attain an 'unendorsed' Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology (without a major), choose from one of the following eight majors, or graduate with a double major.
  • Business & Systems Analysis
  • Data Management & Analytics
  • Network Engineering
  • Project Management
  • Security
  • Software Engineering
  • Systems Administration
  • Web & Mobile Development

 Career & Study Outcomes

  • Mobile application development
  • Network design
  • Web development
  • Software architecture
  • Software engineering
  • Desktop support
  • Corporate training
  • Database architecture
  • Database administration
  • Game development
  • Network security
  • Project management
  • Systems analysis
  • Programming
  • User support

 Course Information

Year One

Programming Fundamentals (15 credits)
Learn the fundamentals of programming to develop quality software. During your studies you'll develop an application using an industry standard language, and debug, test and document a software application.

Database Fundamentals (15 credits)
Gain a broad operational knowledge of database design and administration. During your studies you'll design a relational database to meet organisational requirements; apply interaction design concepts to a user interface; and store and retrieve organisational data using query and reporting tools.

Information Systems Fundamentals (15 credits)
Gain an understanding of business systems and essential components of the ICT profession.

Technical Support Fundamentals (15 credits)
Learn how to deliver organisational technical support based on best practice in IT service management. During your studies you'll apply a user needs analysis to identify organisational requirements; create, deliver and evaluate a training session; and develop technical documentation to a professional standar.

Web Fundamentals (15 credits)
Learn the fundamentals of web development and how to produce a quality website. You'll employ UX design principles that meet organisational requirements and apply an industry standard approach.

Systems Analysis Fundamentals (15 credits)
Learn the principles of systems analysis and systems requirements elicitation techniques. During your studies you'll analyse situations requiring problem solving; elicit and model user requirements using a variety of techniques; and construct accurate systems analysis documentation reflecting requirements.

Network Fundamentals (15 credits)
Learn the fundamentals of computer networks as they currently exist in industry, so that you can configure, test and troubleshoot local area networks.

Computer Hardware Fundamentals (15 credits)
Gain an understanding of computer hardware, operating systems and troubleshooting techniques.

Year Two and Three

In the second year of your degree you'll advance your knowledge via your chosen major of Business & Systems Analysis, Data Management & Analytics, Network Engineering, Project Management, Security, Software Engineering, Systems Administration, or Web & Mobile Development.

Second year students all study the following compulsory course:

IT Project Management (15 credits)
Gain an understanding of project management theory and practice as it relates to the ICT industry.

Third year students all undertake an industry project as follows:

Industry Project (45 credits)
Undertake an industry-based project of a complex nature. During this experience you'll manage an ICT project for industry; produce original work and project deliverables; consider and apply professional work ethics; meet project timelines and goals; record and evaluate project work and progress; and present project outcomes to sponsors and academic supervisors.

In your second year and third years you'll study elective courses to the value of 60 credits and 30 credits respectively.

Business & Systems Analysis Major

A partial photograph of a computer screen with data on it.


COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR TWO

Analysis and Design (15 credits)
Create quality analysis and design documentation for a moderately complex system.

Database Development (15 credits)
Learn how to effectively design an information system for a complex business application.

Software Process (15 credits)
Learn to create quality software applications utilising a modern development approach. During your studies you'll work as a team on an iterative development project; manage an individual development task; implement processes to ensure quality; and compare and select an appropriate development method for a given problem.

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

Advanced Systems Analysis (15 credits)
Learn to introduce tools and techniques used to assess feasibility and present a business case; to complete an analysis of a complex information system based on the recommendation from the feasibility phase.

Managerial Practice (15 credits)
Learn to analyse and evaluate management practices as they relate to the ICT industry. During your studies you'll discuss and analyse key issues associated with managing and structuring the ICT capability within an organisation; recommend and design a quality management programme for an organisation; apply best practice human resource management techniques; and commentate on the relevant legislation and social responsibility issues as they relate to the ICT industry.

Data Management & Analytics Major

A partial photograph of a person holding a tablet and referring to a laptop featuring graphs.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR TWO

Advanced Programming (15 credits)
Learn standard algorithms required for business application programming. During your studies you'll design and construct small applications using a variety of algorithms; devise test plans to ensure quality software; and create system maintenance documentation.

Database Development (15 credits)
Learn how to effectively design an information system for a complex business application.

Enterprise Data Management (15 credits)
Learn to design and implement enterprise data management systems.

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

Advanced Database Concepts (15 credits)
Learn to successfully design, create and administer a data warehouse using a server-based database management system.

Data Analytics and Intelligence (15 credits)
Learn to use data analytics and business intelligence tools and techniques in order to provide decision support within an organisational context.

Network Engineering Major

A partial photograph of a man checking cables whilst referring to a tablet.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR TWO

Networks (CISCO RSE) (15 credits)
Gain practical and technical networking knowledge that will allow you to configure and troubleshoot routers, switches and resolve common issues with RIPv1, RIPng, single-area and multi-area OSPF, virtual LANs, and inter-VLAN routing in both IPv4 and IPv6 networks.

Network Services (15 credits)
Learn to implement key network services as used in modern LANs and to explain the network protocols that these services use. During your studies you'll implement and explain the operation of name resolution; implement automatic network configuration; implement and explain the operation of directory services; implement and explain the operation of a web proxy; implement automatic browser configuration when a web proxy is used; implement file sharing; and implement and explain the operation of a basic firewall.

Systems Security (15 credits)
Learn to analyse and implement computer systems security, including operating systems, server applications and networks. Also gain an understanding of computer forensics.

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

CISCO Scaling and Connecting (15 credits)
Gain practical and technical networking knowledge that will assist in designing, building and analysing networks and their protocols using advanced technologies.

Network Design (15 credits)
Learn how to recommend uses for thin and thick client architectures, and to design a thin client architecture.

Project Management Major

A partial photograph of a person typing on a computer whilst referring to data and writing in a notebook.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR TWO

Enterprise Data Management (15 credits)
Learn to design and implement enterprise data management systems.

Introduction to Finance (15 credits)
Learn to apply financial management knowledge and skills to a small or medium size business for decision-making purposes.

Software Process (15 credits)
Learn to create quality software applications utilising a modern development approach. During your studies you'll work as a team on an iterative development project; manage an individual development task; implement processes to ensure quality; and compare and select an appropriate development method for a given problem.

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

Advanced Project Management (15 credits)
Learn advanced principles of the project management body of knowledge and cover the content of the Project Management Institute and its application and evaluation to the workplace.

Managerial Practice (15 credits)
Learn to analyse and evaluate management practices as they relate to the ICT industry. During your studies you'll discuss and analyse key issues associated with managing and structuring the ICT capability within an organisation; recommend and design a quality management programme for an organisation; apply best practice human resource management techniques; and commentate on the relevant legislation and social responsibility issues as they relate to the ICT industry.

Security Major

A partial photograph of some reading glasses on a table in the foreground with computer screens in the background.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR TWO

Networks (CISCO RSE) (15 credits)
Gain practical and technical networking knowledge that will allow you to configure and troubleshoot routers, switches and resolve common issues with RIPv1, RIPng, single-area and multi-area OSPF, virtual LANs, and inter-VLAN routing in both IPv4 and IPv6 networks.

Network Services (15 credits)
Learn to implement key network services as used in modern LANs and to explain the network protocols that these services use. During your studies you'll implement and explain the operation of name resolution; implement automatic network configuration; implement and explain the operation of directory services; implement and explain the operation of a web proxy; implement automatic browser configuration when a web proxy is used; implement file sharing; and implement and explain the operation of a basic firewall.

Systems Security (15 credits)
Learn to analyse and implement computer systems security, including operating systems, server applications and networks; and explain the fundamentals of computer forensics.

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

Network Security (15 credits)
Learn to configure the components and operation of Virtual Private Networks, firewalls and network security.

Systems Administration (15 credits)
Learn to design and construct a complex multi-user client/server network. You'll gain skills needed to configure and integrate complex systems.

Software Engineering Major

A partial photograph of a computer with code on the screen.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR TWO

Advanced Programming (15 credits)
Learn standard algorithms required for business application programming. During your studies you'll design and construct small applications using a variety of algorithms; devise test plans to ensure quality software; and create system maintenance documentation.

Database Development (15 credits)
Learn how to effectively design an information system for a complex business application.

Software Process (15 credits)
Learn to create quality software applications utilising a modern development approach. During your studies you'll work as a team on an iterative development project; manage an individual development task; implement processes to ensure quality; and compare and select an appropriate development method for a given problem.

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

Mobile Application Development (15 credits)
Learn to develop mobile applications for current and emerging mobile computing devices.

Software Engineering (15 credits)
Learn to design and construct quality software ready for distribution. During your studies you'll perform object-oriented design and programming with a high level of proficiency; secure applications so that they are ready for distribution; conduct effective and efficient inspections; evaluate software user interfaces for accessibility and usability; and design and implement comprehenstive test plans.

Systems Administration Major

A partial photograph of a hard drive.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR TWO

Database Development (15 credits)
Learn how to effectively design an information system for a complex business application.

Network Services (15 credits)
Learn to implement key network services as used in modern LANs and to explain the network protocols that these services use. During your studies you'll implement and explain the operation of name resolution; implement automatic network configuration; implement and explain the operation of directory services; implement and explain the operation of a web proxy; implement automatic browser configuration when a web proxy is used; implement file sharing; and implement and explain the operation of a basic firewall.

Systems Security (15 credits)
Learn to analyse and implement computer systems security, including operating systems, server applications and networks. Also gain an understanding of computer forensics.

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

Advanced Database Concepts (15 credits)
Learn to successfully design, create and administer a data warehouse using a server-based database management system.

Systems Administration (15 credits)
Learn to design and construct a complex multi-user client/server network. You'll gain skills needed to configure and integrate complex systems.

Web & Mobile Development Major

A partial photograph of two computers on a desk.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR TWO

Database Development (15 credits)
Learn how to effectively design an information system for a complex business application.

Digital Multimedia (15 credits)
Learn to apply principles and techniques relating to the application of digital multimedia technologies. During your studies you'll learn about digital images, video and audio; create and manipulate digital image, video and audio files according to a technical specification for distribution across the ICT infrastructure; and optimise digital multimedia for commonly used ICT mediums.

Dynamic Web Solutions (15 credits)
Learn to create a dynamic web application utilising a variety of open-source technologies. During your studies you'll design and document a web application; secure critical business data within the web application; interface with a web-based database management system; and implement user security and session management.

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

Advanced Web Solutions (15 credits)
Learn to investigate, implement, and critique influentual, new, and emerging web technology solutions.

Mobile Application Development (15 credits)
Learn to develop mobile applications for current and emerging mobile computing devices.

Other Electives

A photograph of a sign post. Image by Javier Allegue Barros courtesy of unsplash.com.

 

COMPULSORY COURSES - YEAR THREE

Networks (CISCO ITN) (15 credits)
Gain practical and technical networking knowledge to assist you to build simple LANs, perform basic configurations for routers and switches, and implement IP addressing schemes.

Professional Practice (15 credits)
Prepare for transition into the ICT profession. Source an industry project and produce appropriate documentation.

Special Topic (15 credits)
Pursue an area of special interest under the guidance of a UCOL academic staff member. The Special Topic course is subject to availability and approval from the Head of School.

 Student & Staff Profiles

  • A photograph of UCOL student Lily Chen from China, standing alongside Manawatu River in Palmerston North.

    Lily Chen

    Bachelor of Information & Communications Technology (Applied) Student

    ​An interest in design brought Lily Chen from the South of China to UCOL, studying a Bachelor in ICT.

    Meet Lily
  • http://www.ucol.ac.nz/StudentImages/Matthew Christophers.jpg

    Matthew Christophers

    Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology Graduate

    For his Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology internship, Matthew designed an AI chatbot to help an insurance company resolve customer enquiries quicker.

    Meet Matthew

 Industry Connections

Visual Paradigm grants Universal College of Learning UML tools, BPMN tools, Agile Story Mapping tools and DFD tools under the Academic Training Partner Program
 
Being involved in industry is an important part of our students’ journeys at UCOL. Work placements, internships, industry based assignments and case studies are all part of the process of getting our students industry ready. Every Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology student undertakes an industry-based project or internship during their final year of study. Recent projects and internships have been undertaken with:
  • Computer Care
  • FMG
  • New Zealand Defence Force
  • Nodero
  • New Zealand Transport Agency
  • Spinning Planet
  • Massey University
  • Freyberg High School
  • Crest Hospital

 Learning Facilities

UCOL has dedicated software development facilities exclusively for ICT students, which enables practical learning and problem-solving experience with leading technologies and systems. 

 Domestic Entry Requirements

Applicants under 20 years of age:

Applicants under the age of 20 years must have University Entrance

Or equivalent academic achievement, such as:

Or on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Executive Dean.

Or a provisional enrolment. Provisional enrolment is defined by NZQA as being Discretionary Entrance and includes the following clauses:

Discretionary enrolment may be granted to those applicants under the age of 20 who:
  • Are New Zealand or Australian citizens and permanent residents under 20 years of age
  • Must have a minimum of 14 credits in an approved subject at Level 2 towards NCEA
  • Must also have met the literacy and numeracy standards required for University Entrance.

 

For more information about NCEA Credits see UCOL's NCEA explained page.

 International Entry Requirements

In addition to the Domestic Entry Requirements, the following applies to international student applicants:

English Proficiency Entry Requirements
International student applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS (or equivalent including TOEFL) score of 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5. UCOL is a TOEFL iBT testing centre. IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible). 

Under 20 years of age
For international applicants under 20 years of age who do not hold NCEA, International Academic Qualifications Entry Criteria apply.

 Advice & Guidance

UCOL's Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology comprises 360 credits and is a Level 7 qualification.

It is strongly recommended that all applicants, especially those over twenty years of age who do not have the minimum entry qualifications or recent experience of study, seek advice from the Head of School before enrolment about the nature of the degree programme in relation to their own skills and experience.
 
Where appropriate, students choosing to exit the programme before completion will be eligible, on application, for the following qualifications: the Certificate in Computer Networks, L6, the Diploma in Information and Communications Technology (Applied), L5, or the Diploma in Information and Communications Technology (Applied), L6.
 
Application checklist
It will make the process easier if you prepare the following before you apply:
  • National Student Number (NSN) (If you don't have a NSN, you may request one from NZQA, or you can supply a verified copy of your birth certificate, passport or Whakapapa statement.)
  • Evidence of your highest level of academic achievement (and evidence of prior learning, if applicable)
  • Evidence that you meet the entry requirements of the programme
  • Check if you're eligible for additional support or a scholarship. If you're 19 years or younger, you may be eligible to enrol in one of our free Youth Transition programmes.

Note that you will need to provide any verified documents in person, via post or email.

 Accreditation

The programme is approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority under the provisions of the Education Act 1989, and Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Trading as Universal College of Learning (UCOL) is accredited to teach it.
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